Thornton Land Surveying

At Thornton Land Surveying, we take pride in our ability to deliver top-quality performance on schedule, within budget, and tailored to the individual needs of our clients. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, our team consists of licensed land surveyors (PLS and CFedS) and experts who work together to ensure our clients' needs are at the top of our priority list.

Our diverse range of clients includes governmental agencies, school districts, churches, utility districts, homeowners, and a great number of private sector developers throughout the State of Washington. We are a firm with primary areas of expertise in land surveying, digital mapping services, and 3D laser scanning.

We have completed thousands of topographic surveys, boundary surveys, and mapping projects. We also offer 3D laser scanning, a service that few local firms can provide. Additionally, we have one principal office located in Gig Harbor, and a second office operating out of Port Orchard under the name Con Serve, Inc. (CSI Surveying).

Construction Services

Our business was established on a foundation of construction layout and site development procedures. We understand that using RTK-GPS to set a building grid will likely result in costly mis-closures, but that establishing a storm basin does not require first-order control. When our crews are on-site, they strive to be efficient and task-oriented. Monitoring and control in conjunction with establishing high and mid-level precision location of site improvements is also a key part of our services. This includes 3DHD laser scanner, robotic total station with remote measuring capability, electronic 3-wire level, and static GPS for high-precision network control.

Boundary Line Adjustment

Just as it sounds, this is the process of adjusting the boundary between two or more properties or lots, which cannot result in the creation of additional lots. Each jurisdiction handles this process differently, so costs can vary substantially. We always recommend consulting with an attorney whenever there is a lender involved, or property is going to be conveyed to another party or entity. When in its simplest form, we can handle and direct you to the proper forms and formats. Again, it is important to remember that most cities and counties have applications and specific requirements which must be addressed before they can be accepted or officially recognized.

Boundary Line Agreement

Similar to an adjustment, but typically this involves properties under different ownership and often this is a reference to the quasi-legal process of averting a lawsuit or other civil disagreements.

Aquatic Services

State law defines "aquatic lands" as all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters. Issues regarding everything from ownership boundaries and aquaculture leases to shoreline development often require the services of a professional surveyor. Tideland Lease Proposals for the use of state-owned aquatic lands, with a few exceptions, require prior authorization from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). One of the requirements of authorization is a survey of the leased lands delineating any water-dependent physical features as well as the extent of the lease. Bathymetric Soundings Often times in the process of completing a survey of aquatic lands, bathymetric soundings are required to establish the bed elevation below the water surface. This information is essential for any project that requires dredging or construction below the water surface.