Surveys for Water, Environmental & Land Projects

Cura Surveys provides specialist survey data for rivers, canals, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, woodland sites, flood-risk areas and challenging natural environments across the UK.

We work with environmental consultants, engineers, developers, local authorities, landowners, contractors and design teams who require accurate information about land levels, watercourses, riverbanks, bed levels, structures, vegetation and existing site constraints.

Our services include topographical surveys, hydrographic and bathymetric surveys, 3D laser scanning, drone surveys, GNSS surveys and engineering survey support, giving project teams coordinated information across both land and water.

Coordinated Land and Water Survey Data

Environmental projects often extend across varied terrain and cannot be captured using one survey method alone.

Cura Surveys combines appropriate technologies to record:

• Ground levels and contours
• Riverbanks and water edges
• River, canal and lake bed levels
• Water depths and channel profiles
• Culverts, bridges and waterside structures
• Trees, vegetation and woodland features
• Paths, access routes and boundaries
• Drainage features and outfalls
• Retaining walls and embankments
• Buildings and engineering structures
• Floodplain and surrounding site context

Land and water survey data can be coordinated within the same grid and datum, providing one consistent dataset for design, assessment and project planning.

Topographical Surveys for Natural Environments

Topographical surveys provide accurate information about the visible features, levels and form of a site.

Our surveys can support:

• Environmental assessments
• Flood-risk and drainage studies
• River restoration
• Woodland management
• Landscape design
• Infrastructure planning
• Habitat improvement schemes
• Canal and waterway projects
• Development feasibility
• Bank stabilisation and engineering works

Total station, GNSS, laser scanning, SLAM and drone methods can be combined depending on the size, terrain, vegetation and access conditions.

Hydrographic and Bathymetric Surveys

Hydrographic and bathymetric surveys record the form and depth of rivers, canals, lakes, ponds and other water environments.

Survey information can include:

• Water depths
• Bed levels
• Channel cross-sections
• Long sections
• Bank profiles
• Water-edge positions
• Structures within or beside the water
• Culverts and bridge openings
• Silt and bed-profile information
• Coordinated land and water levels

Depending on the environment, data may be captured using sonar, GNSS, total station observations, laser scanning or direct measurement methods.

River, Canal and Waterside Surveys

Waterway projects often require accurate information about the relationship between the water, surrounding land and nearby structures.

We can survey:

• Rivers and streams
• Canals and navigation channels
• Lakes and reservoirs
• Ponds and drainage basins
• Weirs and control structures
• Bridges and culverts
• Retaining walls and embankments
• Towpaths and access routes
• Outfalls and drainage features
• Waterside buildings and infrastructure

This information can support hydraulic modelling, flood studies, maintenance, restoration, engineering design and construction planning.

Woodland and Difficult-Access Surveys

Dense vegetation, uneven ground, steep banks and restricted access can make conventional surveying difficult.

Cura Surveys selects the most suitable combination of equipment for each environment, including:

• Total stations for controlled observations
• GNSS for open-area positioning
• 3D laser scanning for detailed structures and terrain
• SLAM scanning for rapid data capture
• Drone surveys for wider site coverage
• Sonar for below-water information

Survey methods are adapted to the site rather than applying one standard approach to every project.

Drone and 3D Laser Scanning Surveys

Drone surveys can provide aerial photography, site context and wider coverage across large or difficult-to-access areas.

3D laser scanning can capture detailed geometry around:

• Bridges
• Culverts
• Retaining walls
• Water-control structures
• Embankments
• Buildings
• Canal-side structures
• Complex access areas

These datasets can be combined with controlled topographical information to produce coordinated CAD drawings, point clouds and 3D survey records.

Typical Projects

Our environmental and land survey services support:

• River restoration schemes
• Flood-risk assessments
• Canal and waterway projects
• Lake and reservoir surveys
• Woodland and habitat projects
• Drainage and outfall studies
• Bridge and culvert assessments
• Bank and embankment works
• Environmental improvement schemes
• Landscape and public-realm design
• Infrastructure development
• Construction near water
• Difficult-access land surveys
• Estate and countryside projects

Why Choose Cura Surveys?

Cura Surveys combines professional surveying experience with a broad range of land, water and digital survey technologies.

We provide:

• RICS-regulated survey services
• More than 20 years of professional surveying experience
• Coordinated land and water survey data
• Topographical, hydrographic and bathymetric surveys
• Total station, GNSS, laser scanning, SLAM and drone capability
• Sonar and water-depth survey methods
• CAD, point cloud and 3D survey deliverables
• Experience in woodland, river, canal and difficult-access environments
• Clear scopes, grid and datum coordination
• Practical site planning and responsive communication

Our focus is to provide accurate, usable survey information that helps environmental, engineering and design teams understand complex sites clearly.