NICET - Highway Construction Inspection Basic: Q’s
And A’s
What does NICET stand for? Right Ans - National Institute for Certification
and Engineering Technologies
What is surveying? Right Ans - Surveying is the determination of relative
location of points on or near the surface of the earth; the art of measuring
horizonal and vertical distances between terrestrial objects, measuring angles
between terrestrial lines, determining the direction of lines, and establishing
points by predetermined angular and linear measurements.
Plane Survey Right Ans - Surveys for which the curvature of the Earth is
ignored and measurements are treated as if taken on a plane surface.
Geodetic Survey Right Ans - Surveys to determine relative positions of
widely spaced points which require consideration of the size and shape of the
Earth.
What equipment might be used for plane surveying? Right Ans - Laser
level, tripod, steel tape
Name three things levels are used for. Right Ans - Set slope stakes, check
level of forms, and field elevation/grades;
Define survey rod Right Ans - reads like a tape measure; it allows the
surveyor to record an observed number so that an elevation can be
determined; there are many different styles of survey rods, they typically read
in tenths of a foot
Define plumb bob Right Ans - object used to establish a survey instrument
above a specific point; also used to calculate horizontal distances over sloping
ground in conjunction with a surveying tape
Define vernier Right Ans - object used to determine the subdivision of the
smallest division of a scale
, Define steel tape Right Ans - used to measure distance (a flexible
ruler);rarely used anymore due to advances in tech; if used, corrections for
temperature may have to be made (steel expands and contracts with changes
in temperature)
Define transit Right Ans - transits and levels are not the pieces of
equipment and cannot be confused; a transit can be tilted vertically to
measure vertical angles
Can the term and level be used synonymously? Right Ans - No, they cannot,
a transit can be tilted vertically to measure vertical angles
What are plumb bobs and surveyor's tape used to measure? Right Ans -
plumb bobs are used to establish a survey instrument above a specific point or
to calculate horizontal distances over sloping ground in conjunction with a
surveying tape
When looking through a level, what are the four different hair lines that you
will see called? Right Ans - Upper stadia, middle cross, lower stadia,
vertical cross
Define bench mark Right Ans - Bench marks are fixed points where an
exact elevation is known; can be permanent or temporary
Define hub Right Ans - wooden objects used to identify finished grade (also
known as blue tops)
Define stake Right Ans - wooden objects typically used for ROW (right of
way) slopes and structure identification
Define fill stake Right Ans - a stake that indicates the ground at the stake
location needs to be raised with additional material to reach the required
grade
Define cut stake Right Ans - a stake that indicates the ground at the stake
location needs to be excavated in order to reach the desired grade
Define back sight Right Ans - a rod reading taken on a point of known
elevation
And A’s
What does NICET stand for? Right Ans - National Institute for Certification
and Engineering Technologies
What is surveying? Right Ans - Surveying is the determination of relative
location of points on or near the surface of the earth; the art of measuring
horizonal and vertical distances between terrestrial objects, measuring angles
between terrestrial lines, determining the direction of lines, and establishing
points by predetermined angular and linear measurements.
Plane Survey Right Ans - Surveys for which the curvature of the Earth is
ignored and measurements are treated as if taken on a plane surface.
Geodetic Survey Right Ans - Surveys to determine relative positions of
widely spaced points which require consideration of the size and shape of the
Earth.
What equipment might be used for plane surveying? Right Ans - Laser
level, tripod, steel tape
Name three things levels are used for. Right Ans - Set slope stakes, check
level of forms, and field elevation/grades;
Define survey rod Right Ans - reads like a tape measure; it allows the
surveyor to record an observed number so that an elevation can be
determined; there are many different styles of survey rods, they typically read
in tenths of a foot
Define plumb bob Right Ans - object used to establish a survey instrument
above a specific point; also used to calculate horizontal distances over sloping
ground in conjunction with a surveying tape
Define vernier Right Ans - object used to determine the subdivision of the
smallest division of a scale
, Define steel tape Right Ans - used to measure distance (a flexible
ruler);rarely used anymore due to advances in tech; if used, corrections for
temperature may have to be made (steel expands and contracts with changes
in temperature)
Define transit Right Ans - transits and levels are not the pieces of
equipment and cannot be confused; a transit can be tilted vertically to
measure vertical angles
Can the term and level be used synonymously? Right Ans - No, they cannot,
a transit can be tilted vertically to measure vertical angles
What are plumb bobs and surveyor's tape used to measure? Right Ans -
plumb bobs are used to establish a survey instrument above a specific point or
to calculate horizontal distances over sloping ground in conjunction with a
surveying tape
When looking through a level, what are the four different hair lines that you
will see called? Right Ans - Upper stadia, middle cross, lower stadia,
vertical cross
Define bench mark Right Ans - Bench marks are fixed points where an
exact elevation is known; can be permanent or temporary
Define hub Right Ans - wooden objects used to identify finished grade (also
known as blue tops)
Define stake Right Ans - wooden objects typically used for ROW (right of
way) slopes and structure identification
Define fill stake Right Ans - a stake that indicates the ground at the stake
location needs to be raised with additional material to reach the required
grade
Define cut stake Right Ans - a stake that indicates the ground at the stake
location needs to be excavated in order to reach the desired grade
Define back sight Right Ans - a rod reading taken on a point of known
elevation
