Can some GIS information be used in lieu of an actual on-the-ground survey?
We have found certain information available from a GIS to be sufficient to use in lieu of field-surveyed data. An example is the online FEMA FIRM data, which is georeferenced and can be downloaded and inserted directly into a survey drawing to an accuracy that is sufficient for many uses. However, if an exact flood elevation needs to be determined, an actual field survey is required. While ruggedized Toughbooks® are very beneficial to GIS technicians as they create their databases in the field, I am not convinced that the data a surveyor needs can be available by a printed copy of the information from the GIS. I suspect having too many neat electronic “toys” could be a distraction to accomplishing the work. In many cases, the information obtained from a GIS is more beneficial to the surveying office staff than to field crews. Professional land surveyors and CAD technicians in the office can efficiently use the GIS data to provide supplemental information to the field crews and assist i
