NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I case studies
NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Survey Technician Program (CST) is a comprehensive national certification program for survey technicians, sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). It is built for technicians who want independent verification of their capabilities and value, and it is also used by employers and educators who want a recognizable benchmark when judging a technician's standing. The program offers four levels of certification across two primary tracks - field and office - so a candidate can pursue a path that matches the work they actually do rather than a single generic credential. Certification is by examination, and the exam must be monitored by an approved Proctor. The NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I case studies are 5 cases and about 2,759 words.
1Differential Leveling Closure in Windy Conditions
A two-person crew is running a differential level loop to establish a temporary benchmark near a construction site. The loop starts and ends on a known benchmark (elevation 100.000 ft).
377 words, about 2 min2Total Station Resection with Poor Geometry
A surveyor is using a total station to set out points for a new building. The instrument is set up at an unknown point, and a resection is performed using three control points: A, B, and C.
828 words, about 4 min3GNSS RTK Fix in Urban Canyon
A surveyor is using a GNSS RTK system to locate property corners in a downtown area with tall buildings. The RTK radio link is established, and the system reports a 'fixed' solution with horizontal precision (HRMS) of 0.014 m and vertical precision (VRMS) of 0.025 m.
428 words, about 2 min4Traverse Misclosure and Adjustment
A closed-loop traverse is run around a parcel. The traverse has 6 sides with the following measured interior angles: 120°00'00", 115°30'00", 125°15'00", 118°45'00", 122°30'00", and 118°30'00".
441 words, about 2 min5Construction Stakeout with Coordinate Discrepancy
A surveyor is staking out the corners of a building foundation. The design coordinates for corner A are (N 5000.000, E 3000.000).
685 words, about 3 min