This means that we need a small team to survey the area first, and I am very happy to lead this team.

survey 是动词，意思是"调查、勘察"，指对某个区域或情况进行系统的考察和记录。这个词来自法语 surveiller（监督），由 sur-（在上面）和 veiller（看）组成，原意是"从上方观察"。