Surveys

in
Town Planning

Lecture #09
INTORDUCTION

 Survey is the act which has to be performed in the formulation of any

scheme. In context of town planning, surveys establish the present
state of the town and indicate what needs to be improved.
 Main subjects of surveys for the town planning are as follows .
 The people, their interests and occupations and how they follow them.
 The land and buildings and how they serve their interests.
 The data collected in surveys are properly analyzed in relation to the
area under consideration and they are recorded on maps, charts,
schedules, and models.
NECESSITY OR PURPOSES OF SURVEYS

 It helps to provide the data of the existing town for the town planner.
 The survey draws attention to the interrelation between various
complicated activities of a town life.
 It helps to know the town planner, what is exactly lacking and what is needed for
the development of the town.
 It helps to build up the public opinion and appreciation in favor of
town planning scheme.
 It provides the necessary understanding before decisions for development
are made.
 It helps to know the evils from which the town suffers and provides a proper
treatment to be given.
COLLECTION OF
DATA
 Functional survey

 Social survey
 Territorial survey
 Vital survey
Functional survey
 Information of roads, their history, traffic survey, details of width of roads, tree
planting.
 Railways with position of level crossings, passenger stations, goods sheds, etc.
 Airports, sea ports
 Canals, waterways
 Routes of services by bus, tram, ferry and suburban railway
 Facilities provided for access to the town.
 Local industries, their classification and location, availability of raw materials and
labour.
 Mines and their location
 Conditions of commercial activity
 Probable cost of planning scheme, sources of raising funds, preparing schedule of taxes
etc.
Social Survey
 Ancient ruins
 History of growth from the study of old maps
 Birth rates, death rates
 Residential areas including historical study, types of buildings, slums,
suburban development
 Parks and play grounds
 Height of buildings, materials used for construction
 Density of accommodation
 Demographic survey i.e. classification of population by sex, literacy of different
age groups
 Schools, colleges, institutions, libraries
 Hospitals, dispensaries, clinics
 Public services such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity,
street lighting, fire protection etc.
Territorial survey
 Geology of the area showing arrangement of underlying rocks
 Topography, type of soil, rock
 Contours of the land
 Rivers, oceans, streams, lakes
 Forests and other natural vegetation
 Low-lying areas
 Barren land
 Climatic conditions including temperature, rainfall, direction and
intensity of wind.
Vital Survey

 History of the past growth of population

 Characteristics of the present population
 Density of population
 Migration, decentralization, development of new local industries.
TYPES OF SURVEYS

 Preliminary
survey
 National survey
 Regional survey
 Civic survey
Preliminary survey

 General amenities
 Electric power
 Housing
 Highways
 Industries
 Railways
 Waterways
 Land use
 Water supply and
sewerage
National survey

 Administration
 Agriculture
 Communication
facilities
 Geography
 Natural resources
 Economic development
 Urban settlement
Regional survey

 The regional surveys carried out on much larger unit than a town
called 'region' which may consists of number of townships and villages.
The investigations carried out are of general nature such as social,
physical, economic conditions of region.
 Surveys for regional highways, regional transport, regional water
supply come under regional survey. It helps to develop the
whole region in a coordinated manner.
Civic survey or Socio-economic survey
 Physical features
 Communications
 T raffic problems
 Open spaces
 Industrial survey
 Housing
 Population
 Health conditions
 Landscape survey
 Land cultivation
 Public services
METHODS ADOPTED TO COLLECT DATA
 Field work
 House to house investigation conducted to collect information in
questionnaire
 form specially prepared for this purpose.
 Direct collection from office records, and reports from govt.
municipal offices and other bodies.
 Collection through postal communication with govt. department,
public institutions and interested bodies.
 Personal interviews with individuals or organizations interested in the
field of planning.
 Reconnaissance and spot-inspection by the town planner himself and
his staff.
USES OF SURVEYS

 To give the town planner some basis for his thinking and working.
 To provide the relevant information regarding the community to be
served
 To suggest the means of developing public opinion and appreciation
in favor of the T.P. Scheme.
Thank
You