CST Level 1 Land Surveyor Test Certification

Hierarchy of monumentation

1 natural monuments or landmarks; 2 artificial monuments and established lines, marked or surveyed; 3 adjacent boundaries or lines of adjoining tracts; 4 calls for courses and distances; 5 designation of quantity.

What is the primary federal agency responsible for the network of *reference control monuments* in the United States?

1. BLM 2. NGA 3. NGS <---- 4. USGS

As you go uphill from the instrument with a level rod held vertical, the readings observed by the level operator are:

1. Getting smaller <---- 2. Getting harder to see 3. Getting easier to see 4. Getting larger

To assure proper plumb of a prism pole you would use a(n):

1. Hand Level 2. Bull's eye level <---- 3. Spirit or Tube Level 4. Plumb Bob

Hydrographic surveys must be referenced to which of the following datum/s?

1. Horizontal only 2. Horizonal and Vertical <---- 3. Vertical only 4. Tidal

A reflectorless total station is most useful for:

1. Inaccessible points <---- 2. angles and distances needed rapidly 3. only angles are needed 4. only distances are needed

Which of the following is NOT a historical unit of measurement?

1. Vara 2. Gunter's chain 3. Bannekar <---- 4. Engineer's Chain

The purpose of rocking a level rod on a point during a level circuit is:

1. to allow the instrument operator to observe the highest rod reading 2. to reduce error due to refraction 3. so the instrument operator can determine if the rod is on the highest point of the monument 4. to allow the instrument operator to determine when the rod is vertical over the monument <----

The reason for totally discharging most nicad batteries before recharging is:

1. variability of electrical current 2. development of a "memory" <---- 3. development of a change in voltage 4. leaking

How many links in a gunther's chain?

100 links to mark the 66ft

What instrument most commonly gets effected by temperature?

100ft Steel tapes

How many marking pins are in a survey chain?

11 pins to mark the 66ft

When did GPS first start getting used?

1960s

What is your average pace at 34 paces for 100ft?

2.9ft per pace

What type of Leveling do you not rock the level rod?

3 Wire Leveling

How many chains are in a mile?

80 chains

What is a peg test?

A common level test using two known points to check levelness and line of sight

What is a "dumpy level?"

A conventional level with fixed crosshairs and no internal compensator.

plumb bob, plummet

A pointed weight on a string to transfer a level elevation to a point. Also helpful for ensuring straightness of surveying for GPS and Prism poles

What is a land surveying "Tie"?

A survey line that connects one point to other surveyed lines

French Curve

A template used to draw smooth curves with various radii

Gore

A thin triangular piece of land, the boundaries of which are defined by surveys of adjacent properties. Loosely, an overlap or gap between properties.

zenith angle

A vertical angle measured from the zenith direction

Field note reduction most commonly refers to?

Adding and subtracting back sights and foresights of a level loop

As-built survey

After a project is constructed, precise measurements are used to prove compliance to blueprints. Also shows engineering changes to plan.

What does the ALTA/ACSM stand for?

American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping

Alidade

An instrument used for sighting the point in plane table surveying. Ruler equipped with mounted sights and used for determination of direction. Also the part of a theodolite that rotates around the vertical axis, as well as the arm of a sextant

Profile View Drawing

An xy plot, typically used to represent the existing elevation of the project. *Cross Sections* are usually depicted on this type of drawing

What is a land surveying "Call?"

Any feature, landmark, or measurement called out in a survey. For example, "two white oaks next to the creek."

Base plan

Existing conditions plan that is created from the initial full topographic survey of a property. This plan would include existing buildings, walls, waterways, trees, and contours along with the boundary information for the site.

What does the FGCC stand for?

Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee

What does the GLO stand for?

General Land Office and hosts the original surveys of public land.

GNSS stands for?

Global Navigation Satellite System

Digital level/self-leveling level

Initially leveled by operator and reads a level rod as a bar code

Stadia Surveys

Modified trigonometric leveling for gathering Topographic data.

What does the NGS stand for?

National Geodetic Survey

What does the NSPS stand for?

National Society of Professional Surveyors

Easements must outline the following:

Purpose, who the _______________ is between, the width, the duration, and the location based on a rectangular coordinate system for _________________.

GLONASS

Russian satellite navigation system operating as part of a radionavigation-satellite service

The United States Public Land Survey System was established under the direction and guidance of:

Thomas Jefferson

Stadia marks

Two marks on a level so multiple measurements can be taken and averaged

What was the NGS previously called?

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS)

What does USGS stand for?

United States Geological Survey

Legal description

Written document that describes in detail the property boundary lines or easements by the lengths, orientations, and areas of those boundaries or easements.

Merestone

boundary stone

3 types of Horizontal angles

interior, exterior, deflection

Subtense Bar

is a tripod-mounted horizontal bar having sighting targets set precisely 2.000 m apart.

Bearing

measures angles, but only from 0 to 90 degrees. It is always relative to the north or south axis and is written in the form of N (or S) X Y' Z" E (or W).

A back bearing (of a given bearing)

measures angles, but only from 0 to 90 degrees. It is always relative to the north or south axis and is written in the form of S (or N) X Y' Z'' W (or E).

QZSS

owned by the Government of Japan

Zenith Circle

used for celestial observations

How many leveling screws are on a tribrach?

1. one 2. two 3. three <---- 4. four

Traverse

Is a plan view of the path a surveyor takes. If it starts and ends at the same point, it is considered as a closed ____________. Otherwise, it is an open _____________.

How many *national* Datums are there?

There are two national __________, which establish horizontal and vertical coordinates. NAD 83 (which was updated from NAD 27) governs horizontal ___________. NAVD 88 (which was updated from NGVD 29) governs vertical ___________.

Survey notes are usually recorded:

1. During lunch break 2. At the time of the field work <---- 3. Back in the office at the end of the day 4. Before the work is done

Stadia cross hairs are used:

1. For three-wire leveling <---- 2. When adjusting the instrument 3. for determining instrument error 4. when adjusting instrument

Why is it important to balance back-sight and fore-sight distances when conducting a differential level circuit?

1. It simplifies your computations and prevents blunders. 2. Ease in finding turning points 3. Ease of reading the level rod graduations. 4. Helps eliminate errors caused by an instrument that is out of adjustment. <----

Which of the following procedures would result in the largest error in a 100-foot standardized steel tape?

1. Steel tape is 2 feet off line 2. Steel tape on a 5% slope without correcting <---- 3. Tape is supported throughout with too much tension 4. Suspended tape is supported at both ends with 10 lbs. of tension.

Cross-section areas are used to calculate:

1. The cost of the dirt moved 2. Right angle offsets from the centerline 3. The excavation fill total 4. Total excavation quantities <----

A ground-based laser scanner measurement produces

1. a photographic image 2. a horizontal coordinate file 3. a point cloud <---- 4. a vertical coordinate file

In a mining Survey, you are asked to survey a new adit. what is an adit?

1. a tunnel driven for mine drainage, ventilation, or transportation <---- 2. a main haulage road underground 3. an excavation made at the bottom of a shaft 4. the angle at which a bed or stratum is inclined from horizontal

A cross section must extend:

1. along profile of centerline 2. at PC only 3. at PT only 4. right and left of centerline <----

A call for "high" rod from the instrument operator means the telescoping level rod is:

1. backwards 2. not being held Level 3. upside down 4. collapsed <----

A slope stake:

1. gives grade and elevation 2. gives location where cut or fill ends <---- 3. lists the invert elevation 4. lists the PC station

What would be the quickest instrument to use to obtain a ground elevation of a point just down slope from a bench mark?

1. hand level <---- 2. Total station 3. Self-leveling level 4. Dumpy level

Most total station measure distances based upon:

1. light waves <---- 2. Stadia measurements 3. Distance between upper and lower transit readings 4. sound waves

Which of the following would be the best "TBM"?

1. middle of the sidewalk 2. top of a fire hydrant 3. edge of asphalt 4. top of anchor bolt <----

The National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) control points are classified in a ranking scheme based on the

1. order of accuracy <---- 2. geographic location 3. the agency that created them 4. the date when they were established

Why would you stack more than one prism on a setup?

1. provide a greater distance between upper and lower stadia readings 2. give the observer a better line of sight 3. provide more reflective area for obtaining the measurement <---- 4. improve the phase signal

Easement

Defined as shared land determined by a legal document, which allows a non-property owner to use the property.

Witness Tree

Generally used in the U.S. public land states, this refers to the trees close to a section corner. The surveyor who blazed them and noted their position relative to the corner in his notebook. Witness trees are used as evidence for the corner location.

Galileo Satellite

Global navigation satellite system that went live in 2016, created by the European Union through the European Space Agency, operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme.

Backsight

Is the *vertical* distance measurement from the benchmark to a *known* elevation during differential leveling.

Foresight

Is the *vertical* distance measurement from the benchmark to an *unknown* location during differential leveling.

The needle of the surveyor's compass points to:

Magnetic North

Subdivision Map

Map that divides a large parcel into *five or more parcels.*

Parcel Map

Map that divides a large parcel into *four or fewer parcels.*

Azimuth

Measures horizontal angles (in 2D) from 0 to 360 degrees in a clockwise motion.

Zenith

Measures vertical angles from 0 to 360 degrees in a clockwise motion, starting from the 12 o'clock position.

Should a Total Station ever be carried while mounted on a tripod?

No, Total Stations and levels should be moved only by a carry case.

How often should an EDM/all equipment be calibrated?

Once a year

Most used term for slope grade in construction?

Percentage of grade

Name of the North Star commonly used for navigation?

Polaris

Theodolite

Precision instrument used to measure angles in the vertical and horizontal planes. Theodolites are used primarily for surveying applications, and have been modified for unique uses such as meteorology and rocket launching.

What does Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee do?

Set the Accuracy standards for monuments

Plumb bob in slight wind

Slightly bounce bob on the point

What is a "TBM?"

Temporary Benchmark used in construction as a reference point.

Hand Trowel

The "Most Useful" tool for finding established survey monuments

BeiDou

The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is a satellite-based radio navigation system owned and operated by the China National Space Administration.

GPS

The Global Positioning System, originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radio navigation system owned by the US government and operated by the United States Space Force.

Cross-section areas are used to calculate:

Total excavation quantities

A 100 foot cloth or fiber tape is most likely used for measuring _________.

Traverse measurements Property corners Slope stake locations <---- Centerline

Jacob's Staff (Land Surveying)

a monopod, a single straight rod or staff made of nonferrous material, pointed and metal-clad at the bottom for penetrating the ground.

Laser Level

a rotating, level laser beam can be detected by a sensor attached to a rod. Commonly used on construction sites

Planimeter

a table-top engineering instrument for measuring areas, usually the areas of irregular regions on a map or photograph.

Clinometer

an instrument used for measuring the angle or elevation of slopes

Magnetic declination

angle between true north and magnetic north *referenced by year*

Eratosthenes (120 BC)

calculated the circumference of the earth

Autonomous GPS coordinates

coordinates obtained independently without additional positional correction data

Total Station

electronic distancing measure (EDM), and it can also measure vertical and horizontal angles and record data. It consists of a simple microprocessor, an angle measuring instrument (Theodolite), and a distance measuring instrument (EDM)