Oklahoma Land Surveyor (OLS) Exam flashcards

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

Priority of calls

Rule that natural monuments control over artificial monuments, which control over courses, then distances, then area, when resolving conflicting boundary calls.

Adverse possession period

In Oklahoma, the statutory period for adverse possession is 15 years under Okla. Stat. tit. 12 § 93, requiring open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous possession.

Navigable stream boundary

For navigable streams, the boundary is the ordinary high water mark, and the state owns the submerged lands; non-navigable streams boundary is the thread (centerline).

Accretion vs avulsion

Accretion is gradual and imperceptible deposit of soil changing a boundary; avulsion is sudden change by water, which does not alter boundaries.

Metes-and-bounds description

A land description that starts at a known point and follows bearings and distances around the parcel, returning to the point of beginning, often with monuments.

Recording statute

Oklahoma is a notice/race-notice recording state; unrecorded deeds are valid between parties but may be void against subsequent good-faith purchasers without notice.

NAD83 (2011)

The current horizontal datum for Oklahoma and the U.S., replacing NAD27; coordinates change with datum and epoch, affecting state plane and geodetic positions.

Oklahoma SPCS zones

Oklahoma has two State Plane Coordinate System zones: North (OK-1) and South (OK-2), both using a Lambert Conformal Conic projection.

Combined factor

Combined factor = grid factor × elevation factor; grid distance = ground distance × combined factor, used to reduce ground measurements to state plane coordinates.

OPUS

Online Positioning User Service by NGS; processes static GPS data to provide coordinates in the National Spatial Reference System with cm-level accuracy.

Geoid undulation

The separation between the ellipsoid and the geoid; orthometric height H = ellipsoid height h − geoid undulation N, using a model like GEOID18.

RTK/RTN

Real-Time Kinematic or Real-Time Network GPS positioning providing cm-level accuracy in the field, requiring a radio or internet link and ambiguity resolution.

PLSS township

A public land survey unit 6 miles square containing 36 sections of 1 square mile (640 acres) each, numbered boustrophedon from the northeast corner.

Section subdivision

A section (640 acres) can be divided into aliquot parts: halves (320 ac), quarters (160 ac), and quarter-quarters (40 ac), described by direction from center.

Correction lines

Standard parallels every 24 miles and correction lines every fourth township line absorb measurement errors from convergence in the PLSS.

Fractional lot

A PLSS lot, often along north and west tiers or water boundaries, with area determined by survey rather than nominal aliquot parts.

Lost corner

A PLSS corner whose original position cannot be determined from evidence; reestablished by proportion (single or double proportionate measurement) using original records.

Indian Meridian

One of Oklahoma's principal meridians, with a baseline near Davis, OK; used for PLSS surveys in much of Oklahoma, along with the Cimarron Meridian.

Latitude and departure

In traverse computations, latitude = distance × cos(bearing) and departure = distance × sin(bearing); sums should close to zero for a closed traverse.

Compass rule

A traverse adjustment method (Bowditch rule) that distributes closure error proportionally to the total traverse length, adjusting latitudes and departures.

Area by coordinates

The shoelace formula: area = 0.5 |Σ(E_i×N_{i+1} − E_{i+1}×N_i)| for a closed polygon with coordinates (E,N).

Horizontal curve formulas

T = R tan(Δ/2), L = RΔ (Δ in radians), C = 2R sin(Δ/2), M = R(1−cos(Δ/2)), where R is radius and Δ is central angle.

Vertical curve low point

For a parabolic vertical curve, the location of the high or low point is at x = −g1 L/(g2−g1), where g1 and g2 are grades and L is curve length.

EDM accuracy

Electronic distance measurement accuracy is often stated as ±(2 mm + 2 ppm); atmospheric correction using temperature and pressure is required for precise work.

Oklahoma platting statute

Oklahoma municipal platting is governed by Okla. Stat. tit. 11, § 41-101 et seq., requiring planning commission approval and recording with the county clerk.

Plat contents

A subdivision plat must show name, legal description, boundary survey, lot and block numbers, dimensions, bearings, curve data, monuments, dedications, and certificates.

ALTA/NSPS survey

A land title survey meeting minimum standards for title insurance, including easements, improvements, and utilities; optional Table A items must be specified.

Contour lines

Lines on a topographic map connecting points of equal elevation; contour interval is the vertical distance between adjacent contours, used for drainage and grading.

FEMA FIRM

Flood Insurance Rate Map showing flood zones and base flood elevations, used for floodplain management and elevation certificates.

Oklahoma licensure board

The Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors regulates licensure, exams, continuing education, and professional conduct.

Continuing education requirement

Oklahoma land surveyors must complete continuing professional development hours; check current board rules for the exact number per renewal period.

Ethical seal use

A licensed surveyor may seal and sign only work they prepared or directly supervised, practicing within their competence and avoiding conflicts of interest.