LARE SECTION 2-LARE SECRETS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2026
Terms from LARE secrets book
# Term Definition
1 Landscape Architect Scope (for
questions that ask about the role of LA) Professional services such as consultation,
investigation, researchPrepare site plansPrepare
studiesPrepare
specificationsProvide responsible supervision related to
the development of landscape areasProject
management servicesPlan and design vegetation,
circulation, landscape features to fulfill aesthetic and
functional requirementsFormulate graphic and written
criteria to govern the planning and
designPrepare, review and analyze master plans and
site plansReview environmental issues, population
studies, and public hearing schedulesAnalyze
environmental and physical considerations related to
land usePrepare drawings and construction
documentsObserve construction progressEvaluate
construction docs prepared by people working under
the direction of LAPrepare feasibility studies,
statements of probable construction costs, and reports
and site selection for landscape development and
preservationIntegrate and determine the location of
buildings, structures, and circulation and environmental
systemsAnalyze and DesignSite landscape grading and
drainageSystems for landscape erosion and sediment
controlPedestrian walkway systemsPlan and place
uninhabitable landscape structures, plants, landscape
lighting, and hard surface areasCollaborate with other
professionals in the design of roads, bridges and
structures regarding the functional, environmental, and
aesthetic requirements of the areas in which they are
to be placedConduct field observation of landscape site
construction, revegetation and maintenance Duties
typically do NOT include:Traffic, roadway, or pavement
engineeringDesign of utilitiesEngineering or study of
hydrologic management of stormwater systems or
floodplainsMaking of final platsService or function
within the practice of architecture, engineering, or
public surveying
, 2 Laser Transit
A transit in which a laser is mounted over the sighting
telescope to project a clearly visible narrow beam onto a
small target at the survey site
# Term Definition
3 Contour Lines
Method of depicting the 3-dimensional character of
terrain on a 2D map. Usually brown on multi-coloured
maps Cliffs: Indicated by closely spaced contour
linesDepressions:
Indicated by circular contour with lines radiating to the
centre Gentle slopes: less closely spaced Ridges: form
v-shape pointed down hill Valleys: V-shape pointed
uphill - indicate a drainage path
4 Trigonometric Survey Points (Stations)
accurately surveyed places marked on a map to give an
accurate idea of land’s relief Base Lines: Tend to be N-S
or E-W bearings to the highest spots on the area.
Results in uneven meshing at borders when different
surveyors use different baselines Bench mark
(monument or station): 6X6 inch concrete pillar w disk
marker called a “tablet”. Contain exact elevation,
latitude and longitude. Can be vertical and/or
horizontal controls. Permanent monuments marked as
“BM x with elevation”. Recoverable markers are
marked as “x with elevation” Horizontal controls:
usually appear along roads near sea level marked on
map with “Triangle with elevation”
5 Public Land Survey
Area measurements which are public records used to
record the value, extent, and ownership of land as basis
for taxation
6 shown on topo map as very light red lines w legal
Quadrangle numbers
markings/cadastral/legal descriptions
7 Range
vertical row of townships, number east and west from
a survey baseline, numbered along both the top and
bottom margins of a map
, 8 Section
Each outlined box with its associated number equals 1
square mile (or 640 acres)
9 Township
Squares in groups of 36 blocks which are repeated
across the face of the map. Each area of 6X6 sections is
equal to 36 square miles. Townships are numbered
along left and right margins Numbering of sections runs
East-West across first row of sections and west to east
across second and alternately after that
# Term Definition
10 Acre 208.7 ft = 43,560 square feet = 160 square rods
11 Aerial photography
photographs of a part of the earth’s surface usually
taken in strips from camera mounted on drone or aerial
device
12 Aliquot parts
The approximately rectangular subdivision of the
township and section
13 Azimuth and Elevation
Two angles which give the direction of a surveyor’s
telescope (theodolite) Azimuth is the rotation angle of
the telescope around a vertical axis, measured
(counterclockwise from above) from due north. A
direction whose azimuth is 0º degrees Elevation is the
angle the telescope is lifted above the horizontal plane (
in 3d polar coordinates centred on the instrument,
azimuth is f, elevation is 90º- q; the direction of straight
up has an elevation of 90º but q=0
14 Backsighting
process by which the surveyor checks for accuracy
during the process of leveling once the equipment is set
up and ready (eg: manhole cover)
UPDATED 2026
Terms from LARE secrets book
# Term Definition
1 Landscape Architect Scope (for
questions that ask about the role of LA) Professional services such as consultation,
investigation, researchPrepare site plansPrepare
studiesPrepare
specificationsProvide responsible supervision related to
the development of landscape areasProject
management servicesPlan and design vegetation,
circulation, landscape features to fulfill aesthetic and
functional requirementsFormulate graphic and written
criteria to govern the planning and
designPrepare, review and analyze master plans and
site plansReview environmental issues, population
studies, and public hearing schedulesAnalyze
environmental and physical considerations related to
land usePrepare drawings and construction
documentsObserve construction progressEvaluate
construction docs prepared by people working under
the direction of LAPrepare feasibility studies,
statements of probable construction costs, and reports
and site selection for landscape development and
preservationIntegrate and determine the location of
buildings, structures, and circulation and environmental
systemsAnalyze and DesignSite landscape grading and
drainageSystems for landscape erosion and sediment
controlPedestrian walkway systemsPlan and place
uninhabitable landscape structures, plants, landscape
lighting, and hard surface areasCollaborate with other
professionals in the design of roads, bridges and
structures regarding the functional, environmental, and
aesthetic requirements of the areas in which they are
to be placedConduct field observation of landscape site
construction, revegetation and maintenance Duties
typically do NOT include:Traffic, roadway, or pavement
engineeringDesign of utilitiesEngineering or study of
hydrologic management of stormwater systems or
floodplainsMaking of final platsService or function
within the practice of architecture, engineering, or
public surveying
, 2 Laser Transit
A transit in which a laser is mounted over the sighting
telescope to project a clearly visible narrow beam onto a
small target at the survey site
# Term Definition
3 Contour Lines
Method of depicting the 3-dimensional character of
terrain on a 2D map. Usually brown on multi-coloured
maps Cliffs: Indicated by closely spaced contour
linesDepressions:
Indicated by circular contour with lines radiating to the
centre Gentle slopes: less closely spaced Ridges: form
v-shape pointed down hill Valleys: V-shape pointed
uphill - indicate a drainage path
4 Trigonometric Survey Points (Stations)
accurately surveyed places marked on a map to give an
accurate idea of land’s relief Base Lines: Tend to be N-S
or E-W bearings to the highest spots on the area.
Results in uneven meshing at borders when different
surveyors use different baselines Bench mark
(monument or station): 6X6 inch concrete pillar w disk
marker called a “tablet”. Contain exact elevation,
latitude and longitude. Can be vertical and/or
horizontal controls. Permanent monuments marked as
“BM x with elevation”. Recoverable markers are
marked as “x with elevation” Horizontal controls:
usually appear along roads near sea level marked on
map with “Triangle with elevation”
5 Public Land Survey
Area measurements which are public records used to
record the value, extent, and ownership of land as basis
for taxation
6 shown on topo map as very light red lines w legal
Quadrangle numbers
markings/cadastral/legal descriptions
7 Range
vertical row of townships, number east and west from
a survey baseline, numbered along both the top and
bottom margins of a map
, 8 Section
Each outlined box with its associated number equals 1
square mile (or 640 acres)
9 Township
Squares in groups of 36 blocks which are repeated
across the face of the map. Each area of 6X6 sections is
equal to 36 square miles. Townships are numbered
along left and right margins Numbering of sections runs
East-West across first row of sections and west to east
across second and alternately after that
# Term Definition
10 Acre 208.7 ft = 43,560 square feet = 160 square rods
11 Aerial photography
photographs of a part of the earth’s surface usually
taken in strips from camera mounted on drone or aerial
device
12 Aliquot parts
The approximately rectangular subdivision of the
township and section
13 Azimuth and Elevation
Two angles which give the direction of a surveyor’s
telescope (theodolite) Azimuth is the rotation angle of
the telescope around a vertical axis, measured
(counterclockwise from above) from due north. A
direction whose azimuth is 0º degrees Elevation is the
angle the telescope is lifted above the horizontal plane (
in 3d polar coordinates centred on the instrument,
azimuth is f, elevation is 90º- q; the direction of straight
up has an elevation of 90º but q=0
14 Backsighting
process by which the surveyor checks for accuracy
during the process of leveling once the equipment is set
up and ready (eg: manhole cover)
