Jamaica Land Surveyors Board Exam key terms

A map that shows land parcel boundaries, identifiers and areas, forming the official spatial record of land ownership or occupation for a defined area.

A unique reference, such as a volume and folio or lot number, that links a mapped land parcel to its record in the registry and to survey records.

The process of re-establishing existing parcel boundaries from earlier survey records and monument evidence rather than creating new lines on the ground.

A physical mark, such as a concrete post, iron pin or cut cross, placed or accepted on the ground to evidence a survey point or parcel corner.

A short marker driven into the ground to identify a survey station or boundary corner, usually referenced by ties so it can be relocated if disturbed.

Acquisition of title to land by open, continuous and uninterrupted occupation without the owner's permission for the period set by statute.

Land whose title is recorded in a state register, so that the register entry rather than a chain of deeds is the primary evidence of ownership.

A land registration model in which the state maintains a title register and a certificate of title is conclusive evidence of the estate held.

A written instrument, signed and delivered, that transfers or declares an interest in land and is used to trace ownership in unregistered conveyancing.

A right enjoyed by one parcel over another, such as a right of way or drainage, which burdens the servient land without transferring possession.

A legal right to pass across another person's land along a defined route, often recorded as an easement or reservation on title.

A right or interest kept back by the grantor when land is transferred, for example a right of way or a strip of land retained.

A reference framework defining the size, shape and position of the ellipsoid relative to the earth, to which coordinates of points are referred.

A mathematically defined surface approximating the shape of the earth, specified by semi-major axis and flattening, on which geodetic coordinates are computed.

The equipotential surface of the earth's gravity field that best fits mean sea level, used as the reference for orthometric heights.

Height of a point above the geoid, measured along the plumb line, commonly called height above mean sea level.

A stable, precisely levelled point of known elevation used as a starting reference for levelling and vertical control surveys.

Determination of height differences by reading a graduated staff against a horizontal line of sight from an instrument set between points.

A mathematical transformation that maps points from the curved earth surface onto a plane, inevitably introducing scale, area or shape distortion.

The ratio between a distance on the projection plane and the corresponding distance on the reference ellipsoid at that location.

The direction of the north axis of the map projection grid at a point, differing from true north by the convergence angle.

The angular difference at a place and time between magnetic north indicated by a compass and true or grid north.

A survey in which a series of connected lines is measured in length and direction, with coordinates computed from an adopted starting point and bearing.

The discrepancy between a computed and a known value at the end of a survey, such as a loop closure error, expressed as a distance or angle.

A method of distributing survey errors by minimising the sum of squared residuals, yielding the most probable coordinates and their precision estimates.

The difference between an observed quantity and the value computed for it after adjustment, used to assess the fit of the survey.

A measure of the spread of repeated measurements about their mean, used to express the precision of a survey observation or derived value.

An electronic instrument combining a theodolite with an electronic distance meter and onboard computer to measure angles, distances and coordinates.

Determination of distance by timing or phase comparison of a modulated light or microwave signal travelling to a reflector and back.

A fixed correction added to electronically measured distances to account for the offset between the reflector's optical centre and its mounting point.

An auxiliary mark placed near a survey station or corner, with measured ties, so the point can be re-established if the main mark is destroyed.

A line on a map joining points of equal elevation, whose spacing indicates the steepness of the terrain being represented.

A gridded digital representation of ground surface elevations used for terrain analysis, contour generation and volume computation.

The constant vertical distance between successive contour lines on a map, chosen to suit map scale and terrain relief.

An aerial or satellite image geometrically corrected for relief displacement and camera tilt so that it has uniform map scale.

Assigning real-world coordinates to a map, image or dataset so that its features align with a known coordinate reference system.

A satellite positioning system, such as GPS, in which a receiver computes position from signals broadcast by a constellation of orbiting satellites.

Real-time kinematic positioning, in which a rover receives corrections from a base station to achieve centimetre-level coordinates in the field.

A factor describing how satellite geometry weakens position accuracy, with lower values indicating a stronger, more favourable configuration.

Descriptive information about a dataset, covering its source, date, accuracy, coordinate system and limitations, needed to judge its fitness for use.

Failure by a surveyor to exercise the reasonable skill and care expected of the profession, causing loss to a client or third party.

The legal obligation of a surveyor to act with reasonable competence and to avoid foreseeable harm to those relying on the work.

A situation where a surveyor's personal, financial or other interest could improperly influence professional judgement, requiring disclosure or withdrawal.

Insurance covering a surveyor against claims for financial loss arising from errors, omissions or negligence in professional work.