how is land surveyed?

Answer 1

What, for land title?
A geodetic survey?

What does a land surveyor use for a line base?

Answer 2

Quick answer:
Send a field crew to the respective property sight to perform a closed polygon traverse. During the traverse , the crew will pick up such items as iron pipes, fence rows, stone corners, etc. to locate as much evidence as possible to define the geometry of the property. Adjoining property markers, right of ways, etc. will be located.
Back at the office, the deed is drawn on a surveying program such as AutoCad, AutoDesk. Eagelpoint, etc. It is checked for its geometry, and closure to determine if it looks ok. If there are not a lot of problems, the next procedure is to download the field data and create a Wblock (autocad jargon) and overlay this deed drawing over the fieldwork. The deed is then tied to one corner of the field drawing and rotated until it represents all corners. The angle of rotation is noted because the field crew uses an assumed bearing. The bearing and distances on the deed are then evaluated for the field drawing. If all looks well, the field crew is sent back to the respective property sight with the new coordinates to set property corners.
I admitted some other items, but that is basically the procedure.
PLSS states use section corners, quarter corners, and is slightly different with a lot of rules for Public Land Survey Systems.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

First, one locates the nearest benchmark. This is a permanent marker located at a place known to the inch. Once the benchmark is located, measurements are taken from this location to get the exact location of the land to be surveyed. The land is then surveyed using a system of measuring devices designed for the task. When I learned about surveying in college, we used a scope on a tripod, and took measurements from an individual holding a large, vertical yardstick-like device many yards away. From these measurements, one could determine altitude, distance and direction. These measurements were then translated into mathematical figures that one could use later, using survey maps, to determine exact figures for each location so measured. With this data, one could then determine exact boundaries for use in determining property lines, planning highways and bridges, and other such things.

It has been well over twenty years since I took the course in surveying, and most of the jargon escapes me. Forgive me for being a bit vague.

Answer 4

Now a days, land are being surveyed by using GPS and Total Station equipments. If you want to keep accuracy at milimeter level then you must use that type of GPS (Ashtech, Lica etc). The accuracy level depends on type of survey, for example, in cadastral survey (parcel level) the accuracy level must be maintained as low as possible.

To survey the target area some GCPs (Geodetic or Ground Control Points) are established using GPS observation, processing and necesaary travarese adjustments. Once the GCPs are established and marked on the ground the Total Station machine is set by pin-pointing at GCP. Then Total Station machine with help of its accesory called Prism is used to capture points of topographic features or other necessary features digitaly. After aquiring all points of the target area these points are downloaded to computer as a file via data cable and a software. The file is then used by a post processing software (for example, SDR Mapping & Design, Autodesk 3D professional, etc) to process the data. By post processing of Total Station data one can produce topographic map, contour map, cross section, profile, cut-fill calculation and son on.

Land can also be surveyed by other traditional method using Plane Table, Level Machine and Theodolite.

Answer 5

Cadestral Studies began in the 1700s and 1800s based on longitude and latitudes, land survey takes into consider distances between known points of reference for elevation and distance.

The US method of measure is based on Meridian, Latitude, Range, Township, Section (and sub Sections)..

For example within the US there are several meridian points. These run north south, Latitudes Run East/West. Within the meridian Ranges consist of several Townships, and each township consists of 36 sections.. A section is 640 acres, for surveying purposes there are 1/4 sections and 1/4-1/4 sections of measure.

For property sales survey generally breaks down lots of land into smaller segments and where they sit in reference to the section they can be found it.

It terms of "how" it began with a rod measure to measure distance, it evolved to transit and now laser transit and GPS.

Answer 6

I agree with Yellow Cab that the nearest bench mark or geodetic marker must be found.Today a laser is used for a straight line to measure more precisely from the bench mark to the site to be measured and around that.

Answer 7

Used to be chain and pole but now they use lasers and GPS

Answer 8

by God