Find out what to check around a property before buying or building: flooding, landslides, subsidence, contamination, groundwater, geology and planning.
Geology, soil, groundwater and terrain can influence foundations, excavation, drainage and settlement.
Look for evidence of flooding, landslides, slope instability, erosion, subsidence, karst, seismic or volcanic processes where relevant.
Historical land use and environmental records may reveal contamination or other conditions that deserve further checking.
Planning designations and local development controls are separate from ground hazards, but can be equally important when considering a site.
GroundSurf is a preliminary evidence browser. A positive finding needs appropriate investigation; a missing public record does not prove that a condition is absent.