Hawaii Land Surveyor Exam flashcards

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

Hawaii State Plane zones

The Hawaii State Plane Coordinate System has three transverse Mercator zones: Zone 1 for the island of Hawaii, Zone 2 for Maui and nearby islands, and Zone 3 for Oahu. Coordinates from different zones are not directly comparable.

Combined scale factor

The product of the grid scale factor and the elevation factor, used to convert between ground and grid distances. Ground distance multiplied by the combined factor gives grid distance on the projection.

Monument controls over distance

When a deed calls for both a monument and a distance to that monument, the monument location controls and the distance is treated as more or less. This is a fundamental rule of boundary retracement.

Natural monument priority

Natural monuments such as shorelines and streams generally control over artificial monuments, which control over courses and distances, which control over area in the order of boundary evidence.

High water mark

In Hawaii the upper limit of the public trust along the shore is generally the upper reaches of the wash of the waves, a factual line located by physical evidence rather than a fixed elevation.

Accretion versus avulsion

Accretion is gradual and imperceptible addition of land by water action and moves the boundary; avulsion is a sudden change and does not move the boundary.

Land Court boundary

A boundary registered under Hawaii's Torrens system is fixed by court decree and the filed map; a later survey cannot change it without a court order amending the certificate of title.

Tax map key limits

A Hawaii tax map key is an assessment identifier only. It does not establish or prove a boundary, and a survey based solely on a TMK is inadequate.

Latitude and departure

For a course of length L and bearing angle theta, departure equals L times the sine of theta and latitude equals L times the cosine of theta. Both sums close to zero in a closed traverse.

Compass rule adjustment

The Bowditch rule distributes latitude and departure misclosures in proportion to each course length. The transit rule instead distributes them in proportion to absolute latitude or departure.

Closure ratio meaning

The ratio of total linear misclosure to total traverse length, such as 1:10,000. It is a closure check, not a statement of positional accuracy at any single point.

Circular curve tangent

The tangent distance equals the radius times the tangent of half the intersection angle. Curve length equals radius times the intersection angle in radians.

Degree of curve

By arc definition, degree of curve equals 5729.578 divided by radius in feet. By chord definition it equals twice the arcsine of 50 divided by radius.

Vertical curve offset

The offset from tangent to curve at distance x from the beginning of the curve equals the algebraic grade difference times x squared divided by twice the curve length.

Average end area volume

Volume equals the average of two end areas multiplied by the distance between them. Divide cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards.

Geoid and orthometric height

Orthometric height equals ellipsoid height minus geoid undulation. Using the wrong geoid model shifts every reported elevation by the difference between models.

NAD83 versus NAD27

Hawaii coordinates on NAD83 differ from older NAD27 values by tens to hundreds of meters. A published transformation such as NADCON must be used, with residual uncertainty reported.

Grid versus geodetic azimuth

Grid azimuth differs from geodetic azimuth by the convergence angle, which depends on the longitude difference from the central meridian and on latitude.

U.S. survey foot

The U.S. survey foot equals 1200/3937 meters and the international foot equals 0.3048 meters exactly. They differ by about two parts per million, so the unit used must be stated.

Random versus systematic error

Random errors are reduced by repeated observations and averaging. Systematic errors such as collimation or scale error are not reduced by repetition and must be eliminated by calibration or procedure.

Standard error of mean

The standard deviation of the mean equals the standard deviation of a single observation divided by the square root of the number of observations. Quadrupling observations halves the standard error.

Least squares adjustment

An adjustment that distributes random errors according to observation weights and yields residuals and a reference variance. A large reference variance signals a blunder or unrealistic weighting.

Record of survey filing

A record of survey or corner record must be filed when a survey discloses a material discrepancy, an unrecorded monument, or a boundary differing from the record.

Responsible charge

A licensee may seal only work prepared by or under their responsible charge. Sealing work prepared by others without review and acceptance is grounds for discipline.

Conflict of interest

A surveyor must disclose conflicts, including compensation from more than one party for the same service, and must not conceal encroachments discovered during a survey.

Basis of bearings

Every map and description must state the basis of bearings, such as true north, grid north, or a recorded line between two monuments. A magnetic bearing needs a date and declination.

Defective deed description

A metes-and-bounds description that does not close or that omits the basis of bearings is defective on its face and should be reported rather than silently corrected.

Shoreline setback line

A Hawaii shoreline setback line is a statutory or regulatory line, not a property boundary. A surveyor may locate it but must label it as a regulatory line on maps.

Stream thread boundary

Where a lot is bounded by a non-navigable stream, the boundary generally runs to the thread or centerline of the stream unless the deed states otherwise. Navigability must be determined.

Ancient Hawaiian land divisions

Traditional divisions such as ahupuaa, ili, and moo predate the mahele. Land commission award and royal patent records are primary evidence when retracing older Hawaii parcels.

ALTA/NSPS land title survey

A survey following the national ALTA/NSPS standard that requires a title commitment, current zoning information, and the surveyor's certification. The current standard edition must be confirmed.

Two-peg test

A field procedure that detects collimation error in a level. Equalizing backsight and foresight distances cancels residual collimation error and curvature effects.