Permanent Survey Marks

Permanent survey marks (PSMs), commonly known as survey marks, are a key component of South Australia’s surveying and spatial framework. They serve as valuable state infrastructure, underpinning the surveying of property boundaries, mapping, development and construction activities. Survey marks contain precise coordinate and height information, providing the stable geodetic reference frame that connects surveys and other spatial datasets.

The Survey Operations Unit maintain:

South Australia’s network of permanent survey marks, offers reliable reference points for surveyors to determine property boundaries and establish positioning for construction, mining and mapping
An enquiry system for survey mark information, including access to survey mark layers through the South Australian Property and Planning Atlas (SAPPA)

Importance of survey marks

Permanent survey marks support a wide range of activities across South Australia, including:

Cadastral (land boundary) surveying and land administration
Engineering and construction projects
Roads, utilities and public infrastructure
Mapping and spatial datasets

The ongoing availability and integrity of these marks is essential for maintaining accurate and reliable survey information.

What do survey marks look like?

Permanent survey marks may appear in different forms, including:

Photo: Large concrete monuments — **Large concrete monuments**

Photo: Metal plaques or discs — **Metal plaques or discs**

Photo: Metal rods or pins set into the ground or pavement — **Metal rods or pins set into the ground or pavement**

They are commonly located in road reserves, roadways, footpaths and other public areas, but may also be located on private land.

In many locations, survey marks are protected or indicated by witnessing, which helps people in identifying the presence of a survey mark. These witnessing features help protect survey marks and make them easier to locate, especially where the mark sits below ground level or could be obscured by machinery. Witnessing is not the survey mark itself, but can include:

Photo: "Photo:Steel or concrete covers installed at ground level, with the actual survey mark located underneath — **Steel or concrete covers installed at ground level, with the actual survey mark located underneath**

Photo: Witness posts with indicator plates (commonly used in newer developments) — **Witness posts with indicator plates (commonly used in newer developments)**

Photo: Blue star droppers with red indicator plates (common in rural areas) — **Blue star droppers with red indicator plates (common in rural areas)**

Photo: Indicator plate — **Indicator plate**

These witnessing features help protect survey marks and make them easier to locate, especially where the mark sits below ground level or could be obscured by machinery.

Learn more about

Resources

Survey enquiries

For survey mark enquiries or EDM calibration bookings please contact:

Phone: (08) 7133 2300
Email: DHUD.SurveyOperations@sa.gov.au