Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
Already Passed!!!
How to figure out horizontal distance with stadia hairs CORRECT ANSWERS Subtract
lower stadia hair reading from upper, then multiply by 100.
What is a US Survey foot? (on formula sheet already) CORRECT ANSWERS
Expressed as a fraction: 1200/3937 m
1 US survey foot = 0.30480061
(Take inverse to get meters to feet... 1/0.30480061)
What is an International (Standard) Foot? (on formula sheet already) CORRECT
ANSWERS Expressed as a decimal:
1 Int. Foot = 0.30480000 m.
(Take inverse... 1/0.30480000)
1 meter = 3.280839 Int. ft.
What is a Gradian? CORRECT ANSWERS An entire circle (360 degrees) is 400
gradians (gon). Therefore, a 90 degree angle is 100 grad.
1 grad = 00 deg. 54'.... Or.... 1 gradian = 0.9 deg
How many miles for one degree of latitude? CORRECT ANSWERS One degree of
latitude is 69 miles
How to convert inches to tenths of a foot (decimal feet)? CORRECT ANSWERS Take
inch value and divide by 12
What is a rod? CORRECT ANSWERS 1 rod = 16.5 feet
How many feet in a yard? CORRECT ANSWERS 3 feet
How to figure out sum of interior angles of any closed polygon CORRECT ANSWERS
n-2(180)
How to figure out total exterior angles of a closed polygon CORRECT ANSWERS
(n+2)180
How many feet in a meter? CORRECT ANSWERS 3.281 feet (take the inverse of the
international foot on the formula sheet)
Cosecant is... CORRECT ANSWERS = arcsin..... sin
,Secant is... CORRECT ANSWERS = arccos.... cos
The distance formula (Inversing) CORRECT ANSWERS Sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2) or
Sqrt((y2-y1)^2+(x2-xs1)^2)
Cartesian Coordinate Systems are also called...? CORRECT ANSWERS Rectangular
Coordinate Systems
What is a range pole? CORRECT ANSWERS IS NOT A LEVELING ROD!!! The stripes
on it alternate white and black, and it marks the position of stations for sightings (it is a
marker). It is the pole that a prism is attached to.
What is a theodolite? CORRECT ANSWERS Can rotate along vertical (zenith axis) and
horizontal axis (trunnion axis). ONLY measure angles, not distances.
Same as a transit, but more accurate.
It is not robotic. A "regular" theodolite has no electronic capabilities.
A 1" theodolite means it is accurate to +or- 1"
What is a digital theodolite? CORRECT ANSWERS A theodolite with electronic
capabilities (a screen and interface). We used this in plane surveying lab.
What is a total station? CORRECT ANSWERS Measures both angles and distances...
(i.e... A theodolite combined with distance measuring capabilities). Needs a prism for
the distances.
We used this in plane surveying lab.
What is a dumpy level? CORRECT ANSWERS It is purely an optical leveling
instrument, no robotic capabilities. Purely rely on level vials to orient lines of sight (the
level bubble IS the level vial). Only orients in the direction of gravity.
Rarely used anymore
What is an auto level? CORRECT ANSWERS Has an automatic compensator built in (a
pendulum) to correct for slightly "off level" lines of sight (what I use currently, in labs,
and at internships)
Compensator pendulum swings forward correcting for line of sight if telescope tilts
down. Vice versa for if the telescope is tilted up.
No electronic capabilities
,What is a digital level? CORRECT ANSWERS A robotic leveling instrument that reads
bar codes on the rod.
What is a Philadelphia rod? CORRECT ANSWERS A leveling rod consisting of two
sliding sections. The rod fully collapsed will read up to 7 ft. The rod fully extended will
read up to 13 ft. The rod MUST be extended all the way or rod reading error will occur.
In hundredths of a foot.
Readings on the back of the rod the graduation decrease from 13.09 ft at the bottom to
7 ft. up top.
(Used in Plane surveying lab)
What is a Lenker Rod? CORRECT ANSWERS Direct Reading, or True Elevation (also
known as Lenker style) is a Grade Rod with a moveable tape face allowing you to set
the actual benchmark elevation, or any elevation, above or below the bench on the rod.
What is a vernier scale? CORRECT ANSWERS A scale that can be outfitted to a
Philadelphia rod to enable readings down to the thousandths.
(Did in plane surveying lab across Portage Canal)
Gunters Chain CORRECT ANSWERS 100 Links in one chain
1 Chain = 66 feet
1 Link = 0.66 feet
Define True North (Geodetic North)... (Geodetic Bearing) CORRECT ANSWERS The
axis in which all the meridians of longitude converge at
Magnetic North CORRECT ANSWERS Direction indicated by a compass
True Bearing = Mag. bearing + declination
CONVERT BEARING TO AZIMUTH IN ORDER FOR THE BELOW TO WORK!!! (then
convert back to bearing at the end)
Magnetic bearing to True bearing
(Declination value is + when to the east)
(Declination value is - when to the west)
True bearing to Magnetic bearing
"West is Best, East is least"; that is to say, add W declinations when going , and
subtract E ones.
, Grid North CORRECT ANSWERS The direction northwards along the grid lines of a
map projection. (i.e. north that is subjected to a projection).
Is always parallel to the central meridian for the SPCS zone.
Geodetic north and grid north only coincide at the central meridian for that zone.
Define declination CORRECT ANSWERS The horizontal angular difference between
true north and magnetic north
Law of Cosines: how to set it up CORRECT ANSWERS The variable on the left side of
the equation must match the cosine angle
Three basic rules for sig figs: CORRECT ANSWERS Non-zero digits are always
significant.
Any zeros between two significant digits are significant.
A final zero or trailing zeros in the decimal portion ONLY are significant.
Simpsons 1/3 Rule for Area (most is on the formula sheet)... with even station intervals
CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Take the offsets at both ends of the area of interest (i.e. the
measurements perpendicular to the line of stationing) and sum them up
2. Sum up the odd numbered intermediate offsets only
3. Sum up the even numbered intermediate offsets only
4. Multiply the sum of the odd numbered offsets by 2
5. Multiply the sum of the even numbered offsets by 4
Trapezoid Rule for Area with uneven station intervals CORRECT ANSWERS 1.
Calculate a trapezoid area for each station interval
2. Sum all of the trapezoid areas up
Prismoidal Method vs Average End Area Method for Volumes CORRECT ANSWERS
Average End Area- a simple and quick equation that calculates the volume of the end
trapezoidal areas, then fills it. It negates any changes in topography in the middle part
Prismodal Method- more complicated, better at calculating changes in topography
throughout the route between the end areas. This method is unecessary if the
topography of the route is mainly flat through the duration. BUT if the topography is not
Questions With Correct Answers
Already Passed!!!
How to figure out horizontal distance with stadia hairs CORRECT ANSWERS Subtract
lower stadia hair reading from upper, then multiply by 100.
What is a US Survey foot? (on formula sheet already) CORRECT ANSWERS
Expressed as a fraction: 1200/3937 m
1 US survey foot = 0.30480061
(Take inverse to get meters to feet... 1/0.30480061)
What is an International (Standard) Foot? (on formula sheet already) CORRECT
ANSWERS Expressed as a decimal:
1 Int. Foot = 0.30480000 m.
(Take inverse... 1/0.30480000)
1 meter = 3.280839 Int. ft.
What is a Gradian? CORRECT ANSWERS An entire circle (360 degrees) is 400
gradians (gon). Therefore, a 90 degree angle is 100 grad.
1 grad = 00 deg. 54'.... Or.... 1 gradian = 0.9 deg
How many miles for one degree of latitude? CORRECT ANSWERS One degree of
latitude is 69 miles
How to convert inches to tenths of a foot (decimal feet)? CORRECT ANSWERS Take
inch value and divide by 12
What is a rod? CORRECT ANSWERS 1 rod = 16.5 feet
How many feet in a yard? CORRECT ANSWERS 3 feet
How to figure out sum of interior angles of any closed polygon CORRECT ANSWERS
n-2(180)
How to figure out total exterior angles of a closed polygon CORRECT ANSWERS
(n+2)180
How many feet in a meter? CORRECT ANSWERS 3.281 feet (take the inverse of the
international foot on the formula sheet)
Cosecant is... CORRECT ANSWERS = arcsin..... sin
,Secant is... CORRECT ANSWERS = arccos.... cos
The distance formula (Inversing) CORRECT ANSWERS Sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2) or
Sqrt((y2-y1)^2+(x2-xs1)^2)
Cartesian Coordinate Systems are also called...? CORRECT ANSWERS Rectangular
Coordinate Systems
What is a range pole? CORRECT ANSWERS IS NOT A LEVELING ROD!!! The stripes
on it alternate white and black, and it marks the position of stations for sightings (it is a
marker). It is the pole that a prism is attached to.
What is a theodolite? CORRECT ANSWERS Can rotate along vertical (zenith axis) and
horizontal axis (trunnion axis). ONLY measure angles, not distances.
Same as a transit, but more accurate.
It is not robotic. A "regular" theodolite has no electronic capabilities.
A 1" theodolite means it is accurate to +or- 1"
What is a digital theodolite? CORRECT ANSWERS A theodolite with electronic
capabilities (a screen and interface). We used this in plane surveying lab.
What is a total station? CORRECT ANSWERS Measures both angles and distances...
(i.e... A theodolite combined with distance measuring capabilities). Needs a prism for
the distances.
We used this in plane surveying lab.
What is a dumpy level? CORRECT ANSWERS It is purely an optical leveling
instrument, no robotic capabilities. Purely rely on level vials to orient lines of sight (the
level bubble IS the level vial). Only orients in the direction of gravity.
Rarely used anymore
What is an auto level? CORRECT ANSWERS Has an automatic compensator built in (a
pendulum) to correct for slightly "off level" lines of sight (what I use currently, in labs,
and at internships)
Compensator pendulum swings forward correcting for line of sight if telescope tilts
down. Vice versa for if the telescope is tilted up.
No electronic capabilities
,What is a digital level? CORRECT ANSWERS A robotic leveling instrument that reads
bar codes on the rod.
What is a Philadelphia rod? CORRECT ANSWERS A leveling rod consisting of two
sliding sections. The rod fully collapsed will read up to 7 ft. The rod fully extended will
read up to 13 ft. The rod MUST be extended all the way or rod reading error will occur.
In hundredths of a foot.
Readings on the back of the rod the graduation decrease from 13.09 ft at the bottom to
7 ft. up top.
(Used in Plane surveying lab)
What is a Lenker Rod? CORRECT ANSWERS Direct Reading, or True Elevation (also
known as Lenker style) is a Grade Rod with a moveable tape face allowing you to set
the actual benchmark elevation, or any elevation, above or below the bench on the rod.
What is a vernier scale? CORRECT ANSWERS A scale that can be outfitted to a
Philadelphia rod to enable readings down to the thousandths.
(Did in plane surveying lab across Portage Canal)
Gunters Chain CORRECT ANSWERS 100 Links in one chain
1 Chain = 66 feet
1 Link = 0.66 feet
Define True North (Geodetic North)... (Geodetic Bearing) CORRECT ANSWERS The
axis in which all the meridians of longitude converge at
Magnetic North CORRECT ANSWERS Direction indicated by a compass
True Bearing = Mag. bearing + declination
CONVERT BEARING TO AZIMUTH IN ORDER FOR THE BELOW TO WORK!!! (then
convert back to bearing at the end)
Magnetic bearing to True bearing
(Declination value is + when to the east)
(Declination value is - when to the west)
True bearing to Magnetic bearing
"West is Best, East is least"; that is to say, add W declinations when going , and
subtract E ones.
, Grid North CORRECT ANSWERS The direction northwards along the grid lines of a
map projection. (i.e. north that is subjected to a projection).
Is always parallel to the central meridian for the SPCS zone.
Geodetic north and grid north only coincide at the central meridian for that zone.
Define declination CORRECT ANSWERS The horizontal angular difference between
true north and magnetic north
Law of Cosines: how to set it up CORRECT ANSWERS The variable on the left side of
the equation must match the cosine angle
Three basic rules for sig figs: CORRECT ANSWERS Non-zero digits are always
significant.
Any zeros between two significant digits are significant.
A final zero or trailing zeros in the decimal portion ONLY are significant.
Simpsons 1/3 Rule for Area (most is on the formula sheet)... with even station intervals
CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Take the offsets at both ends of the area of interest (i.e. the
measurements perpendicular to the line of stationing) and sum them up
2. Sum up the odd numbered intermediate offsets only
3. Sum up the even numbered intermediate offsets only
4. Multiply the sum of the odd numbered offsets by 2
5. Multiply the sum of the even numbered offsets by 4
Trapezoid Rule for Area with uneven station intervals CORRECT ANSWERS 1.
Calculate a trapezoid area for each station interval
2. Sum all of the trapezoid areas up
Prismoidal Method vs Average End Area Method for Volumes CORRECT ANSWERS
Average End Area- a simple and quick equation that calculates the volume of the end
trapezoidal areas, then fills it. It negates any changes in topography in the middle part
Prismodal Method- more complicated, better at calculating changes in topography
throughout the route between the end areas. This method is unecessary if the
topography of the route is mainly flat through the duration. BUT if the topography is not
