In concept, surveying is the technique of determining the two- or three-dimensional positions of points on the surface of the Earth and the angles between them. Surveying, in Connecticut and everywhere else, is used to create land maps and establish boundaries for ownership. In either case, however, more than technical skills are needed, and research is often required to draw up a map or decide on a boundary. This approach involves gathering information through observations, measurements, questionnaires, research, and data analysis.

When done manually, surveying on Connecticut land and in any other location is a time-consuming process. Recent technology, however, has shortened this significantly. Laser scanning allows these points to be captured and graphed on a three-dimensional set of points, and from the three-dimensional image created, two-dimensional drawings at various angles can be produced. Additionally, laser scanning allows complex and in accessible environments and surfaces to be mapped, and often eliminates second-time visits to verify data.

When mapping a surface, a laser scanner sends out a beam of light in the direction of the object, and the scanner measures the time of flight. The time the light takes to return results in a point on a three-dimensional (X, Y, and Z coordinates) graph. A laser scanner sends out thousands of beams of light in the direction of the object, and all are mapped on the set of coordinates. The result is a point cloud, and the thousands of points are pieced together to produce a three-dimensional, computer-generated image.

If you contacted a Connecticut surveying company to use this approach in mapping an area or building, laser scanning is often used. The three-dimensional image, however, is not the final step. The goal of many land and building surveying projects is to produce two-dimensional images, much like those of a standard engineering drawing. The three-dimensional, computer-generated model, then, is traced to produce these two-dimensional images at multiple angles.