PS Surveying case studies
PS Surveying · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam is the NCEES examination that assesses whether a candidate can practice competently within the surveying profession. It is designed for surveyors who have already gained at least four years of professional experience and who are pursuing licensure through their state or territorial board. The PS Surveying case studies are 5 cases and about 3,747 words.
1The 1996 Rebar and the 1911 Pipe
You are retained by a purchaser to survey Lot 12, Block 4, Maple Grove, platted and recorded in 1911 with 50.00- by 210.55-ft lots and 'iron pipes at all lot corners.' The 1978 deed runs S 04°22' W 210.55 ft, N 85°38' W 50.00 ft, N 04°22' E 210.55 ft, S 85°38' E 50.00 ft, 'containing 0.24 acre, more or less.' Original 1911 pipes are recovered at the NW and SE corners, each within 0.05 ft of the record geometry. At the NE corner you find an uncapped, badly corroded 3/4-inch iron pipe 0.15 ft from the position computed from those two pipes, and a 5/8-inch rebar capped 1996 located 0.95 ft southeast of the pipe.
870 words, about 4 min2The 0.098-Foot Ghost
A five-sided closed traverse around a four-lot parcel closes with a linear misclosure of 0.19 ft over a perimeter of 1,610 ft, and an angular misclosure of 8 seconds. The instrument is rated 5 seconds with a 2 mm + 2 ppm EDM.
646 words, about 3 min31.10 Acres More or Less
Parcel 7 is described by four courses that close on paper - 200.00 ft, 304.14 ft, 150.00 ft and 300.00 ft - and the deed recites 'containing 1.10 acres, more or less.' The recorded plat shows the same 1.10 acres. Your field traverse, held to two found corners, closed 0.18 ft in position after 954.14 ft of perimeter.
643 words, about 3 min4Erosion, Avulsion, and a New Fence
Lot 6 fronts 620 ft on Mill Creek, a non-navigable stream. The 1948 deed runs 'thence to the thread of Mill Creek,' and the deed recites 8.62 acres.
748 words, about 4 min5Round It Up and Sign
The preliminary plat for Willow Bend - 22 lots on 14.62 acres zoned R-1 - is on your desk for signature and seal. R-1 requires 20,000 sf minimum lot area, 100.0 ft minimum width measured at the 30-ft front setback line, and 60 ft of frontage.
840 words, about 4 min