Site Survey

(courtesy Bibb Co., GA School District Campus Police)

I. PHYSICAL STRUCTURE - Ground and aerial photographs including vertical and
oblique shots are extremely useful.
A. Location Address, name of city or municipality or county.
B .Description of building.
1. Type of dwelling--attached, detached, isolated; number
of floors, number of size, primary use, rooms.
2. Type of construction--brick, frame,concrete, stucco, etc.
3. Description--color, type of roof, or other identifying
features.
4. Isolated from street or open to view.
5. Number of entrance and exit doors. Are there other
routes into the building.
6. Attic or basement. Size, location of access, dimensions,
use.
7. Elevators, type, size, emergency shutoff point. (fire
escapes, dumbwaiter location).
8. If the building is only partially occupied, identify space
and occupants of whole building.
C. Describe the building grounds--avenues of approach, avenues of
escape, lighted areas, areas of shade and/or darkness, blind spots.
D. Describe the attached and/or other buildings on the target grounds
along with details of roads and alleyways surrounding the structure.
E. Who is the owner? Hours of business? Who else has access, what
times?
F. May any of the attached, adjoining or adjacent buildings, offices,
apartments, garages be used as a base of operations, or points of cover
and/or observation. Describe location, height, windows and access.
G. Who has access to the building? Superintendent, building maintenance
people, delivery men, utilities employees, etc.

H. Are any of the attached or adjoining buildings occupied by associates

of subject(s).
II. FORTIFICATIONS/OBSTACLES/CHEMICALS
A. Window
B. Doors
C. Roof
D. Wall/fence/gates
E. Lighting
F. Traps/alarms (see Section III. C.)
G. Pool
H. Dogs
I. Look-outs
J. Caustic/volatile chemicals (type, location, etc.)
K. Other
III.INTERIOR LAYOUT
A. Physical description and floor plan of building-obtain floor plans,
blueprints, or sketches of building. Indicate dimensions, intended and
actual use of each room as accurately as possible.
1. Interior construction, i.e., (a) walls-plaster, panel; (b) ceiling--drop,
plaster. Note possible problem areas-TVs, radios, etc. Location and
numbers of phones. How long are
the phone cords?
What type of insulation is used; is it
flammable?
Is any other type of building material
extremely flammable?
2. Determine location of all doors and
accessible windows, etc.
B. Doors--description:
1. Location.
2. Composition.
3. How do they open.
4. Location of hinges; exposed or concealed.
5. Location of doorknob.

6. Dimensions.
7. Type and number of locks/bars, braces.
C. Windows--description:
1. Location.
2. Composition.
3. How do they open.
4. Dimensions.
5. How are they locked. Do they have screws, storm
windows, bars.
D. Inside doorways and closets-description:
1. Location.
2.Composition.
3. How do they open.
4. Location of hinges; exposed or concealed.
5. Location of door knob.
6. Dimensions.
E. Crawl spaces, air conditioning ducts, clothing shoots. Location and
size.
F. Stairways--description:
1. Location.
2. Size.
3. Type and configuration.
G. Hallways--description:
1. Location.
2. Size.
3. Dimensions.
IV.PHYSICAL SECURITY
A. Photos and/or clay impressions of locks.,

1. Description of locks, including brand names.

a. Primary locks: Key-in-knob; Mortise
(lock above knob).
b. Secondary locks: Deadbolt, jimmy-proof
deadbolt, tubular deadbolt.
C.

Metal shields over locks.

2. Key control.
a. Who has access to keys?
b. Is there a master key?
c. Possibility of obtaining keys to make
impressions or duplicates.
B.Alarms:
1. Visible indications of alarms and/or security cameras:
a. Shunt locks.
b. Foil tape on windows, switches on doors
c. External bell/bell box or siren.
d. Type and model of control boxes (inside).
2.How is alarm reported?
a.Local bell.
b.Telephone dialer/digital communicator to
police or central station (lease lines to
target's building may be indication of central
station monitoring).
1) Contacts with police to
determine if alarm reports.
2 )Contacts with alarm
central station.
3) Contact phone company to
determine if target has leased
lines/or provided phone
company with FCC # for
alarm dialer/communicator to
be attached.

C.Activities of subjects when opening and closing business.

1. Activities prior to locking up, i.e., turn off lights, throw
switches, etc., which may indicate arming of alarms.
2. Activities and sequence while locking up.
a. Which doors are locked, which locks are
locked, what order.
b. External arming of alarm, also position of
shunt lock at night as-well as during the day.
D.Other considerations:
1. Guard dogs
2. Security patrol (see #4).
3. Lights on at night--possibility of timers.
4. Be alert for booby traps.
5. False walls and/or steps.
V. LOCAL SECURITY/SAFETY FUNCTIONS
A. Security Forces: Local police and private organizations.
1. How they might affect operations.
2. In the event of need, could they and would they aid you?
3. Do you have a special contact within the local police
force?
4. If no contact with local PD is established use scanner
with PD frequency to intercept possible response calls to
location.
5. Establish scenario for outer perimeter security personnel
in event of any type confrontation.
6. Fire department.
VI. UTILITIES - Check for any utility services entrances. Are there any flammables or
fuels located in the building?
A. Telephones:
1. Type service, location of wire closet and communication
room.

2. Have you any contacts with the local telephone

company?
B. Electricity:
1. Location of the circuit breaker room.
2. Any tunnels employed in underground distribution
system.
C. Ventilating, heating, air conditioning.
1. Where are the controls located?
2. Who does repair and maintenance?
3. Any steam tunnels used?
4. Any large air conditioning ducts?
D. Sewage:
-- Any tunnels utilized near the target?
VII. SUBJECT/OCCUPANT INFORMATION
A. Total number of subjects/suspects.
B. Other occupants on site (include children, elderly, handicapped, blind,
deaf).
1. Name
2. Race
3. Sex
4. DOB/Age
5. Relationship
6. Other
C. Likelihood of additional persons on site at time of raid (i.e., users,
buyers, suppliers, etc.)
VIII. EVACUATION INFORMATION
A. Assessment of surrounding area:
B. Evacuation of surrounding area planned/participated:
____________________________________________

C. Time to take place:

How to take place (phone, person, etc.):
D. Evacuees to be taken to:
E. Structure to be evacuated:
Address

Phone #

Occupants

By Whom Completed

----Published in "Bomb Threat Response: An Interactive Planning Tool for Schools" by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, United States Department of the Treasury and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools
Program, United States Department of Education.