Oklahoma Land Surveyor (OLS) Exam key terms

The Board-adopted rules defining required accuracy, monumentation, field procedures, and record content for boundary surveys performed in Oklahoma. Surveys must meet these standards to be legally signed and sealed by a licensed land surveyor.

The state agency that licenses land surveyors, administers examinations, investigates complaints, and enforces the Oklahoma Surveying and Mapping Act. It adopts rules and minimum standards governing survey practice and professional conduct.

A recorded drawing and written report of a boundary survey prepared under Oklahoma standards. It shows monuments found and set, boundary lines, easements, and the surveyor's seal, signature, and date.

A monument described in a recorded plat, deed, or survey that establishes or evidences a boundary corner. It carries presumptive legal weight and controls over later measurements and unrecorded evidence.

A corner monument established by the original General Land Office survey, or its verified reestablishment, that controls the location of PLSS boundaries. It is preserved by law and takes priority over subsequent surveys.

The act of preserving or reestablishing an original corner position using the best available evidence, such as accessories, bearing trees, and field notes. Oklahoma law requires corners to be perpetuated before they are destroyed.

A tree marked and recorded in the original survey to help locate a corner. Its recorded bearing and distance provide evidence for reestablishing a lost corner when the monument itself is gone.

A natural or artificial object near a corner whose position is recorded in the field notes to help identify or restore that corner. Examples include bearing trees, mounds, and stones.

A corner of a PLSS section, nominally one mile square, established at section boundaries. It may be a standard, closing, quarter, or meander corner depending on its position in the township grid.

A corner located at the midpoint of a section line, dividing the section into quarter-sections. It is established by the original survey or by proportionate measurement when lost.

A method of restoring a lost corner by dividing the distance between two known corners in proportion to the original record distances. It is used when no direct evidence of the original corner survives.

A corner whose original position cannot be recovered from evidence such as monuments, accessories, or reliable testimony. It is reestablished by proportionate measurement between existing corners.

A PLSS unit nominally six miles square, containing 36 sections, bounded by township lines and range lines. It is identified by its township number north or south and range number east or west of the meridian.

A north-south reference line from which range lines are counted in the PLSS. Oklahoma is governed by the Indian Meridian, with the Cimarron Meridian affecting the panhandle area.

An east-west reference line from which township lines are counted in the PLSS. In Oklahoma the Indian Base Line and the Cimarron Base Line control the numbering of townships.

The principal meridian established in 1870 near Davis, Oklahoma, controlling PLSS surveys across most of the state. Its initial point with the Indian Base Line anchors the township grid.

A land description that defines a parcel by courses and distances along its boundary, beginning at a known point of reference. It must close and should reference monuments and adjoining records.

The starting point of a metes and bounds description, where the traverse begins and must return to close. It must be a monumented or readily locatable point tied to record evidence.

The elements of a land description, such as monuments, courses, distances, and area, that define a parcel. When calls conflict, natural monuments generally control over artificial monuments, courses, and distances.

The condition in which a traverse returns to its starting point within an acceptable misclosure. A closed description or survey mathematically accounts for all courses and distances around the parcel.

A survey method that determines point positions by measuring angles and distances along a connected series of lines. It may be closed, connecting back to the start, or open, ending without closure.

The amount by which a survey traverse fails to return exactly to its starting or known ending point. It is evaluated against allowable error and adjusted by compass rule or least squares.

A statistical method that distributes random errors across survey observations to produce the most probable coordinates. It provides error estimates and is widely used for control networks and modern boundary surveys.

A reference framework defining the size, shape, and orientation of the Earth for coordinate computation. NAD83 is the horizontal datum used for modern surveying and mapping in Oklahoma.

The North American Datum of 1983, a geocentric horizontal datum realized through a network of control stations. Oklahoma surveyors use it, often in its 2011 realization, for coordinates and mapping.

A system of projected plane coordinates defined for each state to support surveying and mapping. Oklahoma uses a north zone and a south zone based on the Lambert Conformal Conic projection.

A mathematical transformation that converts positions on the curved Earth to a flat map surface. All projections introduce distortion in distance, area, or direction that surveyors must account for.

The ratio between a distance on a projection or grid and the corresponding distance on the reference ellipsoid. Grid distances are converted to ground distances using the combined scale factor.

Global Navigation Satellite System, including GPS, used to determine positions by satellite signals. Survey-grade GNSS with real-time networks supports control and boundary work throughout Oklahoma.

A monumented point of known elevation used as a reference for vertical surveys. Bench marks are tied to a vertical datum such as NAVD88 and are documented by their descriptions.

A reference surface for measuring elevations, commonly mean sea level. NAVD88 is the vertical datum used for most Oklahoma surveying and flood mapping.

A map of a subdivision showing lots, blocks, streets, easements, and dedications, prepared for approval and recording. Oklahoma law sets procedural requirements for plat approval and filing.

The intentional conveyance of private land to public use, such as streets and parks shown on a plat. It becomes effective upon acceptance by the governing body.

A right held by one party to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as utilities or access. Easements shown on plats and in deeds must be located and depicted in surveys.

A doctrine allowing a person who openly, exclusively, and continuously occupies another's land for the statutory period to acquire title. Oklahoma's period is generally 15 years for such claims.

An easement acquired through open, notorious, adverse, and continuous use of another's land for the statutory period. Oklahoma generally requires 15 years of such use.

A boundary established when adjoining owners agree to a dividing line and treat it as binding, often resolving uncertainty. The agreement may bind successors when accompanied by possession or improvements.

The duty of a licensed surveyor to practice only within areas of competence, avoid conflicts of interest, and be truthful in reports and testimony. Oklahoma rules prohibit misrepresentation and require responsible charge.

The direct control and personal supervision a licensed surveyor must exercise over survey work bearing the seal. It requires professional judgment and cannot be delegated to unlicensed personnel.