Engineering Survey Services — Cadreatech
Setting Out Survey Services in Kenya
Precise transfer of approved engineering designs from drawings onto the ground — so your construction team builds exactly to structural intent. Column grids, foundation positions, road alignments, drainage invert levels, and slab reference points.
Total Station
Millimetre-precision layout
RTK GNSS
Coordinate-based positioning
All project types
Buildings, roads, drainage
The service explained
What Is a Setting Out Survey?
Setting out — sometimes called construction layout survey or pegging out — is the process of physically marking the positions, levels, and alignments shown on approved engineering drawings onto the actual ground at a construction site.
It is the critical link between design and construction. The structural engineer's column grid, the architect's building line, the civil engineer's road centreline, and the drainage contractor's pipe invert levels all exist as numbers on a drawing until a setting out survey makes them real and measurable on the ground.
Setting out is carried out using calibrated total stations and RTK GNSS, working from established control points. Physical markers — pegs, steel pins, spray paint, or offset profiles — are placed at key positions to guide the construction team during excavation, formwork, concrete pouring, and structural erection.
What we set out
- Column grid lines and individual column centre positions
- Building reference lines and setting-out baselines
- Foundation excavation limits and formation levels
- Finished floor levels and slab surface reference points
- Road centrelines, kerb lines, and carriageway edges
- Drainage pipe alignments and invert levels
- Retaining wall and boundary wall alignments
- Pile positions for piled foundation systems
- Formwork verticality check and re-setting
When you need a setting out survey
- Before any excavation begins — to mark foundation positions and depths
- After bulk excavation — to re-establish column and wall positions in the excavated area
- Before each concrete pour — to verify formwork positions match design
- During multi-storey construction — to transfer column positions floor by floor
- For road and drainage construction — to peg alignments and set pipe levels
- When contractor peg positions need independent verification before concreting
- After any redesign or drawing revision affecting structure positions
- For piled foundations — to mark individual pile positions to design tolerance
Scope of service
What Cadreatech Sets Out
Our setting out service covers the full construction lifecycle — from initial site establishment through structural completion.
📐 Building Column Grid
Establishing the primary column grid from structural drawings using total station traverses from established benchmarks. Individual column positions marked to millimetre tolerance on prepared ground or blinding layer.
⬇️ Foundation Levels
Setting excavation formation levels for pad foundations, strip footings, and raft slabs. Marking offset profiles so levels can be re-established after excavation equipment has disturbed initial pegs.
🏗️ Slab & Floor Levels
Establishing finished floor level (FFL) reference points and screed level controls across slab areas. Checking slab-on-grade or suspended slab soffit levels against structural drawings.
🛣️ Road Centreline
Pegging road centrelines, kerb lines, and carriageway edges from road design alignments. Setting out vertical curves and gradient changes at design chainage intervals.
💧 Drainage Invert Levels
Setting out drainage pipe alignments and marking invert levels at manholes and at regular intervals along drainage runs. Critical for achieving designed pipe gradients and hydraulic performance.
🔩 Pile Positions
Marking individual pile positions from structural drawings for piled foundation systems. Tolerance-controlled positioning with coordinate check report issued after marking.
📏 Verticality Checks
Independent check of formwork verticality and column plumb during structural frame construction. Identifies deviation before concrete is poured when correction is still possible.
🏘️ Multi-Storey Transfer
Transferring column grid lines vertically through a multi-storey structure using optical plumbing or total station. Ensures structural alignment is maintained across all floors.
Why precision matters
The Cost of Getting Setting Out Wrong
Setting out is one of the lowest-cost items in a construction budget — but errors here have among the highest consequences.
❌ When setting out goes wrong
- Column positioned in wrong place — entire floor slab may need demolition and rebuild
- Foundation excavated to wrong depth — structural rework and extended programme
- Drainage pipe set on wrong gradient — sewer backs up, system fails inspection
- Building line encroaches on boundary — county enforcement and possible demolition
- Floor level set at wrong elevation — staircase geometry fails, drainage doesn't work
- Contractor claims against engineer for inadequate setting out information
✅ With Cadreatech setting out
- All positions transferred directly from approved structural drawings — no estimation
- Coordinate check report issued confirming each peg position matches design
- Offset profiles set so pegs can be re-established if disturbed during excavation
- Independent from the contractor — no conflict of interest on position verification
- Available for multiple site visits throughout the construction programme
- Fully documented record of setting out for project file and NCA compliance
Documentation
Setting Out Deliverables
Every setting out engagement is fully documented so the project file records exactly what was marked and when.
01
Setting Out Plan (DWG / PDF)
Drawing showing all pegged positions, offset distances, baseline references, and benchmark locations
02
Coordinate Check Report
Tabular record of designed vs. as-set coordinates for each column position, pile, or reference point
03
Level Record Sheet
Formation levels, finished floor levels, invert levels, and reference benchmarks as set on site
04
Site Photographs
Photographs of each peg or marker with visible reference labels for project records
05
Setting Out Certificate
Signed certificate confirming that positions have been set out in accordance with approved drawings
06
Deviation Report (if applicable)
Report of any discrepancies discovered between as-built positions and design during verification checks
Our process
How We Carry Out Setting Out
Drawing Review
We study the approved structural and architectural drawings to extract all coordinates, levels, and grid references needed for setting out
Control Establishment
Primary control points and benchmarks established on site using RTK GNSS, tied to project coordinate system
Baseline Setting
Main setting out baseline established from two permanent reference points — the backbone for all subsequent measurements
Grid & Position Marking
Column grid lines, foundation centres, road centrelines, or drainage alignments marked on the ground using pegs, pins, or profile boards
Level Setting
Formation levels, FFL references, and invert levels set using digital level instrument from established benchmarks
Documentation Issue
Setting out plan, coordinate check report, level record, and signed certificate issued to contractor and supervising engineer
Frequently asked questions
Setting Out Survey Questions
Who is responsible for setting out on a construction project in Kenya?
In Kenya, setting out is the responsibility of the supervising engineer and contractor working together. The structural engineer defines the positions on drawings; the contractor is responsible for physical setting out on site. However, for accuracy assurance — particularly on formal projects, multi-storey buildings, or infrastructure contracts — an independent engineering surveyor like Cadreatech is engaged to carry out or verify the setting out, separate from the contractor.
How accurate is setting out with a total station?
A well-calibrated total station can achieve positional accuracy of ±2–5mm at typical construction site distances. RTK GNSS achieves ±10–20mm under good satellite conditions. For most building construction in Kenya, total station setting out is the preferred method for precision. We document the accuracy class and instrument calibration status in every setting out report.
Can you verify setting out done by a contractor?
Yes. Independent verification of contractor setting out is a common and valuable service — particularly before major concrete pours where an error cannot be corrected. We can check and formally document whether the contractor's pegged positions match the approved drawings, and issue a report for the supervising engineer's records.
Do I need setting out for a small residential building?
For small residential structures in Kenya, contractors sometimes carry out informal setting out using tapes and profiles. However, even minor positional errors can affect boundary compliance, drainage direction, and structural alignment. For any formal project — particularly those requiring NCA registration or county inspection — documented setting out by a qualified surveyor is recommended and increasingly expected by supervising engineers.
How long does setting out take on a typical building project?
For a standard residential or small commercial building, initial column grid and foundation setting out typically takes half to one full working day on site, plus preparation time reviewing drawings and establishing control. We are available for return visits throughout the construction programme for level transfers, verticality checks, and re-pegging after site disturbance.
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Request a Setting Out Survey Quote
Share your project type, site location, and the stage of construction you are at. We will confirm availability, provide a quotation, and arrange a drawing review call with your supervising engineer if needed.
