Nicolas Valles
Nicolas VallesCivil Engineering & Surveying Support
Experience  |  Solutions  |  Progress

Civil Engineering, Surveying & Construction Support Services

Nicolas Valles Civil & Surveying Technical Consultant · Construction Support · University Educator

30+ years of experience supporting civil engineering, land development, surveying, construction and technical project delivery for firms in Southwest Florida and statewide.

Request a Quote View Services
People · Projects · Communities · A Stronger Tomorrow
About

About Nicolas Valles

Ave Maria, Florida

Nicolas Valles combines more than 30 years of experience in civil engineering, surveying technical support, construction management and university teaching. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Construction Management. His work spans site development, roadway and drainage support, erosion control, cost estimating, GNSS fieldwork and AutoCAD Civil 3D documentation.

A retired full professor and former Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Director of the Civil Engineering Program at Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda, he now teaches in the Surveying Management and Construction Management programs at Everglades University. Based in Ave Maria, Florida, he connects field experience, technical knowledge and clear communication to support project teams from planning through closeout.

Credentials & experience

  • Civil Engineering degree
  • M.S. Construction Management
  • University teaching and academic leadership
  • Field, CAD and construction coordination
Services Offered

Technical support from field to finish

Drafting, design support, field coordination and documentation for engineering, surveying and construction firms that need an experienced hand on their projects. Technical work is coordinated with the responsible licensed professional and prepared for project-specific review.

Total station on a yellow tripod at a waterfront construction site

Surveying support

Field and office support for boundary, ALTA/NSPS, construction staking, site layouts and as-builts, from field collection to final drawings.

See what's included →
Small survey boat with a GNSS antenna and echo sounder on a Florida lake

Bathymetric & hydrographic survey support

Single-beam and multibeam data collection, processing and depth-contour maps of lakes, ponds, canals and stormwater basins.

See what's included →
Civil site plans, hard hat and tablet at a Florida land development site

Civil engineering support

Design support, calculations and permit-ready plan preparation for land development and infrastructure projects.

See what's included →
Motor grader and excavator shaping a new stormwater retention pond

Site, grading, drainage & stormwater

Grading plans, drainage layouts, stormwater calculations and permit-package support.

See what's included →
Engineering workstation showing a 3D road corridor and profile view

Technical plans, CAD & Civil 3D

Surfaces, alignments, profiles, plan sets and sheet production in AutoCAD Civil 3D.

See what's included →
Construction plan sheets with a calculator, scale and quantity takeoff

Cost estimating & bid packages

Quantity takeoffs, engineer's estimates, bid tabulations and proposal support.

See what's included →
Office desk with a monitor and printed maps showing a Florida coastal GIS map

GIS, mapping & documentation

GIS data preparation, exhibits, base maps and technical reports.

See what's included →
Two inspectors in hard hats and safety vests reviewing plans at a Florida construction site

Inspection & project coordination

Construction observation, field reports, RFIs and coordination between owner, contractor and design team.

See what's included →
Service Guide

What each service is, and when you need it

A quick reference for owners, builders and developers who are not sure which survey or study their project requires.

Surveying supportBathymetric & hydrographic survey supportCivil engineering supportSite, grading, drainage & stormwaterTechnical plans, CAD & Civil 3DCost estimating & bid packagesGIS, mapping & documentationInspection & project coordination

Surveying support

Boundary Survey

Locates and marks the legal property lines and corners of a parcel using the deed, recorded plats and evidence found in the field.

When you need it: buying or selling land, installing a fence, building near a property line or settling a line dispute.

Topographic Survey

Maps ground elevations, contours and existing features such as trees, utilities, pavement and structures.

When you need it: before site design, grading, drainage planning or a permit application.

ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey

A detailed boundary survey prepared to national standards that shows improvements, easements, encroachments and the matters listed in the title commitment.

When you need it: commercial real estate purchases, refinancing and title insurance.

Elevation Certificate

The FEMA form that documents a building's floor elevations compared with the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) of its flood zone.

When you need it: rating flood insurance, building permits in flood zones and LOMA requests.

Construction Staking & Layout

Sets stakes, offsets and marks on site so buildings, roads and utilities are built in the designed position and at the designed grade.

When you need it: at every stage of construction, from clearing limits to curbs and finished floor.

As-Built Survey

Records the actual location and elevation of what was built, so it can be compared with the approved plans.

When you need it: final inspections, certificate of occupancy, stormwater certifications and record drawings.

Spot Survey (Form Board & Foundation)

A "pre-as-built" survey of the slab or foundation of a new building or addition. It confirms the footprint meets the approved setbacks and the minimum floor elevation before vertical construction continues. In Collier County it is the "10-day spot survey" required after the slab inspection, often submitted with an under-construction Elevation Certificate.

When you need it: new homes, additions that change the footprint, and permits placed on an inspection hold until the spot survey is approved.

Tree Survey

Locates trees on a site and records their species, trunk diameter and canopy, shown on a map with the property lines.

When you need it: site plans and tree removal permits, and designs that must protect specimen or native trees.

Utility Mapping from Records & Visible Features

Draws water, sewer, storm, electric, gas and telecom lines from utility record plans and county GIS, and ties them to what can be seen and measured on site: manholes, valves, boxes, poles and Sunshine 811 paint marks (ASCE 38 Quality Levels D and C). It does not detect buried lines with ground-penetrating radar (GPR); when that is needed, it is coordinated with a specialized locating firm.

When you need it: early design and planning, to show where existing utilities are expected before a detailed locate or excavation.

GNSS Control Survey

Sets a network of accurate control points with GNSS/RTK and leveling, tied to state plane coordinates (NAD 83) and elevations (NAVD 88).

When you need it: at the start of large projects, so every survey, design and stakeout uses the same reference.

Bathymetric & hydrographic survey support

Bathymetric Survey

Measures water depths and the shape of the bottom of lakes, ponds, canals and basins using an echo sounder and GNSS.

When you need it: dredging, sediment volume checks, pond certification, docks and seawalls.

Sediment & Dredge Volume Survey

Compares the current bottom with the design or a previous survey to calculate how much sediment has built up and must be removed.

When you need it: planning dredging, maintenance budgets and contractor pay quantities.

Stormwater Pond Survey

Measures pond banks, bottom, control structures and water levels to confirm the pond matches its permitted design.

When you need it: permit compliance, HOA maintenance and as-built certification.

Civil engineering support

Geotechnical Data Review & Calculations

Reading and putting to use the soil borings and lab results (SPT, classification, Proctor, permeability) from a geotechnical testing firm: bearing capacity, settlement, compaction and fill quantities, and pavement section checks for the project's design team. Field drilling and lab testing are performed by a specialized geotechnical firm, coordinated as part of the project.

When you need it: turning a soil report into design numbers for foundations, pavements, retaining walls and fill placement.

Land Development

The process of turning raw land into buildable lots: feasibility, site planning, grading, roads, utilities and permitting.

When you need it: subdivisions, commercial sites and any project that starts from an undeveloped parcel.

Site Plans & Permitting Support

Preparation of site plans, plan revisions and permit packages for county, city and water management district review.

When you need it: new projects, site modifications and responses to reviewer comments.

Site, grading, drainage & stormwater

Grading, Drainage & Stormwater

Design of finished ground surfaces and drainage systems (swales, inlets, pipes and ponds) that control runoff and meet water management district and county rules.

When you need it: new construction, additions that increase impervious area and flooding problems.

Drainage Calculations

Runoff, pipe, inlet and pond sizing calculations that show the drainage system works for the design storm.

When you need it: permit applications, flooding complaints and drainage upgrades.

Technical plans, CAD & Civil 3D

Civil 3D Modeling & Drafting

3D surfaces, alignments, corridors and earthwork volumes that produce plan, profile and cross-section sheets.

When you need it: roads, site plans, earthwork balance and any plan set that must match field data.

Plan Sets & Sheet Production

Organized drawing sets with title blocks, sheet index, details and notes, ready for review and printing.

When you need it: permit submittals, bidding and construction.

Cost estimating & bid packages

Construction Cost Estimating

Quantity takeoffs and unit prices that forecast what a project will cost.

When you need it: budgets, feasibility studies, bid preparation and pay applications.

Bid Packages & Bid Tabulation

Bid forms and item lists, plus a line-by-line comparison of the bids received from contractors.

When you need it: selecting a contractor in public or private procurement.

GIS, mapping & documentation

GIS Mapping

Geographic data organized in map layers such as parcels, flood zones, utilities and aerial imagery, ready to analyze and share.

When you need it: site selection, asset inventories, exhibits and planning studies.

Exhibits & Technical Reports

Clear maps, figures and written reports that explain site conditions, findings and recommendations.

When you need it: permits, public hearings, client presentations and claims.

Inspection & project coordination

Construction Inspection

Field observation of the work, checking it against plans and specifications and documenting progress in daily reports.

When you need it: during construction, for owners, lenders and public agencies.

Project Coordination & RFIs

Keeping owner, contractor and design team aligned through meetings, schedules, RFIs and submittal tracking.

When you need it: from preconstruction to project closeout.

From Field to Finish

One workflow, from data capture to the final model

Topographic and bathymetric data collected in the field, processed and modeled in Civil 3D, and delivered as plans your licensed professional can review and seal.

  • CaptureTotal station, GNSS/RTK and single-beam echo sounder
  • ProcessPoint cleanup, adjustments, surfaces and depth contours
  • ModelAlignments, corridors, grading and earthwork in Civil 3D
26°20′ N · 81°26′ W · Ave Maria, Southwest Florida
Topographic & bathymetric · Statewide service
Service Area

Based in Southwest Florida, working statewide

Primary area

Southwest Florida

  • Collier
  • Lee
  • Charlotte
  • Hendry
  • Glades
  • Sarasota
  • DeSoto
  • Monroe

Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Marco Island, Immokalee, Ave Maria, LaBelle, Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte. Site visits are scheduled according to project needs and availability.

Statewide

All 67 Florida counties

Available for project-based assignments anywhere in Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Orlando and North Florida.

Specialized Experience

Three decades on real projects

Soils, roadway & construction methods

Soil mechanics, roadway design, construction methods and field-to-finish project support.

Public and private sector

Support for municipal, county and state work as well as private land development.

Why Work With Me

Real experience, lasting results

Experienced technical leadership

Leads crews and drafters, and keeps the work organized from first meeting to closeout.

Practical field and office expertise

Knows what works on site, so the plans hold up in construction.

Reliable support for complex projects

Available when your team is stretched, for a single task or a full assignment.

Courses & Training

Learn from a practitioner who teaches

Online courses built from decades of field work and university teaching. Practical, step-by-step, and focused on what you use on real projects.

  • TeachingAdjunct Faculty, Everglades University
  • AcademicRetired university professor, Venezuela
  • Field30+ years in civil engineering, surveying and construction projects
  • LanguagesSeparate English and Spanish course editions

Surveying Fundamentals

  • Leveling, traverses and closure
  • Total station and GNSS field methods
  • NAD 83, NAVD 88 and State Plane coordinates
  • Area, volume and stakeout computations
Enrollment soonJoin waitlist

Soil Mechanics

  • USCS and AASHTO classification
  • Compaction and Proctor testing
  • Consolidation and shear strength
  • Bearing capacity and field testing
Enrollment soonJoin waitlist

Roadway Design

  • Horizontal and vertical alignment
  • Superelevation and sight distance
  • Earthwork and mass haul diagrams
  • Pavement structure basics
Enrollment soonJoin waitlist

AutoCAD Civil 3D

  • Points, surfaces and contours
  • Alignments, profiles and corridors
  • Grading and earthwork volumes
  • Plan and profile sheet production
Enrollment soonJoin waitlist

All courses on this page are taught entirely in English. Looking for the Spanish editions?

Available for consulting, subcontract support, project-based assignments and technical collaboration.

Start a Request
Request a Quote

Tell me about your project

Describe the scope, location and schedule. I'll reply with availability and a proposal, usually within one business day.

  • Reply within 1 business day
  • Southwest Florida & statewide
  • Written proposal with fee & schedule
  • English · Español
1Choose the services

Select one or more.

2Your contact information

So I can send you the proposal.

Prefer to reach me directly?

Based inAve Maria, Florida

3Project location & details

Where the project is, when you need it and what it involves.

Type the street address, for example 123 Main St, and press Find parcel to look up its Parcel ID.
As shown on the property appraiser record. Select the project county first.

County property records

Select a single project county to see its property record search portals.

    Services are technical support for licensed firms. See the note at the bottom of the page.
    WhatsApp