Land Surveying Branch

This branch undertakes field survey operations on behalf of client departments within Council. Types of work include CADASTRAL, TOPOGRAPHICAL, MONITORING and CONTROL surveys. The branch also provides a project management service for topographical survey work undertaken by private survey firms. An important aspect of the branch is its ability to provide assistance on all aspects of Land Survey including the conversion of coordinates from one system to another.

Topographical

Topographical surveys are undertaken to provide plans showing existing features of an area. These plans are used by Engineers, Planners and Architects as a basis for their design work. Output formats include Civil Designer, AllyCad , AutoCad and DXF . Digital formats in two and three dimensions as well as paper and plastic film copies are available. The branch has established a set of Survey Specifications together with Standard Symbols to be used - see link provided. The branch project manages surveys undertaken by private survey firms.

Monitoring

Various structures including bridges, walls ,buildings and embankments together with natural slopes throughout the city need to be monitored for movement. This requires the use of special survey techniques and equipment . The branch undertakes this work on a regular basis.

Control

Establishment of reliable survey control is an essential requirement for Council to ensure that all survey work is based on a common system. The branch has a programme for establishing this control in areas where it is most needed. There is a dearth of quality survey control in many areas of the city - especially height control. This branch uses the latest techniques including Global Positioning Systems (GPS) together with more traditional Total Stations and Precise Levels combined with specialized networking software to provide reliable solutions. The branch maintains a database of survey control. A coordinate extraction programme which is based on this database is available on request.

Other
Detailed records are kept of all work undertaken or controlled by the Branch. Digital information is archived and a visual index of all survey work is maintained. The Survey Branch produces legal notices for the purposes of road closure , removal of restrictions and the sale of land. Notices are erected and removed by the branch and, where necessary, certificates are produced. Speed timing locations are surveyed and the relevant certificates produced. The branch designs and sets out grave sites in various cemeteries throughout the city. The branch undertakes the survey of features (and their attributes) for Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This branch together with the Map Production Branch undertakes the correction and updating of various GIS data sets.

Equipment

The branch has specialized survey equipment which enables us to deal with all types of land survey work.
GPS dual frequency receivers : used for high precision networking and general survey work
GPS satellite correction receiver : used for GIS data capture (sub metre accuracy)
GPS navigation receivers : accurate to approx 10m - used for navigation and rough position fixes.
Total Stations with Psion data recorders : used for general survey work
Precise levelling equipment : for all levelling requirements including monitoring work.
Networked PCs with various software including: Surpac, Civil Designer, AutoCad, AllyCad, ArcView, Mapserver and Trimble Geomatics Office.
A0 and A3 inkjet plotters.
 

The Department has an interesting display of old survey instruments dating back to the early part of the 20th century. They are displayed in a glass cabinet near the public counter on the 4th floor of the Engineering unit building.

Manager: Mlungisi Myeza. 
Phone number: 031 311-7234
Mlungisi.Myeza@durban.gov.za
M Seedat: 031 311-7235 & T Eddy: 031 311-7251

Co-Ordinate & Systems Conversions

In January 1999 the national coordinate system of South Africa changed from one based on the Clarke 1880 (modified) ellipsoid to the universally accepted WGS 84 ellipsoid.

Technically this is a complex topic which has confused many users of co-ordinate systems country-wide. In the Durban region, the difference in coordinate value of any one point is approximately 300 metres - but it is not consistent

Software is available to do this conversion but users must be aware of the differences obtainable depending on how the software is used.

The branch provides an advisory service to users of coordinate systems within Council and those attempting conversions are strongly advised to make use of this.

Contact

This branch undertakes the archiving of approved Cadastral Records from the Surveyor General’s Office, in-house Hand Plans and Completion Notices of land acquisitions, alienations etc from the Real Estate Department. This information is updated and maintained on our hard copy records which are available at our counters for sale to the public and for use by client departments.

In addition to the above this branch also undertakes:

• Customised Cadastral Plans from GIS data
• Street Address allocations and queries
• Digital Extraction of GIS Data
• Land Information Call Centre queries
• Road Status queries
• Checking of Hand Plans
• Plan Printing and scanning of Historical Aerial Photographs
• Microfilming Plans and Documents
• Aerial Photographs from GIS

Manager: Usha Singh
Email: Usha.Singh@durban.gov.za
Phone Number: 031 311-7865

Cluster wide land transaction process

The Map Production branch undertakes the Production of Land Development Plans or Hand Plans, primarily for the purpose of negotiations by the Real Estate Department. These plans are of the highest standard of accuracy with all the necessary legal information for the successful conclusion of land sale agreements.

The following types of plans are produced Cluster wide:
Acquisition Plans for projects such as widening or new roads, electrical substations or overhead transmission lines, reservoirs, servitudes, landfill sites etc.

• Alienation of surplus Council land.
• Allocation for inter-department transfer of Council owned Properties.
• Long and Short term lease of Council properties.
• Encroachment and Wayleave Agreement Plans.

Customised GIS Plans

Preparation of Customised GIS Plans on request excluding or including aerial photography background, Ward Maps, Cadastral Maps including such layers as cadastral boundaries, property descriptions, postal numbering, road names, contours and services (water, storm water, sewer etc.). Other plans include crime fighting plans for SAP and Metro Police indicating crime blocks for sector policing.

In addition to the above this branch also undertakes: 

• Preparation of the Street Map Book
• Long Service and Retirement Certificates for various Departments and Units.
• Lamination of Plans and Documents

Manager Kasturi Abbayee
Email: Kasturi.Abbayee@durban.gov.za
Phone Number: 031 311-7226

Question
I am flooded by runoff emanating from my neighbour’s yard which is located above my house. What can I do?

Answer
Legally the higher property could be required to institute some stormwater management to reduce the rate of runoff from the property. The higher lying property should not concentrate his stormwater runoff onto the lower property. However, low laying properties must also accept and allow for the natural stormwater runoffs from a higher property as per regulation R of SANS 10400.

The complainant can request assistance from the Building Inspectorate to help resolve the problem.

Question
My walls are damp because of ground water. What should I do? 

Answer
Groundwater is a naturally occurring phenomenon which may require the installation of subsoil drains to divert groundwater away from the affected sections of the building. The complainant may possibly need to employ a qualified geotechnical person to provide advice on how to resolve the problem. If the groundwater problem is not limited to recent storms then it is possible that it may be a leaking water connection or in extreme cases a leak from the municipal watermain which should be investigated.

Question
The river is eroding my yard and my house is at risk of falling into the river. What should I do, and which department should I contact? Or

The River is flowing within my property and is causing erosion. Can you assist me?

Answer
Please provide us with your contact details and address and we will assign a technician to do a site visit and assess the damage and its causes. Generally, the issue of a stream running through a private property is the responsibility of the owner or developer to deal with. However, if municipal services such as a council sewer or stormwater line are affected, then the municipality would need to safeguard those services. 

Question
There is a storm water pipe within my yard and the river is now eroding the yard, I worry that the pipe will now fall into the stream as it is no longer supported.

Answer
Please provide us with your contact details and address and we will assign a technician to do a site visit and assess the damage and attend to the municipal service.

Generally, the issue of a stream running through a private property is the responsibility of the owner or developer to deal with. However, if municipal services such as a council sewer or stormwater line are affected, then the municipality would need to safeguard those services.
 

Question
Does your Department handle the sewer as well?

Answer
No, This Unit is only responsible for stormwater maintenance and provision and not sewer. The Water and Sanitation Unit handles sewer issues and they can be contacted on one of the numbers below:

Helpline: 031-311 8804

Question?
Whom do we contact?

Answer

Engineering Services Centre: 0801 313 013 (Toll free) 

Water Account queries.

Email: eservices@dmws.durban.gov.za

Sms no: 0837073013

Fax no: 031 3118220

Thank you for visiting our site.

Enquiries: Tel no :031- 311 7338

Email: Karen.Ronne@durban.gov.za

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