FE CIVIL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS
Plane Surveys - ✔✔Type of survey that disregards the curvature of the
earth. Appropriate if the area is small.
Geodetic Surveys - ✔✔Type of survey that considers the curvature of the
earth.
Zoned Surveys - ✔✔Type of survey that allows computations to be
performed as if on a plane will accommodating larger areas.
State Plane Coordinate System - ✔✔Rectangular systems that use a partial
latitude/longitude system for baseline references
Stadia Survey - ✔✔Requires the use of a transit, theodolite, or engineer's
level, as well as a rod for reading elevation differences and a tape for
measuring horizontal distances
1
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
,Plane Table Survey - ✔✔Used in conjunction with a telescopic instrument.
Used in field compilation of maps and doesn't disturb the azimuth
Total Station Surveys - ✔✔Integrates theodolites, electronic distancing
measurement (EDM), and data recorders
Triangulation - ✔✔The positions of the survey points are determined by
measuring the angles of triangles defined by the points. Used primarily for
geodetic surveys
Trilateration - ✔✔Survey lines form triangles, but the lengths of the
triangles sides are measured
Photogrammetric Surveys - ✔✔Conducted using aerial photographs
Airborne LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) - ✔✔Aircraft mounted
laser systems designed to measure the 3D coordinates of a passive target
NAVSTAR GPS - ✔✔Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging Global
Positioning System; one-way satellite to receiver ranging systems. GPA
determines position without referencing any other point
2
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
,Inertial Survey Systems - ✔✔Determine a position on the earth by
analyzing the movement of a transport vehicle. Measures acceleration of
the vehicle and converts that to distance
Geographic Information System (GIS) - ✔✔A computer system that stores,
organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data. Contains spatial
information, literal information, and characteristics
Sexagesimal System - ✔✔Degrees, minutes, seconds
60 minutes make up a degree, 60 seconds make up a minute
Positions - ✔✔(a) latitude and logitude
(b) by rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates measured from a reference point
Benchmark - ✔✔The common name given to permanent monuments of
known vertical positions
Control Stations (or Triangular Stations) - ✔✔Monuments with known
horizontal positions.
3
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
, Datum - ✔✔Usually mean sea level, the point from where vertical
elevations are measured from
Gunter's Chain - ✔✔standard unit of distance measurement, which equals
66 feet.
Cut Chains - ✔✔100' long tapes
Add Chains - ✔✔101' long tapes
Tachyometric Distance Measurement - ✔✔Involved sighting through a
small angle at a distant scale
- Stadia method - angle fixed, length measured
- European method - length fixed, angle measured
Stadia Interval/Reading - ✔✔Interval between two rod readings on a
distant stadia rod
Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) - ✔✔Very accurate for short (~2
mile) distances and relatively accurate for longer distances
4
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
ANSWERS 100% PASS
Plane Surveys - ✔✔Type of survey that disregards the curvature of the
earth. Appropriate if the area is small.
Geodetic Surveys - ✔✔Type of survey that considers the curvature of the
earth.
Zoned Surveys - ✔✔Type of survey that allows computations to be
performed as if on a plane will accommodating larger areas.
State Plane Coordinate System - ✔✔Rectangular systems that use a partial
latitude/longitude system for baseline references
Stadia Survey - ✔✔Requires the use of a transit, theodolite, or engineer's
level, as well as a rod for reading elevation differences and a tape for
measuring horizontal distances
1
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
,Plane Table Survey - ✔✔Used in conjunction with a telescopic instrument.
Used in field compilation of maps and doesn't disturb the azimuth
Total Station Surveys - ✔✔Integrates theodolites, electronic distancing
measurement (EDM), and data recorders
Triangulation - ✔✔The positions of the survey points are determined by
measuring the angles of triangles defined by the points. Used primarily for
geodetic surveys
Trilateration - ✔✔Survey lines form triangles, but the lengths of the
triangles sides are measured
Photogrammetric Surveys - ✔✔Conducted using aerial photographs
Airborne LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) - ✔✔Aircraft mounted
laser systems designed to measure the 3D coordinates of a passive target
NAVSTAR GPS - ✔✔Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging Global
Positioning System; one-way satellite to receiver ranging systems. GPA
determines position without referencing any other point
2
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
,Inertial Survey Systems - ✔✔Determine a position on the earth by
analyzing the movement of a transport vehicle. Measures acceleration of
the vehicle and converts that to distance
Geographic Information System (GIS) - ✔✔A computer system that stores,
organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data. Contains spatial
information, literal information, and characteristics
Sexagesimal System - ✔✔Degrees, minutes, seconds
60 minutes make up a degree, 60 seconds make up a minute
Positions - ✔✔(a) latitude and logitude
(b) by rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates measured from a reference point
Benchmark - ✔✔The common name given to permanent monuments of
known vertical positions
Control Stations (or Triangular Stations) - ✔✔Monuments with known
horizontal positions.
3
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
, Datum - ✔✔Usually mean sea level, the point from where vertical
elevations are measured from
Gunter's Chain - ✔✔standard unit of distance measurement, which equals
66 feet.
Cut Chains - ✔✔100' long tapes
Add Chains - ✔✔101' long tapes
Tachyometric Distance Measurement - ✔✔Involved sighting through a
small angle at a distant scale
- Stadia method - angle fixed, length measured
- European method - length fixed, angle measured
Stadia Interval/Reading - ✔✔Interval between two rod readings on a
distant stadia rod
Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) - ✔✔Very accurate for short (~2
mile) distances and relatively accurate for longer distances
4
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025
