Projects

Housing New Zealand Pre & Post Development Monitoring

Conduct Settlement Monitoring surveys over a 5 year period.

Birch provides pre- and post-development settlement monitoring for Housing NZ, ensuring site stability by accurately tracking ground levels, manholes, roads, and dwellings over a multi-year period.

This newly developed site in South Auckland is a large scale housing development for Housing NZ. As part of the Resource Consent issued by Auckland Council, regular pre and post development monitoring of ground levels was required to demonstrate the stability of the site.

Birch tendered for this monitoring survey in 2018 and have been providing the client with regular survey results as required. The Resource Consent requires monitoring for 3-5 year period. This is to demonstrate that groundwater level fluctuation resulting from the development has been less than significant and as such there are no detrimental effects on soil structures.

Items requiring monitoring at various stages include:

Manholes and Roads

Dwellings

Floor slabs 

The accuracy required per level run is less than 2mm and this is achieved with our electronic Sprinter Level and staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is settlement monitoring in land development?

Settlement monitoring is the process of measuring ground movement over time to identify any changes that could affect the stability of buildings, roads, utilities, or other infrastructure during and after construction.

Why is long-term site monitoring important after construction?

Long-term monitoring helps confirm that a completed development remains stable, identifies any gradual ground movement, and provides evidence that the project continues to meet engineering and consent requirements.

How does groundwater affect land stability?

Changes in groundwater levels can influence soil behaviour, potentially causing the ground to expand, contract, or settle. Monitoring helps determine whether these changes are within acceptable limits.

What surveying equipment is used for high-precision level monitoring?

High-precision digital levels and survey staffs are commonly used to measure small changes in elevation. These instruments can detect millimetre-level movement, making them suitable for long-term settlement monitoring.

What happens if settlement monitoring detects unexpected ground movement?

If significant movement is identified, engineers and surveyors can investigate the cause, assess any potential risks, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures before further issues develop.

Which types of developments commonly require settlement monitoring?

Settlement monitoring is often required for large residential developments, commercial buildings, infrastructure projects, retaining structures, and sites where resource consent conditions require ongoing stability assessments.