PS Surveying Exam Flashcards

Q: What do these PS Surveying flashcards cover?

They cover the major NCEES PS domains: legal principles, professional survey practice, standards and specifications, business practices, and applied work such as ALTA/NSPS, control, construction, boundary, route, topographic, subdivision, as-built, and consultation surveys.

Q: Are these PS flashcards enough to pass by themselves?

No. Use them for recall and concept checks, then pair them with timed calculation practice, current NCEES specifications, the PS Reference Handbook, supplied standards, and jurisdiction-specific law review where applicable.

Q: Do I need to memorize an exact PS passing score?

No. NCEES reports PS results as pass or fail and does not publish a fixed passing score. Focus on broad competence across the blueprint instead of chasing a raw-score target.

Q: Why do these cards include standards such as ALTA/NSPS, FEMA, and BLM?

The PS specification includes standards and specifications as an exam domain, and NCEES supplies listed standards electronically during the exam. Knowing when each standard governs is part of professional judgment.

Question 1

Original monument

Accepted Answer

An original monument placed or called for in the creating survey is usually strong boundary evidence because it best reflects the original intent. If found and reliable, it can control over later measurements that disagree with it.

Question 2

Controlling elements in a deed

Accepted Answer

When deed calls conflict, surveyors weigh intent through a priority of evidence. A common pattern favors senior rights and called-for monuments over bearings, distances, and area, but statutes and case facts can modify the result.

Question 3

Parol evidence in boundary work

Accepted Answer

Parol evidence is outside information, such as testimony or historical practice, used to help interpret an ambiguous written record. It should clarify intent or evidence, not rewrite an unambiguous conveyance.

Question 4

Adverse possession

Accepted Answer

Adverse possession can transfer title when possession meets jurisdiction-specific requirements such as actual, open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous use for the statutory period. The surveyor identifies evidence; courts decide title.

Question 5

Prescriptive easement

Accepted Answer

A prescriptive easement can arise from long-term use of another person's land that meets the legal elements for prescription. It creates a use right, not ownership of the underlying fee.

Question 6

Boundary by acquiescence

Accepted Answer

Acquiescence involves neighbors treating a line as the boundary for a long period, often with uncertainty or dispute about the record line. Evidence may include fences, occupation, maintenance, and conduct of the parties.

Question 7

Riparian vs. littoral rights

Accepted Answer

Riparian rights relate to land along rivers or streams; littoral rights relate to land along lakes, seas, or oceans. Water boundaries can move differently than fixed upland boundaries, so the water-body type matters.

Question 8

Accretion vs. avulsion

Accepted Answer

Accretion is gradual natural buildup or erosion that can move a water boundary. Avulsion is sudden change, such as a flood cutting a new channel, and often leaves the legal boundary in its prior location.

Question 9

Senior and junior rights

Accepted Answer

In sequential conveyances, the earlier conveyance generally has senior rights. A later deed cannot give land already conveyed away, so shortages often fall on junior parcels unless governing law or facts say otherwise.

Question 10

PLSS corner status

Accepted Answer

An existent corner is supported by direct evidence, an obliterated corner can be restored from collateral evidence, and a lost corner lacks enough evidence and must be reestablished by approved proportionate methods.

Question 11

Metes and bounds description

Accepted Answer

A metes and bounds description traces a parcel using directions, distances, monuments, and adjoining calls. A useful description closes, identifies the controlling evidence, and can be followed on the ground.

Question 12

Strip description

Accepted Answer

A strip description defines a corridor by a centerline or reference line plus width, offsets, or side limits. It is common for roads, utilities, and easements where stationing and curves must be clear.

Question 13

Easement appurtenant

Accepted Answer

An easement appurtenant benefits a specific parcel and usually runs with that land. The dominant estate receives the benefit, and the servient estate carries the burden.

Question 14

Easement in gross

Accepted Answer

An easement in gross benefits a person, company, or public entity rather than a neighboring parcel. Utility easements are common examples, and transferability depends on the grant and governing law.

Question 15

Encumbrance

Accepted Answer

An encumbrance is an interest or restriction affecting title or use, such as an easement, lien, covenant, or lease. On a survey, it matters because it can shape access, improvements, and exceptions to title coverage.

Question 16

Closure does not prove title

Accepted Answer

A mathematically closed description may still conflict with senior rights, monuments, occupation, or record intent. Closure checks geometry; boundary resolution evaluates evidence and law.

Question 17

Geodetic datum

Accepted Answer

A geodetic datum defines the reference frame for positions on the earth. Coordinates are not meaningful unless the datum, epoch where relevant, units, and projection are known.

Question 18

Projection vs. datum

Accepted Answer

A datum defines the reference frame; a projection converts curved-earth positions to a flat coordinate system. Confusing them can cause coordinate shifts, scale errors, and mismatched GIS layers.

Question 19

Ellipsoid height vs. orthometric height

Accepted Answer

Ellipsoid height is measured from the reference ellipsoid, while orthometric height is an elevation above the geoid, approximating mean sea level. GNSS produces ellipsoid heights that need a geoid model for elevations.

Question 20

Geoid model

Accepted Answer

A geoid model converts between ellipsoid heights and orthometric heights. The model must match the datum and project requirements because small vertical mistakes can be critical for flood, utility, and construction work.

Question 21

Static GNSS control

Accepted Answer

Static GNSS uses longer simultaneous observations on fixed receivers to strengthen control positions. It is favored when accuracy, redundancy, and defensible network adjustment matter more than rapid point collection.

Question 22

RTK GNSS risk

Accepted Answer

RTK can produce efficient real-time positions, but results depend on initialization, correction source, satellite geometry, multipath, and independent checks. A fixed solution is not a substitute for survey control judgment.

Question 23

Site calibration

Accepted Answer

A site calibration relates GNSS positions to a local project coordinate system. It should use well-distributed control and be checked independently because a weak calibration can distort the entire project.

Question 24

Control network design

Accepted Answer

Good control networks match the project tolerance, include redundancy, protect stable monuments, and support future work. Geometry, access, visibility, vertical control, and error propagation all affect design.

Question 25

Least squares adjustment

Accepted Answer

Least squares distributes random observation error through a redundant network in a statistically consistent way. It produces adjusted values, residuals, and precision estimates that help evaluate the network.

Question 26

Residual

Accepted Answer

A residual is the difference between an observed value and its adjusted value. Large or patterned residuals can point to blunders, weak weighting, bad geometry, or systematic error.

Question 27

Redundancy in observations

Accepted Answer

Redundancy means collecting more observations than the minimum needed to solve the geometry. It allows checks, adjustments, and error detection; without redundancy, a mistake may look like a valid solution.

Question 28

Precision vs. accuracy

Accepted Answer

Precision describes repeatability; accuracy describes closeness to the true or accepted value. A survey can be precise but biased, so calibration, control, and independent checks are still needed.

Question 29

Traverse closure

Accepted Answer

Traverse closure compares the computed endpoint with the known or intended endpoint. The misclosure and relative precision indicate whether the traverse is acceptable before any adjustment is trusted.

Question 30

Compass rule adjustment

Accepted Answer

The compass rule distributes linear misclosure in proportion to course lengths. It is most appropriate when angular and distance measurements have roughly comparable relative precision.

Question 31

Coordinate area method

Accepted Answer

Coordinate area is computed from ordered parcel vertices using their coordinate products. The method is efficient, but the result is only as reliable as the boundary determination and coordinate system behind it.

Question 32

Percent grade

Accepted Answer

Percent grade equals rise divided by run, multiplied by 100. A 2% grade changes elevation 2 feet over 100 horizontal feet, using consistent units.

Question 33

ALTA/NSPS land title survey purpose

Accepted Answer

An ALTA/NSPS land title survey supports title insurance and real estate transactions by showing boundaries, improvements, easements, access, and other title-related matters under a national standard.

Question 34

ALTA/NSPS Table A

Accepted Answer

Table A items are optional scope items that must be negotiated and authorized. They are not automatically included just because a survey is labeled ALTA/NSPS.

Question 35

Title commitment review

Accepted Answer

For a land title survey, the surveyor reviews the title commitment, especially record descriptions and survey-related exceptions. The goal is to map or comment on matters that can be located or affect the surveyed property.

Question 36

BLM Manual role

Accepted Answer

The BLM Manual guides restoration and retracement of Public Land Survey System surveys. It emphasizes recovering original evidence and following approved methods when original corners cannot be directly identified.

Question 37

FEMA elevation work

Accepted Answer

Flood-related surveying depends on the correct vertical datum, flood source, structure elevations, and certificate instructions. A datum mismatch can make an elevation certificate or flood analysis misleading.

Question 38

FGDC accuracy standards

Accepted Answer

FGDC geospatial accuracy standards help express positional quality using statistical confidence rather than vague labels. They are useful when specifying, testing, or reporting control and geospatial data accuracy.

Question 39

U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards

Accepted Answer

USNMAS relates map scale to allowable horizontal and vertical plotting error for tested points. It matters when judging whether a topographic or planimetric map is accurate enough for its stated scale.

Question 40

Scope of services

Accepted Answer

A clear scope defines the survey type, limits, standards, deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, schedule, and fee basis. It reduces disputes because the client and surveyor share the same expectations.

Question 41

Standard of care

Accepted Answer

The professional standard of care is the level of skill and diligence ordinarily used by similar professionals under similar circumstances. It is not a guarantee of a perfect result.

Question 42

QA/QC review

Accepted Answer

Quality control checks the work product before delivery; quality assurance confirms the process is capable of producing reliable work. Independent checks, review of assumptions, and documented corrections lower risk.

Question 43

Professional seal responsibility

Accepted Answer

A seal indicates professional responsibility for the work under the surveyor's responsible charge. It should not be applied to work the surveyor did not control, review, or have authority to certify.

Question 44

Client pressure and ethics

Accepted Answer

A surveyor must not change conclusions merely to satisfy a client, contractor, or schedule. Ethical practice requires objective evidence evaluation, truthful communication, and refusal to certify unsupported facts.

Question 45

Survey safety planning

Accepted Answer

Safety planning accounts for traffic, terrain, utilities, weather, equipment, site access, and crew communication. A technically correct survey is not successful if the field process creates preventable hazards.

Question 46

Boundary survey workflow

Accepted Answer

A defensible boundary survey moves from record research to field evidence, evidence reconciliation, calculations, monumentation decisions, and a clear plat or report. The reasoning matters as much as the final linework.

Question 47

Topographic breaklines

Accepted Answer

Breaklines define sharp changes in slope, such as curbs, ditches, walls, and ridges. Capturing them correctly improves the surface model more than collecting random points alone.

Question 48

Construction layout vs. as-built survey

Accepted Answer

Construction layout marks planned positions for building; an as-built or record survey documents what was actually constructed. Mixing the two can hide construction deviations or create payment and liability disputes.

Question 49

Route stationing

Accepted Answer

Stationing references distance along an alignment, commonly used for roads, pipelines, and utilities. It makes design, staking, offsets, profiles, and construction communication consistent along the route.

Question 50

Subdivision platting

Accepted Answer

Subdivision platting converts land into legally recognized lots, parcels, easements, or common areas under local rules. Surveyors must coordinate geometry, title, access, dedications, restrictions, and approval requirements.

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