What is Setting Out. Setting Out In Construction

Site Setting Out in Construction – The Ultimate Guide

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At CADMAP Limited, we provide professional site setting out services for construction projects across London, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, and the South East. Setting out is one of the most important stages of construction, ensuring that the design plans are accurately transferred from drawings to the ground.

Whether you’re building a new housing development, commercial building, road, or infrastructure project, accurate setting out is essential to avoid costly mistakes, delays, and disputes.

What Is Site Setting Out in Construction?

Site setting out (sometimes called construction staking or engineering setting out) is the process of transferring a design from technical drawings (CAD, BIM, or engineering plans) onto the ground with exact measurements.

Using total stations, GPS, and laser equipment, surveyors mark out reference points, grids, and lines so contractors know precisely where to build.

Typical setting out tasks include:

Plotting building foundations and structural grids
Marking out roads, kerbs, drainage, and services
Setting levels for excavation and finished floor heights
Establishing boundary lines and control points

Why Is Setting Out Important in Construction?

Accurate construction setting out is critical because:

Ensures Design Accuracy
Every structure must be built in the correct position, orientation, and level. Even small errors can lead to structural problems, boundary disputes, or planning non-compliance.
Reduces Risk of Costly Errors
Mistakes discovered after construction begins are expensive to correct. Setting out minimises rework and wasted materials.
Supports Contractors on Site
Clear, precise markings allow groundworkers, builders, and engineers to build with confidence.
Compliance with Regulations
Councils, architects, and engineers often require proof that works match approved plans. Proper setting out provides that assurance.
Keeps Projects on Schedule
Efficient setting out avoids delays caused by misalignment, incorrect excavation, or misplaced foundations.

How Site Setting Out Is Done – Step by Step

At CADMAP Limited, our construction setting out process is methodical, accurate, and tailored to your project.

1. Reviewing the Design

We study your architectural drawings, engineering plans, CAD files, or BIM models to identify key points and coordinates.

2. Establishing Control Points

Permanent reference points are set around the site using GPS, total stations, and benchmarks. These form the basis for all future measurements.

3. Transferring Coordinates

We convert the design into real-world coordinates and use our instruments to mark exact positions on site.

4. Marking the Ground

Control points, grid lines, and structural features are physically marked with pegs, nails, or spray paint. For drainage and levels, we use rods and laser levels.

5. Verification & QA

Our team double-checks all measurements to ensure accuracy and provides a setting out report for your records.

6. Ongoing Support

For longer projects, we revisit the site to re-establish control points, set out new phases, or verify contractor progress.

Our Equipment & Technology

We use state-of-the-art Leica equipment including:

Robotic Total Stations – for high-precision measurements
GNSS/GPS Surveying Equipment – for geospatial accuracy
Laser Levels & Digital Levels – for setting finished floor levels and drainage gradients
3D BIM Integration – linking Revit/CAD models to site coordinates

This ensures every setting out survey is fast, accurate, and reliable.

Who Needs Site Setting Out Services?

We provide setting out services for a wide range of clients:

Developers – housing sites, commercial buildings, retail parks
Contractors & Builders – new builds, extensions, civil engineering works
Civil Engineers – roads, drainage, bellmouth entrances, infrastructure
Architects & Designers – ensuring designs are built to exact plans

Site Setting Out with CADMAP Limited

When you choose CADMAP Limited for setting out, you benefit from:

✅ Accurate, reliable results – using Leica robotic total stations & GPS
✅ Experienced construction surveyors – working on projects across London & the South East
✅ Professional indemnity insurance (£10 million) – giving clients peace of mind
✅ Health & safety accredited team – safe working practices always followed
✅ Comprehensive deliverables – reports, CAD drawings, and QA documentation

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Get a Quote for Site Setting Out

If you’re a developer, contractor, or architect looking for site setting out services in London, Surrey, or the South East, CADMAP Limited can help.

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