AL Land Surveyor flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Senior rights rule

When one grantor conveys overlapping parcels, the earlier (senior) conveyance controls, and the later (junior) grantee takes subject to the senior boundary.

Order of boundary evidence

Courts rank evidence: natural monuments first, then artificial monuments, then courses and distances, then area, with calls for adjoiners often controlling over distance.

Adverse possession period

In Alabama, adverse possession generally requires 10 years under color of title or 20 years without, with use that is open, hostile, and continuous.

Proportionment of excess

When monuments at the ends of a line control, any excess or deficiency in recorded distances is distributed pro-rata among the courses of that line.

Plat recording requirement

A subdivision plat must be approved by the local governing body and recorded in the probate office before lots may be conveyed.

Lot frontage

The distance a lot abuts a public street or approved access, measured along the right-of-way line as required by zoning.

Curve data on plat

Each curved lot line shows radius, central angle, arc length, chord bearing, and chord distance so the line can be retraced.

Dedication of right-of-way

The owner's grant of land to the public for street purposes, shown on the plat and effective upon acceptance by the governing body.

Easement appurtenant

An easement that benefits a dominant parcel and burdens a servient parcel, passing with the land to future owners.

Easement by necessity

An implied easement allowing access to a landlocked parcel; it ends when the necessity for access no longer exists.

Prescriptive easement

A right acquired by open, notorious, adverse, continuous, and exclusive use of another's land for the statutory period.

Right-of-way versus fee

A right-of-way is an easement for passage; the underlying fee title remains with the servient owner unless conveyed in fee.

State Plane zones in Alabama

Alabama has two State Plane zones, East (0101) and West (0102), on NAD83, with coordinates in meters or US survey feet.

Combined scale factor

The product of the grid scale factor and the elevation factor, used to convert between ground and grid distances.

Elevation factor

The ratio R/(R+h) where R is earth radius and h is height above the ellipsoid, correcting ground distance to the ellipsoid.

NAVD88

The North American Vertical Datum of 1988, the current vertical datum for orthometric heights in Alabama and the United States.

Contour interval

The vertical distance between adjacent contour lines, chosen based on map scale and terrain relief.

Index contour

Every fifth contour line, drawn heavier and labeled with its elevation for readability on a topographic map.

Breakline

A line defining a change in surface slope, such as a ridge, swale, or pavement edge, that a TIN model honors.

Spot elevation

A labeled point elevation shown on a map to supplement contours at flat areas or critical features.

Horizontal curve tangent

T = R tan(Δ/2), the straight distance from the PC or PT to the point of intersection.

Vertical curve low point

The station of the high or low point is where x = −g1·L/(g2−g1), measured from the PVC along the curve.

Cut and fill

The vertical difference between existing ground and design grade; positive values indicate fill and negative values indicate cut.

Stationing

A distance along a baseline expressed in 100-foot stations, such as 12+34.56 meaning 1,234.56 feet.

Latitude and departure

Latitude equals distance times cosine of bearing; departure equals distance times sine of bearing, forming the traverse closure computation.

Area by coordinates

Twice the area equals the sum of Xi·Yi+1 minus Xi+1·Yi around the traverse; take the absolute value and divide by two.

Relative precision

The ratio of linear closure error to total traverse perimeter, often expressed as 1 part in N.

Acre conversion

One acre equals 43,560 square feet; one square mile equals 640 acres; one chain equals 66 feet.

Surveyor's seal

The stamp bearing the surveyor's name and license number, applied to plats and reports to certify responsibility for the work.

Alabama Board authority

The Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors licenses surveyors and disciplines unlicensed or unethical practice.

Continuing education

Alabama requires licensed surveyors to complete continuing professional development hours each renewal cycle, documented to the Board.

Unauthorized practice

Using the title land surveyor or performing surveying services without a license is prohibited and subject to Board sanctions.