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Writer's pictureAmelie Lawrence

Land Surveyors and The Big Role They Play After A Natural Disaster

Updated: Sep 14, 2023

Remember the bushfire crisis? Well, it's not the only worst natural disaster recorded in Australia. There have been a lot more, and Australians have done what they are good at - recovering quickly and bringing daily life back on track. The civil servants, security personnel, land surveyors, and every profession of the country plays a significant role in recovering from the disaster.


Land surveyors become crucial after a natural disaster. When a substantial number of landmasses and buildings are destroyed, it becomes necessary to settle all the disputes that may arise later.



Let's ponder on the various ways how land surveyors can help:

  1. To reassess the boundaries: Land surveyors can reassess private and public properties that have been destroyed. They can make use of state-of-the-art techniques and ensure that no issues arise once everything is back on track. One thing that most people dislike after a major disaster is getting in a brawl or legal case with their neighbors on how much land they do, they own. Land surveyors can take help of the land documents and solve this.

  2. To identify any changes in the topography: Be it floods, a volcanic eruption, an earthquake or a forest fire, the part of the earth that's damaged the most as a result of these disasters is the top layer. The future constructions on such sites need to be reassessed if planned before the disaster. Land surveyors can use their expertise to determine the changes that have occurred in the landscape, making it easy for the builders to commence their work.

  3. To identify the areas that will be damaged further: When there are topographical changes, chances of deterioration of the land furthermore increases tenfold. Dwelling at such places after a disaster is never recommended. Land surveyors can ensure that you don't live around an area that can be further damaged in the aftermath of the disaster.

  4. To ensure the safety of new buildings: You must realize that just after a natural disaster, there might be certain properties where construction must be prohibited. Human life is precious, and it must not be endangered just because you have neglected the fact that it will be a bad construction. Land surveyors will help you identify the piece of land where you must avoid starting a new construction project.

  5. To interact with the locals: Locals are in a ruckus and turmoil after a major natural disaster. While they are left astonished at nature's fury, they are also on the constant lookout for answers to some of their questions. Land surveyors are the first people who begin work on the ground. They can serve a vast purpose by providing the locals and the victims with answers to their questions and providing them with a timeline as to when they can start reconstructing their destroyed homes.

  6. To collaborate with engineers: Land surveyors collect the knowledge they need and can assist the engineers and the constructors who get involved in the construction in the later stages. Surveyors can present the facts and observations that they deem helpful to the engineers. This way, they can keep the residents safe.

  7. To help displaced residents: Land surveyors being one of the first personnel to start working on ground zero, can help the disaster relief teams by assisting residents in coming out of the damaged areas.

If you thought that land surveyors have the job to assess land for construction, you were wrong. Their broader roles and responsibilities are somewhat humanitarian and for the benefit of the whole humankind. Disasters are situations where, the faster a community emerges out it, the better. Land surveyors can play a considerable hand in ensuring this.

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