ME Land Surveyor key terms

A doctrine by which a person who openly, exclusively, hostilely, and continuously occupies another's land for the statutory period may acquire title, extinguishing the record owner's claim.

A right to use another's land acquired through open, notorious, adverse, and continuous use for the statutory period, limited to the use actually exercised rather than full ownership.

A written instrument that appears to convey an interest in land but is legally defective, so it does not pass valid title yet can support adverse possession or constructive possession claims.

A property line bounded by a non-tidal watercourse, generally following the thread (centerline) of the stream unless the deed or Maine law specifies otherwise, and subject to gradual accretion or avulsion rules.

The gradual and imperceptible addition of land by natural water action, which ordinarily belongs to the riparian owner without a new deed or survey.

A sudden, perceptible change in a watercourse's channel or shoreline, such as a flood cutoff, which generally does not change property boundaries.

The centerline of a non-tidal watercourse; for non-navigable streams the riparian owner's boundary typically extends to this line, subject to Maine-specific rules.

An implied easement allowing access to a landlocked parcel when strict necessity exists and the parcel and the servient land were once under common ownership.

A doctrine fixing a boundary where adjoining owners have treated a line as the true boundary for a long period, even without a formal written agreement.

The establishment of a boundary by the conduct and agreement of adjoining owners who treat a particular line as controlling, often resolving an uncertain or disputed location.

An oral agreement between adjoining landowners fixing a boundary line; enforceability varies, and Maine law treats such agreements cautiously where they conflict with written deeds.

A physical object, natural or artificial, that marks a boundary corner or line and controls over courses and distances in the hierarchy of evidence when it is original and undisturbed.

A monument placed by the surveyor who created the original survey or subdivision, which is generally the strongest evidence of the corner's true location.

The ranking of boundary evidence, commonly monuments, then courses and distances, then area, used to resolve conflicts among deed calls and field observations.

A deed call giving a bearing and length for a boundary line; these generally yield to original monuments but control over stated area.

A quantity of land stated in a deed or plat, often the weakest call in the hierarchy and generally disregarded when it conflicts with monuments, courses, and distances.

A document filed with the state or municipality recording the position and description of a boundary corner, often required for certain monumented surveys.

A drawing and accompanying data filed to document a survey, showing monuments, boundaries, and relevant record information; filing rules vary by jurisdiction and must be checked.

The sequence of recorded conveyances and encumbrances affecting a parcel, used to trace ownership and identify the source of boundary calls and easements.

A systematic examination of public records to trace ownership and identify liens, easements, and other encumbrances affecting a parcel.

A written instrument that conveys an interest in real property, containing a granting clause, parties, description of the land, and signature of the grantor.

The portion of a deed or other instrument that identifies the land being conveyed, typically by metes and bounds, reference to a plat, or a government survey description.

A method of describing land by boundary courses, distances, and monuments, beginning at a known point of reference and returning to close the parcel.

The state board that licenses land surveyors, administers examinations, adopts rules of practice, and handles complaints and discipline; candidates should verify its current name and rules.

Regulations adopted by the licensing board governing survey standards, records, ethics, and professional conduct; the specific text and current version must be consulted.

The licensed surveyor's stamp and signature on survey documents, certifying responsibility for the work and typically required on plats and reports filed or delivered.

A signed and sealed statement or drawing certifying that a survey was performed and depicting results, often required for recording or permitting.

A law setting the time within which a legal action must be brought; in boundary and survey contexts it can bar stale claims or support prescriptive rights.

A series of connected survey lines whose lengths and directions are measured, used to establish control or determine coordinates of points.

A traverse that begins and ends at known points or returns to its starting point, allowing checks on angular and linear misclosure.

The discrepancy between computed and known positions at the end of a traverse or between measured and theoretical values, indicating error to be evaluated or adjusted.

A mathematical procedure distributing misclosure among measurements, such as compass rule or least squares, to produce consistent coordinates while preserving geometric conditions.

An adjustment method minimizing the sum of squared residuals, providing statistically optimal estimates and error propagation when measurement weights are properly assigned.

The difference between an observed value and its adjusted or computed value, used to assess measurement quality and detect outliers.

A defined reference framework, such as a state plane or local system, assigning numerical values to positions so that distances, angles, and areas can be computed.

A system of projected coordinates established for each state to provide a common reference for surveying and mapping, with zones and defined map projections.

A reference surface and set of parameters defining latitude, longitude, and elevation, such as NAD83 or NAVD88, to which survey measurements are related.

An electronic instrument combining an electronic theodolite and distance meter to measure angles and distances and compute coordinates in the field.

Global Navigation Satellite System, such as GPS, providing position fixes; accuracy depends on constellation geometry, correction services, and proper field procedures.

A procedure determining elevation differences by reading a level on a rod at points of known and unknown elevation, typically in a closed loop for checking.

A stable, known point of reference with an established elevation or position, used as a starting or check point for surveys.

A reference surface for elevations, such as NAVD88, to which leveling and GNSS-derived heights are related.

A map of a subdivision or parcel showing lots, streets, boundaries, and monuments, typically prepared for approval and recording.

The division of land into two or more lots or parcels, often triggering municipal review, road standards, and recording requirements under state and local law.

Local regulation of land use, lot size, setbacks, and density that constrains how land may be divided and developed, affecting survey and plat design.

A nonpossessory right to use another's land for a specified purpose, such as access, utilities, or drainage, and typically shown on plats and described in deeds.

A situation in which a surveyor's personal, financial, or professional interests could improperly influence professional judgment, requiring disclosure or withdrawal.

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

Principles governing professional conduct, including honesty, competence, confidentiality, and avoidance of misrepresentation in survey practice and business dealings.