AZ Land Surveyor key terms

The first cadastral survey of public lands conducted under federal authority, creating township, section, and aliquot-part boundaries that later resurveys cannot legally alter or replace.

A survey performed to reestablish and follow the boundaries and monuments of an existing original survey without creating new boundary lines or changing the record positions.

Physical evidence such as a marked stone, iron post, or brass cap set to mark a boundary corner, whose position controls over record distances when it is the original or accepted monument.

A monument called for in a recorded deed, plat, or government field notes that establishes the legally controlling position of a boundary corner.

A deed or plat reference to a natural or artificial object as a boundary marker, which generally prevails over courses, distances, and area stated in the same description.

Judicial ordering principles for resolving conflicts among description elements, generally ranking natural monuments first, then artificial monuments, then courses and distances, and area last.

Uncertainty in a written description that a court may resolve by examining the parties' intent, surrounding circumstances, and the relative reliability of conflicting calls.

Testimony or extrinsic information offered to clarify an ambiguous land description or explain the location of a called-for monument, not to contradict clear written terms.

A doctrine allowing a claimant to acquire title by open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous possession of another's land for the statutory period.

A boundary line established when adjacent owners, uncertain about the true line, mutually agree on a location and treat it as binding, often marked by a monument or fence.

A right to use another's land acquired through open, adverse, and continuous use for the statutory period, typically narrower in scope than a fee title claim.

An implied right of access across neighboring land created when a parcel is landlocked or otherwise lacks practical access after a division of ownership.

A boundary along a watercourse that generally shifts with gradual accretion or reliction but remains fixed when the water changes course abruptly by avulsion.

The gradual and imperceptible addition of land along a water boundary, which normally belongs to the adjacent upland owner without a new deed.

A sudden, perceptible change in a watercourse channel that does not move existing property boundaries, which remain at the former channel location.

A land description that defines a parcel by a closed traverse of courses and distances between monuments, beginning and ending at a known point of reference.

The stated starting corner of a metes-and-bounds description from which the traverse proceeds and to which it must return to close the parcel.

The gap between a traverse's computed ending point and its starting point, indicating the accumulated misclosure of measured angles and distances.

A mathematical process distributing misclosure among traverse legs, such as the compass or transit rule, to produce coordinates consistent with the controlling monuments.

A fractional subdivision of a section described by halves and quarters, such as the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, used in public land descriptions.

The division of a section into aliquot parts or lots according to federal surveying practice, with excess or deficiency usually placed in the last fractional part.

A fractional parcel, numbered within a section, created where regular subdivision is impractical because of meander lines, reservation boundaries, or survey error.

A traverse run along a bank or shore to determine the area of fractional lots; it is generally not the legal boundary of the water.

The original surveyor's recorded observations of monuments, distances, and bearings, often used as evidence of the original corner positions.

Physical traces or accessory monuments placed near a corner to help later surveyors identify and reestablish the original corner position.

Boundary or use interests arising from conduct and circumstances rather than written documents, such as prescriptive rights, agreed boundaries, or practical location.

An electronic instrument combining an electronic theodolite with a distance meter to measure horizontal and vertical angles and slope distances to targets.

Determining points on the ground using signals from satellite constellations, often with real-time kinematic corrections to achieve survey-grade horizontal and vertical accuracy.

A projected coordinate system dividing a state into zones with defined map projections, used to express survey positions on a common grid.

The difference between grid distances on a projected coordinate system and true ground distances, requiring a scale factor and elevation factor correction.

A series of differential leveling setups that returns to the starting benchmark, allowing the accumulated elevation misclosure to be checked against an allowable tolerance.

A stable, referenced point of known elevation or coordinates used as a starting or check point for vertical or horizontal survey work.

The state-adopted requirements governing boundary survey content, monumentation, records of survey, and the surveyor's seal and certification on filed documents.

A map filed with the county recorder depicting boundary survey results, monumentation, and required notes when the survey discloses certain discrepancies or unrecorded boundaries.

A recorded map of a land division or survey prepared and sealed by a registered land surveyor, subject to state platting and survey content requirements.

The degree of care, skill, and knowledge ordinarily exercised by competent surveyors under similar circumstances, used to judge professional negligence.

The direct control and personal supervision a registered surveyor must exercise over survey work performed by others, including field and office phases.

The periodic professional development hours a licensed surveyor must complete and document to renew registration under state board rules.