Free PS Surveying Exam Flashcards

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.