Historic Survey Plans - Charting History

The preservation of historic survey plans is crucial for maintaining a tangible link to the past and insuring sustainable development for communities.

Historic survey plans are invaluable records that offer insights into our historical landscape, the use of land and changing property boundaries. By protecting these survey plans, society benefits from a historical connection to the past that has a profound impact on the way we live today. Historical surveys provide us with:

Legal References

Even the oldest survey plans serve as legal documents, which means a plan from 100 years ago can still provide us with important information about land. Land survey plans establish boundary lines, land ownership, and facilitate in the legitimacy of land transactions. In preserving these plans, we are able to maintain the integrity of land ownership, and record accurate historical data related to land and property.

Educational Uses

When you are looking at a historic survey, you are looking into a snapshot of the past. Chances are if you're looking at a survey from 100 years ago, the landscape has changed a lot since then because land is often used to fulfill a purpose relevant to life at that point in time. In preserving historical plans there is an educational opportunity for researchers, students, and the public to have a better understanding of their surroundings. Findings can be used in educational programs, exhibits, and demonstrations to raise public awareness of their local history and create a sense of community.

Historical Documentation

There is a wealth of information to be uncovered in a historical survey plan. These plans depict the use of land and development overtime, giving people a unique perspective as to how cities and regions have transformed over the years.

Planning and Development Aid

Historic survey plans serve as a valuable resource for planners and developers alike. By understanding how the land was utilized in the past, land professionals can examine the fabric of the land and make informed decisions about future projects. Survey plans can also give away unique historical or cultural context about the land that needs to be considered before land use and design is finalized.

Cultural Heritage

Expanding on the cultural context that land survey plans offer, these documents contribute to the preservation of culture by documenting historical sites, landmarks, and sometimes architectural features. Giving land professionals access to these documents aids in the protection and conservation of areas with culturally rich landscapes.

Environmental Conservation

Historic land survey plans can be used to mitigate the impact of development on the environment by offering information about the land’s natural features such as bodies of water and forests. Plans can provide insight about the original ecosystem and ensure measures are taken to implement environmental conservation.

Land survey plans play a vital role in understanding our past and planning for our future. With the technological advancements made in digitizing and archiving historic survey plans, preserving these plans has become increasingly achievable. The digital preservation of land survey plans ensures that these legal documents are protected for years to come.

As surveyors, we bear the responsibility to preserve these plans and make them accessible to other surveyors, land professionals and the public so that the benefits may be garnered by current and future generations.