SERVICES > Vertical Control
Vertical Control
Vertical control establishes a network of precisely measured benchmarks that serve as the elevation reference for all grade-sensitive work across a development or construction project.
In land surveying, vertical control ties topographic and drainage deliverables to NAVD 88 or project datum; in commercial construction, it governs formwork, structural steel, and MEP installations that must meet strict elevation tolerances. A well-established vertical control network eliminates the elevation errors that cascade into drainage failures, structural misalignments, and regulatory non-compliance. Allen & Conmpany’s vertical control services include:
- Benchmark Elevations: Establishes known elevation points used as project references
- Elevation Datum: Ties elevations to a recognized vertical reference system, when required
- Control Points: Provides marked points with known elevations for field and design use
- Finished Floor Elevations: Helps set the correct height for building slabs and structures
- Roadway Elevations: Supports the design and construction of roads, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks
- Utility Elevations: Helps determine the depth or elevation of pipes, manholes, inverts, and drainage structures
- Drainage Grades: Supports proper water flow across the site and through stormwater systems
- Cut-and-fill Calculations: Helps estimate how much earth must be removed or added
- Construction Layout Support: Guides contractors in building at the correct heights
- Quality Control Checks: Verifies that constructed features match approved elevation plans
Allen & Company’s survey crews establish and verify benchmark networks using high-order leveling procedures and digital levels, providing engineers, contractors, and designers with the elevation confidence they need from first site work through final inspection.