Baseline survey, in the simplest form, is the analysis of a current situation to help identify the starting point of any project. The purpose is to build an information base to assess and monitor the progress and effectiveness of a project if it has already been completed. The data collected also helps to decide whether starting a project is worth it in the first place.
Generally, an external organization is hired to carry out the baseline survey work. Though sometimes, an internal project management team can also carry out the survey