Accord Engineering & Surveying, LLC

Land Surveying:

Boundary Retracements:

The retracement of property boundaries is one of the primary tasks of land surveyors.  Properly retracing boundaries involves deed research, discovery and measurement of evidence in the field, and analysis of all of the above leading to a professional opinion of the true location of the boundary.  When you need to know where your boundary is located, look no further than ACCORD to provide you with the best techniques in the business.

Divisions of Land:

There are two major methods by which landowners can divide their land in Massachusetts, the “Form A” and the “Subdivision”.  ACCORD can assist owners in accomplishing either type of division.   Briefly, the “Form A” division of land is applicable when the parcel has frontage along an existing road of acceptable quality and can provide access to the lots created.  The Subdivision process, by contrast, involves the design and construction of a new road, and access thereby.  It is subject to the terms and requirements of the Subdivision Control Law and local regulations created by the Town or City having jurisdiction.

Topographic/Engineering Surveys:

Often, for design purposes, such as designing a new home, it is desired to have a survey made which accurately depicts the existing conditions on a property, including locating existing structures, driveways, and trees, measuring the elevation of the land, locating utilities, etc. and preparing a plan showing these details.  ACCORD uses a robotic total station to efficiently collect data on the site, and CAD software to quickly and accurately transform that data into a usable plan

Civil Engineering:

Perc Tests:

With the exception of town and city centers, most of the land in Berkshire County is not provided with sewers.  As a result, homes must be served by on-site sewage disposal systems, typically septic systems.  The first step in designing a septic system is to test the soils at the location where the septic tank effluent will be discharged to the ground.  The testing involves an examination of the various layers of the soil in a deep observation hole, and an estimation of the seasonal high groundwater table.  Also, a percolation test is conducted, which determines the rate at which water is accepted by the surrounding soil.  Percolation testing is best carried out when the soil is dry.  Weather patterns are constantly changing, and while the spring is typically wet, and the summer is typically dry, this is not always the case.

Septic System Design:

Following the percolation testing, the resulting perc rate and depth to groundwater are used to design a septic system to serve the facility.  ACCORD’s staff will perform a topographic survey of the area where the testing was performed, noting and collecting pertinent data on many other items as well – adjacent wells, structures, property lines, rock outcroppings, etc.  All of this information is used in the design process, and ACCORD seeks to create a design that accomplishes the CLIENT’s wishes in the most satisfactory and/or cost-effective way.

Wetland Protection:

Many projects occur in or near wetland resource areas protected under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.  The Act and associated regulations require that if there is an alteration of wetlands, that a “Notice of Intent” be filed with the Conservation Commission.  ACCORD can assist property owners with this process, or even help them avoid it, if suitable design alternatives can be developed which lessen or eliminate alteration of wetlands.