NY Land Surveyor flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Monument priority rule

In deed retracement, a called natural or artificial monument generally prevails over courses, distances, and area when they conflict, because it best reflects the original boundary intent.

Accretion versus avulsion

Accretion is gradual and imperceptible addition of land by water and belongs to the riparian owner; avulsion is a sudden change and does not move the boundary.

Senior conveyance priority

When two deeds overlap, the earlier conveyance generally has priority in the overlap, unless a recording statute, estoppel, adverse possession, or a later valid agreement changes the result.

Centerline stream presumption

A deed bounding on a non-navigable stream generally carries title to the thread or centerline of the stream unless the deed clearly excludes the streambed.

New York adverse possession

New York's RPAPL Article 5 generally requires ten years of adverse possession; the 2008 amendments changed the required elements and presumptions, so each claim needs current statutory analysis.

Practical location doctrine

A long-acquiesced boundary line may fix the boundary when the parties clearly intended it and treated it as the line, but mere occupation without intent is usually insufficient.

EDM accuracy specification

An EDM accuracy stated as plus or minus a millimeters plus b parts per million gives approximate error a + bD/1000 millimeters, where D is distance in meters.

Traverse relative precision

Relative precision equals linear misclosure divided by total traverse perimeter, expressed as 1:N; a larger N indicates a relatively smaller misclosure.

Face left and right

Observing an angle in both telescope positions cancels collimation error and some instrument-axis errors; averaging the two readings reduces pointing and reading errors.

Height of instrument leveling

Height of instrument equals known elevation plus backsight; an unknown elevation equals height of instrument minus foresight. This is the standard differential-leveling field computation.

RTK fixed solution

An RTK integer-fixed solution has resolved carrier-phase ambiguities and typically gives centimeter-level positions; float solutions are weaker and should not alone control boundary evidence.

Geoid undulation equation

Ellipsoidal height h equals orthometric height H plus geoid undulation N, so H = h minus N; signs depend on the geoid model convention.

Combined scale factor

Combined scale factor equals projection scale factor times elevation factor; ground distance multiplied by combined factor gives grid distance on the projection.

New York State Plane zones

New York State Plane has four Transverse Mercator zones: Long Island, East, Central, and West. Coordinates are mapping products and do not replace monument-based boundary evidence.

Grid convergence angle

Grid convergence is the angle between grid north and true north at a point; grid azimuth equals true azimuth minus convergence, with the sign checked for the local convention.

NAD83 and NAVD88

NAD83 is a horizontal geodetic datum; NAVD88 is a vertical datum of Helmert orthometric heights. They are independent and must not be mixed without proper transformation.

Representative fraction scale

A map scale of 1:N means one map unit represents N ground units; a larger denominator indicates a smaller-scale map with less detail over a larger area.

Relief displacement formula

Relief displacement d equals r times h divided by H, where r is radial distance from the principal point, h is object height, and H is flying height.

Aerial photograph scale

Photo scale S equals focal length f divided by flying height above ground H; use the same units for both and account for terrain elevation.

Orthophoto characteristics

An orthophoto is an aerial image geometrically corrected to remove relief displacement and camera tilt, so it has uniform map scale but is not a boundary survey.

LiDAR DSM versus DTM

A digital surface model includes vegetation and structures; a digital terrain model represents bare earth after filtering. The two support different mapping and drainage analyses.

Shoelace area formula

For coordinates in order around a closed polygon, area equals one-half the absolute value of the sum of X_i Y_{i+1} minus X_{i+1} Y_i.

Latitude and departure

Latitude equals distance times cosine of bearing; departure equals distance times sine of bearing. In a closed traverse, adjusted sums should equal zero.

Variance propagation rule

For independent observations, variances add after multiplication by partial derivatives: sigma squared total equals the sum of derivative-squared times each observation variance.

Circular curve tangent

Tangent length T equals radius R times tangent of half the central angle delta; T locates the PC and PT from the PI.

Vertical curve K value

K equals curve length L divided by algebraic grade change A in percent; K gives the horizontal length needed for a one-percent grade change.

New York land surveyor licensure

New York Education Law Article 145 and NYSED regulate land surveying; only a licensed land surveyor may practice land surveying or use the protected title.

Seal and signature duty

A New York licensed land surveyor must seal and sign surveying maps, plans, and reports prepared under responsible control; sealing another's uncontrolled work is unprofessional conduct.

Continuing education requirement

New York land surveyors must complete 24 professional-development hours per triennial registration, including at least one hour in professional ethics, under NYSED rules.

Standard of care

The standard of care is the degree of skill and care ordinarily exercised by reputable land surveyors under similar circumstances; it is not a guarantee of perfect results.

Conflict of interest

A surveyor should disclose financial or personal interests that could affect professional judgment and should avoid compensation contingent on a boundary opinion or regulatory outcome.

Boundary survey versus title

A boundary survey locates monuments, occupation, and deed lines; it does not determine title, which is a legal conclusion based on deeds, law, and court decisions.