PRELIMINARY SURVEYS

Basically the survey is the operation of measuring, drawing and representing to scale the elements of a construction, of an ensemble of constructions or of a constructive detail.

The survey is necessary in the case of interventions on existing constructions.

It is very important that the survey is as accurate as possible, as the resulting survey will be used as a work support for intervention projects.

Construction surveys are done by 3D scanning.

TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS

In any construction project, the topographic study is used as a support from the beginning of the design process.

The topographic study accurately presents the real situation on the ground measured in coordinates.

The topographic survey is usually required in the certificate of urbanism as a necessary documentation for the approval of construction works related to an objective.

The topographic study includes the following elements:

• Clear delimitation of the plot;
• The shape and size of the existing constructions on the site (in the case of plots with constructions on them);
• Curves and level differences;
• The exact position of the neighboring constructions, their height and the distances actually measured between them;
• Existing urban networks in the area (water supply network, domestic sewerage, storm sewerage, electricity supply, natural gas supply);
• The size of the transport network (road, sidewalk, sidewalks, green spaces);
• Neighboring cadastral numbers;
• Registration or non-inclusion in the land book of some neighboring constructions;
• The position of the existing trees on the plot;

Topographic studies are also necessary in case of dismantling or attachment of plots, but also for updates to the cadastre office.

GEOTECHNICAL STUDIES

The geotechnical study analyzes the stratification and the physical-mechanical properties of the land, the presence of groundwater, the depth of the groundwater level, the optimal foundation depth of the construction, the bearing capacity of the soil, makes specifications and recommendations for design and execution.

The samples collected from the soil, after drilling, are taken to the laboratory for analysis. Based on these results and field observations, the geotechnical study is designed.

Its role is to provide the structural engineer with the necessary information for the optimal sizing for structure of the construction in general and of the foundation in particular.

SUN STUDIES

The study of sunshine – shading is required by the local administrations (town hall) through the urbanism certificate for the authorization of the construction works.

In general, this study is requested by the mayor’s office if the distance between two buildings is less than or equal to the height of the taller building.

The study will analyze the situations of sunshine and shading, in all four seasons, for the days of the solstice and equinox, based on appropriate diagrams and plans for each of the four situations, in order to avoid prolonged shading of existing buildings or future.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the new building to be built overshadows other existing buildings or will be shaded by other buildings (in which case the possibility of relocating it or certain rooms is examined so that the legal rules of sunshine).

A well-done study of sunshine will provide optimal solutions for both the beneficiary of new constructions and the beneficiaries of existing constructions.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STUDIES

These studies are required by the local administrations through the urbanism certificate for the authorization of the construction works.

They provide solutions for alternative (non-polluting) energy systems, which can be implemented in the objectives to be built / developed to reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Renewable energy is energy produced from non-fossil renewable sources that, considered on a human time scale, recover naturally.

Renewable energy sources include solar and wind energy, ocean and hydropower, geothermal and bioenergy.

ENERGY AUDITS & ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES

The energy performance certificate is a document that contains information on the energy efficiency of a building and refers to the amount of energy consumed to heat, light and produce domestic hot water in a building.

This certificate presents two essential indicators for the energy performance of a building:

• Energy class, between A and G (class A being the most energy efficient);
• Energy grade (between 1 and 100, grade 100 being the best);

The elaboration of an Energy Audit Report related to a building can be done after the building has been classified in the energy performance class by drawing up an Energy Performance Certificate, based on the data extracted from the construction technical book or based on the survey of the building and its installations.

The energy audit report is required for the following types of constructions:

• New buildings;
• Existing buildings with modification, rehabilitation and extension works;
• Existing buildings on which no modification works are undertaken (at the request of the beneficiary);

The energy audit identifies the main thermal and energy characteristics of the building and its related installations.

In short, based on the results obtained from the thermal and energetic analysis of the building, the audit proposes solutions for improving the energy performance of a building.