IA Land Surveyor key terms

A natural or artificial object described in a recorded deed, plat, or survey that marks a boundary corner and controls the written distances and bearings in the absence of a contrary showing.

Acquisition of title to land through open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous use for the statutory period, which in Iowa is generally ten years when the claimant pays taxes on the parcel.

A boundary fixed by the conduct and acquiescence of adjoining owners, such as a fence treated as the line for many years, which may bind the parties even if it differs from the deed line.

A settlement in which adjoining owners whose true line is uncertain agree on a boundary and act on it, creating an enforceable line that binds them and later purchasers with notice.

A right to use another's land gained through open, continuous, adverse use for the statutory period, commonly applied to driveways, drainage, and access routes rather than to ownership of the fee.

A boundary along a non-navigable stream that generally follows the thread of the stream and shifts with gradual accretion, but not with avulsion or sudden channel change.

Gradual and imperceptible addition of land by water action, such as along a river bank, which normally belongs to the riparian owner without a new conveyance.

A sudden change in a watercourse, such as a flood cutting a new channel, that does not move property lines; the former boundary generally remains where it was.

The practice of setting durable monuments and recording ties to corners so that future surveyors can reestablish positions, often using witness corners and reference ties to nearby features.

A monument placed near but not at a corner, with recorded ties, to help locate or reestablish the true corner if the original monument is destroyed.

A reference framework defining the size and shape of the earth and the origin and orientation of coordinates, such as NAD83 for horizontal positions and NAVD88 for elevations.

A system of planar coordinates defined by map projections for each state, used to express survey positions on a grid; Iowa uses zones with defined scale factors and false eastings.

A mathematically defined smooth surface approximating the earth, used as the reference for geodetic coordinates before projection onto a flat mapping grid.

The equipotential surface of the earth's gravity field that approximates mean sea level, serving as the reference for orthometric heights and the basis of vertical datums.

Elevation above the geoid, commonly called height above mean sea level, as distinguished from ellipsoidal height measured above the reference ellipsoid.

The ratio between a distance on a map projection grid and the corresponding distance on the ellipsoid, used to reduce ground measurements to grid values and back.

A survey in which measured distances and angles connect a series of points, forming an open or closed figure whose coordinates are computed and adjusted for closure error.

The difference between a computed and a known or expected value in a closed survey, such as a loop that fails to return exactly to its starting coordinates.

A statistical method that distributes random measurement error among observations to produce the most probable coordinates, with weights based on estimated measurement precision.

The difference between an observed measurement and its adjusted or computed value, used to evaluate the fit of an adjustment and to detect outliers.

A gross error caused by human mistake, such as a misread rod, transposed digits, or wrong target, which is not random and must be found and corrected rather than averaged out.

The federal system of rectangular surveys dividing land into townships, ranges, and sections, established by the Ordinance of 1785 and used across Iowa and much of the western United States.

A corner established by the original federal survey, whose position and monument control later surveys; reestablished positions must be based on the best available evidence of the original.

A nominally one-square-mile unit of the Public Land Survey System containing 640 acres, bounded by section lines and numbered within a township.

A Public Land Survey System unit of 36 sections, nominally six miles square, identified by its position north or south of a baseline and east or west of a principal meridian.

A north-south reference line from which ranges are counted in the Public Land Survey System; Iowa surveys relate to meridians such as the Fifth Principal Meridian.

A line surveyed along the bank of a body of water to determine the area of upland, not a boundary of ownership; riparian rights extend beyond it according to law.

A recorded map that divides land into lots, blocks, streets, and easements, and that must satisfy local subdivision review and Iowa platting requirements before lots may be conveyed.

The process of preparing, approving, and recording a subdivision map, including compliance with ordinances on lot size, streets, drainage, and public dedications.

The intentional transfer of private land to public use, such as streets or parks shown on a plat, typically accepted by the governing body and shown on the recorded map.

A nonpossessory right to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as utilities, drainage, or access, which may be shown on a plat or created by separate instrument.

A detailed survey meeting national standards that shows boundaries, improvements, easements, and encumbrances, commonly required for commercial real estate transactions and title insurance.

A stable, known point with published elevation used as a reference for vertical control in construction and topographic surveys.

The network of benchmarks and leveling or GNSS observations that establishes elevations for a project, tied to a defined vertical datum.

Earthwork in which soil is removed (cut) or added (fill) to bring existing ground to a design grade, computed from cross sections or a digital terrain model.

A stake set during construction showing the design elevation or cut/fill at that location so equipment operators can shape the ground to plan.

A graph of cumulative earthwork volume along a project used to balance cut and fill and to plan the economical movement of excavated material.

The credential issued by the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board that authorizes practice, obtained through education, experience, and examination requirements set by statute and rule.

A permit that allows a business entity to offer land surveying services in Iowa, requiring a licensed surveyor in responsible charge of the firm's practice.

The direct control and personal supervision of surveying work by a licensed surveyor who is accountable for its accuracy, completeness, and compliance with statutes and rules.

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

A situation in which a surveyor's personal, financial, or other interest could improperly influence professional judgment, requiring disclosure or withdrawal from the engagement.