,1. A client owns a parcel described in a metes-and-bounds deed as
'thence North 45° East, 200 feet, to a large oak tree.' The original oak
tree is gone, and a subsequent deed for an adjoining parcel calls for
the same corner but uses a different reference. Which legal principle
governs the determination of the true corner location?
A. The intent of the parties as expressed in the deed controls, and if
ambiguous, the physical evidence of the original monument prevails.
B. The modern surveyor's measurement, being more precise, should replace
the original call if the original monument is gone.
C. The subsequent deed's call for the corner takes precedence because it is
the most recent expression of intent.
D. The corner must be re-established using the original bearing and
distance only, as the tree was a natural monument and its loss extinguishes
the boundary.
Answer: A. The intent of the parties as expressed in the deed
controls, and if ambiguous, the physical evidence of the original
monument prevails.
In boundary retracement, the hierarchy of evidence places the intent of
the parties first, followed by original monuments (even if lost, their
former location can be re-established from evidence), then courses and
distances. The subsequent deed's call does not override the original
intent, and modern precision does not replace the original survey's
intent.
Page 2
,2. A surveyor measures a baseline three times with a total station,
obtaining 100.001 m, 99.999 m, and 100.002 m. The manufacturer
specifies a constant error of ±0.002 m and a scale error of 2 ppm.
What is the most appropriate way to report the uncertainty of the
mean distance?
A. Use the standard deviation of the mean, computed from the sample,
because random errors dominate the measurement.
B. Combine the systematic (constant and scale) errors in quadrature with
the random error of the mean to provide a realistic total uncertainty.
C. Report only the manufacturer's specified errors, as they are the largest
source of uncertainty.
D. Ignore the systematic errors because they are constant and cancel out
when averaging multiple measurements.
Answer: B. Combine the systematic (constant and scale) errors in
quadrature with the random error of the mean to provide a realistic
total uncertainty.
Proper error propagation requires combining all known error sources.
The random error (standard deviation of the mean) is combined in
quadrature with the systematic errors (constant and scale) to yield the
total uncertainty. Ignoring systematic errors or using only the sample
standard deviation underestimates the true uncertainty.
3. In a state plane coordinate system, the convergence angle at a point
is 1°30' west. A surveyor measures a geodetic azimuth of 45°00'00".
What is the corresponding grid azimuth?
A. 43°30'00"
B. 45°00'00"
C. 46°30'00"
D. 43°30'00" (but with a sign convention that makes it 46°30')
Answer: C. 46°30'00"
The relationship is: grid azimuth = geodetic azimuth - convergence
angle (with sign convention: west convergence is negative). Here,
convergence is 1°30' west, so grid azimuth = 45°00' - (-1°30') = 46°30'.
Option A incorrectly subtracts, and B ignores the correction.
Page 3
, 4. A surveyor needs to determine if a proposed fence line encroaches
on a wetland setback. The surveyor has aerial imagery, a
LiDAR-derived DEM, and a GIS layer of the wetland boundary.
Which approach best integrates these data to support the legal
determination?
A. Use the LiDAR DEM to map the wetland boundary directly, then
overlay the fence line.
B. Use the aerial imagery to visually identify the fence line and wetland
edge, then digitize both.
C. Use the GIS wetland layer as the authoritative boundary and locate the
fence line using high-precision GNSS, then compute the distance.
D. Combine the imagery and DEM to refine the wetland boundary, then us
e
GNSS to survey the fence line and compute the setback compliance.
Answer: D. Combine the imagery and DEM to refine the wetland
boundary, then use GNSS to survey the fence line and compute the
setback compliance.
A defensible determination requires integrating multiple data sources:
imagery and DEM help interpret the wetland boundary, while GNSS
provides precise fence location. Option C relies solely on a GIS layer
that may be inaccurate; A and B lack the precision and legal
defensibility needed.
Page 4
'thence North 45° East, 200 feet, to a large oak tree.' The original oak
tree is gone, and a subsequent deed for an adjoining parcel calls for
the same corner but uses a different reference. Which legal principle
governs the determination of the true corner location?
A. The intent of the parties as expressed in the deed controls, and if
ambiguous, the physical evidence of the original monument prevails.
B. The modern surveyor's measurement, being more precise, should replace
the original call if the original monument is gone.
C. The subsequent deed's call for the corner takes precedence because it is
the most recent expression of intent.
D. The corner must be re-established using the original bearing and
distance only, as the tree was a natural monument and its loss extinguishes
the boundary.
Answer: A. The intent of the parties as expressed in the deed
controls, and if ambiguous, the physical evidence of the original
monument prevails.
In boundary retracement, the hierarchy of evidence places the intent of
the parties first, followed by original monuments (even if lost, their
former location can be re-established from evidence), then courses and
distances. The subsequent deed's call does not override the original
intent, and modern precision does not replace the original survey's
intent.
Page 2
,2. A surveyor measures a baseline three times with a total station,
obtaining 100.001 m, 99.999 m, and 100.002 m. The manufacturer
specifies a constant error of ±0.002 m and a scale error of 2 ppm.
What is the most appropriate way to report the uncertainty of the
mean distance?
A. Use the standard deviation of the mean, computed from the sample,
because random errors dominate the measurement.
B. Combine the systematic (constant and scale) errors in quadrature with
the random error of the mean to provide a realistic total uncertainty.
C. Report only the manufacturer's specified errors, as they are the largest
source of uncertainty.
D. Ignore the systematic errors because they are constant and cancel out
when averaging multiple measurements.
Answer: B. Combine the systematic (constant and scale) errors in
quadrature with the random error of the mean to provide a realistic
total uncertainty.
Proper error propagation requires combining all known error sources.
The random error (standard deviation of the mean) is combined in
quadrature with the systematic errors (constant and scale) to yield the
total uncertainty. Ignoring systematic errors or using only the sample
standard deviation underestimates the true uncertainty.
3. In a state plane coordinate system, the convergence angle at a point
is 1°30' west. A surveyor measures a geodetic azimuth of 45°00'00".
What is the corresponding grid azimuth?
A. 43°30'00"
B. 45°00'00"
C. 46°30'00"
D. 43°30'00" (but with a sign convention that makes it 46°30')
Answer: C. 46°30'00"
The relationship is: grid azimuth = geodetic azimuth - convergence
angle (with sign convention: west convergence is negative). Here,
convergence is 1°30' west, so grid azimuth = 45°00' - (-1°30') = 46°30'.
Option A incorrectly subtracts, and B ignores the correction.
Page 3
, 4. A surveyor needs to determine if a proposed fence line encroaches
on a wetland setback. The surveyor has aerial imagery, a
LiDAR-derived DEM, and a GIS layer of the wetland boundary.
Which approach best integrates these data to support the legal
determination?
A. Use the LiDAR DEM to map the wetland boundary directly, then
overlay the fence line.
B. Use the aerial imagery to visually identify the fence line and wetland
edge, then digitize both.
C. Use the GIS wetland layer as the authoritative boundary and locate the
fence line using high-precision GNSS, then compute the distance.
D. Combine the imagery and DEM to refine the wetland boundary, then us
e
GNSS to survey the fence line and compute the setback compliance.
Answer: D. Combine the imagery and DEM to refine the wetland
boundary, then use GNSS to survey the fence line and compute the
setback compliance.
A defensible determination requires integrating multiple data sources:
imagery and DEM help interpret the wetland boundary, while GNSS
provides precise fence location. Option C relies solely on a GIS layer
that may be inaccurate; A and B lack the precision and legal
defensibility needed.
Page 4
