Site Survey, Planning, and Layout
What you must know
A site survey captures geometry, utilities, traffic, and environment before any hardware is ordered. Measure gate opening width, travel distance, grade/slope, and clearance for the gate to swing or slide fully. Identify underground utilities (call 811 or local equivalent), power availability, and drainage. Note soil type and mounting surface (concrete, asphalt, gravel) because anchor design depends on it. Assess traffic patterns: vehicle count, pedestrian mix, emergency vehicle access, and queuing space.
Traps
Questions often hide a conflict between gate travel and an obstacle - a slope that causes a swing gate to drag, or a slide gate whose travel crosses a pedestrian path. Another trap is forgetting emergency access (fire lane) requirements. Surveyors also miss the difference between 'line of sight' and 'sensor coverage'; a photo-eye may not see a child behind a gate. Watch for questions that assume existing power is adequate without checking voltage, amperage, and distance for voltage drop.
Rule of thumb
Survey the envelope, not just the gate: measure the full swept or traveled volume plus a safety margin, and map every utility and pedestrian path crossing it. If the envelope conflicts with anything, redesign before quoting.
Worked example
A 16-ft slide gate is planned along a fence with a 14-ft clear run. The survey shows a drainage culvert 10 ft into the run. Correct action: relocate the operator or shorten the gate - the travel envelope is blocked, so the original layout is infeasible regardless of operator power.