Planning Surveys

The preparation of any plan for the development of an urban area requires reliable factual data
regarding existing physical and socio-economic conditions such as demographic pattern, housing,
transport, industries, employment and social services such as schools, hospitals and recreational
facilities. The process of collecting such data is called a "Planning Survey".
Collection of data (existing information) from various types of surveys as:
Natural characteristics of the area: Topography, Climate, Geological information,
Agriculture, Forest, etc.
Land use patterns: agricultural, forest, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Public,
Recreational, Transportation, etc.
Demography: Population, age, gender distribution, past trends, future projection, migration,
density, etc.
Economic characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary sector employment, Fiscal budget of
local self government, resources for future development
Traffic and Transportation: problems and prospects of public transportation system,
pedestrian movement, etc.
Housing characteristics: available stock, demand, provider, slums, etc.
Utility Services: water supply, drainage and sewerage system, electricity and power supply,
tele-communication systems, etc.
Community facilities, social amenities: Educational institutions, Health facilities, community
centers etc.
Survey is collection, interpretation, arrangement, combination and presentation of all data and
information likely to be needed and included in planning proposals. It involves stages as study,
analysis, diagnosis and synthesis. The surveys involve physical, socio-economic and resource
studies. The need of survey is for collection of basic information for identification of problems and
solutions to the same. Collected relevant facts and interpretation of the data are useful for
formulating planning proposals for future. The process of collection data through surveys involves
two modes of communication: visual as well as aural modes. The visual mode encompasses physical
survey on the field to collect information. The aural mode entails communication in one or more
tools like filling out a survey questionnaire either on paper or on the internet), face-to-face or
telephone interview.
Patrick Geddes, the pioneer planner of city and regions suggested that any proper planning proposals
should be preceded by survey and analysis and termed as SAP or Survey - Analysis Plan. He
suggested four basic types of surveys for city and region as:
1. Physical
2. Socio-cultural
3. Economical
4. Aesthetics
The preliminary planning survey may be considered to consist of the following components:
Preparation of Base Map of the planning area.
Existing Land Use Survey
Utilities and Services Surveys.
Community facilities like Schools, Hospitals, Clinic, Parks and Playgrounds, etc.
Sample household survey for colleting essential data on housing, transport services and
amenities.

1. Physical survey
Reconnaissance survey: A reconnaissance survey is defined as an examination of all or part of
an area accomplished in sufficient detail to make generalizations about the types and
distributions of historic properties that may be present within a given project
area. Reconnaissance surveys represent a type of field survey that is often used to gather initial
information as topography of the area where natural and man-made physical features such as
buildings, utilities, trees, streams, contours of the land are located. A walkover reconnaissance
and route alignment survey is first carried out. A vehicle may also be used wherever the terrain
permits and where long distances can be seen without obstacles. This is essentially carried out to
verify the physical features on the ground which may not be clearly available in the survey maps
due to developments that might have taken place subsequent to the preparation of the maps.
Photographs, aerial photographs are used as tools for this survey.
Land use survey: Land use surveys are performed using field notes or physical survey, aerial
photographs, satellite imagery to define field boundaries using geographic information system
(GIS) software. All the categories of existing land uses like residential, commercial,
administrative, institutions, recreational, open spaces, services are surveyed and mapped.
2. Socio-economic survey
Method of enquiry in social science studies to find out how economic activities affect the social
process. This survey usually used for study of the society in multidisciplinary approach focusing
on wide ranging subjects as sociology, history, political science, etc. The goal of socioeconomic
study is generally to bring about socioeconomic development, usually in terms of improvements
in metrics such as GDP, life expectancy, literacy, levels of employment, etc.
Household sample survey: is conducted for gathering essential data on demography, family,
income, education, housing, etc. are gathered for finding out the need of the people.