The conversation should be all about what spatial evidence clients need, in order to make the right decision.  A unified national campaign is underway to help reposition geospatial surveying from a technical support service to a critical evidence-based profession.

Client Guides: a practical resource for professionals and clients

TSA’s Client Guides are not intended to overwhelm with highly technical details, but instead they provide concise, accessible introductions to a wide range of surveying disciplines. If you’re an architect, engineer, planner, project manager or simply a client looking to understand what you need and why, these guides offer a great starting point.

Each guide is carefully structured to answer the questions you’re most likely to ask:

• What is this type of survey?
• When and why is it needed?
• What equipment and techniques are used?
• What regulations or procedures apply?

This practical approach helps demystify surveying, giving you confidence when specifying requirements, managing risk, and engaging with surveying professionals.

A wide range of topics

TSA’s collection of Client Guides reflects the diversity of the geospatial surveying sector. From traditional ground-based methods to cutting-edge technologies, the guides cover subjects including:

• Topographical surveys
• Measured building surveys
• Setting out surveys
• Hydrographic surveys
• Aerial LiDAR
• Photogrammetry

…and many more.

If you’ve already explored our recent blog on photogrammetry, you’ll know how powerful modern surveying methods have become. The full range of TSA Guides reveals how different survey techniques work together to support everything from construction and infrastructure to environmental monitoring and asset management.

Why download a TSA Client Guide?

Reliable information can be difficult and time-consuming to sift through. TSA’s Client Guides offer a trusted shortcut, developed by geospatial experts and grounded in real-world practice.

By downloading a Guide, you can:

• Clarify your project requirements before commissioning work
• Avoid costly misunderstandings by knowing what to expect
• Understand the scope and limitations of different survey methods
• Stay aware of relevant standards and procedures
• Make better, more informed decisions

Whether you’re at the early planning stage or already working on a project, having the right information at your fingertips can make a huge difference.

Designed for easy access

All TSA Client Guides are available as downloadable PDFs, making them easy to access, share, and refer back to whenever you need them. They’re ideal for quick reading but also useful as ongoing reference documents throughout the lifecycle of a project.

If you’ve found value in learning more about photogrammetry, why stop there? There’s a whole library of guidance waiting to be explored. Each guide offers insights into a different aspect of surveying and its role in delivering successful outcomes.

Visit the TSA downloads section and discover the full range of Client Guides

Take a few minutes to browse. You may find exactly the information you didn’t realise you needed.

The Survey Association (TSA) is committed to promoting best practice and improving understanding across the surveying profession. Our Client Guides are just one way we’re helping to bridge the gap between technical expertise and practical application.

Discover TSA’s Client Guides here https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/resources/downloads/

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Across the sector, more clients and client organisations are recognising its value and are actively seeking out TSA to find out more about what the scheme offers.

Why PUMA matters

Geospatial surveying is one of the essential, but often unseen, disciplines behind and under the built environment.  Raising standards in utility surveying, a specialism within geospatial surveying, has never been more important. High-quality, reliable survey data is essential to prioritise safety, improve efficiency, and ultimately save time and money on infrastructure projects.

This was the driving force behind the creation of PUMA, the PAS128 Utility Mapping Accreditation scheme and feeds directly into the national marketing campaign recently launched by TSA

Developed over ten years by TSA, PUMA represents a significant step forward for our profession. It provides a robust and independent way to assess whether geospatial surveyors can consistently deliver work in line with the PAS128 specification.

Building confidence through accreditation

For accredited TSA members, PUMA offers a clear and credible way to demonstrate compliance with PAS128:2022. Crucially, it also gives clients confidence in both the level of service and the accuracy of the data they receive.

Every PUMA-accredited company has undergone independent audit, ensuring that:

• Survey outputs meet PAS128 requirements
• Working practices are robust and consistent
• Staff are properly trained and demonstrably competent

This means that when clients choose a PUMA-accredited company, they can be assured they are working with a provider fully equipped to deliver reliable, compliant survey data.

Raising the bar for utility surveys

By standardising how PAS128 surveys are delivered, PUMA has raised the bar for the entire construction industry. It establishes a benchmark for quality, giving accredited companies a powerful way to differentiate themselves and prove their capability.

Equally, it simplifies decision-making for clients, who no longer need to rely solely on claims of compliance as they have independent assurance.

PUMA is administered by LRQA, a global leader in assurance, certification, and inspection services, further strengthening the scheme’s credibility and rigour.

A scheme gaining real traction

What’s particularly encouraging is how quickly PUMA is gaining recognition across the sector.

With a number of major infrastructure projects in the pipeline that will require PAS128 surveys, we are seeing a shift in client expectations. Organisations with large contracts are beginning to explicitly request that PUMA accreditation is written into project requirements.

In many cases, they are actively reaching out to TSA to better understand how the accreditation works and how it can support their project delivery.

PUMA is increasingly being recognised as the gold standard for PAS128 surveys.

Looking ahead

The momentum behind PUMA signals a positive change for the industry. For survey companies, this is an opportunity to demonstrate excellence and stand out in a competitive market.

For clients, it is a chance to reduce risk, avoid costly delays, and ensure confidence in the data that underpins their projects.

Find out more about PUMA

If you’re interested in learning more about PUMA accreditation and how it could benefit your organisation or projects, we encourage you to get in touch with TSA.

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In this article, we’re going to look at 10 typical examples of geospatial surveying being used to gather data and inform decisions, designs, planning, legislation, our futures and more…  

Utility surveys at planning stage and urban upgrade projects

Underground utilities surveys are among the most useful surveys in the planning stage of construction projects, locating the positioning and depth of various underground services and channels, to ensure that delays and hazards are minimised. 

They are also essential in urban upgrade projects, where new technologies are being introduced and installed in built environments. The location of existing services has to be known in order for new technologies – for example fibreoptic broadband or water and sewer upgrades – to be installed underground and aligned with existing routes.

Flood risk management – geospatial expertise needed

One of the biggest concerns about housing development in the UK is the potential use of floodplains and areas prone to waterlogging or flooding for building. Flood risk management is another area where geospatial surveying can be extremely useful at the planning stage, mapping areas of concern and identifying how flooding can be mitigated against, or avoided altogether, by the location of the project.

Measuring water resources

Water is also a huge natural resource and its management is an integral part of the UK’s water supply to households and industry. Accurately measuring water resources is an important part of that management process. Hydrographic surveys can measure riverbed levels, or survey reservoir capacities, to provide detailed data for dredge planning and flood/waste modelling too.

Port projects

Hydrographic surveys can also be used in harbour or port projects, to ascertain if safe passage can be achieved for ships, so they will be able to navigate safety to dock. Many estuaries change over time, with silting and other geographical shifts, and monitoring of this using surveying techniques is an essential element of maritime construction.

Coastal protection

Monitoring land near the sea is also a vital part of coastal protection. In instances where coastal erosion and weathering are causing major changes to our coastlines, geospatial surveyors can chart these changes and define the pace of change and measures that will need to be installed, as defence against such land loss.  

Trains, traffic and infrastructure

For new rail transportation infrastructure, such as metro links or high-speed rail, geospatial surveying can be used to plan efficient routes, analyse the environmental impact of traffic and manage land acquisition, to be traversed by the tracks.

Bridge construction projects deploy a variety of surveying techniques in their design and construction process – from land surveying of the bridge approaches to underwater surveys of the riverbed’s geography, if pylons or stanchions are going to be required as bridge supports.

The construction of tunnels is one of the most complex types of infrastructure project, whether they are for road or rail routes. A project such as Crossrail would employ 3D modelling and other geospatial technology to monitor the precise boring and construction of underground tunnels, to ensure they integrate with existing infrastructure.

Protecting the environment

Geospatial surveying is essential for environmental protection and conservation work. From tracking deforestation to streamlining land management, surveyors can help to instigate projects such as replanting, to ensure efficiency and sustainability in the landscape are preserved for future generations.

The post 10 times a geospatial surveyor is essential appeared first on The Survey Association.

Part 1 explored why that moment is necessary. Part 2 addresses the more uncomfortable reality: what happens when we do nothing?

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

By the time most people realise there is a problem with a survey, the consequences have already taken hold.

The data has been trusted. The design has been developed. Models have been coordinated. Procurement decisions have been made. Construction is either underway or complete.

At that point, the question is no longer whether the survey was correct.

It is how much the error is going to cost.

TSA Council member Andy Beardsley, has written part two of this special edition of The Geospatial Edge.

The post Reclaiming geospatial – why the sector must unite (part 2) appeared first on The Survey Association.

This year’s invitation list expanded beyond the traditional membership, bringing together Tier 1 contractors, clients of survey companies, and other key industry stakeholders. The result was a lively, engaged gathering of serious-minded geospatial professionals, decision makers, and influencers, all committed to the future of the profession.

Key decisions and the President’s Award

The formal AGM business was chaired by TSA President Claire Fenwick, who oversaw several important updates, including a significant change to TSA’s Articles and Rules. For the first time, Affiliate Members will now be eligible to stand for Council — an important step toward broader representation and sector-wide collaboration.

Claire also presented the President’s Award, sponsored by Lockton, to Melvin Penwill of KOREC, recognising his enthusiastic and tireless work in supporting training at The Survey School. His contribution continues to make a meaningful impact across the sector.

Shaping a national awareness campaign

One of the day’s central themes emerged as Oliver Viney, TSA Vice President, introduced the Stakeholder Session. He was joined by Kirsty Ostell, Managing Director of O Agency, who highlighted the vital role of professional marketing expertise and experience in raising the profile of geospatial professionals on a national scale.

The vision is clear: the profession needs greater visibility, clearer messaging, and better public understanding. As both speakers emphasised, this change will take time. It is not going to happen overnight, but will involve structured input and a clear plan to be carried out over years rather than months.

TSA has committed to this long-term approach. However, the campaign’s success will depend on sustained support and funding from across the profession. Members should contact TSA CEO Rachel Tyrrell or any Council member for more information on how to contribute.

Connection, conversation and planning ahead

After the morning’s discussions, attendees enjoyed a tour of Twickenham, followed by lunch, a welcome opportunity to continue conversations informally and build on the energy of the sessions. Smaller group meetings took place in the afternoon, with considerable enthusiasm around shaping the next phases of the awareness campaign.

The shared sense of purpose was summarised powerfully by Oliver Viney, who stated:

“Our profession shapes the nation’s infrastructure, fuels innovation, and underpins every major decision about our built and natural environments – yet its value is still widely underestimated. We’re here to change that. By uniting behind a bold, UK wide campaign, we can elevate the profile of our skills, attract the next generation of talent, strengthen standards, and secure our rightful place at the top tables. Together, we can make geospatial surveying recognised as the critical national infrastructure it truly is – not someday, but starting right now.”

What attendees said

When asked about the best part of the day, the feedback spoke volumes:

• “The feeling I got with a unified call to action was so inspiring and filled me with confidence for the future of our profession.”
• “Gathering and harnessing the passion and unity desire in the room!”
• “The open and frank discussion around important issues that need to be actioned.”
• “Good to see a major campaign of this scale launched so effectively. A significant amount of work has clearly gone in behind the scenes, and it was presented in a way that genuinely engaged the room. Credit to the TSA team and the speakers on the day, a well delivered and professionally run session.”

The 46th AGM marked not only an important moment for the Association, but also a turning point for the wider geospatial community – one defined by unity, ambition, and the shared commitment to tell the story of a profession that underpins the nation’s future.

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In the first of a series of snapshots discussing various aspects of surveying, we ask: “Where would we be without underground utility surveys?”   

Essential groundwork

Underground utility surveys, also known as PAS128 surveys are an integral part of the construction process. Without them, it would be much more difficult to ascertain the suitability of a site for building projects, or to understand the location of services and potential obstacles underground.

The layout of any development depends heavily on the resources and services already present. Ideally, you don’t design a housing development on a site criss-crossed by underground electric cables and sewer pipes. That isn’t to say such obstacles are insurmountable, but an underground utility survey could identify them well in advance, allowing designers to proceed accordingly.

Under investigation

Underground surveys are carried out by qualified professionals using geospatial technology. Surveyors use electromagnetic detection, GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar), GNSS and total stations to create a detailed, multilayered digital map of what lies beneath. The construction process can be fraught with unforeseen challenges, but having the assurance of a PAS128 utility survey goes a long way towards minimising these risks.

Construction projects need underground utility surveys (or PAS128 surveys) to be carried out before building work can start. A surveyor will locate, identify and map most utility services beneath the surface. Most underground utilities, such as electric cabling, telecoms, drainage, gas, water, and fibre optic services, can typically be found, along with other buried hazards, voids and other subterranean features.

In a world where surveys are not carried out, expensive design changes or costly diversion of services might be needed mid-project – if existing services are found to  obstruct foundation layouts or conflict with planned utility routes servicing the development.    

Build on solid foundations

A world without underground surveys would mean far more exploratory, preparatory work before any design or construction could begin.

Our ‘depth of knowledge’ and expertise in underground utility surveying is reinforced by our commitment to ensuring our member companies carry out their work to the highest standard. TSA has created a PAS128 accreditation scheme called PUMA (PAS128 Utility Mapping Accreditation) for all its utility surveying members. PUMA provides a defined benchmark and creates a national standard for best practice. It demonstrates continuous professional improvement, gives clients confidence in survey quality, and can save time and costly delays.

To find out more about our PUMA accreditation, get in touch with us today.

The post Where would we be without…underground surveys? appeared first on The Survey Association.

On Wednesday 25th March 2026, TSA will host what is set to be one of its most significant AGMs in its long history. Held at the iconic Allianz Stadium Twickenham, this landmark event will bring together TSA members, industry leaders and policy makers for a pivotal day that will help shape the future of the geospatial survey profession.

With over 120 geospatial professionals already registered, momentum is building rapidly – and for good reason. This is more than an AGM. This is a turning point.

At a glance

Venue: Allianz Stadium Twickenham
Date: Wednesday 25th March 2026

Schedule

• 09:30 – Registration & Coffee
• 10:00 – TSA AGM Start
• 10:45 – Stakeholder Event: national marketing campaign for the geospatial survey profession
• 12:30 onwards – Lunch, stadium tours & networking
• 15:30 – Close

Why this event is different

Following years of work elevating standards, strengthening qualification routes, and raising the status of professional membership, the profession is now poised for its next big leap forward.

The Stakeholder Event, beginning at 10:45, will bring together invited leaders and decision‑makers to help develop the UK’s first National Marketing Campaign for the Geospatial Survey Profession – a project born out of key insights and actions from many different conversations including last year’s Geo:Influence initiative.

This campaign aims to:

• Explore how surveying is perceived across industries
• Identify gaps in understanding and why they matter
• Define the outcomes that a strong national campaign must deliver
• Set priorities around skills, visibility, talent, and long‑term impact

Delegates’ contributions will shape discussions that influence the future of the profession – from workforce attractiveness to sector reputation, and from national awareness to policy-level engagement.

Networking, lunch & exclusive Twickenham Stadium tour

Following a high‑impact morning, the aim is for attendees to continue conversations over lunch before touring the iconic Twickenham Stadium – a venue chosen for its scale, history, symbolism, and ability to inspire.

The venue’s fantastic networking spaces will remain open until 15:30, offering ample time for deep discussion and new connections.

Chief Executive Officer Rachel Tyrrell says,

“This is a collective milestone – an opportunity to influence a national narrative, strengthen the profession’s voice, and build a future-ready identity for the next generation of geospatial surveyors. With momentum accelerating and sector visibility growing, this collaborative event on 25th March will help shape the direction the profession takes next.”

Registration closes on Friday 13th March. Please contact the team at office@tsa-uk.org.uk for more details.

The post TSA’s AGM: Driving the future of geospatial surveying appeared first on The Survey Association.

A stadium with humble beginnings

Before it became a world-renowned rugby venue, the site at Twickenham looked very different. In 1907, the Rugby Football Union purchased just over ten acres of local market gardens for £5,572 – a decision that split opinion at the time. William Williams, the committee member who fought hardest for the purchase, jokingly referred to the land as “Billy Williams’ Cabbage Patch” and the nickname stuck!

From these modest beginnings, over the decades, it has taken on a whole range of roles: cattle grazed it during the First World War, it was a civil defence depot in the Second, and then a construction project which was fraught with planning challenges. By 2005, with the opening of a major new South Stand, the stadium reached an 82,000 capacity – becoming the second-largest stadium in the UK and the biggest in world rugby.

A venue built for big moments

Today, Twickenham’s legacy stretches far beyond sports. It has hosted concerts by global icons, including the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga. In 2024, the stadium underwent its first-ever rebrand, becoming the Allianz Stadium Twickenham. Yet despite the new name, its identity remains unchanged: a venue built for momentous occasions, making it the perfect home for our TSA AGM. 

Why does the setting matter?  It lifts the ambition.

Why this TSA AGM stands out

On 25 March, TSA members will gather not only to conduct the formal business of the association, but to take part in something much bigger.

This year’s AGM will include:

• Key discussions on the issues shaping the future of our profession
• Updates on TSA projects designed to support and benefit members
• Opportunities to connect with fellow geospatial professionals from across the country

Importantly, members will join invited geospatial leaders, influencers, and policy makers to help shape a major new national marketing campaign. This will be the first discovery phase of the project – and your ideas, experience, and perspective will play an essential role in what comes next.

An inspirational setting

Beyond the AGM itself, the stadium offers an experience that few other venues can match. With 34 flexible meeting spaces and more than 150 pitch-view executive boxes, it is one of the most versatile corporate venues in the country.

Attendees will also have the chance to take a stadium tour, giving you the opportunity to explore behind the scenes of this extraordinary place – from the rich history of the old “cabbage patch” to the modern home of English rugby. The World Rugby Museum, housed onsite, features jerseys from rugby’s earliest international fixtures, artefacts dating back to 1871, and the iconic Webb Ellis Cup.

Join us on 25 March

Allianz Stadium Twickenham has hosted more than a century of moments that mattered. On 25 March, we’re excited to add another.

We look forward to welcoming our members for a day of insight, collaboration, and forward-thinking conversation – all in one of the most inspiring venues in the UK. If you are keen to join this conversation and join a geospatial collective, please get in touch with us via email at office@tsa-uk.org.uk.

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Making a great team

Since TSA’s formation in 1979, including the current Council, a total of 94 individuals have served as Council members and Directors of the association.  They have all brought a huge variety of skill, experience and particular passions that have prompted them to stand and get further involved.  Council drives everything that TSA does, so having a variety of characters around the table once a quarter guarantees lively debate.

Collectively the Council has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the geospatial profession, which they can share in their roles as TSA representatives and ambassadors. They also have specialist knowledge in other sectors too, such as finance, business or marketing, which also contributes to their work steering the association in the right direction.

Stronger together

As well as keeping up-to-date with current developments and new thinking on surveying methods, there are many other aspects to their roles. In addition to steering TSA’s direction, aims and ethos, TSA is also involved in lobbying government departments when appropriate, as per our work regarding equipment theft and other agencies – such as the Environment Agency – regarding policies that are likely to affect or involve the surveying profession.

Representatives from TSA also regularly meet with RICS and CICES on a range of issues and have collectively established Survey Liaison Group (SLG). This group convenes at regular intervals to examine matters of mutual interest. Council makes sure that TSA is doing the best for its members and for its profession. TSA is at the forefront of this effort by investing in the acquisition of The Survey School in 2014 and the creation of Geospatial Apprenticeships and providing comprehensive education and training opportunities. By emphasising the critical importance of geospatial surveying, TSA is paving the way for young individuals to explore and pursue fulfilling careers in this dynamic industry. Council shapes this development, so that members can truly benefit from being part of something that provides solutions to surveying challenges, with a clear vision of the sector’s future.

To find out more about TSA’s Council, visit our website.

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Working towards excellence

As part of our ongoing education initiative and the launch of the new Become a Surveyor website, we’ve looked at how to map out a career in surveying in a simple, informative way. Our route map sets out the various paths available to budding surveyors. There are three distinct routes to a successful career as a geospatial surveyor. You can choose to work, to study or to ‘earn and learn’.

If you choose to work, you’ll become a trainee surveyor. This will lead to hands-on instruction from your employer, and you can attend the TSA Surveying Course at The Survey School. You can then progress to becoming an assistant surveyor, which brings with it a new raft of responsibilities and the ProQual Diploma, an experience-based Level 3 qualification. This can then lead to becoming a fully-fledged Surveyor. The Survey School’s range of specialist courses can extend existing knowledge with an injection of short, subject-specific courses too. With increased experience comes seniority, and this can eventually lead to roles such as Principal Surveyor, Survey Project Manager or even becoming a business owner.

Studying towards success

Choosing to study is a more defined pathway and one many students in many sectors will be familiar with. This will involve taking A Levels in subjects relevant to surveying, such as maths, geography and design, or T Levels in technical areas such as design, surveying and planning, or Design Engineer Construct (DEC). This can then lead on to study for a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, Civil Engineering or another related subject. It could also lead to studying for a Master’s Degree in Geospatial. By this point on the pathway, students will be fully-qualified surveyors, where they can then follow the same routes as the ‘choose to work’ path.

Learning while you’re earning

Another option is to become an apprentice. The Level 3 Geospatial Survey Technician was created specifically for this purpose. You can also combine work with study via a Degree Apprenticeship and later you can even undertake a Master’s Apprenticeship.

Our route map illustrates the flexible career routes available to candidates, which provides the freedom to build a career that fits your goals. Starting on one pathway doesn’t limit you. As you can see from the diagram, you can switch to another route at any time, to continue your career growth in a way that suits you.

To find out more about becoming a surveyor, visit our new website or get in touch for more information about careers in surveying. 

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