Hoffman began his surveying career back in 1978 when he worked for his uncle, Bernard Godfrey. After graduating from Paul Smith’s College, he worked his way from rod-man to transit-man and eventually party-chief. In 1988 when Adam received his Land Surveying license, he and Mr. Godfrey formed Godfrey-Hoffman Associates. After 12 years of a great partnership, Mr. Godfrey retired which left Mr. Hoffman with the entire business.

What is Utility Surveying in Connecticut?


underground-utilitiesThe term Utility refers to a useful thing that provides an advantage to the person, place, or thing that is implementing it. The utility in this context is a public utility that serves useful purposes to the common person, neighborhood, or city. An example of your local utilities could be: water, sewerage, gas, electricity, and phone/cable lines. The installation and proper use of these utilities are comprehensive and complex networks that have been usually installed by the engineers underground or above surface with the intent of uninterrupted use of them.

In the case of water, sewer, and gas, there is a complex structure of pipeline comprising of various diameters at various depths underneath the ground that are present. The term
surveying is looking at something analytically and carefully that the human eye cannot analyze without using technology. So collectively “utility surveying” means the act of careful observation of the utilities and the network structure installed for the transportation of those utilities in a particular area.

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Land Survey Data: Who Actually Owns It?

godfreylandsurveyIf you’ve ever had a land survey performed then you probably asked yourself, where does this data end up? The answer is the entire collection of data from a survey is owned by the client but is held on file by the surveyor. Survey data is the primary prerequisite for any construction or building project in Connecticut.

There are several methods for delivery and collection of survey data and the entire process is accomplished in a systematic way. This survey data can include a number of things such as horizontal and vertical distances, slope distances, angles, contours, and excavations.


Survey data is basically classified into three categories: the deliverable data, 
the data gathered during the course of time and the knowledge and experience gained during the course of time. 



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The Total Station & Land Surveys: A Background Story

s6 resized 600The total station was introduced in 1971 and for the first time distance and angle measurements could be recorded by one instrument. The total station is a transit integrated with an EDM, electronic distance meter, which can read slope distances from the instrument to a particular point of land. This combination gives the surveyor the capability of retrieving data related to the coordinates of the reflector in the device.

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Surveying & Civil Engineering for CT Homeowners

connecticut-surveyPlan Ahead

Investing time and money in professionals who are experts in surveying and civil engineering for Connecticut homeowners ensures that you will be protected with regard to the laws that govern how you can use your property and land assets. If and when you sell your property in the future, your buyers will also benefit from any land surveys that will provide answers to any legal questions that might arise concerning your property.

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Residential Surveying & Civil Engineering in Connecticut

Residential buildings and homes have special codes and certifications that must be followed before construction begins. When hiring a residential surveyor or civil engineer consider your intended project purpose and the suitability of the company in question. Surveying and civil engineering in Connecticut requires a specific knowledge of the unique environmental conditions and the materials that work best for the environment. By choosing a local surveyor or civil engineer it can be easier to work directly with the company and determine the best course of action for your project. A professional and experienced firm will help you design a natural structure that complements and enhances the existing environment.

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Surveying & Civil Engineering for Municipal/Government Property in CT

government-engineeringCivil engineers work within the State of Connecticut to design and oversee various municipal and government construction projects. Civil engineers and land surveyors provide the plans that allow workers to effectively build roads, complete construction projects, construct airports and ensure that various structures such as tunnels and bridges are built correctly.

These professionals also work on water and sewage systems required for cities, towns and other localities. Mostly, you find a civil engineer or surveyor working in an office. However, sometimes work requires a view of the construction area or to monitor the construction process and prevent any problems on-site. Engineers and surveyors are commonly employed by the city to deal with complex road and drainage issues.

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LID: Low Impact Development in Connecticut

Low-Impact-DevelopmentIntroduction

LID is an alternative process of land development aimed at minimizing the impact of urbanization in Connecticut’s natural habitats by replicating the original conditions found on the pre-development site. In fact, it is more of a strategic approach rather than a collection of related tactics. For the most part, LID serves as a superior alternative to traditional stormwater management, which can be both expensive and ineffective at keeping pollutants from being introduced into the environment.

Although LID is most popular in certain areas of the United States such as here in Connecticut, it is quite similar to other sustainable development practices found in Britain and other European countries.

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Surveying & Civil Engineering for Connecticut Commercial Builders

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Managing commercial development projects are an intensive and time consuming endeavor that sucks the energy of those involved, especially in situations where planning was not properly done. Commercial builders & developers in Connecticut can ease their work load by seeking the services of professional surveying and civil engineering firms. An experienced firm can assist them right away, from the initial data collection stages, to planning, then design, local state & federal permitting and lastly, the construction process. Commercial builders can leverage on these firms technical expertise and experience in local zoning, planning and regulations- areas that are daunting to many.

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How you can Reduce Construction Costs in CT with a Civil Engineer

Construction Analysis

connecticut-engineeringUsing an engineer to develop plans for your home or business can save you substantially over the course of the project. By using a professional surveying & engineering company to design and plan new construction or refurbishment projects, you will ensure you build appropriately on the property, that your building meets all the required specifications and codes in your area. There are a variety of important areas in which a good civil engineer can save on the cost of construction.

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