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
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
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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
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.
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.
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,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
Stations - ✔✔In route surveying, lengths are divided into 100' sections called stations
[sta = units]
length: "the length of curve is 4 sta"
location: "the point of intersection is at sta 4"
Stakes - ✔✔Usually laid down at full intervals, but if placed anywhere else (plus
station):
825' from 0+00 : 8+25
2896' from 0+00 : 28+96
Leveling - ✔✔The act of using an engineer's level (or other leveling instrument) and rod
to measure a vertical distance (elevation) from an arbitrary level surface.
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Actual (Corrected) Rod Height - ✔✔ha = Robserved - hrc
hrc = (2.1 x 10^-8 1/ft)*x^2
Direct Leveling - ✔✔A level is set up at a point approximately midway between the two
points whose difference in elevation is desired
Differential Leveling - ✔✔The consecutive application of direct leveling to the
measurement of large differences in elevation
Indirect Leveling - ✔✔Does not require backsight
Meridian - ✔✔An arc drawn on a map between the North and South poles. (Vertical)
Azimuth - ✔✔Given as a clockwise angle from the reference direction, either from the
north or from the south. May not exceed 360 deg.
ex: NAz 320 deg
Deflection Angle - ✔✔The angle between a line and the prolongation of a preceding line
is a deflection angle.
Right - clockwise angles
Left - counterclockwise angles
Bearing - ✔✔Referenced to the quadrant in which the line falls and the angle that the
line makes with the meridian in that quadrant. May not exceed 90 deg.
ex: N23 deg W "Northwest quadrant, 23 degrees from north meridian"
Latitude - ✔✔The distance that the line extends in a north or south direction (positive
toward North, negative toward South)
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
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
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
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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
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.
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.
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,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
Stations - ✔✔In route surveying, lengths are divided into 100' sections called stations
[sta = units]
length: "the length of curve is 4 sta"
location: "the point of intersection is at sta 4"
Stakes - ✔✔Usually laid down at full intervals, but if placed anywhere else (plus
station):
825' from 0+00 : 8+25
2896' from 0+00 : 28+96
Leveling - ✔✔The act of using an engineer's level (or other leveling instrument) and rod
to measure a vertical distance (elevation) from an arbitrary level surface.
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Actual (Corrected) Rod Height - ✔✔ha = Robserved - hrc
hrc = (2.1 x 10^-8 1/ft)*x^2
Direct Leveling - ✔✔A level is set up at a point approximately midway between the two
points whose difference in elevation is desired
Differential Leveling - ✔✔The consecutive application of direct leveling to the
measurement of large differences in elevation
Indirect Leveling - ✔✔Does not require backsight
Meridian - ✔✔An arc drawn on a map between the North and South poles. (Vertical)
Azimuth - ✔✔Given as a clockwise angle from the reference direction, either from the
north or from the south. May not exceed 360 deg.
ex: NAz 320 deg
Deflection Angle - ✔✔The angle between a line and the prolongation of a preceding line
is a deflection angle.
Right - clockwise angles
Left - counterclockwise angles
Bearing - ✔✔Referenced to the quadrant in which the line falls and the angle that the
line makes with the meridian in that quadrant. May not exceed 90 deg.
ex: N23 deg W "Northwest quadrant, 23 degrees from north meridian"
Latitude - ✔✔The distance that the line extends in a north or south direction (positive
toward North, negative toward South)
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
