FS Surveying study guide
FS Surveying · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam is the NCEES examination that NCEES describes as generally the first step toward becoming a licensed professional surveyor (P.S.). It is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate surveying degree from an ABET-accredited program. The FS Surveying study guide has 9 sections and about 2,900 words.
01Pre-Examination Activities
The exam treats pre-examination work as everything between award of the contract and the first instrument setup. Expect items on (1) defining scope, deliverables, and the applicable standard in writing, (2) records research, and (3) logistics - permits, right of entry, utility locates, traffic control, and safety planning.
333 words, about 2 min02Surveying Instruments and Procedures
A total station combines a theodolite, an EDM, and a data collector. Understanding the error-cancelling procedures is the point of most questions.
339 words, about 2 min03Boundary and Cadastral Surveys
A boundary survey retraces an existing boundary rather than creating a new one. The classic hierarchy of evidence is: natural monuments, artificial monuments, courses (bearings), distances, and finally area or quantity.
325 words, about 2 min04Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
The core relationships are simple and heavily tested. Photographic scale is focal length divided by flying height above ground: S = f/H, and for a photograph, S = photo distance / ground distance.
301 words, about 2 min05Geodesy and Geodetic Surveying
Geodesy supplies the framework on which all surveys hang. The ellipsoid is a mathematical model (GRS80 for NAD83); the geoid is an equipotential surface approximating mean sea level.
313 words, about 2 min06Surveying Calculations and Adjustments
Latitude = distance × cos(bearing); departure = distance × sin(bearing). North and east are positive.
281 words, about 1 min07Mapping and Platting
Every map question starts with scale. A representative fraction of 1:2,400 means 1 unit on the map equals 2,400 units on the ground; one inch equals 200 ft.
309 words, about 2 min08Construction Surveys
Construction surveying transfers design positions to the ground. Control is established first, then offsets, hubs, and stakes are set from that control.
340 words, about 2 min09Business and Professional Practice
Practice questions test the boundary between legal and ethical. The license is held by an individual, not a firm; only a licensed surveyor may seal and sign survey work, and the seal attests to personal responsibility for the work.
359 words, about 2 min