RICS new approach to survey accuracy and consistency - Technics Group

Technics is pleased to announce the long awaited revision of survey industry standards that will raise the bar in survey delivery by improving the accuracy and consistency of results for clients. The RICS 3rd edition specification and guidance note focuses on best practice principles and emphasises the importance of classical surveying and measurement best practice in what has become a fast moving and evolving technology driven environment.

The long-awaited edition deals with survey control network accuracy (incorporating ppm principles) as well as control output, maintenance and records. It also uses a ‘survey detail accuracy band table’, which takes into consideration client requirements for scale independent metadata and digital data handling environments. This has enormous potential for client education and in explaining the relationship between scale, accuracy, feature size and methodology. The ‘banding’ table is also applicable outside of the UK.

Another new concept within the new 3rd edition is the use of BIM (or more accurately Survey for BIM) as an output. The 3rd edition underlines the importance of ‘output’ within the context of measured survey and also features an extensive ‘deliverables’ section.
Endorsed by both the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveys (ICES) and The Survey Association (TSA), the new edition places the relationship between client and surveyor at the heart of any survey contract and incorporates several new features and concepts that are aimed at improving the accuracy of output.

The new edition forms part of a wider raft of recent ground-breaking industry standards, which aims to develop surveys so they become more contemporary, relevant and further enhance professional standards both nationally and further afield. These include the PAS-128 Utility Specification and RICS IPMS (International Professional Measurement Standards)

John Macintyre, MD at Technics, said: “As a consultancy, Technics continues to support any revision of industry practices that delivers the best results for the client in terms of accuracy, reporting and output. An ongoing industry challenge is that imprecise surveys are still being executed and clients need detailed guidance on quality standards when procuring services; activities that seek to address this are welcome and implemented at the earliest opportunity amongst Technics’ clients.”
For more information regarding RICS 3rd edition, please click here.