Geodesy Journal

If you plan to build, start with soil testing . It sounds basic, yet it can save you from cracks, drainage headaches, and surprise costs later. Dallas soil can look calm on top. However, a few feet down, clay can act like a sponge. It swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries out. So the ground can move, even when your plans look perfect. Dallas clay isn’t “bad,” but it plays by its own rules Many North Texas sites sit on clay-rich soils. Clay holds water longer than sand, so it stays soft after storms. Then it dries out during hot weeks and tightens up. In other words, moisture changes can make the soil change shape. That matters because buildings need steady support. When the ground shifts, you may notice doors that stick, cracks in drywall or brick, or sidewalks that lift and settle. Also, you may see water pooling near the house because the soil won’t absorb it fast enough. Here’s the key link: soil behavior and drainage behavior go together. When the soil traps water, surf...

Road construction feels like part of daily life in a growing city, but lately Knoxville residents are showing more frustration than ever. A recent study looked at thousands of local social media posts and found that construction-related topics caused the highest negative reactions of all traffic issues. People complained more about roadwork than detours, traffic signals, or slowdowns. This matters because public pushback slows down projects and shapes how a traffic engineer plans safer and smoother roads for Knoxville. Knoxville is growing fast. New neighborhoods, schools, and business areas bring jobs and opportunities. Yet they also push more cars onto older roads that were not built for this level of traffic. Even small upgrades—like repaving a lane or fixing drainage—can now cause long delays. When drivers face these delays without warning, frustration builds quickly. Many residents say construction zones feel endless or confusing. Some say detours take them too far out of the way...

Texas approved a huge engineering project along the Gulf Coast. The $57 billion Coastal Defense Plan, also called the Ike Dike Project, will help protect the coast from big storms and rising water. Even though Waxahachie is far from the shoreline, the effects can still reach the city. Anyone planning a new development or drainage upgrade may notice delays. This happens because the project needs many engineers and designers, which can slow stormwater design work in inland cities. It may seem strange since Waxahachie is over 250 miles from the Gulf. But a project this large affects the whole state. Firms that work on drainage modeling, detention ponds, and flood studies may send more of their staff to the coast. These contracts last for years and come with strong funding. When engineers move to coastal work, fewer are left for cities like Waxahachie. This can make stormwater design tasks take longer than before. Understanding the Coastal Defense Plan and Why It Matters The Coastal Defens...

  Buying a home, planning a fence, or starting a new project feels exciting, yet many people make the same simple mistakes before checking their land lines. A Boundary Survey gives you the true shape and limits of your property, but a lot of homeowners skip this step or use the wrong information. Because of this, they run into disputes, delays, and costly fixes. As more Texas neighborhoods grow and new subdivisions take shape, these mistakes happen more often. The good news is that you can avoid all of them with the right information and the right surveyor. Why Getting the Boundary Survey Right Matters A boundary survey is more than a map. It shows the exact corners, angles, and edges of your land. Builders rely on these points. Fence crews follow them. And buyers use them to confirm what they’re actually getting. When the boundary lines are wrong, everything that follows becomes a problem. Many people assume their lines match old documents or the neighbor’s fence. Others trust a ...

Colorado Springs keeps growing, and new projects seem to pop up every month. Homes, shops, and full neighborhoods are being planned faster than most residents can keep up with. Because of this, many homeowners don’t know what changes are coming around them until the construction trucks show up. But the city actually provides tools that let you check projects long before anything happens. These maps help you understand zoning, nearby hearings, and future development. When you use them before ordering a property line survey , you save time and avoid surprises. Planning maps help you see the bigger picture, while a property line survey gives you the exact facts about your land. Colorado Springs has a detailed planning system because the area grows so quickly. Every new rezoning, subdivision, or drainage upgrade can affect nearby properties. If you want to build, buy, or fix something on your land, this early research can make a big difference. The good news is that homeowners can use the...