Surveying

MBI uses state of the art survey equipment including high precision GPS equipment which utilizes signals broadcast from communication satellites orbiting the earth.  This technology is also used for accuracy and efficiency in surveying and mapping large or remote areas of ground.

Boundary Surveys are made to establish or re-establish a boundary line on the ground or to obtain data for constructing a map or plat showing boundary lines of property. 

Services:

• Residential Lots
• Commercial / Industrial Property
• Land Subdivisions

ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys are surveys made for the benefit of lending institutions or title insurance companies to aid in the identification of possible title problems relating to a particular property. "ALTA" stands for American Land Title Association.  ALTA specifies the data to be shown on the survey and this includes boundary lines, location of the main building including improvements, location of ancillary buildings, the identification of easements (access rights by service companies such as water, gas, telephone, railways and other utilities). ALTA surveys are very complex surveys and can take weeks to complete. For that reason most ALTA surveys are performed on commercial properties.

Construction Surveys are survey measurements and staking on a construction project which establishes horizontal and vertical control to facilitate the proper installation and construction of buildings, roads, utilities, airports, bridges, and other construction related improvements. 

Services:

• Commercial / Industrial Development
• Residential Subdivision
• City / County / State / Federal projects

Topographic Surveys gather data about the natural and man-made features of the land, as well as its elevations.  From this information a three-dimensional map is prepared for use in design or to document work performed or existing features. 

Services:

• As-Built Surveys
• Preliminary Engineering Surveys
• Quantity Calculations
• Drainage Studies

From 1979 to 2011, McGhie & Betts has prepared plats for over 13,000 lots in Olmsted County, Minnesota.  These lots include residential, institutional, industrial and commercial properties.  Within that 32 year span, we have platted just over 54% of the total number of lots platted in Olmsted County. 

Preliminary Plats are maps of a parcel of land showing the proposed size and location of lots, street, alleys, easements, etc. including existing and proposed features.

Final Plats are the final map creating lots and public thoroughfares.  When approved and properly recorded, the lot and block numbers become the legal description of the various parcels.

Here are just a few of the neighborhoods/developments for which we have prepared plats:

Residential

Institutional

Industrial/Commercial

Legal Description Services:

Preparation of legal descriptions to be used in conjunction with a legal document for the transfer of certain rights or property is a common requirement.  Legal descriptions are generally needed to describe:

• Property Boundary
• Utility Easements
• Property Boundaries for Purchase Agreements Lease Areas
• Street / Alley / Easement Vacations
• Annexation / Rezoning

Certifications

Our department obtains building elevations for completing the FEMA Elevation Certificate to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances and to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Revision (LOMR)

Aerial Photogrammetry Control

The establishment of horizontal and vertical control points on the ground on objects visible on an aerial photograph to be used to orient and adjust the photograph to it’s proper location.  Examples of this work area are:

• Large Area Topographic Mapping
• GIS
• Orthophotos
• Presentations