Surveying Engineering

surveying banner 4

Surveying engineering, also known as geomatics engineering, is a branch of engineering that focuses on the measurement, mapping, and analysis of the Earth's surface and the built environment.  Surveying engineers use a variety of tools and techniques to collect and analyze data about the Earth's features, including its topography, vegetation, and man made structures.  The work of a surveying engineer typically involves using high precision instruments, such as total stations, GPS receivers, and laser scanners, to collect data about the location, size, and shape of objects on the Earth's surface.  They may also use aerial or satellite imagery to gather data about large areas of land or to map features that are difficult to access on foot.

Surveying Engineering Index

Surveying engineers work in a variety of industries, including construction, mining, transportation, and environmental engineering.  They are responsible for creating accurate maps and models of the Earth's surface, which are used to plan and design infrastructure projects, monitor changes to the environment, and ensure public safety.  In addition to measuring the Earth's surface, surveying engineers are also responsible for managing and analyzing large datasets, using geographic information systems (GIS) and other software tools to process and interpret data.  They may also work on projects related to land use planning, property boundary disputes, and natural resource management.

This engineering disipline is an important field that plays a critical role in many aspects of modern society.  By collecting and analyzing data about the Earth's surface, surveying engineers help to ensure that infrastructure projects are designed and built safely and efficiently, while also preserving the environment for future generations.

 

Science Branches

Science
Applied Science
Engineering
Civil Engineering

Surveying Types

  • Geodetic Survey  - Takes into account the true shape of the earth.  These surveys are highly precision and extend over large areas.
  • Plane Survey  -  A surveying in which the mean surface of the earth is considered as a plane, or in which its spheroidal shape is neglected, with regard to horizontal distances and directions.

 

Surveying Methods

  • ALTA / ACSM Survey  -  A boundary survey that adheres to a set of minimum standards established by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Maping.
  • Astronomical Survey  -  Gathers astronomical data over some portions of the sky.
  • Boundary Survey  -  Determines property lines and defines the true property corners on parcel maps of a land description.
  • Cartographic Survey  -  Map making from origional surveys.
  • Construction Survey  -  Used to establish the desired position of building corners, roads, sidewalks, and utilities.
  • Engineering Survey  -  Surveys performed for the location, design, construction, maintenance and operation of engineering projects.
  • Geological Survey  - An examination of an area to determine the composition, distribution, history, and structure of rocks.
  • GPS Satellite Survey  -  Uses a satellite-based navigation system which communicates with receivers on the ground, collects and calculates data.
  • Hydrographic Survey  -  Measures and describes the physical features of the navigation position of the earth's surface and adjoining coastal areas.
  • Land Survey  -  Establishes or restablishes property corners, boundaries, lines, and monuments of property.
  • Marine Survey  -  A person who conducts inspections and examinations of marine vessels, appraisal, assets, cargo, damage, and insurance.
  • Mining Survey  -  Helps find underground resources and potential mining locations.
  • Right-of-way Survey  -  A right of passage to another person's land and property.  A boundary survey depicting the limits of private ownership. 
  • Topographic Survey  -  Gatheres data regarding the elevation points on a piece of land, also includes natural and man-made elevations.

 

Surveying Process

  • Obtain existing deeds and property information
  • Read and understand the property documents
  • Prepare a base boundary plan
  • Locate a known corner
  • Do the field survey
  • Prepare the existing conditions plan
  • Resolve any boundary issues
  • Obtain any other requied survey information
  • Prepare the connstruction stake-out survey
  • Prepare the as-built survey

 

Map Types

  • Boundary map
  • Climate map
  • Flood map
  • Geographic map
  • Historic maps
  • Oceanography map
  • Parcle map
  • Plat map
  • Property survey map
  • Record of survey map
  • Resources map
  • Road map
  • Right-of-way map
  • Topographic map
  • Weather map
  • Zip code map
  • etc.

 

Surveying Abbreviations

  • Adjacent (Adj)
  • Angle (\(\Delta\))
  • Arc Definition (Da)
  • Azimith (Az)
  • Backsight (BS)
  • Back of Curb (B/C)
  • Back Tangent (BT)
  • Bearing (Brg)
  • Beginning of Curve (BC)
  • Beginning of Vertical Curve (BVC)
  • Below Grade (BG)
  • Benchmark (BM)
  • Boundary (Bndry)
  • Bottom (Bot)
  • Capped Iron Pin (CIP)
  • Capped Rebar (CRB)
  • Catch Basin (CB)
  • Center of Curve (CC)
  • Center to Center (C to C)
  • Centerline (C/L, CL)
  • Certified Survey Map (CSM)
  • Chord (c)
  • Chord Definition (Dc)
  • Certificate of Title (CT)
  • Cotton Spindle Found (CSF)
  • Cotton Spindle Set (CSS)
  • Concrete Monument Found (Con Mon F)
  • Control Corner (CC)
  • Control Point (CP)
  • Coordinate  (Coord)
  • Corner (Cor)
  • Cotton Spindle Set (CSS)
  • Cross Section (Xsec)
  • Culvert (Culv)
  • Curb & Gutter (C&G)
  • Deflection (Defl)
  • Deflection Angle (D\(\Delta\))
  • Degree (Deg)
  • Degree of Curvature (D)
  • Departure (dE)
  • Description (Desc)
  • Ditch Grade (DG)
  • Easement (Esmt)
  • East (E)
  • Eastbound (EB)
  • East Boundary Line (EBL)
  • Edge of Pavement (E/P)
  • Elevation (El, Elev)
  • End of Curve (EC)
  • End of Vertical Curve (EVC)
  • Existing Iron Pipe (EIP)
  • External Distance (E)
  • Face of Curb (F/C)
  • Far Side (FS)
  • Fence (Fn)
  • Fence Post (Fn P)
  • Field Book (FB)
  • Fire Hydrant (FH)
  • Flow Line (FL)
  • Forsight (Fs)
  • Forward Tangent (FT)
  • Fount (FD, FND)
  • Found Concrete Monument (FCM)
  • Found Corner (FC)
  • Grade (Gr)
  • Gutter (Gtr)
  • Height (h)
  • Height (h')
  • High Point (HP)
  • Intersecting Angle (I)
  • Iron Pin (I Pn)
  • Iron Pipe (IP)
  • Iron Pipe/Pin Found (IPF)
  • Iron Pipe/Pin Set (IPS)
  • Junction Box (JB)
  • Land Survey (LS)
  • Latitude (Lat)
  • Length (L)
  • Licensed/Land Surveyor # (LS)
  • Long Chord (LC)
  • Long Chord Bearing (LCB)
  • Low Point (LP)
  • Mid-point (M)
  • Middle Ordinate (m)
  • Monument (Mon)
  • No Monument Set (NMS)
  • North (N)
  • Northbound (NB)
  • North Boundary Line (NBL)
  • North East (NE)
  • North West (NW)
  • Offset (O/s)
  • On Center (OC)
  • Overhead (OH)
  • Pavement (Pvmt)
  • Pipeline (PL)
  • Plat Book (PB)
  • Point (Pt)
  • Point Known (PK)
  • Point of Beginning (POB)
  • Point of Circular Curve (POCC)
  • Point of Commencement (POC)
  • Point of Compound Curvature (PCC)
  • Point of Curvature (PC)
  • Point of Curve (PC)
  • Point of Ending (POE)
  • Point of Intersection (PI)
  • Point of Reverse Curve (PRC)
  • Point of Tangent (PT)
  • Point of Rangent Curve (PRC)
  • Point of Vertical Curve (PVC)
  • Point of Vertical Intersection (PVI)
  • Point of Vertical Tangent (PVT)
  • Point on Curve (POC)
  • Point on Line (POL)
  • Point on Tangent (POT)
  • Power Pole (PP)
  • Property Identification Number (PIN)
  • Property Line (PL)
  • Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
  • Radial Line (RL)
  • Radius Point (rp)
  • Rebar Found (RF)
  • Reference Monument (RM)
  • Reaference Point (RP)
  • Reverse Curve (RC)
  • Right-of-Way (R/W)
  • River (Riv)
  • Road (Rd)
  • Section (Sec)
  • Section Corner (SC)
  • Section Line (SL)
  • Set Concrete Monument (SCM)
  • Set Disk (SD)
  • Set Iron Rod (SIR)
  • Set Mag (SMN)
  • Sight Distance (SD)
  • South (S)
  • Southbound (SB)
  • South Boundary Line (SBL)
  • Spiral Curve (SC)
  • Storm Drain (SD)
  • Survey (Surv)
  • Subgrade (Sub)
  • Tangent (Tan)
  • Tangent Length (TL)
  • Tangent Point (Tp)
  • Temporary Benchmark (TBM)
  • Township (T)
  • Transformer (Transf)
  • Traverse (Trav)
  • Traverse Point (TP)
  • Turning Point (TP)
  • Underground (UG)
  • Utility Easement (UE)
  • Vertical Curve (VC)
  • Vertical Point of Curve (VPC)
  • Vertical Point of Intersection (VPI)
  • Water Line (WL)
  • Water Main (WM)
  • West (W)
  • Westbound (WB)
  • Witness Corner (WC)
  • Witness Tree (WT)

 

Tags: Abbreviations Nomenclature and Symbols

Surveying Engineering Glossary

A

  • Accepted Survey  -  A survey accepted by the official having cadastral survey approval authority.
  • Access  -  The right to enter and leave over the lands of another.
  • Adjacent  -  Near to but not reaching or contacting.
  • Adjoiner  -  To owner of land which touches the land of another.
  • Adjoining  -  To be in contact with, touching or contiguous.
  • Altitude  - The height of a vertical angle from the horizon.
  • Angle  -  Two rays sharing a common point.
  • Angle  -   Total cord length, or long chord of a circular curve.  A line segment on the interior of a circle.
  • Arc Definition  -  The subtended angle of an arc.
  • Angle Point  -  A point in a survey where the alinement of boundary deflects from a straight line.
  • Arc  -  A sector is a fraction of the area of a circle.
  • Arc Definition  -  The degree of the curve (D) is the angle formed by two radii drawn from the center of the circle to the ends of the arc.
  • Arc Length of a Circle  -  Total length of any circular curve measured along the arc.
  • Area Cross-section  -  A two-dimension plane slice of a three-dimension plane.
  • Asbuilt Survey  -  A survey that is done after the completion of a construction project.
  • Assumed Meridian  -  On certain types of localized surveys, it may not be necessary to establish a true, magnetic, or grid direction.
  • Assumed North  - North by arbitary definition and/or reference.
  • Azimith  -  A line on the ground is its horizontal angle measured from the meridian to the line.

B

  • Backsight  -  A sight on a previously established survey point before the level is moved.
  • Back of Curb  -
  • Back Tangent  -  The tangent line before the beginning of the curve.
  • Baseline  -  The east-west line that divides townships.
  • Base Map  - A map which contains the fundamental framework necessary for geographic reference and positionong of information that may be drawn on it.
  • Bearing  -  An angle in degrees measured clockwise from north.
  • Bearing Tree  - A marked tree used as a corner.  Its distance and direction are recorded from the corner.
  • Beginning of Curve  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve.
  • Beginning of Vertical Curve  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve.
  • Benchmark  -  A relatively fixed point whose coordinates and elevation datum are used for leveling and construction.
  • Blaze  -  A mark made upon a tree trunk.
  • Boundary  -
  • Boundary Line  -  A line of demarcation between adjoining parcels of land.
  • Boundary Monument  -  An object placed on or near a boundary line to preserve and identify the location of the boundary line.
  • Boundary Survey  -  A mathematically closed diagram of the complete outside boundary of a site.
  • Bounds  -  A general description of buildings, property, roads, and etc. used in legal documents.
  • Branch  -  Small stream.
  • Broken Boundary  -  A series of line segments representing a boundary which is not a straight line.
  • Brook  -  Small stream.
  • Bug  -  A magnetic locator to search for an iron pipe.
  • By Implication Easement  -  The general rule of law is that when an owner of a tract of land conveys part of it to another, he is said to grant by implication, all easements which are apparent, obvious and reasonable.

C 

  • Cadastral Survey  -  A survey that is carried out to describe boundaries and land ownership.
  • Call  -  Any feature, landmark, or measurement called out in a survey.
  • Cap  -  A metal of plastic cover on the end of a rebar or pipe.
  • Capped Iron Pin  - 
  • Capped Rebar  -  A rebar 18" long, 1/2" diameter, with a cap having the company name and license number stamped into it.
  • Celestial Meridian  -  The largest circle of the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles and an observer's zenith.
  • Center of Curve  -
  • Center Line  -
  • Central Angle  -  The angle formed by two radii drawn from the center of the circle (0) to PC and PT.
  • Certified Survey Map  -
  • Certification  - A document which attests to the truth or authenticity of papers attached to it.
  • Chaining  -  The measuring a distance using a chain or tape.
  • Chord (c)  -  Chord length between any two points on a circular curve.
  • Chord Definition  -  The subtended angle of an chord.
  • Chord of a Circle  -  Is the between any two points on a circular curve.
  • Certificate of Title  -
  • Clay  -  Particles ranging in size from 0.002 mm and smaller.
  • Closed Loop  -  A series of consecutive measurements that close on the beginning point.
  • Closed Traverse  -  A series of consecutive measured lines that start at a known point and ends at the same known point or another point that is known.
  • Closing Corner  -  A corner established where a survey line intersects a previous fixed boundary at a point between corners.
  • Closure  -  The process of measurement in a closed figure for a check on horizontal and vertical percision.
  • Collapse Slump  -  The fresh concrete collapses completely.
  • Compass  - A magnetic compass has a magnetic needle that points north.
  • Constant Error  -  An error that always occures with the same sign and magnitude.
  • Control Station  -  Point on the ground whose position, horizontal or vertical, is known and can be used as a base for additional survey work.
  • Cotton Spindle Found  -
  • Cotton Spindle Set  -
  • Closed Joint  -  A joint that is invisible or barely visible between two adjacent slabs or stones.
  • Compass Bearing  -  Uses magnetic north as a reference point.
  • Concrete Monument Found  -  A permanent marker set by a land surveyor to reference controll points or property corners.
  • Conditional Line  -  An agreed line between neighbors that has not been surveyed, or which has been surveyed but not yet granted.
  • Construction Survey  -  Surveying measurements made before or while the site is under construction.
  • Contour  - Defined line of equal elecation on a map or plat.
  • Contour Interval  - The difference in elevation between adjacent contours as shown on a map.
  • Contour Line  -  An imaginary line on the ground having all points on the same elevation.
  • Contour Map  -  A map that illustrates relief by means of contour lines. 
  • Contours  - Lines joining points of equal elevation as shown on a topographic map.
  • Control  - Surveying and mapping reference infrastructure.
  • Control Corner   -
  • Control Points  - Fixed points of known coordinates.
  • Convey  -  The act of deeding or transfering title to another.
  • Coordinate System  -  A grid where the axes are apart 90 degrees.
  • Coordinates  -  Two lines, latitude and longitude that intersect creating a point.
  • Corner  -  The location of intersecting boundary lines.
  • Corner Description  -  The specific data, both new and old, about a corner monument and its accessories which include marks, positions, and physical characteristics.
  • Cotton Spindle  -  A 6" to 8" spindle used where you would typically use an iron pipe or rebar as a momument.
  • Cotton Spindle Set  -
  • Course  -  Line or boundary defined by bearing and distance.
  • Creek  -  Small stream.
  • Culvert  -  A pipe or tunnel that carrys a stream under a road or highway.
  • Curb & Gutter  -

D

  • Data Collector  -  A handheld electronic field notebook.
  • Datum  -  An abstract coordinate system used to reference a known location.
  • Datum Shift  -  A graphical correction required where the source map data is on a different datum than the map under revision.
  • Decision Sight Distance  -  The distance for a motorist to decide.
  • Declination  -  The difference between geographic north (true) and magnetic north.
  • Deed  -  A document that transfers title to real property.
  • Deep Well  -  A well that draws water from beneath an impermeable stratum.
  • Deflection Angle  -  Deflection angle from full circular curve measured from tangent at PC or PT.   The angles between a tangent and the ends of the chords from the PC.
  • Deflection Circular Curve  -  The deflection angle for a full circular angle measures from tangent at PC or PT.
  • Degree of Curve -  The flatness or shapeness of the curve.
  • Degree of Curvature  -  Can either be degree of arc or chord.
  • Departure  -  Longitudal interval between points.
  • Depression Contour  -  A contour forming a closed loop around lower ground.
  • Differential Leveling  -  The leveling process of determining the difference in elevation between two poinrs.
  • Digital Image  -  An image composed of small, uniformly shaped regions each of which have assigned coordinates and color.
  • Digital Map  -  A process of generating a map using computer processed data.
  • Drainage Easement  -  The right of water run off in a subdivision or highway routed onto adjacent land.

E

  • Easement  -  The legal right to use another persons personal property to a specific limited use.
  • Easement Survey  -  Prepared between parties to allow the use of part of an allotment.
  • East Boundary Line  - 
  • Easting  -  Coordinate value by longitudinal reference.
  • Edge of Pavement  -
  • EDM  -  Electromagnetic Distance Measurement device.
  • Egress  -  The right to go on the land of another.
  • Elevation  -  A vertical distance up or down from a fixed point.
  • Elevation Survey  -  Used to determine the elevation of a structure and it's relationship to the floorplan.
  • Ellicott's Control Survey  -  The meridian northward from the point of beginning of the United States cadastral survey.  A point established on August 20, 1785on the north bank of the Ohio River.
  • Encroachment  -  An unlawful and adverse intrusion within the boundary of a property.
  • Encrumbrance  -  Any right to or intrest in land which makes it subject to a change or liability.
  • End of Curve  -  The point at which a curved line ends and the point tangency to the curve begins.
  • End of Vertical Curve  -  The point at which a curved line ends and the point tangency to the curve begins.
  • Entry  -  An application to acquire title to public lands.
  • Entry Allowed  -  An application to acquire title to public lands which has been approved, either as an origional entry or a final entry.
  • Entryman  -  One who makes an entry of land under the public land laws of the United States.
  • Erosion  -  The natural wearing away of the earth's surface by rainfall and surface runoff.
  • Existing Corner  -  A corner whose position can be identified by verifying the evidence of the monument or its accessories, by reference to the description that is container in the field notes.
  • Existing Iron Pipe  -
  • Expert Witness  -  A person who testifies as what he has observed by sight, sound, etc.
  • Exterior Angle  -  Formed by intersecting lines of a polygon or land parcel boundaries.
  • External Distance  -  The distance from the PI to the midpoint of the curve.

F

  • Face of Curb  -
  • Federal Land  -  All classes of land owned by the Federal Government.
  • Fee Tail  -  An estimate limited to one class of heirs.
  • Field Notes  -  A permanent record of field procedures and data collected in those procedures.
  • Final Certificate  -  A document which evidences that an entryman is entitled to a patent provided that no irregularities are found in connection with his entry.
  • Final Entry  -  When an application to acquire title to public lands has been filed in the proper manner and all the requirements of law and government regulations have been complied with.
  • First Station  -  Point of beginning (POB)
  • Floodplain  -  The land area adjacent to a river, stream, lake, or other body of water that is subject to flooding.
  • Flowage Easement  -  The right a person or group has to flood water on land of another.
  • Forward Tangent  -  The tangent line after the ending of the curve.
  • Fount  -
  • Found Concrete Monument  -
  • Found Corner  -  An existing corner on a public land survey found by a field survey.
  • Free and Clear  -  Is not encumbered by any lien.
  • Furlong  -  A distance of 220 yards or 40 poles.

G

  • Geodesy  -  The science and mathmatical calculations of the shape and size of the earth.
  • Geodetic Control  -  A system of monumented stations having known, percise positions established by geodetic methods.
  • Geodetic Position  -  A position of a point on the surface of the earth expressed in terms of geodetic latitude and longitude.
  • Geodetic Survey  -  A percise survey that takes in long distances showing shape of the world.
  • Geometry  -  A branch of mathematics that deals with shapes and their properties or relationships to circles, lines, points, etc.  These relationships can be expressed in plane geometry, two-dimensional figures and solid geometry, three-dimensional figures.
  • Ginney  -  A wooden dowel 6-9 inches in length with a sharpened end, set in the ground to mark survey points.
  • GIS Mapping, See (LIS)  -  Geographic Information System is used to locate items like utilities.
  • Gore  -  A thin triangular piece of land.
  • Grade  -  A rise or decline in elevation.
  • Gradient  -  The rate of rise and fall.
  • Grid  -  A group of parallel lines that run perpendicular to another group of parallel perpendicular lines.
  • Grid Azimuth  -  Measured from grid north.
  • Grid Bearing  -  The northwards direction along the grid lines of a map used as a reference point.
  • Grid Distance  -  The distance between two points using mapping coordinates.
  • Grid Meridian  -  In plane surveys it is convenient to perform the work in a rectangular XY coordinate system in which one central meridial concides with a true meridian.
  • Grid North  -  The direction of the north-south grid lines on a state plane coordinate system.
  • Grid Position  -  The grid coordinates of a point.
  • Ground Distance  -  The horizontal distance with curvature between two ground points.
  • Gunter's Chain  - A distance of 66 feet or 4 poles.

H

  • Half Section  -  Containing more or less 360 acres.
  • Head  -  The source of a stream.
  • Headwaters  -  The smallest streams that combine to make a larger stream.
  • Height  -  Length of radius from radius center to midpoint of chord.
  • Height  -  Length of radius from midpoint of chord to point on circular curve.
  • High Point  -  Point on circular curve.
  • High Water  -  The maximum height reached by rising water.
  • Hinge Point  -  The point at which a fill slope stops and the road or shoulder grade begins.
  • Horizontal  -  Parallel to a flat or level surface of the earth.
  • Horizontal Distance  -  The distance horizontally between two points.
  • Horizontal Line  -  A line extending left or right but not up or down.
  • Horizontal Position  -  A point with horizontal coordinates only.
  • Hydrography  -  Features including lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, and other water features.

I                                                                                                                                              

  • In Gross Easement  -  Does not benifit any other land, such as a utility right-of-way.
  • Indemnity Lands  -  Alternate lands granted to states under the public land laws when granted lands were unaviallable.
  • Ingress  -  The right to enter a tract of land.
  • Intersecting Angle  -  The deflection angle at the PI.
  • Intersection Sight Distance  -  The distance a motorist should be able to see other traffic in the intersection in order to enter safetly.
  • Investigative Survey  -  A peliminary survey made to determine the physical condition of existing Cadastral Survey evidence.
  • Iron Pipe/Pin  -  A pipe 18" long, 3/4" outside diameter, with a plastic cap set inside having the company name and license number stamped into it.
  • Iron Pipe/Pin Found  -
  • Iron Pipe/Pin Set  -
  • Isopleth Line  -  Line joining points on the earth's surface having equal magnetic declination as of a given date.

J

  • Junction Box  -
  • Junior Corner  -  A corner which is part of a survey occuring at a date subsequent to a prior (senior) survey.
  • Junior Rights  -  Subordinate to the senior rights.
  • Junior Survey  -  A survey made subsequent to an earlier survet.

K

L

  • Laches  -  Failure to do something which should be done or to claim or enforce a right at a proper time.
  • Landmark  -  A marker made on a permanent feature of the land like rocks, trees, etc.
  • Land Court  -  A tribunal established for the purpose of administering legislative statutes relating to land boundaries and titles.
  • Land District  -  The area administered by a particular land office.
  • Land Office  -  A government office, subordinate to the General Land Office.
  • Land Survey  -  The act of surveying to establish the correct property description or establish land boundaries.
  • Latitude  -  Angular arc distance north and south of the equator along a meridian of longitude.
  • League  -  A marine measure of distance.
  • Legend  -  A description, explanation or table of symbols on a map or chart to permit a better understanding or interpretation of it.
  • Length  -  Total length of any circular curve measured along the arc.
  • Length of Curve  -  The distance from PC to PT.
  • Levee  -  Artificial embankment confining a channel, stream, or body of water.
  • Leveling  -  Using a graduated rod to establish difference in heights of the terrain.
  • Licensed/Land Surveyor #  -
  • LiDAR (Aerial Survey)  -  A survey using remote sensors of light reflected by lasers to measure distances.
  • Limited Boundary  -  The boundary of lands actually surveyed.
  • Line of Sight  -  The line extended from an instrument along which distinct objects can be seen.
  • LIS Mapping  -  Land Information System is used to locate items like utilities.
  • Local Corner  -  Physical evidence accepted by local land owners to be a corner of the public lands survey.
  • Long Chord  -  A straight line from the beginning of the curve PC to the end of the arc PT.
  • Long Chord Bearing  -  The bearing of the long chord.
  • Longitude  -  Angular arc distance east and west of the Prime Meridian along a parallel of latitude.
  • Loop Closure  -  A statistical procedure to evaluate the internal consistency of a GPS network.
  • Loop Traverse  -  A traverse that starts and closes on the same point, point of beginning.
  • Lost Corner  -  A corner whose position cannot be determined.
  • Low Point  -  Point on circular curve.

M

  • Mag  -  New concrete nails that are magnetic nails and are stamped with MAG on the head, easier to find with metal detector.
  • Magnetic Bearing  -  The direction toward the magnetic north pole as a reference point.
  • Magnetic Concrete Nail  -  Stamped on top of nail.  Makes them easier to be found by metal detectors.
  • Magnetic Meridian  -  Lies parallel with the magnetic lines of force of the earth.
  • Magnetic North  -  The direction in which a magnetic needle of a compass points.
  • Map  -  A representation of the earth's surface.
  • Map Scale  -  A relationship between the distance on the map compared to the distance on the earth's surface.
  • Meander  -  Meander of something.  A line follows the twists and turns of a stream.
  • Mean Bearing  -  The average of the foreward and the back bearing of a straight line.
  • Mean Error  -  An ambiguous term sometimes used to denote average error.
  • Mean Sea Level  -  The average height of the surface of the sea.
  • Meander Line  -  The traverse run at the line of mean highwater of a permanent natural body of water.
  • Merestone  -  A stone that marks a boundary.
  • Meridian  -  Imaginary north-south lines converging at the north and south poles.
  • Metes  -  A boundary defined by the measurement between terminal points of each straight run used in legal documents.
  • Metes and Bounds  -  The boundary lines of land with angles and points used in legal documents.
  • Mid-point  -  Center or halfway point of a line segment.
  • Middle Ordinate  -  The distance from the midpoint of the curve to the mid-point of the long chord.
  • Minimum Building Setback  -  The minimum requirement for a building limits.
  • Monument  -  A permanent marker set by a land surveyor to reference controll points or property corners.
  • Mouth  -  A place where a stream enters another larger stream.

N

  • No Monument Set  -
  • North Boundary Line  -
  • Northing  -  Coordinate value by latitudal reference.

O

  • Observed  -
  • Offset  -  Right angles to the survey line measured horizontal to locate a point off the line.
  • Offset Line  -  A line that is close to and roughly parallel to the main line.
  • Open Traverse  -  A traverse that originates at a known position and ends at an unknown position.
  • Origin  -  The point in a system of coordinates which serves as an initial point of computing and where x=0 and y=0.
  • Original Entry  -  When application to acquire title to public lands and the applicant is permitted to proceed with earning title to the lands under the governing laws and regulations.
  • Outlot  -  Sub-standard land parcel or platted land remnant.

P

  • Parcel  -  An area of land defined by measurement.
  • Passing Sight Distance  -  The distance a motorist should be able to observe the trafic in order to pass safetly.
  • Percolation & Soils Testing  -  A field test measuring the rate water moves through soil and helps evaluate the ability of the soil to absorb.
  • Photogrammrtry Surveying (Aerial Survey)  -  A survey that takes photographs from elevated ground stations.
  • Plane Coordinates  -  Coordinates that represent the location of points on a plane.
  • Plane Survey  -  A survey in which the effect of the curvature of the earth is not relevant.
  • Plat  -  A drawing that represents the survey area such as section corners, bearings and distances, parcel numbers, mineral rights, etc.
  • Plat Book  -
  • Point  -  Spatial location without defined dimensions.
  • Point Known  - 
  • Point of Beginning  -  In a survey it describe the point at which a meets and bounds description begins.
  • Point of Circular Curve  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve.
  • Point of Commencement  -
  • Point of Compound Curvature  -  A point where curves of different radii meet.
  • Point of Curvature  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve
  • Point of Curve  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve.
  • Point of Ending  -  In a survey it description to describe the point at which a meets and bounds description ends.
  • Point of Intersection  -  The intersection of two tangent points or where two non-parallel lines intersect.
  • Point of Reverse Curve  -  The point in an S-type compound curve where two curves of different polarity meet.
  • Point of Tangent  -  The point at which a curved line ends and the point tangency to the curve begins.
  • Point of Rangent Curve  -  The point at which a curve ends and a straight line begins.
  • Point of Vertical Curve  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve.
  • Point of Vertical Intersection  -  The intersection of two tangent points or where two non-parallel lines intersect.
  • Point of Vertical Tangent  -  The point at which a curved line ends and the point tangency to the curve begins.
  • Point on Curve  -
  • Point on Line  -  When the endpoint can not be seen from the transit.
  • Point on Tangent  -
  • Possession  -  Exercise of the right to use real property to the exclusion of others.
  • Prime Meridian  -  The initial or zero meridian of imaginary north-south lines converging at the north and south poles.
  • Prime Vertical  -  The largest circle at right angles to the celestial meridian of imaginary east-west lines.
  • Principle Meridian  -  Line separating east and west PLSS ranges.
  • Private Claim  -  Legal foreign nation land grant, claim or tital transfer, not included by origional PLSS survey.
  • Property Identification Number  -
  • Property Line  -  Defines the line where properties begin and end.
  • Public Drainage Easement  -  Allows public utilities to acces a persons property to make any improvements to drainage as necessary.
  • Public Land Survey System  -
  • Public Right-of-way  -  It is usually used to describe highways or public roads where every citizen has the right to their use.
  • Pythagorean Theorem  -  The hypotenuse is the sum of the squares of the other two sides in a right triangle.

Q

  • Quarter Corner  -  A corner halfway between the corners of a section.
  • Quarter Section  -  Containing more or less 160 acres.

R

  • Radial Line  -
  • Radius  -  Half the diameter of a circle.
  • Radius of a Circular Curve  -  The circle of which the curve is an arc.
  • Radius Point  -  Radius center point of circular curve.
  • Range  -  North/south tier of PLSS townships. 
  • Rebar and Cap  -  A rebar 18" long, 1/2" diameter, with a cap having the company name and license number stamped into it.
  • Rebar Found  -
  • Reference Mark  -  A point or object which is measured to or from a monument for the purpose of being able to relocate the monument if it is lost.
  • Reverse Curve  -
  • Right Triangle  -  Has one side a right 90° interior angle.
  • Riparian Law  -  The branch of law which deals with the rights in land bordering on a river, lake dor sea.
  • Riparian Rights  -  The rights of an owner of land bordering on a river, lake, bayou, or sea which relates to the water, ownership of the shore, right of ingress and egress, accretions, etc.
  • Right-of-Way  -  The legal right to cross the property of another person.
  • River  -  Large stream.
  • Rodman  -  A person that holds the rod with an EDM.

S

  • Section  -  Containing more or less 640 acres, a division of a township.
  • Section Corner  -  A corner at the extreme section boundary.
  • Segment of a Circle  -  An interior part of a circle bound by a chord and an arc.
  • Setback Line  -  The distance from the property line or other established line within which no buildings may be constructed.
  • Set Concrete Monument  -
  • Set Disk  -
  • Set Iron Rod  -
  • Set Mag  -
  • Silt  -  Particles ranging in size from 0.002 mm to 0.05 mm.
  • Simple Circular Curve  -  Simple circular curve is a curve that does not cross itself.
  • Site Plan  -  A prepared plan used to get approval to construct some type of structure on a piece of property.
  • Slurry  -  The measurement of the height loss from a compacted cone of fresh concrete.
  • South Boundary Line  -
  • Spiral Curve  -
  • Spring  -  A pool or other sourceof water that feeds a stream.
  • Standard Corner  -  A senior corner on a standard parallel or base line.
  • Standard Deviation  -  The average amount of variation in a set of data points.
  • State Plane Coordinate System  -  A coordinate systen having perpendicular lines going north to south and east to west.  It is only used in the US.
  • Stopping Sight Distance  -  The distance traveled by a vehical from the time it is observer to the time it comes to a stop.
  • Sub-chord  -  A chord shorter than the normal chord.
  • Subdivision Survey  -  This survey that is used to divide a parcel into smaller parcles.
  • Survey  -  The field note record of measurements and observations of the work performed.
  • Survey Easement  -  The description, portrayal, or monumentation of easement(s) only.
  • Swamp  -  Wetlands that features permanent large areas of land with shallow bodies of water that include a large amount of trees.

T

  • Tangent  -  A line that touches a curve at just one point such that it is perpendicular to a radius line of the curve.
  • Tangent Length  -  Length along the tangents from PI to PC or PT.
  • Tangent Point  -  Point on the tangent line.
  • Thermal Expansion Coefficient  -  The percentage change in the length of the material per degree of temperature change, heated solid or liquid.
  • Temporary Benchmark  -
  • Tie Line  -  A survey line that connects a point to other surveyed lines.
  • Tie Point  -  The point where the survey connection is made.
  • Toe  -  Lowest or bottom edge of a land bank or slope.
  • Toe of Slope  -  The bottom or base of incline.
  • Topographical Map  -  A detailed map that represents graphically the earth's features.
  • Topographical Survey  -  A survey to determine land structure along with the variation in land heights.
  • Township  -  A quadrangle having sides approximatelly 6 miles in length with parallels and medians.
  • Township Corner  -  A corner at the extreme township boundary that also falls on a section corner.
  • Township Lines  - Boundary lines that run north and south and stop at range lines.
  • Traverse  -  A sequence of randomly located distance and angles between measured survey lines and points in order to locate something or set property corners.
  • Triangle  -  All triangles have three angles and three sides.
  • Triangulation  -  A survey using numerous triangles are inter-connected and overlapping to measure angles.
  • Trig Functions  - 
  • True Bearing  -  The direction toward the geographic north pole as a reference point.
  • True Meridian (Astronomical)  -  A plane passing through a point on the surface of the earth and containing the earth's axis of rotation.
  • True North  -  A direction parallel to the earth's axis pointing to the north pole.
  • Turn Angle  -  Using an instrument to measure or set an angle.
  • Turning Points  -  Temporary points of a known elevation.

U

  • Underground  -
  • Unrecorded Deed  -  A conveyance of title not registered or recorded according to state statutes.
  • Unsurveyed Lands  -  Lands not yet surveyed.
  • Upland  -  Ground elevated above the lowlands along rivers.
  • U.S Survey  -  A metes and bounds survey excuted to comply with one of various regulations for entry of public lands.
  • Utility Easement  -

V

  • Vertical Angle  -  Angular measurement in a vertical plane.
  • Vertical Point of Curve  -  The point at which a straight line begins to curve, the point tangency to the curve.
  • Vertical Point of Intersection  -  The intersection of two tangent points or where two non-parallel lines intersect.

W

  • Warrant  -  A promise that a statement is true.
  • Water Course  -  A visible channel for water such as a channel, ditch, streambed, or etc.
  • Way  -  A road, street or other passage.
  • Waypoint  -  A two dimensional coordinate destination to be reached by GPS navigation. 
  • Wildlife Refuge  -  A reserve for the protection of wildlife.
  • Witness Point  - A monumented station on a line of the survey used to perpetutate an important location without special relation to any regular corner.
  • Witness Corner  -  When a property corner can not be set at a corner, a witness corner is set, usually on the line at a measured distance.
  • Witness Tree  -  A tree close to a section corner used as a reference to the section corner normally on public lands. 

X

  • X  -  A latitude or distance along the east-west axis in a coordinate system.

Y

  • Y  -  A latitude or distance along the north-south axis in a coordinate system.

Z

  • Z  -  The depth or distance along an axis in a three dimensional coordinate system.

Piping Designer Logo Slide 1

Display #
Title
Elevation
Grade
Simple Circular Curve

Tags: Surveying Engineering