Site selection survey & its importance
Choosing a site can make or break a project. Therefore, selecting the right location is of prime importance. This becomes the best defence against costly mistakes. Engineering design consultants play a significant role while choosing a suitable site for an industrial project.
Best time to bring engineering design consultants onboard
Most people think that a site has to be selected before selecting the Engineering Design Consultant. But, what you need is a project idea and an essential design brief before you start the process of choosing the site.
Each site offers several opportunities, challenges, and constraints due to the existence of several variables. Thus, engineering design consultants have a well planned and structured approach towards site selection. These engineering design consultants can help you in site selection and thus significantly impact your project. Hence, the clients need to appoint the design Consultant before the site is selected, thus enabling the project’s best site selection.
The role and efficacy of an engineering design consultant
Every consultant spends a lot of time evaluating the limits and requirements of each site under consideration. Some also provide pre-acquisition site analysis services to the clients. This analysis provided by the consultants helps the prospective owner to take the final call on the site.
Site selection criteria are generally tailor-made for different types and sizes of projects. Typically, engineering design consultants consider the following criteria for deciding on a site:
Economic Criteria
- Site accessibility
- Acceptable land costs
- Manageable development costs
- Ability to support all project components
- Cost of land conversion
- Cost of obtaining local permits
Physiographical Criteria
- Topography
- Soil conditions
- Water table
- Vegetation
- Drainage facilities
- Wildlife
- Size
- The shape of the property
Site Governance Criteria
- Regulatory restrictions
- Expansion capability
- Local codes & permits
- Current, future zoning plans
- Availability of public utilities
Off-site Criteria
- Traffic
- Noise
- Neighbourhood activities
- Visibility
- Visual quality
- Odours
- Dust
- Environmental considerations
The key deliverables from the consultant are:
- Site Analysis & Suitability Study Document
- Recommendation
- Drawings & Photographs.
In conclusion, site selection surveys are very much essential, especially in an industrial project.
