Contour Survey

Deformation Monitoring & Scan-Based Movement Surveys

Track structural deformation, settlement, and site movement using a combination of high-density 3D laser scanning and precise survey control. Scan-based monitoring captures full surface geometry over time — not just discrete prism points — so adjacent buildings, slopes, retaining walls, historic structures, and excavation faces can be compared epoch-to-epoch with confidence. In the East Bay hills this includes landslide and slope-creep monitoring: many hillside neighborhoods sit on mapped slow-moving landslides that creep fractions of an inch per year and accelerate in wet winters. Repeat laser-scan epochs compare the entire slope surface — millions of points, not a handful of stakes — detecting millimeter-level movement patterns across the whole hillside before cracks appear in foundations and streets.

Protect Your Investment

  • Scan-to-scan comparison of full building or slope geometry
  • Combined laser scanning and conventional control for precision
  • Early detection of movement and deformation
  • Regular monitoring schedules — pre-construction baseline through closeout
  • Precise measurements suitable for risk and liability documentation
  • Comprehensive reports with visual deformation heat maps
Surveyor field work in Northern California
Movement Monitoring

Movement Monitoring

Baseline and repeat measurements for changing sites.

Track movement, settlement, construction impacts, or structural change with repeatable measurements.

BaselineRepeat checksReports

Our Process

Systematic monitoring to detect movement early.

1

Baseline Survey

We establish monitoring points and take initial precise measurements as the reference baseline.

2

Monitoring Schedule

Regular surveys are conducted according to project requirements—weekly, monthly, or as needed.

3

Data Analysis

Each survey is compared to the baseline to detect and quantify any movement.

4

Reporting

Clear reports showing movement trends and alerts if thresholds are exceeded.

Deformation Monitoring FAQ

Common questions about monitoring surveys.

Deformation monitoring is the repeated, precise measurement of a structure or slope over time to detect and quantify movement. With scan-based monitoring, we capture full surface geometry on each visit and compare epochs — so the entire building, retaining wall, slope, or excavation face is compared, not just a handful of prism points. This is especially useful for adjacent-property monitoring, historic structures, slope stability, and litigation-sensitive sites.
Excavation, shoring, dewatering, and adjacent construction can move neighboring buildings, retaining walls, and slopes. Establishing a scan-based baseline before work begins and re-measuring at intervals provides early warning of movement and creates a defensible record for liability protection.
Frequency depends on the project and risk level. During active excavation and shoring, weekly or bi-weekly monitoring is common. Long-term post-construction monitoring may be monthly or quarterly, with action thresholds defined up front.
Conventional control points are measured to approximately 0.01 foot (3mm). Scan-based deformation comparison resolves surface change at a few millimeters across the full structure or slope, which is sufficient to detect subtle deformation patterns before they become visible failures.
Yes. East Bay hillsides — from the Oakland and Berkeley Hills to the Blakemont area of Kensington and El Cerrito — include mapped slow-moving landslides that creep steadily and accelerate after wet winters. We establish a scan-based baseline of the slope, then re-scan at set intervals and difference the point clouds to quantify where and how fast the ground is moving. The whole-slope comparison shows movement patterns a few isolated stakes would miss, and the record supports geotechnical design, insurance, and disclosure decisions. You can check whether your property sits in a mapped hazard zone using the California Geological Survey's EQ Zapp tool.
A geotechnical investigation characterizes the soil and slide plane below ground — borings, inclinometers, lab work by a geotechnical engineer. Our surveys measure what the ground surface is actually doing over time. The two work together: monitoring data tells the geotech how fast and where the slope moves, and provides the surveyed topographic base their analysis is built on.

Related Services

Other services for construction projects.

3D Scanning

Capture existing conditions once and give every stakeholder a reliable source of truth.

Learn More

Construction Staking

Translate design plans into precise field locations for construction.

Learn More

Monument Preservation

Pre-construction monument preservation surveys required by California Business & Professions Code §8771.

Learn More

Need Monitoring Services?

Contact us to discuss your project requirements and monitoring schedule.

Get a Quoteor(510) 543-2220

Meeting-first estimates • Response within 24 hours • Serious projects only