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Land Surveying: Answer Key

1. What is land surveying?

2. Identify and have a basic understanding of the purpose of the following land surveying equipment:

2a. Tripod

2b. Levels and transit levels

2c. Theodolite

2d. Plumb bob

2e. Hubs and nails

2f. Grade poles

2g. Measuring tapes

2h. Field books

2i. Total station

2j. Flagging, survey markers and marking paint

3. Know the basics of keeping a survey notebook and recording.

4. Demonstrate conversion of survey units of measurement to other units:

4b. Area: Acre, hectare and square mile

5. Demonstrate your ability to approximate distances by pacing a distance more than 100 feet (30 m) and be accurate within 5% accuracy.

6. Identify the surveying system or adaptation that is prevalent in your area. Do one of the following:

6b. Be able to answer and complete the following about the Public Land Survey System (PLSS):

  • What are Principal Meridian Lines and Base Lines?
    • What are Township Lines and Range Lines?
    • What is a Township?
    • What is a Section? How many are in each township? Know the method used to identify a section.
    • Sketch the numbering of sections in a PLSS grid (or adaptation as used in your location).
    • Demonstrate your ability to locate any parcel within a section.

This webpage has very good definitions, explanations and examples of locating features using United States Public Land Survey System.

7. Do one of the following to learn about the role of a professional land surveyor and be able to answer why licensing for this work is necessary:

7a. Interview a licensed land surveyor and learn about the role of a surveyor, types of projects that they work on, types of equipment that they use and what it took to become licensed.

7b. Research the rules and laws in your area to determine the process to become a licensed professional land surveyor in your area. What activities require that one be a licensed professional land surveyor?

8. Demonstrate your ability to use surveying equipment, keep good survey notes and establish an elevation by working as a 2 to 4-person survey crew to set 5 benchmarks at a minimum distance of not less than 50-feet apart (15 m), and close your circuit within +/- 1 inch (2.5 cm).

9. The Bible contains many references to surveying. Answer the following questions about “spiritual surveying”:

9a. All surveying starts with a good benchmark as a point of beginning or initial point. Who is our initial point / point of beginning? Discuss how we as Christians are all connected back to the “initial point.”

9b. Find a verse in the Bible that talks about a corner stone “initial point.”

9c. Plumb lines are mentioned several times in the Bible. Find two examples and discuss why its mention is important.

The webpage GotQuestions has a specific page that talks about plumb lines and shows Bible verses that mention plumb lines.

9d. Find two verses in the Bible that mention land boundaries and discuss the importance of boundaries in Bible times and in our lives today.

References

Adapted from AY Honors/Land Surveying/Answer Key on the Pathfinder Wiki, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. See the original page's history for its authors.
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