NE Land Surveyor study guide
NE Land Surveyor · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam is one of the NCEES surveying examinations, listed alongside the PS Exam and the PLSS Exam on the surveying exams page of ncees.org. NCEES describes licensure as a path that ensures individuals practice in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public by satisfying qualifications in education, work experience, and exams, and notes that engineers and surveyors must typically pass two exams to become professionally licensed. The NE Land Surveyor study guide has 9 sections and about 2,578 words.
01Boundary Surveying and Retracement
Boundary items test retracement of existing boundaries rather than creation of new ones: evidence hierarchy, PLSS corner reestablishment, riparian boundaries, possession, and deed interpretation. Expect fact patterns where a record distance conflicts with a found monument.
308 words, about 2 min02Construction Design, Layout, and Stakeout
Construction layout questions test control, stakeout geometry, cut/fill, grade, tolerances, and as-built documentation. The exam expects you to translate design plans into field positions tied to a project datum.
290 words, about 1 min03Geodesy and Coordinate Systems
Geodesy items test datums, ellipsoid versus geoid, map projections, grid versus ground distances, convergence, and elevation factors. Expect numerical conversions.
280 words, about 1 min04Geographic Information Systems
GIS items test data models, topology, attribute operations, projections, metadata, and accuracy. Expect questions on selecting features, joining tables, and judging whether GIS data can support a survey decision.
298 words, about 1 min05Hydrographic Surveying
Hydrography items test sounding reduction, water-level datums, positioning, sonar systems, and volume computation. Expect a tide or draft correction calculation.
271 words, about 1 min06Land Development and Site Design
Land development items test zoning compliance, lot yield, grading and drainage, setbacks, easements, and subdivision platting. Expect a buildable-area or impervious-cover calculation.
287 words, about 1 min07Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry items test camera geometry, scale, ground sample distance, overlap, control, aerial triangulation, and product accuracy. Expect a scale or GSD calculation.
267 words, about 1 min08Remote Sensing: LiDAR and UAS
Remote sensing items test LiDAR returns, point density, classification, UAS photogrammetry, ground control, and accuracy. Expect a density or product-selection question.
268 words, about 1 min09Surveying Legal Principles
Legal principles items test deed construction, senior rights, adverse possession, easements, recording, and professional standard of care. Expect a conflict between deed calls or between recorded documents.
309 words, about 2 min