Land Surveying
In-house survey staff providing reliable, accurate field information and topographic mapping.
Precision surveying services
Having an in-house survey team means seamless coordination between surveying and engineering. Our professional land surveyors work directly with our engineers, ensuring that field data is accurately captured, properly interpreted, and effectively integrated into design work.
This integrated approach eliminates communication gaps and ensures that every project benefits from precise, reliable survey data from the very beginning. Our surveyors understand the engineering requirements, and our engineers understand the survey process, creating a unified team that delivers superior results.
We utilize state-of-the-art equipment and technology, including GPS/GIS services, to provide accurate surveys for projects of all sizes. From simple boundary surveys to complex topographic mapping for large-scale developments, we have the expertise and equipment to meet your needs.
What we offer
Our services
Our work
Featured projects
Fort Sheridan Ravine & Coastal Restoration
Multi-year project providing surveying and civil engineering services for ravine and coastal restoration along Lake Michigan. Work included new ravine thread lines, stone step pools, and rock riffles to stabilize the area.
Forest Park Master Plan Implementation
The City of Lake Forest adopted a comprehensive Forest Park Master Plan prepared by **Stephen Stimson Associates** to restore, enhance, and preserve the City's preeminent park. Originally founded in 1856 by the City's original planner, **Almerin Hotchkiss**, Forest Park was established as Lake Forest's first conserved open space and envisioned as a natural resource for passive enjoyment. In 1896, landscape architect **O.C. Simonds** further shaped the park through a formal planning effort. The Master Plan serves as a long-term guide for park improvements, honoring the historic legacy of Hotchkiss and Simonds while addressing modern needs for accessibility, environmental stewardship, and passive recreation. Bleck Engineering prepared civil engineering construction documents for the **37-acre park** in support of the Master Plan's vision and goals. Construction began in 2013, and Forest Park reopened to the public in 2014. Environmental stewardship was central to the project, as the park drains directly to **Lake Michigan**. Improvements focused on reducing impervious surfaces, enhancing stormwater treatment, restoring native landscapes, and realigning walking paths and roadways to create improved circulation and new vistas from the tableland toward the lake.
Ravinia Festival Food Service Building
Bleck Engineering was selected by Lohan Anderson LLC to provide civil engineering design services for a 43,200-square-foot food service and dining facility at the Ravinia Festival. The project required careful planning and coordination to ensure construction activities had minimal impact on the visitor experience and were completed in time for the upcoming festival season. Plans were prepared on an accelerated schedule to allow demolition of the existing food pavilion immediately following the conclusion of the 2006 season. Construction proceeded through the winter months, and the new Food Service and Dining Pavilion opened successfully at the start of the 2007 season. Bleck Engineering's scope included surveying the festival grounds, preparing all site-related civil construction documents, assisting with permitting and entitlements, providing construction administration, and performing construction staking and layout. The project also included 6,000 square feet of outdoor dining patios, thoughtfully designed around several significant existing oak trees. Site circulation paths were reconfigured to improve visitor movement throughout the grounds, and all utility services to the building were upgraded to support the new facility.
Lake Forest Academy Field Improvements
Bleck Engineering was retained by **Lake Forest Academy** to evaluate and improve athletic field conditions after recurring flooding of existing natural turf fields resulted in frequent game and practice cancellations. Following a feasibility study, Bleck prepared construction documents for a **3.5-acre multipurpose synthetic turf athletic field** designed to improve playability and meet all applicable water quality and stormwater runoff requirements. The project replaced natural turf with a high-performance field system that allows teams to practice and compete almost immediately after rain events—eliminating the multi-day downtime previously experienced. The design supported fundraising and approval efforts by providing a shovel-ready project for the school board. Constructed in the summer of 2018, the new athletic complex features **six NFHS-compliant fields**, including: 2 field hockey fields 1 boys lacrosse field 1 girls lacrosse field 1 softball field 1 soccer field The field was completed in time for use at the start of the 2018–2019 school year.
Walden Ravine Culvert & Stabilization Improvements
Bleck Engineering was retained by the City of Lake Forest to address a critical infrastructure failure at Walden Ravine, where a collapsed headwall at the Ringwood Road land bridge obstructed water flow and raised concerns about ravine stability and roadway safety. The project focused on rehabilitating a century-old brick culvert, stabilizing the ravine, and improving drainage and safety along Ringwood Road. Upstream improvements included construction of a new concrete headwall and restoration of approximately **130 feet of stream channel** using rock riffles, stone step pools, and erosion control measures designed to moderate flow and enhance habitat. The culvert was structurally reinforced using a **spray-in-place pipe lining system**, preserving the existing structure while minimizing environmental disturbance. Downstream, a new storm sewer system and reinforced drainage structures were installed to manage roadway runoff and protect ravine slopes. Additional slope stabilization measures included stone armoring and gabion baskets. Roadway improvements included milling and resurfacing approximately **300 feet of Ringwood Road**, installation of curb and gutter to control runoff, and placement of timber guardrails to improve safety along the steep ravine edge. Bleck Engineering also assisted the City in coordinating permits with local, state, and federal agencies.
Waukegan Municipal Beach
In the fall of 2017 the City of Waukegan Engineering Department reached out to Bleck to complete a plat of survey with topographic information of their municipal beach. The survey encompassed over 60 acres of land and was done on International Great Lakes Datum 1985 (IGLD85). Bleck Engineering also captured aerial imagery of the entire property to aid in future planning for the city.