1519 Surveying, LLC (1519) completed the right-of-way mapping, legal descriptions, and parcel plats for two miles of right-of-way acquisitions for FM 549, from State Highway 205 to State Highway 276, for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). 1519 field crews obtained right-of-way entry for 70 parcels, communicated with property owners, verified existing TxDOT control monuments, provided topography for new developments and improvements along the existing and proposed right-of-way, located existing right-of-way monuments and property corners to verify the existing right-of-way, and staked monuments for the existing and proposed right-of-way for FM 549. Office staff researched property adjoining FM 549, completed thirty-two (32) documents for right-of-way acquisitions and drainage improvements, nine (9) documents for right-of-way affidavit parcels, and created the right-of-way map for the project.

All right-of-way maps and documents were tied to the project baseline (FM 549 centerline) by station and offset. On a preliminary site visit, 1519 identified a cemetery that was not identified by a previous surveyor. Communicating this issue with TxDOT as soon as it was discovered allowed them to redesign the right-of-way at the beginning of the project and avoid any delays in schedule. 1519 provided weekly progress reports to the TxDOT project manager and monthly progress reports with all invoices, confirming that 1519 was meeting project timelines and deliverables.

The West End Subdivision is located west of the McGregor Airport and northeast of the intersection of Highway 84 and Val Verde Road lying both in the City of McGregor and the ETJ of the City of Waco. The existing 397-acre tract has been utilized for agriculture purposes with adjacent properties being utilized for residential, agricultural, commercial, and air traffic purposes. Due to substantial growth in the area for both residential and commercial use, our client wanted a master-planned community with commercial spaces available for a childcare facility, assisted living facility, etc.

We began this project by conducting a Boundary survey of the entire proposed development, which consisted of approximately 400 acres adjoining the McGregor Airport and having river frontage along the Middle Bosque River. In order to ensure this property was suitable for our client’s intended use, we utilized Lidar to produce a preliminary topographic survey of the entire property. This Lidar topographic survey was then used to construct a preliminary site and grading plan that allowed the client to determine the feasibility of the project. Once our client decided to proceed with the project, we conducted an on-the-ground topographic survey to collect all necessary data (above and below ground utilities, more topographic data, all other improvements) for full Civil construction plans.

This Master-Planned community consists of 610 single-family / garden home lots along with a few commercial lots along the main entry street. In addition to the typical on-site utilities that had to be designed, this site also required substantial off-site improvements to water and sewer in order to service this planned community. Off-site sewer improvements required the design of 6,463 linear feet of 8”-12” sewer lines run along Highway 84 and then bored underneath the highway to a lift station on the opposite side. Also, over 3 miles of off-site water lines had to be designed to connect in to a line large enough to supply this community and to loop the system back into an existing neighborhood. 1519 utilized drone technology to collect aerial imagery and topographic data. A full set of Civil Construction Plans was produced for Phase 1 along with the master plat for all future phases.

1519 Surveying, LLC was contracted by the City of Waco to conduct a topographic survey of approximately two miles of an existing two-lane road. Due to the constant traffic along this road, it was determined that utilizing a UAV would be the safest approach to gathering the required data. The UAV collected topographic data 100’ from the road centerline on both sides of Airport Road from Lake Shore to FM 3051.

Due to the operating area being located within Class D airspace at Waco Municipal Airport, FAA Airspace Authorization was required. We acquired authorization using LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability). The Waco Municipal Airport control tower was also notified of our operation and scope of duties on the day of flight. We then flew safely and legally within the controlled airspace at 200 feet above ground level. The entire operation was completed within a 2-hour time frame.

All flight data post-processing, linework/feature extraction, and final deliverables were completed and sent to the client within 3 weeks from initial day of flight. Deliverables included: linework, manhole and water valve locations, conventional surveys, CAD files, DTM/TIN files, point cloud and ortho-imagery.

1519 was contracted by Aqua Texas through an ID/IQ contract to provide Civil Engineering for the upgrade of existing water lines servicing a growing area of north Waco. The pipeline upgrade consisted of two lines both upgrading from 4″ to 6″ pipe: one line of 2,800 linear feet and another line of 4,800 linear feet.

Before design could begin 1519 had to produce a comprehensive topographic survey of the proposed routes including:

• All surface features (roads, creek, drainage channels, culverts, etc.)
• Indication of Access (curb cuts, driveways, etc.)
• All Substantial Visual Improvements
• Utility Locations, Fiber Optic Marker, Manholes, Flowline Direction and Pipe Size, Gate Valves, Markers & Signs

Additionally, 1519 performed all boundary survey work and created easement exhibits for the private parcels located on the proposed route, established TxDOT right-of-way and provided monumentation for newly created easements per the TBPLS rules. 1519 survey crews staked the location of 5 soil borings, existing utilities and the new water line route to ensure construction was within the easement and at proper depth.

The civil portion of the projected consisted of design for water system improvements, traffic control plans, erosion control, construction specifications, permitting services and preparation of record drawings.

The water system design included abandonment of multiple smaller water mains, as well as proposed water line civil plan and profile sheets for the rerouting and installation of the new Aqua Texas main along county-maintained streets located within The City of Waco Extraterritorial jurisdiction and TxDOT controlled Spur 1637.

Highway borings, efficient relocation of valves, and reconnect of feeder mains to the system were among several aspects utilized to establish a more economic and sustainable product for Aqua Texas.

After design completion, 1519 managed communication and administrative work to bid out the construction of the water line extension to qualified contractors. We reviewed and ranked all bids based on predefined criteria and selected which contracting firm we thought had the most experience and offered the best value for the scope of work required. The experience and relationships cultivated over years of serving this industry were instrumental in the seamless coordination and permitting through TCEQ, The City of Waco, McLennan County and TXDOT.

1519 Surveying, LLC (1519) was hired to perform the design survey of approximately 19,000 linear feet for the purpose of a new sanitary sewer line in the City of Plano. 1519 established control points and benchmarks at 1,000-foot intervals. Horizontal coordinates were established using GPS and vertical values were established by conventional leveling. All control was tied into the City of Plano control network. 1519 researched public records to obtain the deeds of current property owners, plats, and existing easements within the project limits. Property corners were recovered, boundary lines were resolved, and a property map was created. The topographic survey included the location of pavement edges, curb and gutter, fences and walls, sidewalks, buildings, creeks, tops and toes of slopes, spot elevations, trees six (6) inches and larger, surface locations of utilities, flowlines of existing sanitary and storm sewer manholes where accessible, and other surface features affecting design.

This project also included the preparation of twenty (20) documents for easements with metes and bounds descriptions to be acquired as well as the boundary survey of City of Plano property to be acquired for the North Texas Municipal Water District to expand their existing site. As easements were acquired, 1519 staked the locations of easements and property lines for limits of construction.

1519 also performed the survey of the Level “A” and Level “B” utilities that were marked by a private subsurface utility engineering firm. This included surveying the locations of the marked utility lines, test holes, and locations of all surface utilities within the project limits. 1519 was able to meet all project timelines and budget constraints to ensure the project maintained schedule.

1519 Surveying, LLC was contracted in March 2015 by an attorney representing the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in remote Oldham County, Texas. 1519’s role was to serve as an expert consultant concerning a contested area with substantial oil and gas royalty implications. The project consisted of research and sketching, field surveying, computation, and communicating our findings to the client. 1519 began by researching the original and amended surveys and field notes on file at the General Land Office of Texas (GLO). Detailed field sketches were prepared of a vast area covering dozens of sections of land, complete with the original surveyors’ notes.

Control was set at strategic locations around the subject area using OPUS solutions from 8-hour static sessions. Field surveying commenced by locating various original stone monuments set by surveyors in the 1800s. Field sketches were then revised and corrected to the located monuments and calculations were performed to aid in the location of remaining, pertinent survey monuments. The critical monuments were then located in the field. All findings were analyzed and 1519 successfully determined the location of the contested survey line.

1519 Surveying, LLC (1519) completed the design survey of approximately 27,000 linear feet for the purpose of a new water transmission line in the City of Celina. This project adjoined two TxDOT-controlled roads, crossed the proposed Dallas North Tollway, and crossed the railroad right-of-way within the original Celina city limits. 1519 established control points and benchmarks at 1,000-foot intervals. Horizontal coordinates were established using GPS and vertical values were established by conventional leveling. 1519 researched public records to obtain the deeds of current property owners, plats, and existing easements within the project limits. Property corners were recovered, boundary lines were resolved, and a digital property map was created. The topographic survey was completed using the use of drone technology and on-the-ground surveying methods, and included the location of pavement edges, curb and gutter, fences and walls, sidewalks, buildings, creeks, tops and toes of slopes, spot elevations, trees six (6) inches and larger, surface locations of utilities, flowlines of existing sanitary and storm sewer manholes where accessible, and other surface features affecting design.

1519 prepared thirty-one (31) documents for permanent easements, temporary construction easements, and right-of-way acquisitions, and was also responsible for platting two properties along the proposed route for the City of Celina and private landowners. 1519 staked monuments for all right-of-way acquisitions and plats, staked the location of easements and property lines for limits of construction, and provided construction staking as needed.

1519 also performed the survey of the Level “A” and Level “B” utilities that were marked by a private subsurface utility engineering firm. This included surveying the locations of the marked utility lines, test holes, and locations of all surface utilities within the project limits.

The design survey was divided into three phases with aggressive schedules and 1519 was able to meet all timelines and budgets. Additionally, 1519 completed all documents within a two week time frame.

1519 provided work for the Coca-Cola bottling plant located on the corner of Imperial and Hewitt Drive. Our Surveyors and Engineers provided services for a parking lot, building expansion, detention ponds, and future development at the plant. One of the key unique challenges to this project was the fact that this was an operating plant with a high amount of truck traffic in our project area. As such, it was next to impossible to conduct the needed survey work with traditional methods and maintain a safe working environment. We used one of our UAVs to collect the required topographic data and other site features needed for Civil Design.

Civil Design/Surveying Services Included:
• General Construction Notes
• Dimension Control Plan
• Site Utility Design
• Planning & Zoning ordinances
• Pre/Post Drainage Calculations
• Modified Rational Method Detention Design
• TxDOT had to approve since we were along a TxDOT ROW
• Paving Design
• Grading Plan
• Water, Sanitary & Sewer
• Closed Conduit Storm Drain System Design
• Had to avoid an 8” water main that supplied the entire plant
• Erosion Control Plan
• Landscape & Irrigation Plans
• Construction Specifications
• Permitting Services

This project consisted of a 160-acre Boundary and Topographic survey along the Brazos River that was used for the Civil Engineering design for the new football stadium. Timing and confidentiality on this project were extremely important as the plan for a new stadium was not yet known to the general public. As such, 1519 placed multiple crews on this project and took all logos off of trucks and equipment so they could not be identified.

As part of the survey, Second Order Horizontal and Vertical Control was set throughout the project site to ensure the highest accuracy standards for the planned Civil Engineering design that included not only the stadium but a marina and multiple platforms along the Brazos River. There were also multiple major utility lines affecting the property that could have made construction of the stadium impossible. As such, all above ground and below ground utilities were located and surveyed, which resulted in a major electrical transmission line needing to be relocated.

In addition to these services, the Gradient Boundary of the Brazos River had to be determined in order to establish the boundary between the proposed site and the state-owned Brazos riverbed. It was determined that there was a deed overlap between the Baylor property and the Lake rights that the City of Waco had to hold water within the riverbed. This required a meeting with the General Land Office of Texas to resolve the encroachment of Lake Brazos (City of Waco property) on this Baylor property.

Obviously, one of the main objectives was for Baylor to acquire the property and to fully understand the legal boundaries of what they were planning on purchasing. The metes and bounds survey with all easements (which included I-35 and multiple franchise utilities), rights of way, utility locations, and all topographic data were provided to the client in AutoCad and Shape files along with the ASCII, TIN and DTM files.

Boundary, aerial, and topographic survey for Freese and Nichols, Inc. of approximately eight (8) miles of a prosed road (loop) around the City of Weatherford. 1519 set aerial panels throughout the project area and managed the aerial flight of the project. The coordinates of the aerial panels were established using GPS and scaled to Texas Department of Transportation surface coordinates. The aerial flight included the planimetrics (2D features), a digital terrain model of the project, and orthophotos. 1519 performed the QA/QC of all data prior to submittal to the client.

1519 also performed the boundary survey of approximately four (4) miles of the proposed route and obtained copies of subdivision plats and ownership deeds within the project limits. Boundary monuments were recovered and a property map was created. Included in the boundary survey were fifty (50) documents with legal descriptions for right-of-way acquisitions, signed and sealed by a Registered Professional Land Surveyor.

After documents were completed, 1519 set monuments delineating the proposed right-of-way. 1519 also staked the proposed right-of-way so that property owners and appraisers could see the new route and construct new fences.

1519 Surveying, LLC worked with engineers, land men, title agents, property owners, and other land surveyors in order to complete the project. Property owners were always notified of 1519’s presence prior to accessing their land.

1519 also performed the survey of the Level “A” and Level “B” utilities that were marked by a private subsurface utility engineering firm. This included surveying the locations of the marked utility lines, test holes, and locations of all surface utilities within the project limits. 1519 was able to meet all project timelines and deliverables while staying within budget constraints.

1519 Surveying, LLC (1519) completed the schematic design survey for approximately two (2) miles of FM 428 and County Road 55/Glendenning Parkway, from 1,000 feet west of Dallas Parkway to 1,000 feet east of SH 289 (Preston Road), for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). 1519 established four (4) permanent horizontal and vertical control monuments and set secondary control points along the proposed route. 1519 field crews recovered property corners and right-of-monuments and 1519 office personnel completed the right-of-way verification map for the proposed route. Field crews also surveyed the locations of drainage structures, utilities, signs, and creeks within the existing right-of-way. 1519 completed the aerial mapping of the proposed route, which included seven hundred (700) feet on each side of the proposed alignment. The planimetric (2D) features were extracted by processing the imagery from a fixed wing flight and the .tin (3D) data was created by using the point cloud data from a helicopter LiDAR flight. Deliverables included signed and sealed control sheets, imagery and point cloud files, and Microstation files completed to TxDOT standards.

The Waco Suspension Bridge is a historical landmark located in downtown Waco, Texas that was built in 1870 by Thomas Griffith, a New York civil engineer. He commissioned the bridgework and cables for the project to be supplied by The Roebling Company, the same firm that later helped build the famous Brooklyn Bridge. After completion, The Waco Suspension Bridge quickly provided a crossing over the Brazos River for the Chisholm Trail and other north-south travel through Texas. Due to high traffic, the town doubled in size over the next decade which contributed greatly to The City of Waco’s development. Recently, 1519 Surveying, LLC (1519) was engaged by the Engineering firm hired by the City of Waco to refurbish this 150-year-old bridge to its past glory.

1519 had to produce an Engineering Design Survey on this piece of Waco history, which required the integration of UAV Mapping/Photogrammetry and field surveying to produce point cloud files and orthoimagery within the project limits. The point cloud and orthophotos were used to provide accurate measurements of specific bridge features such as hanger and floor beam lengths for refurbishment purposes. Data was acquired using drone photogrammetry with over 1000 photos taken from various angles and flight paths over and around the bridge. Photogrammetry software was then used to generate the 360-degree point cloud and orthophotos. Drone data was then merged with field surveying shots and terrestrial scanning point cloud files in a CAD environment to deliver the requested measurements and values from the client.

Deliverables included a digital design survey drawing in AutoCAD (.dwg) showing visible surface features and requested measurements located, an ASCII point file, a copy of field notes and field sketches, point cloud files in LAS format, and digital aerial orthophotography of the entire bridge structure.

The Tanglewood Estates Subdivision is located in the City of Woodway, at the corner of Old McGregor Road and Ritchie Road. The existing 169-acre tract had been utilized for agricultural purposes. Due to substantial growth in the area, our client hired us to create a master-planned community for custom homes with shared amenities such as parks and walking trails.

1519 Surveying, LLC (1519) conducted a boundary survey of 169-acres for the previous owner prior to the development of the subdivision. The data for the boundary survey was taken with high-tech aerial survey equipment flown by 1519’s FAA-certified drone pilot. Once the property was sold, the new owner contacted 1519 to do additional work for the purpose of residential development. For Phase 1, land surveyors conducted an in-depth on-the-ground topographic survey of 67-acres to collect data for a preliminary site and grading plan. In addition, 1519 conducted the platting process to create boundaries, right-of-way, and parcels that were unique to the project.

1519 engineers conducted a feasibility study of the property that included analysis of zoning, available utilities, preliminary dentition requirements, submittal procedures, and permitting fees. 1519 also communicated with TxDOT, The City of Woodway, and utility companies to determine development requirements for the property. After completion of the study, the client received a summary report and conceptual master site plan of the entire development showing the lot layout.

A full set of Civil Construction Plans were produced for Phase 1, along with a concept plan for all future phases. The subdivision contains 487 lots used for single-family lots and the associated utility work, street construction, detention ponds, walking trails, and shared parks.  Onsite improvements consisted of 32,000 linear feet of 8-inch water main and 28,000 linear feet of gravity sewer pipe. 1519 engineers also designed 10,000 linear feet of underground storm shelters. All offsite utilities were tied to City of Waco mains located on the property frontage. Additionally, plans for a series of detention ponds for the subdivision’s parks were produced. Amenities on the property include a 3-acre park, several 1-acre pocket parks, walking trails, and green space.