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IA Land Surveyor practice questions

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Question 1Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Under the English-speaking common law tradition followed by most U.S. boundary retracement surveys, what does a deed's written record of a monument call control when that monument is later found intact and undisturbed?

  1. The area stated in the deed, because area is the most reliable call
  2. The monument, because monuments generally control over courses and distances Correct answer.
  3. The recited bearing and distance, because numerical calls are exact
  4. The adjoiner's deed, because adjoining records always prevail

Explanation

The hierarchy of evidence in boundary retracement places natural and artificial monuments above courses, distances, and area. When an original monument is found undisturbed and identifiable, it is generally held to control over the numeric calls in the deed. This rule reflects the intent that the parties actually set and relied on the physical corner.

Question 2Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor is retracing a line described as running to a 'white oak' that no longer stands. Which practice best reflects accepted retracement methodology for establishing that corner?

  1. Collect evidence of the original position through witness trees, stumps, accessory calls, and parol testimony before resorting to the distance call Correct answer.
  2. Place the corner midway between the two adjoiners' claimed lines
  3. Set the corner at the deed distance from the last call without further investigation
  4. Defer to the nearest modern property corner set by any licensed surveyor

Explanation

When an original monument is lost, the surveyor must first exhaust evidence that can locate its original position, such as accessory trees, pits, mounds, and testimony. Only after that evidence is evaluated should the surveyor fall back to courses, distances, and area. This preserves the original survey's intent rather than substituting a new location.

Question 3Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which legal doctrine holds that a boundary line long recognized and acquiesced in by adjoining landowners may be enforced even if it differs from the deed line?

  1. Doctrine of merger
  2. Doctrine of boundary by acquiescence Correct answer.
  3. Doctrine of relation back
  4. Doctrine of part performance

Explanation

Boundary by acquiescence arises when adjoining owners treat a line as the boundary for a statutory or judicially recognized period and neither objects. Courts may then enforce that line regardless of the record description. It protects settled expectations and long-standing possession.

Question 4Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Two neighbors dispute a fence that has stood for many years on a line neither deed describes. In a jurisdiction requiring hostile intent for adverse possession, which element is most central to the claim?

  1. Payment of property taxes on the disputed strip alone
  2. A recorded deed describing the fence line as the true boundary
  3. A surveyor's opinion that the fence is misplaced
  4. Possession that is actual, open, notorious, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for the statutory period Correct answer.

Explanation

Adverse possession requires possession that is actual, open and notorious, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for the statutory period. Hostility means possession without the true owner's permission, not personal animosity. A recorded deed or tax payment may be relevant in some states but does not substitute for these elements.

Question 5Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed conveys a parcel 'beginning at a stone at the northeast corner of the Smith tract, thence south 40 rods.' The stone is found, but the distance reaches 42 rods to a fence. Which principle best explains why the stone governs the starting point?

  1. The deed is void because its calls are inconsistent
  2. A call for a monument generally prevails over a call for distance Correct answer.
  3. Distance always prevails over monuments in metes and bounds descriptions
  4. The fence is controlling because it is a visible physical feature

Explanation

In the hierarchy of calls, monuments rank above courses and distances. A found monument marking the called-for corner fixes that point even if the recited distance is inconsistent. The discrepancy is resolved in favor of the monument, and the distance is treated as mistaken or approximate.

Question 6Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A metes and bounds description reads: 'thence to the center of Mill Creek, thence down the creek with its meanders.' What is the general effect of a call to the center of a non-navigable stream?

  1. The boundary follows the nearest bank as fixed by the surveyor
  2. The boundary runs to the thread of the stream, and the grantee takes to the center subject to riparian rights Correct answer.
  3. The stream is treated as a public highway and cannot be conveyed
  4. The boundary stops at the ordinary high water mark, leaving the streambed to the grantor

Explanation

For non-navigable streams, a call to the stream or to its center generally carries the boundary to the thread of the stream. The upland owner then holds the streambed subject to riparian rights and public easements. This rule reflects the presumption that the grantor intended to convey to the middle of the watercourse.

Question 7Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which of the following best describes the role of a surveyor's recorded plat in a subdivision where lots are conveyed by reference to the plat?

  1. The plat controls only if every lot is sold before recording
  2. The plat is superseded by the first deed that recites different distances
  3. The plat is merely illustrative and has no legal effect on the conveyed lots
  4. The plat becomes part of the deed description and controls lot lines, dimensions, and monument locations shown on it Correct answer.

Explanation

When a deed conveys a lot by reference to a recorded plat, the plat is incorporated into the description and becomes part of the conveyance. The lot lines, dimensions, and monument locations shown on the plat then control the boundaries. This is a common method of describing subdivision lots.

Question 8Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor finds a discrepancy between the bearing called in a deed and the bearing measured between two found original monuments. Which call generally controls?

  1. The deed bearing, because bearings are more precise than monuments
  2. The monuments, because the actual corners set by the original surveyor are the best evidence of the boundary Correct answer.
  3. The magnetic bearing measured by the current surveyor
  4. The bearing recorded in the adjoiner's deed

Explanation

Original monuments set by the surveyor who created the parcel are considered the best evidence of the boundary location. When a recited bearing conflicts with the line between found original monuments, the monuments generally control. The bearing call is then treated as erroneous or approximate.

Question 9Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A parcel is described as bounded on the north by 'the Brown tract.' The Brown deed and the subject deed share a common grantor. Which principle helps the surveyor interpret the call to the Brown tract?

  1. The call is void because it relies on another deed
  2. The call is construed as referring to the Brown tract as it existed at the time of the common grantor's conveyance Correct answer.
  3. The call refers to whatever land Brown owns today
  4. The call must be ignored in favor of the distance call

Explanation

When deeds share a common grantor, a call to an adjoining tract is interpreted according to the boundaries as they existed when the common grantor conveyed. This prevents later changes in the adjoining ownership from altering the original boundary. The intent of the original parties governs.

Question 10Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

In a metes and bounds description, what does the term 'metes' refer to?

  1. The courses and distances that define the boundary lines Correct answer.
  2. The names of the adjoining landowners
  3. The area of the parcel in acres
  4. The natural or artificial monuments at the corners

Explanation

Metes refers to the measurements of courses and distances that describe the boundary lines. Bounds refers to the monuments and adjoining calls that fix the corners and limits. Together they form the metes and bounds method of describing land.

Question 11Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor is asked to locate a boundary that was originally established by a government rectangular survey. Which evidence should generally be given the highest weight?

  1. The original government corner monuments and the official plats and field notes Correct answer.
  2. The area computed from the deed's aliquot description
  3. The line shown on a recent aerial photograph
  4. The nearest modern section corner remonumented by a county surveyor

Explanation

In the Public Land Survey System, original government corners and the official field notes and plats are the primary evidence of the original survey. Retracement surveys must first search for and honor those original corners. Modern remonumentation, area computations, and aerial photos are secondary evidence.

Question 12Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which statement best describes the legal effect of a 'quitclaim deed' when used to convey a parcel whose boundaries are disputed?

  1. It conveys whatever interest the grantor may have without warranty of title Correct answer.
  2. It is invalid unless accompanied by a new survey
  3. It transfers only the surface estate and reserves minerals
  4. It guarantees that the boundaries are correctly described

Explanation

A quitclaim deed transfers whatever right, title, or interest the grantor holds, without covenants of warranty. It does not guarantee that the grantor owns the land or that the description is accurate. A new survey is not a legal prerequisite to a quitclaim conveyance.

Question 13Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

An easement of way is described as 'a strip 30 feet wide, the centerline of which is the existing farm road.' A surveyor must locate the easement. Which approach best reflects the deed's intent?

  1. Use the road's outer edges and ignore the stated width
  2. Locate the centerline of the road as it exists today and offset 15 feet each side
  3. Measure 30 feet from the nearest property line
  4. Locate the centerline of the existing farm road as it existed when the easement was granted and offset 15 feet each side Correct answer.

Explanation

The deed describes the easement by reference to the existing farm road, so the road's location at the time of the grant fixes the centerline. The 30-foot width is then applied as 15 feet on each side of that centerline. Later relocation of the road does not move the granted easement.

Question 14Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed describes a parcel by lot number in a subdivision plat but also recites 'containing 1.2 acres, more or less.' The plat lot contains 1.0 acre. Which call generally controls?

  1. The 1.2-acre figure, because area is a specific quantity
  2. Neither call; the deed is unenforceable
  3. The lot number in the referenced plat, because the plat description is more certain than the area Correct answer.
  4. The 'more or less' phrase, which voids the description

Explanation

A specific lot reference to a recorded plat is a more certain description than a stated area, especially when qualified by 'more or less.' The lot number and plat therefore control the boundaries. Area is treated as descriptive and approximate.

Question 15Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

What is the primary purpose of a boundary survey plat prepared for recording?

  1. To replace the deed description in the county records
  2. To guarantee that the boundary is legally correct against all claims
  3. To establish zoning compliance for the parcel
  4. To provide a permanent public record of the surveyor's findings and the boundary location Correct answer.

Explanation

A recorded survey plat creates a public record of the surveyor's evidence, measurements, and conclusions about the boundary. It does not guarantee legal correctness or replace the deed, and it is not a zoning determination. Its value lies in preserving the surveyor's work for future reference.

Question 16Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor discovers that a monument called for in a deed is a 'new' monument set by a prior surveyor who mistakenly believed it was the original. How should the current surveyor treat it?

  1. As controlling because it is the oldest monument on the ground
  2. As evidence of the prior surveyor's opinion, not as an original monument controlling the boundary Correct answer.
  3. As an original monument because it is called for in the deed
  4. As irrelevant and to be removed

Explanation

A monument set by a later surveyor without authority is not an original monument and does not control the boundary. It is evidence of that surveyor's interpretation and may be considered along with other evidence. The current surveyor must still search for the true original corner.

Question 17Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which of the following is the best example of a 'natural monument' in boundary surveying?

  1. A river, a tree, or a rock outcrop called for in the deed Correct answer.
  2. A concrete monument with a brass cap
  3. An iron pin set by the original surveyor
  4. A fence built by the current owner

Explanation

Natural monuments are features of the landscape, such as rivers, trees, and rock outcrops, that are called for in the deed. Artificial monuments are man-made objects like iron pins, concrete posts, and brass caps. The distinction matters because natural monuments are generally considered the best evidence of the original boundary.

Question 18Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed conveys 'all that tract lying east of the county road and west of the creek.' The road and creek are both shown on an 1890 map. What is the primary challenge in surveying this parcel?

  1. Determining the acreage of the parcel from the deed
  2. Locating the road and creek as they existed when the deed was executed, since both may have shifted Correct answer.
  3. Identifying the grantor's heirs
  4. Establishing the zoning classification of the parcel

Explanation

When a deed uses natural or artificial features as boundaries, the surveyor must locate those features as they existed at the time of the conveyance. Roads and streams can shift over time, so historical evidence is needed. Acreage, heirs, and zoning are not the central survey problem here.

Question 19Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

In the context of boundary evidence, what does 'parol evidence' refer to?

  1. The recorded plat referenced by the deed
  2. The written calls in the deed itself
  3. Testimony or statements outside the written deed, such as witnesses' recollections Correct answer.
  4. The surveyor's field notes

Explanation

Parol evidence is evidence outside the written instrument, including oral testimony and witnesses' recollections. In boundary disputes it may be admitted to explain ambiguities or to establish the location of monuments. It is not the written deed, plat, or field notes themselves.

Question 20Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A boundary line is described as running 'north 45 degrees east, 100 feet' from a found monument. The surveyor finds that the monument has been reset by a later surveyor 2 feet from its original location. Which principle should guide the surveyor?

  1. The bearing call controls because it is independent of the monument
  2. The reset monument controls because it is the one found on the ground
  3. The distance call controls because the monument is unreliable
  4. The original monument location, if it can be established, controls over the reset position Correct answer.

Explanation

The original location of a monument is the best evidence of the boundary, even if the monument has been moved or reset. A reset monument is evidence of a later surveyor's interpretation, not the original corner. The surveyor should seek evidence of the original position before relying on the reset mark.

Question 21Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which document typically provides the legal description of a parcel that a surveyor must retrace?

  1. The tax assessor's parcel map
  2. The deed or other recorded conveyance Correct answer.
  3. The zoning map
  4. The building permit

Explanation

The deed or other recorded conveyance contains the legal description that defines the parcel's boundaries. Tax maps and zoning maps are generalized and not controlling for boundary location. Building permits do not describe land boundaries.

Question 22Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor is asked to establish a boundary line where the deed description is ambiguous. Which source of evidence is generally considered the least reliable?

  1. The area stated in the deed Correct answer.
  2. The surveyor's own measurement of the distance between two found original monuments
  3. The recollection of an elderly neighbor about where the fence stood
  4. The original government field notes

Explanation

Area is the weakest of the written calls and is often approximate, especially when qualified by 'more or less.' Original field notes and measurements between original monuments are stronger evidence. Witness recollections, while potentially useful, are generally considered less reliable than physical evidence and original records.

Question 23Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

What is the legal significance of a 'monument' that is set by a surveyor at a corner not called for in the deed?

  1. It is void and must be removed
  2. It automatically becomes the legal corner because it is a monument
  3. It controls over any original monument found nearby
  4. It is evidence of the surveyor's opinion but does not by itself establish the legal boundary Correct answer.

Explanation

A monument set at a location not called for in the deed reflects the surveyor's interpretation but does not itself create the legal boundary. The legal boundary is determined by the deed and the original survey evidence. Such a monument may be considered as evidence but does not control over original monuments.

Question 24Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which of the following best describes the doctrine of 'practical location'?

  1. A boundary line established by the conduct and agreement of adjoining landowners may be enforced even if it differs from the deed Correct answer.
  2. A deed is interpreted according to the surveyor's professional judgment
  3. A boundary is fixed by the first recorded deed regardless of possession
  4. A surveyor may relocate a boundary to avoid a conflict with a building

Explanation

Practical location is a doctrine under which adjoining landowners may establish a boundary by agreement and conduct, and courts may enforce that line. It differs from acquiescence in that it typically involves an express or implied agreement. It does not allow a surveyor to relocate a boundary unilaterally.

Question 25Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed calls for a boundary to run 'to a point on the north bank of the river.' The river has since changed course. Which principle generally governs the boundary?

  1. The boundary automatically moves with the river regardless of how it changed
  2. The boundary is void because the river moved
  3. The boundary follows the river as it existed at the time of the grant, subject to rules of accretion and avulsion Correct answer.
  4. The boundary is fixed at the deed's distance call and ignores the river

Explanation

When a deed calls for a river as a boundary, the boundary generally follows the river as it existed at the time of the grant. Subsequent changes are governed by the doctrines of accretion and avulsion, which treat gradual and sudden changes differently. The boundary is not automatically relocated with every change.

Question 26Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Under the hierarchy of boundary evidence, which call in a deed generally controls over a call for distance?

  1. A call for an adjoining owner's name
  2. A recital of area
  3. A call for course bearing only
  4. A call for an artificial monument Correct answer.

Explanation

Monuments, whether natural or artificial, are considered the best evidence of a boundary location because they are physical objects placed or existing on the ground at the time the parcel was created. Distance and area calls yield to monument calls when the two conflict. Bearings and area are generally regarded as the least reliable elements of a description.

Question 27Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor retracing a rural parcel finds an original stone marker at a deed corner and a fence line running 12 feet inside it. The adjoining owner claims the fence is the boundary because it has stood for 30 years. Which principle most directly governs the analysis?

  1. The stone controls as the deed monument, unless adverse possession or agreed boundary elements are proven Correct answer.
  2. The deed is void where a fence stands within the called distance
  3. The boundary must be set at the average of the stone and the fence
  4. The fence controls because long possession always overcomes a deed

Explanation

A monument called for in the deed is the primary evidence of the original boundary location, and a fence built later does not relocate the line by itself. However, doctrines such as adverse possession or an agreed boundary can vest title along the fence if all required elements are established. The surveyor should locate the deed line while documenting the fence and the facts bearing on those doctrines.

Question 28Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed description calls for a boundary running 'to the large oak tree at the edge of the field.' The surveyor finds a stump and stump holes consistent with a mature oak at the probable location. How should the surveyor treat this evidence?

  1. Set the corner at the nearest standing tree of any species
  2. Disregard the call entirely because the tree no longer exists
  3. Treat the stump as a natural monument and accept the location if the identification is supported Correct answer.
  4. Hold the corner at the deed distance from the last call

Explanation

A natural monument that has been destroyed may still be located by its remains, such as a stump, stump holes, or other physical traces, provided the identification is reasonably supported. The surveyor then holds that location as the called corner. Distance from the previous call is used only when the monument cannot be found or identified.

Question 29Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

In a metes and bounds description, what does the term 'bounds' refer to?

  1. The general boundaries, such as adjoining tracts, roads, or natural features Correct answer.
  2. The bearings and distances between corners
  3. The date the parcel was first patented
  4. The area expressed in acres

Explanation

In the paired term 'metes and bounds,' metes are the courses and distances that describe the line segments, while bounds are the general boundaries that enclose the parcel, such as adjoining owners, roads, streams, or walls. The bounds give context that helps locate and check the metes. Together they form the description of the parcel.

Question 30Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor must retrace a line along a non-navigable stream that the deed calls for as the boundary. The stream has gradually shifted over decades through slow erosion and accretion. Which location should the surveyor generally use?

  1. The present thread of the stream, following the gradual movement Correct answer.
  2. The ordinary high water mark on the grantor's side
  3. The original thread of the stream as it existed at the deed date
  4. A straight line between the two terminal corners of the deed call

Explanation

For a non-navigable stream, the boundary is generally the thread of the stream, and gradual changes by accretion or erosion move the boundary with the water. The line is not frozen at its original location when the change is imperceptible and gradual. Abrupt avulsion is treated differently and does not move the boundary.

Question 31Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed describes a parcel as 'Lot 7 in Block 3 of Riverside Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 4, Page 22.' What is the primary function of that plat reference in the description?

  1. It merely indicates the general neighborhood of the parcel
  2. It supplies the definitive geometry and monument locations for the lot Correct answer.
  3. It fixes the area of the lot at exactly the stated acreage
  4. It replaces the need for any field survey

Explanation

A lot-and-block description incorporates the recorded plat by reference, and the plat's lines, dimensions, and monuments define the parcel. The surveyor retraces the plat geometry on the ground. The plat, not a general neighborhood reference or an acreage statement, controls the boundaries.

Question 32Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor is asked to locate a boundary that has never been surveyed or monumented and the deed contains conflicting calls. Which action best reflects accepted boundary surveying practice?

  1. Apply the hierarchy of calls and document the reasoning and evidence relied upon Correct answer.
  2. Refuse to locate any line until a court decides the boundary
  3. Choose the call that produces the largest parcel for the client
  4. Set the line at the mean of all conflicting calls

Explanation

When calls conflict, the surveyor applies the established hierarchy of evidence, such as monuments over courses and distances, and resolves the ambiguity using the best available evidence. The surveyor should document the evidence found and the reasoning used so the result can be reviewed. A surveyor locates boundaries; a court resolves title disputes if the parties cannot agree.

Question 33Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which statement best describes the doctrine of boundary by agreement?

  1. It applies only where a government survey has never been made
  2. It allows adjoining owners to fix an uncertain boundary by agreement and subsequent acquiescence Correct answer.
  3. It transfers title automatically whenever a fence is built
  4. It requires a written deed signed by both owners describing the new line

Explanation

Boundary by agreement applies where adjoining owners have a genuine uncertainty about the location of their common line and agree on a line, followed by acquiescence or possession consistent with that line. It settles the boundary even though the agreed line may differ from the deed line. It does not require a new deed and does not depend on the absence of a government survey.

Question 34Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor discovers that a prior surveyor set a rebar at a corner that the deed does not call for, and the rebar has been relied upon by the current owner for many years. How should the current surveyor treat that rebar?

  1. As evidence of a prior survey to be evaluated but not automatically controlling Correct answer.
  2. As irrelevant because the deed does not mention it
  3. As a controlling original monument equal to a deed monument
  4. As the true corner because any set monument controls

Explanation

A monument not called for in the deed is not an original monument of the parcel and does not automatically control the boundary. It is evidence of a prior surveyor's opinion that should be evaluated against the deed calls and other evidence. Reliance by an owner may be relevant to doctrines such as practical location, but that requires analysis, not automatic acceptance.

Question 35Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A deed calls for a line to run 'to the centerline of the county road.' The road has been vacated and its right-of-way abandoned, but its location is still visible on the ground. What is the proper treatment of the call?

  1. The centerline location may still be used as the boundary if it can be identified on the ground Correct answer.
  2. The boundary reverts to the nearest section line
  3. The call fails because the road no longer legally exists
  4. The boundary shifts to the center of the nearest existing road

Explanation

A call for a road as a boundary refers to a physical location on the ground, and vacation of the road does not necessarily destroy the boundary. If the centerline can be identified from visible evidence, it may still control. The surveyor should locate and document that evidence rather than substituting another line.

Question 36Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which of the following is generally the least reliable element of a metes and bounds description when locating a boundary on the ground?

  1. A stated bearing and distance
  2. A called-for stream crossing
  3. A stated area of the parcel Correct answer.
  4. A called-for iron pin

Explanation

Area is typically the weakest element of a description because it is often computed, rounded, or stated 'more or less.' Monuments such as iron pins and natural features like streams rank higher, and courses and distances are used to connect and check monuments. Area is used as a check rather than as the controlling call.

Question 37Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor is preparing a description of a newly created parcel by metes and bounds and wants the description to be retraceable. Which practice best supports that goal?

  1. Tying the parcel to found or set monuments and to a recorded reference point Correct answer.
  2. Describing the parcel only by its acreage
  3. Using bearings referenced to an unstated meridian
  4. Relying on a single bearing and distance with no ties

Explanation

A retraceable description ties the parcel to physical monuments and to a record reference, such as a recorded corner or plat, and states the basis of bearings. This allows a later surveyor to find the same lines and resolve discrepancies. Area alone and unstated meridians leave too much uncertainty.

Question 38Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A riparian parcel is bounded by a navigable river. Under the general rule, where does the boundary lie?

  1. At the low water mark of the opposite shore
  2. At the thread of the stream
  3. At the ordinary high water mark Correct answer.
  4. At the centerline of the nearest bridge

Explanation

For navigable waters, the general rule is that the boundary of a riparian parcel lies at the ordinary high water mark, with the bed held by the state in trust for the public. The thread of the stream generally governs non-navigable waters. The surveyor must determine navigability and any state-specific rules before setting the line.

Question 39Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

A surveyor finds that a deed's bearing call conflicts with the bearing measured between two found original monuments that the deed also calls for. Which element should generally control?

  1. The measured bearing, because it reflects current technology
  2. The deed bearing, because it is written in the instrument
  3. Neither; the parcel must be resurveyed from the section corner
  4. The monuments, because the bearing is used only to connect them Correct answer.

Explanation

When a deed calls for original monuments and the bearing between them conflicts with the written bearing, the monuments control because they are the physical evidence of the original boundary. The bearing and distance serve to connect and check the monuments. The surveyor should report the discrepancy rather than allowing the written bearing to override the monuments.

Question 40Boundary Surveying and Legal Principles

Which statement best describes the legal significance of a surveyor's recorded boundary survey plat when it is filed in the public records?

  1. It conclusively establishes the boundary against all parties
  2. It replaces the deed as the legal description of the parcel
  3. It conveys title to the parcel shown
  4. It provides public notice and evidence of the surveyor's findings but does not by itself determine title Correct answer.

Explanation

Recording a boundary survey plat gives public notice of the survey and preserves evidence of the surveyor's findings for later use. It does not convey title, conclusively fix the boundary, or replace the deed. Title and boundary disputes are determined by the deeds, the evidence, and if necessary a court.

Question 41Geodetic and Control Surveying

In a geodetic reference frame, what does the geoid represent?

  1. The physical surface of the terrain measured by spirit levelling
  2. The surface of constant ellipsoidal height above the reference ellipsoid
  3. The reference ellipsoid chosen to fit a region of the Earth's surface
  4. The equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field that best approximates mean sea level Correct answer.

Explanation

The geoid is an equipotential surface of the gravity field, specifically the one coinciding most closely with mean sea level in the open ocean and extended beneath the continents. It serves as the vertical datum surface from which orthometric heights are measured.

Question 42Geodetic and Control Surveying

The separation between the geoid and the reference ellipsoid at a point is called the:

  1. Geodetic azimuth
  2. Ellipsoidal height
  3. Geoid undulation Correct answer.
  4. Deflection of the vertical

Explanation

Geoid undulation, often denoted N, is the distance between the geoid and the reference ellipsoid measured along the ellipsoid normal. It links orthometric heights to ellipsoidal heights through h = H + N.

Question 43Geodetic and Control Surveying

A horizontal angle observed by a theodolite is measured in a plane perpendicular to which axis?

  1. The magnetic meridian at the station
  2. The vertical axis of the instrument Correct answer.
  3. The line of sight of the telescope
  4. The horizontal axis about which the telescope rotates

Explanation

Horizontal angles are measured in a horizontal plane, which is perpendicular to the instrument's vertical axis when the instrument is properly levelled. The horizontal circle rotates about that vertical axis.

Question 44Geodetic and Control Surveying

Which quantity does a total station measure directly to determine the slope distance to a prism?

  1. The atmospheric pressure at the instrument
  2. The phase difference or time of flight of a modulated signal Correct answer.
  3. The vertical angle only
  4. The magnetic bearing to the prism

Explanation

Electronic distance measurement determines distance from the travel time or phase difference of a modulated electromagnetic signal to the prism and back. The slope distance is then reduced using the measured vertical angle.

Question 45Geodetic and Control Surveying

What is the primary purpose of a baseline in a classical triangulation network?

  1. To determine the geoid undulation
  2. To reduce refraction effects on vertical angles
  3. To provide the scale for the network Correct answer.
  4. To fix the orientation of the network

Explanation

Angles alone fix the shape of a triangulation network but not its size, so at least one precisely measured baseline supplies the scale. All other side lengths are derived from it through the triangle solutions.

Question 46Geodetic and Control Surveying

A GNSS baseline is observed as 12,345.678 m in the WGS 84 frame. If the combined scale factor at that location is 0.9996 and the elevation factor is 0.9999, what is the approximate ground distance?

  1. 12,351.92 m
  2. 12,340.68 m
  3. 12,339.44 m Correct answer.
  4. 12,345.68 m

Explanation

The grid distance equals the ellipsoidal distance multiplied by the combined scale factor, and the ground distance is recovered by dividing by that factor. Here 12,345.678 × 0.9996 × 0.9999 ≈ 12,339.44 m.

Question 47Geodetic and Control Surveying

The transverse Mercator projection is preferred for a narrow north-south survey area primarily because:

  1. Scale distortion is small near the central meridian Correct answer.
  2. It eliminates the need for a geoid model
  3. It preserves true area everywhere
  4. It converts all meridians to straight parallel lines

Explanation

In the transverse Mercator projection the central meridian is a straight line with true scale, and distortion grows with distance from it. Keeping the survey zone narrow keeps scale error small.

Question 48Geodetic and Control Surveying

When reducing a horizontal angle observed at a station, why are the observations commonly made in both face left and face right?

  1. To convert the angle to a magnetic bearing
  2. To double the angular resolution of the theodolite
  3. To cancel instrumental errors such as collimation and horizontal axis misadjustment Correct answer.
  4. To eliminate atmospheric refraction entirely

Explanation

Reversing the face causes errors from collimation and horizontal axis tilt to change sign, so averaging the two faces cancels them. This is a standard procedure for precise horizontal angle observation.

Question 49Geodetic and Control Surveying

A closed traverse of five legs has an angular misclosure of +40 seconds after summing the interior angles. What is the most appropriate next step?

  1. Discard the entire traverse and re-observe all angles
  2. Adjust only the largest angle by the full misclosure
  3. Apply the misclosure to the linear distances instead of the angles
  4. Distribute the misclosure equally among the angles before computing bearings Correct answer.

Explanation

Angular misclosure within tolerance is distributed among the observed angles, typically equally, before bearings and coordinates are computed. This keeps the geometric closure consistent with the adjustment.

Question 50Geodetic and Control Surveying

In a least-squares adjustment of a control network, the residuals are distributed so that:

  1. Each residual is made exactly zero
  2. The largest residual is reduced to zero
  3. The sum of the weighted squared residuals is minimised Correct answer.
  4. The sum of the absolute residuals is minimised

Explanation

Least-squares adjustment finds the parameter set that minimises the weighted sum of squared residuals, given the observation weights. This yields the maximum-likelihood estimate when observation errors are normally distributed.