NH Land Surveyor key terms

A physical object, natural or artificial, set or accepted as evidence of a boundary corner. Its location, character, and condition control retracement over recorded distances and bearings.

The process of re-establishing boundaries by following the footsteps of the original surveyor, giving controlling weight to original monuments and intent rather than re-measuring to recorded dimensions.

Physical or documentary traces of the first survey, such as set monuments, bearing trees, blazes, and field notes. It outranks later surveys and distance or bearing calls when boundaries are in conflict.

A tree marked by the original surveyor near a corner, typically with blaze, scribe, and distance recorded in the field notes. It is accepted as an original monument and may control a lost corner's position.

A monument set away from the true corner at a recorded distance and bearing, used to reference a corner that cannot be directly monumented or is likely to be disturbed.

A method of restoring a lost corner by distributing the discrepancy between the original record and the measured line in proportion to the distances along that line between existing controlling monuments.

A corner whose original monument is destroyed or missing and whose position cannot be recovered from direct or collateral evidence, so it must be restored by accepted methods such as proportionate measurement.

A corner whose monument no longer exists in place but whose location can be re-established from reliable collateral evidence such as nearby improvements, accessory monuments, or undisturbed witness marks.

The practice of preserving boundary evidence by setting durable monuments, filing a record of the monument location, and using witness or reference marks so future surveyors can recover the corner.

A boundary description that identifies a line by naming the owner of the adjoining parcel. Such a call generally prevails over courses and distances when the adjoining boundary is ascertainable.

The written portion of a deed that identifies the land conveyed, using monuments, courses, distances, adjoiners, area, or a platted lot reference. It must be sufficient to locate the parcel.

A property description that defines the boundary by courses and distances between monuments, running from a point of beginning around the perimeter and closing back on the start.

The starting corner from which a metes and bounds description is run, usually tied to a monument or physical feature. The description must close back to this point.

A legal principle for resolving conflicts within a deed, generally ranking natural monuments highest, then artificial monuments, then adjoiners, then courses and distances, and lowest area or quantity.

The computed misclosure of a traverse after returning to the starting point. A small linear closure error indicates acceptable angular and linear measurement quality for the survey.

A connected series of measured lines and angles between points, used to establish horizontal control. It may be closed on itself or on known control points.

The amount by which a computed traverse or boundary fails to return exactly to its starting or known control point, expressed as linear distance or angular error.

A horizontal direction measured clockwise from a reference meridian, usually north, through 360 degrees. It is used to compute coordinate changes along a line.

A direction stated as an angle east or west of a north or south reference line, always between 0 and 90 degrees, with quadrant letters such as N 45 E.

The northing (latitude) and easting (departure) components of a course, computed from distance times the cosine or sine of the bearing. They are summed to compute coordinates and closure.

The use of plane rectangular coordinates to compute positions, distances, bearings, intersections, and areas. It supports boundary analysis and mapping in a consistent reference system.

A system of projected plane coordinates defined by the National Geodetic Survey, with zones and map projections chosen to limit distortion, used to reference survey positions consistently.

A reference framework defining the size, shape, and orientation of the earth and the origin of coordinates, such as NAD83, to which positions and measurements are tied.

Global Navigation Satellite System, including GPS, used to determine positions by ranging to satellites. Survey-grade receivers use differential or real-time kinematic techniques for centimeter accuracy.

An electronic instrument combining an electronic theodolite and distance meter to measure horizontal and vertical angles and slope distances, recording data for traverse and boundary work.

A nonpossessory right to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as access or utilities. It may be appurtenant or in gross and is created by grant, prescription, implication, or necessity.

An easement acquired by open, notorious, continuous, and adverse use of another's land for the statutory period, without the owner's permission.

An implied easement arising when a parcel is landlocked or lacks reasonable access and the necessity existed at the time of severance from the parent tract.

An easement implied from prior use that was apparent, continuous, and reasonably necessary when a tract was divided, reflecting the parties' presumed intent.

A doctrine by which a person who actually, openly, exclusively, continuously, and hostilely possesses another's land for the statutory period may acquire title to it.

A written instrument that appears to convey title but is legally defective. It can extend adverse possession to the full parcel described, subject to state statutory rules.

The rights of owners of land bordering a waterbody to use and access the water, including wharfing and accretion rights, subject to state law and public trust limits.

The gradual and imperceptible addition of land by natural action of water, such as deposition along a shoreline. The upland owner generally gains title to the added land.

The gradual and imperceptible wearing away of land by natural water action. Unlike avulsion, erosion changes the boundary and the upland owner loses the land removed.

A sudden and perceptible change in a watercourse or shoreline, such as a flood cutting a new channel. Boundaries generally remain where they were before the change.

A map of a subdivision or survey showing lots, boundaries, monuments, and dedications, prepared for recording. It must meet statutory content and approval requirements before recording.

The systematic search of deeds, plats, probate records, and other public records to establish the chain of title and the written and mapped history of a parcel.

The chronological sequence of recorded conveyances and encumbrances affecting a parcel, used to trace ownership and identify gaps, breaks, or conflicting descriptions.

A process that reconfigures the boundary between adjoining lots without creating new lots, subject to local and state approval and recording requirements.

The division of land into two or more lots or parcels for sale, development, or building, typically regulated by local subdivision regulations and state planning statutes.

The degree of skill, care, and diligence ordinarily exercised by competent surveyors under similar circumstances. Deviating below it may constitute negligence in professional practice.

A failure to exercise the standard of care owed to a client or the public, resulting in damage. For surveyors it may arise from inaccurate work, missed records, or inadequate monumentation.

A situation in which a surveyor's personal, financial, or other interest could improperly influence professional judgment. It must be disclosed and avoided or managed.

The professional principles governing honesty, integrity, competence, and fair dealing with clients, the public, and other practitioners, often codified in a state board's rules of conduct.

The New Hampshire state board that regulates land surveyors, administers licensing and examinations, adopts rules of professional conduct, and investigates complaints against licensees.