Surveyor in Training (Texas)
Isohyetal map
A map that shows contours that connect points of equal rainfall.
Texas statute of limitations for negligence
2 years
specific gravity
The ratio of the weight of a material to that of the same volume of water. For example, one cubic centimeter of magnetite will be 5.2 times heavier than one cubic centimeter of water.
deciduous
Trees and shrubs that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season
Relief displacement formula
d=rh/H d=relief displacement r=radial distance of the ground point image from the principal point h=elevation of the point from the datum H= flight height above the datum
Segment
The area bounded by the arc of a curve and it's long chord
1/3
(81)^-1/4
Byte
8 bits
fathom
measure of water depth equaling 6 feet.
dendrology
study of trees
solar day
24 hours. Not the true time of one rotation of the earth, because the earth is orbiting around the sun and spinning it changes the reference line to the sun.
Guide Meridian
A line that is marked by monuments that runs north and south that establishes a Mouradian that can be used for reference in the public land survey system.
First Point of Aries
A local side real day is the interval of time between successive upper transits of? In other words the right ascension from this star.
closing the horizon
Measuring horizontal angles from the backsight To the foresight and from the foresight to the backside and checking to see that their son is approximately 360°.
Thermometric depth
Measuring the depth of water by lowering a thermometer subject to hydrostatic pressure along with the thermometer protected from hydrostatic pressure. Can be accurate within 5 m.
Alluvium
The actual land built by the action of water from the river
Paralax
The apparent shift in the position of an object when viewed from different location
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another. In surveying it refers to the bending of light that makes objects appear higher than it actually is.
Crown
The branches in foliage at the top of a tree
Don Juan Antonio Perez de Almazan 1731
The captain of the San Antonio de Bexar Presidio. He ordered for the first survey of the town of San Antonio. Town Las Vegas subsequently granted to Canary Island.
Pith
The center part of a twig
Image centers
The center points used for correcting aerial photographs for tilt and displacement: principal point- geometric center of the photo, Nadir point (plumb point)- directly below camera, and isocenter- located midway on line connecting the nadir and principal. These three points are the same on an untitled photo, but diverge on tilted.
residual
The difference between an individual reading in a series of observations and the mean of that series.
True North
The direction to the geographic North Pole
Clock bias
The discrepancy between a GPS receivers clock and the satellite's clock and a reference such as Coordinated Universal Time or International Atomic Time.
Leaf margin
The edge of a leaf
current
The rate of charge flow past a given point in an electric circuit, measured in coulombs/Second which is named amperes.
Eminent domain
The right or power of government to take private property for public use on paying the owner a just compensation.
Stereoplotter
Uses stereo photographs to determine elevations. It is the primary method to plot contours on large topographic maps since the 1930's.
Volume of a cylinder
V=πr²h
Mask Angle
Vertical angle of 10°-20° from the observers horizon, below which signals from GPS satellites are considered less reliable, because the signals have to travel through a thicker layer of atmosphere.
culmination
When a celestial object or constellation is either of two moments when it reaches the observer's meridian on the celestial sphere. A celestial object passes through the meridian twice a day: once at its upper culmination, when it reaches its highest point as viewed from a given location on Earth, and once at its lower culmination, when it reaches its lowest point. Lower culmination is not visible unless the object is circumpolar, like Polaris.
Refraction
When light from a celestial body passes through the atmosphere it bends towards the surface of the earth. It causes the body to appear higher in the sky than it really is. Corrections are subtracted.
reticle
a network of fine lines, dots, cross hairs, or wires in the focal plane of the eyepiece of an optical instrument
Apothem
a segment that is drawn from the center of a regular polygon perpendicular to a side of the polygon
reticle
a series of fine lines in the eyepiece of a telescope or microscope used as a measuring scale
perennial stream
a stream that flows for most or all of the year
Radian
a unit of angle, equal to an angle at the center of a circle whose arc is equal in length to the radius. 180°/Pi also 57.3°
limited partnership
form of partnership where one or more partners are not active in the daily running of the business, and whose liability for the partnership's debt is restricted to the amount invested in the business
Catenary
the curve assumed by a chain uniformly loaded along its length and freely suspended from two distinct points
Reliction
creation of dry land by the gradual withdrawal of water
bathymetric map
a map that shows the depths of a body of water such as a lake or an ocean
refractive index
a measure of how greatly a substance slows the velocity of light. Such as air
Statute of Frauds
A state statute under which certain types of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable. Such as land conveyances.
Flowchart
A step-by-step drawing representing a specific procedure or algorithm.
Non-perennial stream
A stream that flows for only short periods after heavy rainfall
Adjoining
Term used in legal descriptions to indicate actual contact, unlike adjacent, which implies proximity but not contact.
State financial interest in grant found with excess
5%
tantamount
(adj.) equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect
zero reference for lat and long
0 degrees lat= equator 0 degree long= prime meridian (Greenwich England)
Mass
A measure of how much matter is in an object.
Holographic Will
A will in the handwriting of the deceased.
Area of a trapezoid
A=1/2(b1+b2)h
Ground plane
Blocks reflected signals from below the antenna on GPS to reduce interference.
State Plane
Coordinate system used in the USA only. Its measured in feet. 120 zones follow states and counties boundaries. Uses the lambert - EW oriented zones. Transverse Mercator NS - oriented zones. Based on NAD 83 datum and GRS 80 ellipsoid.
Convert magnetic bearings to true bearings
Counterclockwise for W declination and clockwise for E declination from given magnetic bearing, which equals true bearing
Recommended Witness tree mark
Cross because there is less chance of wood rot.
vernier
Instruments that measure with extreme precision may use a _____ scale.
FGDC
Federal Geographic Data Committee
visible light spectrum
ROYGBIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) Longest too shortest
Orthophoto
aerial photos which have been geometrically rectified, correcting and removing the effects of relief displacement, tilt, or scale variation. It can be used to measure true distances, have uniform scale, and are often used in GIS.
mean
average
Reasonable Man Doctrine
compares the actions of an individual with that of a reasonable man in the same or similar circumstances
Transverse Mercator
cylindrical projection; measurements most true at the point in which the cylinder and the Earth intersect; used for the state plane of states long in north-south
Lossy Compression
data compression techniques in which some amount of data is lost. This technique attempts to eliminate redundant information In order to achieve greater reduction in data size.For example many Internet applications such as streaming of MP3 files use lossy data compression.
Thalweg
deepest part of the channel
orthogonal
of or involving right angles; at right angles.
defeasible
that can be undone or voided
affidavit
written statement made under oath
Quadratic Formula
x = -b ± √(b² - 4ac)/2a
Inverting eyepiece
- Composed of two convex lenses placed in eyepiece slide that does not compensate for the image being upside down and backwards.
Erecting eyepiece
- Consist of four convex lenses placed in eyepiece slide in order to compensate for the upside down and backwards image that a telescope usually delivers. Also usually increases the magnification by the factor stated (1.5X or 2X, for example)
transit rule
- In balancing a survey, that the angular measurements are more precise than are those of chaining is the assumption base upon. Seldom used
Long Chord
- In the elements of a circular curve, it is a straight line distance connecting the point of curvature to the point of Tangency. LC = 2Rsin(I/2)
Long Chord
- In the elements of a circular curve, it is a straight line distance connecting the point of curvature to the point of Tangency. LC = 2 R sin I/2
Defeasible Fee Simple
- Or FEE SIMPLE DEFEASIBLE - Ownership with conditional restrictions which, if broken, can result in title to the property reverting back to the grantor or his heirs.
reciprocal leveling
- When the distance between two points exceeds the maximum length of sight or the instrument can't be set up between the point to keep the backsight and foresight equidistant, we use.
reciprocal leveling
- When the distance between two points exceeds the maximum length of sight or the instrument can't be set up between the point to keep the backsight and foresight equidistant, we use. For example when crossing a river with a level loop.
Astronomical triangle
- the triangle formed by the north celestial pole, zenith, an the sun or star in the celestial sphere. PZS. Used to determine azimuth or latitude and longitude.
Area reported on survey standards (TSPS)
0.0001 for 0 - 0.9999 acre 0.001 for 1 - 9.999 acres 0.01 for 10 - 99.99 acres 0.1 for 100 - 999.9 acres
International foot
0.3048 m. Measurement that is newer, shorter and slightly more exact than the survey foot, used by nearly everybody except surveyors. Established in 1959
US Survey Foot
0.3048006096 m. Unit of measurement established in 1893, is slightly longer than the international foot.
Computer memory units
1 Bit = Binary Digit 8 Bits = 1 Byte 1024 Bytes = 1 KB (Kilo Byte) 1024 KB = 1 MB (Mega Byte) 1024 MB = 1 GB(Giga Byte) 1024 GB = 1 TB(Terra Byte) 1024 TB = 1 PB(Peta Byte) 1024 PB = 1 EB(Exa Byte) 1024 EB = 1 ZB(Zetta Byte) 1024 ZB = 1 YB (Yotta Byte) 1024 YB = 1 (Bronto Byte) 1024 Brontobyte = 1 (Geop Byte) Geop Byte is The Highest Memory Measurement
Texas land measurements
1 league = 4428.4 ac 1 labor = 177.1 ac 1 Square mile = 640 ac 1 vara = 33 1/3 in 1 chain = 66 feet 1 cordel = 50 varas 1 marine league = 3 nautical miles (3.45 statute miles) 1 rod = 16.5 feet 1 furlong = 660 feet
Natural resources code approved measurements
1 meter = 39.37 inches 1 foot = 12.00 inches 1 vara = 33 1/3 inches
0.3048006
1 survey foot = ___________ meters
Balancing traverse steps
1. Compute angular error and adjust 2. Compute bearings of each leg 3. Compute latitude and departure of each leg. 4. Compute error of closure 5. Compute latitude and departure corrections 6. Adjust
Divide Polynomials (Binomial Divisor)
1. Divide first term of the divisor into first term and write above. 2. Times that by each divisor number and write under corresponding numbers in the divided. 3. Subtract bottom from top. 4. Drop next number in the divided next to it 5. Divide first number in the divisor into current term and write above. 6. Multiply the that number by the divisor and should equal the same as bottom term.
Deed Essentials
1. In writing 2. Legal terminology 3. Parties must be competent 4. Must be a grantor and grantee 5. Must be valid payment shown, although exact amount is not necessary. ($10) 6. Contain a description 7. Must be signed 8. Notarized 9. Must be delivered (delivery of property) Recording is not necessary but recommended to avoid confusion.
ALTA Requirements and options requested by the client
1. North toward top of plat, graphic scale included, " 2. directional distance and curve data to compute a closure will be shown, 3. minimum standard size is 8 1/2" X 11", 4. perpendicular ties from property line to buildings, 4. all possible encroachments within 5' of property line, 5. flood zone classification, 6. list everything requested by the client from Table A, 7. Dimensions and square footage of all buildings 8. Number and type of parking spaces 9. Names of adjoining owners 10. Professional liability insurance policy
Order of conflicting call in boundary law
1. Right of possession (written or unwritten) 2. Senior rights (in case of overlaps) 3. Written intention of parties 1.Call for an actual conveying survey 2.Call for monuments A. Natural monuments B. Artificial monuments 4. Adjoined 5. Direction and distance 6. Direction or distance 7. Area 8. Coordinates
Sources of GPS error
1. Vague satellite geometry: caused when satellites are closely bunched together. GPS provide a measurement of the strength of figure called position dilution of precision (PDOP) 2. Multipath error: caused by deflection of satellite signal from nearby objects. 3. Atmospheric effects 4. Ephemeris errors: possible errors in the satellites calculated position 5. Satellite clock error: error in the atomic clock or corrections
Area of an Oblique Triangle
1/2absinC
Labor
1000 Varas square. 177.14 ac
Second class headright
1280 acres given to head to family and 640 acres single man who had immigrated to Texas before October 1, 1837 ends remained in the republic for three years.
Rod
16 1/2 feet. Sam as pole or perch.
labor
177.1 acres
Vara
19th century Spanish unit of measurement used in Texas and other areas. To convert to feet simply divide by 0.36
Difference between 3 and 5 year Adverse possession
3 year needs color of title. Both need use of the property, payment of taxes, and claiming property under duly registered deed.
Texas statute of limitations for breach of contract
4 years
Fourth class headright
640 acres for head to family and 320 acres for single men granted conditionally to residents who immigrated to Texas between January 1, 1840 and January 1, 1842. Same as third class but with added stipulation that recipients were required to settle and reside on the land for three years and cultivate at least 10 acres
Third Class headright
640 acres given to you and the family and 322 going to single man who immigrated to Texas after October 1, 1837 and before January 1, 1840.
polyhedron
A 3D shape formed by plane surfaces
Prism
A 3D shape that has 2 identical ends and all flat sides
Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN)
A GIS data model frequently used for three dimensional data. It is similar to raster, but the cells are irregular in shape. Commonly used for volume calculation or drainage study.
Hertz
A SI unit of frequency that is equal to one full wavelength that takes one second to cycle through 360° of phase.
Covenant
A binding agreement on the grantee to perform or not perform certain acts regarding the use of a property. (Deed restrictions)
Incorporated business
A business model in which the business and the owner(s) have separate legal identities
reseau camera
A camera that superimposes a rectangular grid on the image produced by the exposure. The distortion of the photograph can be minimized by restoring the grid to its proper shape and size.
GIS Spatial Analysis
A capability of GIS software that reveals patterns and anomalies not otherwise noticed. For example: Query- answers a question. Like how many people live in an area Measurements- obtain length, shape, area etc. transformations- generate new data based on existing data. For example, using spatial interpolation to create contours from irregularly spaces ground shots. By using "inverse distance weighing" or kriging (more complicated)
Conformality
A characteristic of a map projection that preserves the shape of small figures from the ellipsoid to the map. Some map projections allow for the angles between two curves on the spheroid to be preserved.
Trespass to try title
A civil action used in Texas to challenge title to land which is in dispute. Used against adverse possession. It is similar to quiet title.
cause of action
A claim that, based on the law and the facts, is sufficient to support a lawsuit.
Laches
A claim will not be enforced or allowed if a long delay in asserting it has hurt the other party. Derived from the French word lecher meaning negligence.
atomic clock
A clock regulated by the resonance frequency of atoms or molecules. Within GPS satellites the elements used include cesium, hydrogen and rubidium.
polygon
A closed plane figure made up of line segments. Examples: triangles, rectangles and pentagons.
Texas natural resources code
A code enacted as part of the state continuing statutory revision program, begun by the Texas legislative Council in 1963. The program contemplates a topic by topic revision of the states General and permanent statute law without substantive change. Purpose of the code: Rearranging the statutes into a more logical order, eliminating unnecessary provisions, restating the law in modern English, and employing a format with a numbering System to facilitate future expansions of the loss.
Lambert Conformal Conic Projection
A common map projection, which is the basis for the SPC system for states that are wide east to west like texas. Cone shaped projection.
Land Title Survey
A comprehensive examination and reporting of significant factors affecting a tracks boundary lines, right of way in lines, and easements.
Microprocessor
A computer processor that incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose , clock driven, register based, digital integrated circuit that accepts binary data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and provides results as output.
Abstract of Title
A condensed history of the title to land, consisting of a synopsis or summary of the material or operative portion of all the conveyances together with a statement of liens charges or liabilities.
mortgage
A conditional conveyance of an estate as a pledge of security of a debt.
Aries
A constellation in which the first point marks 0 hour of sidereal time when it is at upper transit.
patent
A conveyance or deed of a sovereign nations interest in a tract of land. The U.S. has never owned Texas and no _________ were ever conveyed from that source.
State Plane Coordinate System
A coordinate system developed in the 1930's to permanently record original land survey monument locations in the US. Most states have more than one zone based on the SPC27 or SPC83 system
Cartesian Coordinate System
A coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular oriented lines, measured in the same unit of length.
Suit to quiet title
A court action intended to establish or settle the title to a particular property, especially when there is a cloud on the title.
Swell and shrinkage
A cubic yard of earth measured in its natural position will be more than a cubic yard after excavated. If it is compacted after being placed it may be less than a cubic yard. Bank-measure: volume of earth in its natural state. Loose-measure: the volume in the vehicle Compacted-measure: volume after compaction Swell and shrinkage vary with soil types
Common Law Dedication
A dedication that requires no map or writing and grows from intention of the Owner, indicated by words or acts, to dedicate the land for public use.
Deed of Aquittance
A deed applied for with the General Land Office where the area of a tract of land titled or patented exceeds the quantity called for in the title or patent, the person owning such survey can apply to purchase the excess.
Warranty Deed
A deed in which the grantor makes formal assurance as to quality of title.
Special Warranty Deed
A deed in which the grantor warrants, or guarantees, the title only against defects arising during the period of his or her tenure and ownership of the property and not against defects existing before that time, generally using the language, "by, through, or under the grantor but not otherwise."
Quitclaim Deed
A deed that acts like a release. It conveys any interest the grantor may have, though the grantor may, in fact, have none at all.
Deed of Trust
A deed to real property, which serves the same purpose as a mortgage, involving three parties instead of two. The third party holds naked title for the benefit of the lender. Beneficiary (Lender), Trustor (Borrower), Trustee (Third Party)
Quitclaim Deed
A deed to relinquish any interest in property which the grantor may have, without any warranty of title or interest.
Equitable Estoppel
A defensive doctrine in preventing one party from taking unfair advantage of another when, through false language or conduct, the person to be a estopped has induced another person to act in a way, which resulted in the other person being injured in someway.
Metes description
A description told from the perspective of a landowner (or sur- veyor) with a piece of paper (the deed and description) walking around the perimeter of a parcel of land, following the courses, looking for the objects recited in the docu- ment, and then relating those found objects to the words in the description or on the map.
Transducer
A device that converts energy from one form to another form of energy. For example, the projectors in Ecco sounding equipment are driven by electrical power, but produce Acoustic signal.
nautical mile
A distance equal to about 6080.
Pseudo range measurement
A distance measure between a GPS satellite and receiver based on a time shift that depends on the correlation of the codes each generate to reveal the biased time delay between their respective clocks.
Certificate of Survey
A document containing a statement dated and signed by a cadastral surveyor to the effect that a survey has been executed in strict conformity with the special instructions, the Manual of Instructions, and in the specific manner described in the field notes with which it is filed.
Ellipse
A elongated circle, or oval shape, the shape of the planets orbit. Area found by multiplying the area of the two circles together and finding the square root of the product.
Geoid
A equipotential representation of the earths surface where gravity is always perpendicular. The unequal distribution of earths mass causes irregularity in the force and direction of gravity; consequently this shape irregular. It is used to measure elevations off of.
Bureau of Land Management
A federal bureau within the Department of the Interior which manages and controls certain lands owned by the United States. Created 1946
Statute of Limitations
A federal or state statute setting the maximum time period during which a certain action can be brought or certain rights enforced.
segment
A figure bounded by a chord and an arc of a circle
sector
A figure bounded by the 2 radii and arc of the curve.
Lossless Compression
A form of data compression that reduces data size less than lossy, but restores compress data back to its original form exactly
Trapezoid
A four sided polygon with 2 parallel sides and 2 non parallel sides.
Hook gauge
A gauge that is used to measure the flow of water over a weir. The gauge is mounted upstream, at a distance from the crest that is three times the head, with the point of the hook coincident with the water surface.
Ellipsoid
A generalization of a sphere. The Earth is not a true sphere, it is an ellipsoid, as Earth is slightly wider than it is tall. The earth is an irregular shape, but an ellipsoid is the closest match to a perfect shape. GPS observations are made in reference to this and then converted to orthometric height.
developable surface
A geometric shape such as a cone, cylinder, or plane that can be flattened without being distorted. Many map projections are classified in terms of these shapes.
Internet
A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardize communication protocols. Applications that run on the Internet include the World Wide Web (www), which supports a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
Confederate scrip
A grant created in 1881 providing 1280 acres to Confederate soldiers who is permanently disabled, or widows of Confederate soldiers.
Clinometer
A hand held instrument used to measure vertical angles or the inclination of a slope. Also called an Abney Level.
Chain of Title
A history of the ownership affecting title to a parcel of land.
Azimuth
A horizontal angle measured clockwise from north. To compute azimuth with one known azimuth and angles from traverse remember to + or - 180 and subtract 360 when over 360.
NAD83 (North American Datum 1983)
A horizontal control datum for North America developed by NGS fit to the GRS 80 ellipsoid by over 266,000 control points.
Sales scrip
A land certificate directly sold to raise money for taxes. Most of the scrip was issued to cover costs of the war.
Loan scrip
A land certificate issued to repay loans made to the government of Texas.
Torrens System
A land registration and land transfer system, in which a state or county creates and maintains a register of land holdings, which serves as the conclusive evidence of title of the person recorded on the register as the proprietor, and all other interest recorded on the register.
SQL (Structured Query Language)
A language that provides an interface to relational database systems.It is a special purpose, non-procedural query language used for, among other things, requesting information from a database.
Snell's Law
A law used to determine the change of a raise direction in between two mediums. n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2
Difference between lease and license
A lease is a contract between a tenant and a landlord that provides the tenant with exclusive interest in the property. A license, on the other hand, is when the owner gives permission to a licensee to conduct an action on the owner's property. The main difference then is that leases give an individual the right to control property, while licenses only give an individual the right to act on it.
Recognition and acquiescence
A legal doctrine that is less used than adverse possession. It is an express or implied good faith definition of a boundary, which is bilaterally recognized. For the statutory period of 10 years.
Recognition and acquiescence
A legal doctrine which is much less used and adverse possession, sometimes serves as another means to settle a land fight between a joining property owners. 1. And express or implied good faith definition of a boundary. 2. Bilaterally recognized 3. To be the true boundary as opposed to a barrier. 4. Four the statutory period of 10 years.
Suit to quiet title
A legal remedy for ESTABLISHING one's right to ownership of real property against other adverse claimants. Any claim or potential claim to ownership of property is a "cloud." The party that owns the property can dispute the "cloud" by claiming that it is invalid or unenforceable.
Will
A legally enforceable declaration of how a person wishes his or her property to be distributed after death. The wishes of the testator (deceased) are carried out by a probate court. A "devise" transfers real property, and "bequest" transfers personal property. If no will exists the court will distribute the property according to descent.
Title Commitment
A letter from a title insurance company in which it commits to issuing a title insurance policy on the insured subject to certain conditions and requirements.
Rhumb Line
A line of constant compass direction, or constant bearing, that crosses successive meridians at the same angle; appears as a straight line only on the Mercator projection.
contour line
A line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation. V's point upstream of a creek, U's point down the ridge, M's just above stream junctions.
Stadia Rod
A long, brightly colored rod with calibrations for obtaining elevations with a surveying instrument. Another term for level rod. Can be used to calculate distance.
ALU
A major component of the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system. It does all processes related to arithmetic and logic operations that need to be done on instruction words. Only on integer numbers(number without a decimal) The FPU (Floating Point Unit) which operates on floating port numbers (decimal point numbers). A single CPU, FPU or GPU may contain multiple ALUs.
Spanish government land grants to missions (1619-1716)
A major push by Spain to expand the reach of Christianity resulted in the establishment Of several missions throughout Texas. Three of the original missions were as follows: La Espada 1690, Conception 1716, and San Juan 1716.
Direct optical
A manual style stereoplotter that has 3 angular rotations. X-translation changes spacing betweeen projectors (side to side) Y-translation moves projectors perpendicular the the line between them (up and down) Z-translation moves projectors in relation to reference table.
Cadastral Map
A map for a purpose of making a cadastre. A cadastre Is an official register used to a apportion taxes. Since it is a map to show the value and relationship of lands for taxing purposes.
res judicata
A matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court and may not be pursued further by the same parties. (Latin)
Marine league
A measure of distance commonly employed at sea, being equal to one twentieth part of a degree of latitude, or three geographical or nautical miles.
Declination
A measure of how far north or south an object is from the celestial equator
acre
A measure of land equal to 43,560 square feet.
Weight
A measure of the force of gravity on an object
Planimeter
A mechanical or electronic device used to measure areas by tracing the outline of the area on the map or plan
Observer's Meridian
A meridian that passes through the observer's zenith and the celestial poles
Price current meter
A meter used in hydrography by suspending it in water and measuring the current. This type is commonly used in the US.
Repetition
A method for measuring horizontal angles where multiple direct angles and the the same number of reversed angles are observed and accumulated in the instrument. And then averaged.
least squares
A method of adjusting a traverse that is adaptable to any traverse. It is difficult and seldom used.
Crandall
A method of adjusting a traverse used when angular accuracy is higher. More accurate than transit method. Seldom used.
Proration
A method of distributing in excess or deficiency of land as discovered by survey, between parties have an equal rights to the Excess or deficiency.
Radial line
A method of plotting aerial photos where th angle of tilt is insignificant and is ignored.
Area by coordinates
A method to calculate area by coordinates. Can be used for acreage, or the area of cross section. (N1*E2)+(N2*E3)+(N3*E1) - (E1*N2)+(E2+N3)+(E3*N1) ———————————————— 2 =AREA Note: last point always ties back to start point.
Minicomputer
A midsize, multi-user computer; more powerful than a workstation or personal computer but less powerful than a mainframe computer.
Common report
A monument that is supported by hearsay evidence, that can't be conclusively proven or disproven. A last resort.
Title Agent
A neutral third-party that researches the title status of real property to ensure that the seller is the legal owner of the property and that there are no legal defects in the title that would prevent the transfer to a buyer.
Estoppel
A party is prevented by his or her own acts from planning a right to detriment of another party who was entitled to rely on such conduct and has acted accordingly.
Lis Pendens
A pending suit where Court controls property until final judgment.
Estoppel
A person may lose property that he owns if the court finds that he acquired it by implying a boundary was correct when he knew it wasn't.
Adverse Possession
A person takes possession & use of a property belonging to another (Squatters rights). Possession must be open, notorious, hostile & uninterrupted for a certain period of time.
empresario
A person who selected colonists, allocated land, and oversaw the enforcement of Mexican law during the early 1800's in Texas
Orthophoto
A perspective photograph where the displacement caused by tilt and relief have been removed.
Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
A physical compilation published by the Secretary of State's Office containing ethical and professional standards for both members of state agencies and those professionals licensed by state agencies. Title 22 part 6 is the part that pertains to TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS.
Texas state plane coordinate system
A plane coordinate system based on the lambert conformal conic projection (visualize a cone sitting on top of globe) and NAD 83. The system was established by national oceanic survey/national geodetic survey is a total of 5 zones in Texas, and each zone has 2 standard parallels running east and west, the closer you are to the parallels the less distortion. SPC 27 1933-1986 SPC 83 1986-2022 SPC 2022 2022-?
Parabola
A plane curve that is mirror-symmetrical and is approximately u shaped.
planimetric map
A planimetric map is a map that represents only the horizontal positions of features (and not the vertical positions, like heights, which a topographic map shows).
OPUS (Online Positioning User Service)
A popular NGS tool which helps survey-grade GPS users tie their local surveys to the National Spatial Reference System. By leveraging the processing software used to manage the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network, OPUS improves raw GPS results to within a few centimeters of accuracy.
Porro-koppe
A principle that states that the the imperfection of the lens system in the plotter can be minimized if the lens of the camera used has the same distortion.
Aerotriangulation
A process that establishes the geometric relationships between overlapping photos to determine artificial horizontal and vertical control points. Reduces the requirement for ground surveys and minimizes cost of photogrammetric mapping.
Rate of Investment
A profitability ration that measures the amount of return, or profit, an investment generates relative to its cost. ROI= (gain from investment - cost of investment) / cost of investment
low-level language
A programming code language that is designed to be easy for a computer to execute; also called machine language (CPU's native language) or assembly language (more complicated and faster).
high-level language
A programming language that is easier to use, because it resembles English. These language statements are converted to machine language by either an interpreter or compiler. Examples: Java, BASIC, XML, etc.
Lambert Conformal Conic
A projected coordinate system used for east-west data.
Covenant
A promise concerning land.
vector quantity
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Magnitude is simply the size or amount of the quantity. For example, the magnitude of the quantity 8 mph is 8. Examples of a vector quantity is used in physics include velocity, acceleration, force, a lift, and weight.
base-height ratio
A ration of the Air base (ground distance) divided by aircraft height of an aerial photo. This ratio determines vertical exaggeration on stereo models. As it increases the disparity between apparent horizontal and vertical scales also increases.
Lis Pendens
A recorded legal document giving constructive notice that an action affecting a particular property has been filed in either a state or a federal court.
Cartesian
A rectangular coordinate system created by three mutually perpendicular coordinate axes, commonly labeled X, Y, and Z.
Aldebaran
A red giant in the Taurus Constellation located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a fixed star.
Hiatus
A region between two land parcels which are described to be joining along one or more common line, but by survey leave a gap. The hiatus may require agreement or even a court ruling to determine ownership.
Title Report
A report issued after a title search by a title insurance company, listing all defects and encumbrances of record.
Prescriptive Easement
A right to use another's property which is not inconsistent with the owners rights and which is acquired by a used, open and notorious adverse and continuous for the statutory period. Similar to adverse possession but the adverse user only requires an easement and not a title.
Avulsion
A river's sudden change in flow alignment out from its previous left and right banks to a new channel, leaving an identifiable upland area between the abandoned channel and the new channel.
Four Corners
A rule that the meaning of a deed or other written documents must be represented solely in its textual content.
Four Corners Rule
A rule where the intention of the parties, especially that of the grantor, is to be gathered from the instrument as a whole and not from isolated parts thereof.
GRS80
A satellite-determined ellipsoid for the Geodetic Reference System 1980
program
A sequence of computer instructions that performs some function. Implements an algorithm, which consists of a finite set of well defined steps.
Picture point
A sharp and unambiguous natural feature used to supplement ground control in an aerial photo.
Microcomputer
A single-user computer that comes in many forms, such as a desktop model, a portable laptop/notebook, or a handheld computer; also called a personal computer. PC
Reliction
A slow and in perceptible recession of water and the attendant uncovering of the land once submerged. The recession of the water must be permanent to be considered this.
Gore
A small irregular or triangular strip of land, usually appearing as a gas or wedge between two or more land parcels. It may result from an error or errors in survey or record information.
Vacancy
A small tract usually between two patents that does not appear on the states land register. Interested applicants can apply with the county surveyor to begin the process.
RDBMS (Relational Database Management System)
A software application that contains tools to manage data, answer queries, create user-friendly forms for data entry, and generate printed reports
pyramid
A solid shape with a polygon as a base and triangular faces that come to a point (vertex or apex)
Statute of Frauds
A state statute under which certain types of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable.
Certified federal surveyor
A surveyor's additional endorsement for boundary work for BIA, Tribes and adjacent Indian Trust Lands in addition to the State Certification.
Automatic level
A surveyor's level whose line of sight is automatically maintained in the horizontal plane, once the instrument is roughly leveled.
Common Law
A system of law based on precedent and customs. Texas congress voted to switch to this on January 20, 1840.
Invar tape
A tape that consists of nickel and steel that is less effected by thermal expansion than steel chains. It is affected approximately 1/30 of the effect on steel.
confluence
A term that means meeting or gathering together. In geography it can mean the meeting to two or more bodies of water.
Topology
A term used in GIS to describe the relationships, such as adjacency and connectivity, between points, lines, and polygons.
Metes and Bounds
A term used in describing the boundary lines of land, setting forth all the boundary lines together with their terminal points and angles. Metes (length or measurements) and Bounds (boundaries) description is often used when a great deal of accuracy is required.
stage
A term used in hydrography that mean the height of the water surface above a given datum.
Devise
A testamentary gift Of real property; I get of real property by the last will and testament of the donor.
arbitrator
A third party to a negotiation who has the authority to dictate an agreement.
diurnal tide
A tidal cycle of one high tide and one low tide per day.
broadleaf
A tree with leaves that are flat and thin and generally shed annually (Deciduous). Also called Hardwood because most broadleaved trees have hardwood then conifers (pine type trees). Examples include oak, hickory, Maple, and Ash.
oblique
A triangle that has no right angle or no two equal sides
oblique triangle
A triangle with no right angles and no equal sides
Real Time Kinematic (RTK)
A type of differential GPS that makes use of carrier phase observation at a base station and rover connected with a communication link. Widely used in surveying tasks where a clear horizon is available and the rover is close enough to base. Makes corrections in real time.
abstract number
A unique number assigned to the survey by Texas general land office.
Amps (Amperes)
A unit of electric current equal to a flow of one coulomb per second
Miner's inch
A unit of flow in terms of volume per unit time, usually in relation to the flow of water. Generally speaking is about 1.5 cubic feet per minute.
Pole
A unit of length in English measure legally equal to 5 1/2 yards; also a rod and a perch. (16 1/2 feet)
Terabyte (TB)
A unit of measure for computer memory equal to 1024 GB, 1 trillion by eights, or 2^40 bytes.
hectare
A unit to measure land in the metric system equal to 100 m² or 2.471 ac.
determinant
A value computed from a matrix by basically cross multiplying. Subtract the product of the top product from bottom.
NGVD29
A vertical datum known as the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. It was renamed from The Sea Level Datum in 1976 because it does not accurately represent mean sea level. The datum was based on 26 tidal stations along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coast. It involved 100,000 km of leveling across US.
Dynamic Height
A way of specifying the height of a point above a reference, as opposed to orthometric height or normal height. Used when working with the level of water over a large geographic area, and is used by the Great Lakes Datum.
Average End Area Method
A way to find volume based on the assumption that the volume of earthwork between two vertical cross sections is equal to the average of the two end areas multiplied by the horizontal distance between them. The end areas are computed by dividing the area into triangles and trapezoids. Swell and shrinkage must also be factored in.
Area of a circle
A=πr²
Megabyte (MB)
Abbreviated MB, it contains 1,048,576 bytes, which can be expressed as 1024^2, Or 2^20
Where to measure the width of a tree
About 4' above the ground, or breast high.
Accuracy vs. Precision
Accuracy refers to final result of measurement and indicates reduced systematic errors. Precision refers to the procedure by which the result was obtained and indicates reduced random errors.
accession
Acquiring title to additions or improvements to real property as a result of the annexation of fixtures or the accretion of alluvial deposits along the banks of streams.
NAD 83
Acronym for North American Datum of 1983. A geocentric datum and graphic coordinate system based on the Geodetic Reference System 1980 ellipsoid (GRS80). Uses a figure to represent the earth that closely approximates the shape as a biaxial ellipsoid rotated around its minor axis.
Tacking
Adding or combining successive periods of continuous occupation of real property by adverse possessors. This concept enables someone who has not been in possession for the entire statutory period to establish a claim of adverse possession.
3 year adverse possession
Adverse possession that requires having title or color of title
5 year adverse possession
Adverse possession where the occupier cultivates, uses, or enjoys the property. Pays applicable taxes on the property, and claims the property under a duly registered deed.
First class headright
All heads of family living in Texas before March 4, 1836 Were given a league and labor (4605.5 ac), And single men age 17 or older were given 1/3 of the league. (1476.1 ac)
Mapping angle
Also known as convergence angle, theta angle, or gamma angle. It is the difference between geodetic north and grid north in the SPC 27 and 83 systems. The symbol is a 0 with a line through the middle. Grid azimuth or bearing = geodetic azimuth or bearing - mapping angle
sidereal time (star time)
Also known as star time, is the system used to measure the movement of stars. There are 24 side real hours in a side rail day. Zero hour in local side real time occurs when the first point of Aries, a point on the celestial equator, is it upper transit on and observers Meridian. Each and our represents 15° per side hour. The angles are measured opposite the Apparent Rotation of the celestial sphere.
Air base
Also known as the baseline or the model base. The distance the plane flew between overlapping exposures.
convergence angle
Also known as the gamma angle is the difference between grid and geodetic norths on a lambert or Mercator projection. The adjustment is applied to grid to get to geodetic
ACSM
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping- credited for developing the first nationwide, voluntary surveying standards in the 1960's
Ordenanza De Intendentes (December 4, 1786)
An Intendente Was an individual of judicial, military, and or administrative authority of a given district or administrative unit. Large regions were further divided into smaller districts, and each of these districts were governed by an Intendente. The order of 1786 stated these Intensentes were permitted to grant land.
Compass Rule
An adjustment of a traverse where distances and angles collected with same degree of confidence and precision. Gives nearly same accuracy as least squares. It is used in the majority of traverses. The difference between latitude (northing) and departure (easting) of closure is distributed over traverse. The adjustment is applied to each leg in proportion to it length within the entire traverse. (Length of leg/entire traverse length)x total error
Aerial scale
An aerial photographs scale (S) can be found from the ratio of the photos focal length (f), over the camera height (H). S=f/H Or just divide height by focal point.
Property line agreement
An agreement between neighboring land owners on a property lines location. The survey or should make sure there is uncertainty from both parties concerning the exact location of the deeded property line.The courts have consistently held that the parties may decide location of their common boundary as long as they are both uncertain of its original location and are both satisfied and clear about the line they settle up on.
Parol contract
An agreement that is not in writing.
Parallax
An apparent shift in the position of an object when viewed from different locations. In astronomical surveying it is the difference between the apparent position of a celestial body as it would be seen from the center of the earth and as seen from the observers location. Corrections are always added.
Difference between Appurtenant and Gross easement
An easement in Gross is attached to the person of the easement holder, and an easement Appurtenant is not. An easement Appurtenant passes with the transfer of the land to which it is attached; an easement in Gross does not.
appurtenant
An easement that is attached to the land
Gross
An easement that is attached to the person or corporation that holds the land.
Fee Tail
An estate in which there is a fixed line of heirs to inherit the estate.
Dominant
An estate that benefits from an easement
Boundary by Acquiescence
An implied boundary line agreement based on accepting a fence line, or some other feature, as the boundary because of uncertainty of the location by both sides. Requires roughly an amount of time longer than adverse possession to ripen.
Unit weight
An indication of the fit of the model to the data. The closer this value is to 1.0, the better a network is weighted. Also if the standard deviation of the unit weight is more than 1.0 (optimal value), the measurements are inferior to their weights. If they are less than they are superior.
C-factor
An indication of the possible precision available in a particular photogrammetric equipment. The larger the factor the higher the available flying height. Flight height= (contour interval)(c-factor)
claimant
An individual, corporation, association, State or local government, etc., asserting title or rights in land.
condominium
An individually owned housing unit in a building with several such units
Peripherals
An input device, output device, or secondary storage device that is not part of the central processing unit (CPU). Examples: mouse, printer, keyboard, etc
epoch
An instant of time. For example, the time tagged moments of data reception in GPS
manometer
An instrument used to measure the pressure of fluid in a tube.
sinking fund
An interest bearing account into which periodic deposits are made by a company in order to pay for future expenses.
Reservation
An interest in a deed that would otherwise be conveyed, but is taken back by the grantor.
Life Estate
An interest in real or personal property that is limited in duration to the lifetime of its owner or some other designated person or persons.
agonic line
An irregular imaginary line across the surface of the Earth along which the magnetic and geographic poles are in alignment, and along which there is no magnetic variation (no declination).
Res
An object or thing. (Latin)
rod
An old surveying unit of measure, equal to 16 1/2 ft. Also known as a pole or perch.
Stereoplotter
An optical-mechanical instrument that reconstructs the depicted terrains spatial geometry in overlapping aerial photographs. Corrects for tilt and relief displacement.
geostationary
An orbit in which a satellite orbits Earth at the same rate as Earth rotates and thus stays over the same place all the time.
Writ
An order issued by a court requiring performance of a specified act or giving authority to have it done.
Fee Simple Determinable
An ownership in which the estate is held " so long as" or "during the period" a condition or limitation is maintained. The transfer of ownership is automatic.
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
An umbrella term that encompasses all global satellite positioning systems. Includes GPS (US), GLONASS (Russian), and Galileo(Europe).
Latent Ambiguity
An uncertainty which does not appear in a legal instrument, but arises from the consideration of outside evidence. Can be cured by testimony
Latent Ambiguity
An uncertainty which does not appear on the face of a legal instrument but which arises from a consideration of extrinsic facts or evidence. Opposite of patent ambiguity.
Second US attempt to purchase Texas from Mexico 1829
Andrew Jackson, then US president, offered Mexico $5 million for the purchase a Texas.
deflection angle
Angle between the line and the prolongation of the preceding line
magnetic declination
Angle between true north and magnetic north. REMEMBER!!! First apply the given declination to Magnetic north to get true north. Then apply same adjustment to the line you are trying to find true bearing. Will need to do opposite if trying to find magnetic bearings.
Hour Angle
Angle measured eastward (-) or westward (+) between the observer's meridian and the hour circle of the celestial object. It is expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds of time.
Degree of Curvature
Angle that subtends exactly 100' of arc length along the curve
Degree of Curvature
Angle that subtends exactly 100' of arc length along the curve of a highway or 100' of chord along a railroad
Sitio
Another name for league. 5000 varas by 5000 varas = 4428.4 ac
Cloud on Title
Any document, claim, unreleased lien, or encumbrance that may impair the title to real property or make the title doubtful; usually revealed by a title search and removed by either a quitclaim deed or suit to quiet title.
Extrinsic Evidence
Any evidence not contained in the document itself, which may include the testimony of the parties, additional agreements or communications, or other information relevant to determining the parties' intent.
Datum
Any surface to which elevations are referred (for example, mean sea level).
Application for Vacancy
Application to the general land office for a vacancy. Applicant must first apply with county surveyor and within 10 days also file with the general land office. Of course paying fees. The commissioner will order a survey to be done And if confirmed the School land board will establish the price. During this process good faith claimant are given priority, Which are surrounding land owners.
Easement Curve
Are frequently used to gradually carry vehicles from a straight to a curved path. Also known as a transition spiral curve,.
sapwood
Area in plants that surrounds heartwood and is active in fluid transport
Area of a parabola
Area= 2/3 base x height
Public beach easement
At the mean low tide line to the natural vegetation line. If there is no vegetation line the 200' upland.
EDM sources of error
Atmospheric conditions Uncertainty of offset correction of prism Frequency drift (needs calibration) Tribrach needs adjustment
Tidal Epoch
Average of all high tides over 19 years
et al.
"And others". In a situation where more than one person owned a piece of property, the Clark's and the court houses and county records would list the name of the first person on the deed followed by _____________. Comes from Latin
National Geodetic Survey
(NGS) Successor to the United State Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS). A branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who is responsible for precise horizontal and vertical control surveying and associated services.
attest
(v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine
repose
(v.) to rest; lie; place; (n.) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness
Equation of a circle
(x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2 (h,k) is the center, r is the radius
Equation of a circle
(x-h)²+(y-k)²=r²
Temperature correction formula
C= k(T1-T)L C: correction for temp k: coefficient of thermal expansion T1: temp of tape T: standard temp of tape L: recorded length of measurement
Curvature of earth correction
C=0.024F^2 Always negative F= distance in thousands of feet
Area by coordinates
Calculate area by cross multiplying successive coordinates of a figure, and subtracting bottom number from top, and dividing by 2.
Single lens precision
Camera preferred for topographic mapping, because it provides a combination of short focal length and wide angle for high geometric picture quality.
Acquiescence
Cast of compliance or satisfaction to or with Circumstance. Neglecting a legal right for a length of time sufficient to infer that the right has been waved.
Declination and Right Ascension
Celestial coordinates system on the festival sphere. Declination is the angular distance north or south of the equator (+ or -) corresponds with latitude. Right ascension is the arc distance measured eastward along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox, it corresponds with longitude.
Covenant
Certain restrictions that are sometimes included as part of a deed to a subdivision to ensure the neighborhood is used for what it was designed for.
Land acquisition Republic/State
Certificate—> Field notes/Survey—> Proof of Condition—> Patent
Perennial or non-perennial
Classification of streams prior to December 14, 1837. Spain Mexico and Texas reserve the title to the bed of the perennial stream. After 1837 streams are classified as navigable or non-navigable, and Texas reserve the right to navigable rivers.
Mexican states/provinces that were a part of Texas
Coahuila and Texas (Texas was joined with neighboring state), portion of Chihuahua, portion of Nuevo Mexico, and a portion of Tamaulipas
Sides of a pzs triangle
Colatitude- pole(north) and zenith Coaltitude- zenith and star Polar distance- star and pole(north)
CLI
Command Line Interface, An older method of controlling a computer whereby the user types and commands in response to a prompt. Example DOS.
Mainframe
Computer category that is a large, expensive computer that supports hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously and executes many different programs at the same time.
Lambert
Conceptually, the projection seats a cone over the sphere of the Earth and projects the surface conformally onto the cone. Projection used for aeronautical charts, portions of the State Plane Coordinate System, and many national and regional mapping systems
Statute Law
Consist of laws passed by the proper legislative body. A statute generally repeals all earlier conflicting laws whether statute or common law.
reverse curve
Consists of 2 curve that share a common tangent.
Ursa Minor (Little Dipper)
Constellation that Polaris is in.
aliquot
Contained an exact number of times in another; a part of a measurement that divides the measurement without a remainder.
Probate
Court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid; no in current usage this term has been expanded to generally include all matters and proceedings pertaining to administration of states, guardianship, etc.
Essential Element of Property Description
Courts have upheld that the purpose of a description in a deed is not to identify the land but to furnish means of identification; That is, the writing must furnish within itself or by reference to some other existing writing, the means or data by which the land can be identified. I.e. written description and within the description it shall describe all monument sound or placed.
George Prescott Bush
Current GLO Commissioner.
Metadata
Data about data. It is structured information that is used to describe some characteristics of data and is sometimes used to speed up data querying and management by saving users from complex search operations.
Schema
Data dictionaries that provide a logical classification of the objects stored, viewed, indexed, and verified within a database.
Date of transfer between private conveyances
Date of execution and delivery of the deed that is accepted by the grantee.
Statutory Dedication
Dedication that is accomplished by the recording of a map or writing that shows or describes the area for public use.
spherical excess
Difference between the angles of a plane triangle and spherical triangle
Geodetic North
Direction determined from mathematical approximation of earth's shape.
nadir
Direction pointing directly down, in the direction of the force of gravity, at a location on earth. Direction opposite the zenith.
Geoidal seperation
Distance between the ellipsoid and the geoid to convert gps elevation to orthometric elevation
Longitude
Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. Lines called meridians
Muniment of Title
Document, such as a will or deed, which evidences ownership of property.
looping
Doing the same thing over and over with a piece of computer code can be called? It's function may be summarized as, "while this condition is true, run." WHILE loop will test the condition before it begins. If the condition is true, it will run and stop only when the condition is false. DO WHILE loop Test the condition only have to read has completed its first run. Therefore, I do while loop will always run at least once.
Split Certificate
Due to earlier development only a portion of the certificate area could be located in the selected region and the remainder was located elsewhere.
PRN codes
Each satellite has a unique Pseudo Random Noise code that helps to identify the satellite. Also used to determine the range between the satellites and receiver.
Supra
Earlier in the writing; above (Latin)
Planimeter
Engineering tool designed to measure distance as its pointer is traced around a pattern. Can be used to find an the area of a two dimensional shape on a set of plans for volume calculation.
Gunter's Chain
Equals 65.999868000264 survey feet, or just 66 feet. Invented in the seventeenth century, and helped in the computing of land area measurement because 1 acre = 10 square chains.
Parallax error
Error caused by not having your eye directly in line with the measurement. Can prevented by darkening cross hairs and focusing instrument.
Grants to 40 native tribes (1731-1745)
Establishment of nations to the Texas in an effort to convert and baptize native communities into Christianity, 40 Indian tribes were awarded land grants.
Railroad received per mile
Every other section equaling 16 sections.
Actual Notice
Express information or fact; that which is known; direct knowledge.
Future Worth (FW)
F = P(1 + i)^-n F = future worth P = present worth i = interest n = interest compounding (yearly, monthly, etc.) F and P can flipped to find present worth. Common convention is substitute the standard notation way of writing the formula with this (F/P,i%,n).....
FGDC
Federal Geographic Data Committee is a United States government committee which promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data on a national basis.
John Borden
First commissioner for the General Land Office. Elected in 1837 at the age of 25, and served for 3 years.
Alonso Alvarez de Pineda
First known European to explore and map the Texas coastline in 1520. He was leading an expedition requested by the governor of Jamaica, Francisco de Garay, to discover a passageway from the Gulf of Mexico to Asia.
NGS horizontal distance accuracy standards
First order = 1: 100,000 Second order class I = 1: 50,000 Second order class II= 1: 20,000 Third order class I= 1: 10,000 Third order class II = 1: 5,000
FAR
Floor Area Ratio is a ratio that controls the size of building on a parcel of land in a certain zoned area of a city. For example, an FAR of 2 on 10,000 sft lot means they can build a 2 story building with 20,000 sft.
Accurate
Free from error especially as the result of care; conforming exactly to truth or to a standard; exact correct
Aliunde
From another source. Evidence aliunde is evidence from outside or from another source
Rate of change for a vertical curve
G2-G1/2
Vector
GIS data model consists of a coordinate space where specific objects or lines can be precisely located and labeled accordingly. One example is a cadd file.
Raster
GIS data model that consists of arrays of grid cells, or pixels where each cell represents a value representing info. One example is a digitized aerial photo, and the photo's pixels can be changed to show change in temp or the like.
GIS attributes
GIS usually has four categories of attributes: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal includes attributes that differentiate one item from another. Ordinal ranks entities by order into hierarchies. IntervalShows the magnitude of the differences between them. Ratio shows the logical distribution of the magnitude between features.
Charles Rogan
GLO Commissioner who Helped in the adoption of the highest bidder law and helped Restore the states mineral rights or unclaimed lands.
Elevation determination with gps
GPS positions are determined in reference to the ellipsoid (perfect shape). Surveying and map data is usually expressed in orthometric height, so the geoid separation must be known to convert gps observations.
relief displacement
Geometric distortion on vertical aerial photographs. The tops of objects appear in the photograph to be radially displaced from their bases outward from the photograph's centerpoint.
GPS
Global Positioning System. Developed by the US department of defense in the early 1980's as a navigational tool. The system consists of 24 satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of 12,000 miles and5 tracking stations around the world. The satellites transmit radio wave signals at a speed of 186,000 mi/sec.
Reliction
Gradual recession of water which uncovers land that usually belongs to the riparian owner.
batture
Gradual rising of the bed, poor portion of the bed, of a river or body of water by the accumulation of soil matter, silt, etc.
bounty grant
Grants awarded for military service during the revolution (law of 1837). Amount of land depends on the length of service: 320 acres for every three months of service up to 1280 acres. Soldiers were also awarded 240 acres regarding the frontier.
Donation grant
Grants issued For participation in specific battles: Siege of Bexar, battle at San Jacinto, and those who fell at the Alamo and Goliad are eligible for 640 acres.
Headright Grants
Grants of land given on the condition that specified Requirements be met by the grantees.
Land acquisition Spanish/Mexican
Grant—> Survey—> Title
GUI
Graphical User Interface, Which is an interface in which a user interacts with a computer by manipulating graphical elements such as buttons, drop-down menus, icons, and check boxes.
Hour Circle
Great circle passing through any celestial object and the north and south celestial poles.
Refraction correction
H= 0.0206F^2 F= distance in 1000s of feet
congruent
Having the same size and shape
HARN
High Accuracy Reference Network
Records kept by the GLO
History & Archives: State maps, colony and district maps, city map, original land grants, sketches, and special purpose maps Energy and Minerals for the state: Public School Fund Veteran Land Board Costal issues: oil spills GLO records are public records
Rule of construction for deed that does not close
Hold all bearings over distances
A called for distance from a marked tree should be measured from?
Horizontally from the center of the tree at the mark.
21
How many minutesCan a section line depart from a cardinal direction and still be considered regular.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language, Used to create documents on the World Wide Web.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Which is a set of rules for exchanging files between a web browser and a Web server.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Which is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web, where hypertext documents include hyperlinks to other resources that the user can easily access, for example buy a mouse click or by tapping the screen in a web browser.
Thread
Imaginary line drawn through the middle of a stream.
Colonization Law
In 1824, Mexican congress passed a National Colonization Law allowing states to make their own colonization laws, with certain limitations. Titles could not exceed 11 leagues per person. No land could be granted with 20 leagues (50 miles) of an international boundary l, or with 10 leagues (25 miles) of the coast, without special permission from Mexican government. Required boundary corners tied to trees, bearings based on true north, and not more than 2500 varas of river frontage.
Buffering
In GIS the specification of a constant or variable with around a point, line, or poly on and can be used to support proximity analysis.
Navigable Waterway
In Texas these can either be "navigable in fact" or "navigable by law." In fact means it can be used as a "common highway for trade or travel." In law means the stream bed (possibly dry part of year) maintains maintains an average width of 30 feet from mouth up. The court make the final decisions, but state agencies like TCEQ and the general land office can as well.
altitude
In astronomy the angular distance measured from the horizon to a celestial body. The vertical angle.
overhaul
In construction the hauling of material beyond the free haul limit. The distance is measured in yard-stations or yard quarters (1/4 mile)
Mass Diagram
In earthwork calculations, a graphical representation of the algebraic cumulative quantities of cut and fill along the center line, where cut is positive, and fill is negative. Used to calculate haul in terms of station yards.
congruent
In geometry, two figures or objects are congruent if they have the same shape and size, or if one has the same shape and size as the mirror image of the other. More formally, two sets of points are called congruent if, and only if, one can be transformed into the other by an isometry, i.e., a combination of rigid motions, namely a translation, a rotation, and a reflection.
Angle of incidence
In laser scanning it is the angle at which the laser scanner points above and below horizon. Scanning is more accurate when not pointing up or down at extreme angles. 300 ft is supposedly a good distance for scanning.
Apportionment
In surveying, the active proportioning or distributing excess or deficiencies of land between persons or property having equal rights to such excess is or deficiencies.
Hooke's Law
Law that states that when an object is stretched the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement, provided the elastic limit is not exceeded. Spring force = -(spring constant X displacement)
Trespass to try title
Legal procedure for determining and CHALLENGING the ownership of property. Used against adverse possession. It is typically used to clear problems in the chain of title or to recover land unlawfully held from a rightful owner. In fact, Texas courts have recently interpreted this cause of action to be the exclusive remedy for resolving competing claims to ownership of real property.
Aerial camera components
Lens cone, camera body, film magazine, diaphragm
LOMA
Letter Of Map Amendment. Application to FEMA to establish properties location in relation to a flood zone.
LOMR
Letter Of Map Revision. Request to revise a fema map. Where new fill is involved it is called a LOMR-F.
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing technique using the same principle as radar. The instrument transmits light to a target, some of which is reflected back to the instrument. The time for the light to travel out to the target and back is used to determine the range to the target. Is affected by cloud cover, smoke, or other aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
Refraction
Light passing through the atmosphere is bent, so that in reading a rod, the reading is less. This offsets the earths curvature by about 14%. A formula for the combined curvature and ________ is H=0.574M^2=0.0206F^2 H=error in feet M=is in miles F=thousands of feet A sight of 200 feet h=0.0008
Statute of Repose
Like a statute of limitation, but is more strict. A statute that cuts off certain legal rights if they are not acted on by a certain deadline.
highest high tide
Line used when land grants were surveyed before March 17, 1840 and are based on Spanish Civil Law.
Porciones
Long thin strips of land granted by the Spanish Crown.
Measures of computer performance
MIPS- millions of instructions per second, is a measure of a computer is processing speed. MOPS- millions of operations per second. Clock speed- or frequency, is a measure of the number of cycles the CPU completes during each tech of the computers clock. FLOPS- also known as floating point operations per second, Useful and fields of scientific computations that require floating point applications. (Numbers that require fractions expressed as decimal or other non integers) CAD, graphic programs, and 3D work require this.
Operating System (OS)
Manages all other programs and a computer. Examples include windows, UNIX, and Linux.
Isohyetal map
Map that shows contours that connect points of equal rainfall
Quadrangle map
Maps produced by the USGS. Map scale 1:24000 (convenient because 24000 inches is 2000 ft) and are 7.5' by 7.5' or 7.5' by 15.5'. Each map is marked by 2.5' marks along the border.
Fiducial Marks
Marks fixed inside the camera that appear on each photograph. These marks allow consistent orientation of the photograph
breaking chain
Measurements less than a full chain length that are used when chaining a slope.
Reduction of distance from ground to grid
Measurements on the earths surface are arc distances. A reduction must be made to bring the distance down from the sphere to the plane coordinate system. It involves 2 steps 1. Reducing observed distance to the ellipsoid distance, by using elevation above ellipsoid S=D(R/R+N+H) S= distance on the ellipsoid D= observed distance R= mean radius of ellipsoid N= geoidal separation H= elevation above sea level (or geoid) 2. Then reduce to grid distance using the average scale factor, from a projection table for area (from NGS) Grid distance= (scale factor)(ellipsoidal distance)
Prismoidal
Method of calculating volume by averaging the corresponding dimensions of cross sections, then use area by coordinates. Similar to average end method.
Mexican Independence from Spain 1821
Mexico began to fight for independence from Spain 1810. Not till 1821 did, Mexico finally become an independent nation.
Median
Middle number
thread
Middle of the steam
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
Move the original demarcation line 370 Leagues west. Where is Portugal still controlling lands to the east and Spain lands to the west.
meters to survey feet
Multiply by 3.280833333
Navigable Rivers
Must be "navigable in fact" or "navigable in statute" (remains 30 feet wide from mouth and upstream). Property lines typically stop at bank or before.
Adverse posession
Must be exclusive use of the land. If the owner sell portions of the land for ROW or easement that counts as use of the land.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA. American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere
NMAS
National Map Accuracy Standards established in 1941 by US to set accuracy standards for all federally produced maps.
NSSDA
National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy
Subdivision Platting
No platting is require if: 1. If the lots of the subdivision are more than 10 ac 2. Does note layout streets, alleys, etc. or anything for public use. 3. All parts are transferred to persons who owned an undivided interest in the original tract. Under this exemption platting is still needed if there will be "further development of any part of the tract."
NAD 27
North American Datum of 1927. Based on the Clarke Spheroid of 1866. The origin point is located at Meades Ranch in Kansas. The geoidal height is assumed to be zero, and NAD 27 is not geocentric.
NAVD88
North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Work on this datum began in the 1970s, and included over 50,000 miles of leveling. This datum differs from NGVD29 approximately -1.3 in the east and +4.9 in the west.
Polaris
North Star. Very near true north (poles) from any point in the northern hemisphere. Latitude of an observer is equal to the angle between "this star" and horizon.
cardinal directions
North, South, East, West
Prismoidal Method
Not a convenient as the average en area method, but it is more accurate. This method will generally yield a smaller volume than average end area method.
Constructive Notice
Notice given to the world by recorded documents. All people are charged with knowledge of such documents and their contents, whether or not they have actually examined them. Possession of property is also considered constructive notice that the person in possession has an interest in the property.
366 1/4
Number of side real days in one year.
365 1/4
Number of solar days in a year.
Patent Ambiguity
Obvious error on the face of the will or deed. Ambiguity which is apparent on the face of an instrument to any one perusing it, even if unacquainted with the circumstances of the parties. In the case of a patent ambiguity, parol evidence is admissible to explain only what has been written, not what the writer intended to write.
Railroad ROW's (clues to setting up ROW)
Obviously center of tracks, They possibly set their own concrete fence posts, date barbwire on posts, old bridges, track maps from railroad company, some set t-rails as corners,
Upper nodal point
Origin of the axis system in the stereoplotter is the ____________ of the projector lens.
Cadastral Survey
Original survey, resurvey, or retracement of public lands within the public land survey system of the United States for restoration of property lines
Film emulsion types
Panchromatic black and white- detects a wide spectrum of light and used widely in aerial mapping and interpretation. Natural color film- composed of three primary color layers to cover the full spectrum of colors. Black and white infrared- sensitive to longer light wavelengths and capable of penetrating haze. Used to delineate bodies of water and military intelligence because it can detect camouflage. False color infrared- different colors are arbitrarily used to represent different portions of light spectrum. Used to detect crop disease and monitor pollution.
Angles of astronomical triangle
Parallactic angle (angle S), azimuth angle (angle Z), and angle t (angle P).
Vertical Photographs
Photo taken directly above the subject. Optical axis of camera approximately perpendicular to the surface of Earth; easier to measure than obliques because of perspective
Mother Hubbard Clause
Picks up small strips of land not specifically included in the granting clause because of mistakes in surveys or descriptions. Allows taking on adverse possession rights.
Isocenter
Point on aerial photo that falls midway between the principal point and the nadir point.
zenith
Point on the celestial sphere directly above observer. Opposite the nadir.
Sides of astronomical triangle
Polar distance (PS), coaltitude (SZ), and colatitude (PZ).
Pzs triangle
Polar, zenith, and star triangle
Pzs triangle
Polar, zenith, and star triangle angles
Bounty Lands
Portions of the public domain given or donated as a bounty for services rendered, chiefly for military service.
eminent domain
Power of a government to take private property for public use. The action must be approved by the state legislature. Owners are guaranteed adequate compensation and must get due process of law.
Muniment of Title
Probate will as a *muniment of title*. When D leaves a valid will and there is NO NEED to have an executor appointed (even though executor named in the will!) BUT formal recognition (i.e., land records) is needed to establish the title of successors named in the will. The will and order admitting it to probate constitute a *muniment of title* (a link in the chain of title) that serves the same record function as a deed. ALL YOU DO IS PROBATE THE WILL; NO EXECUTOR IS APPOINTED AND NOTICE TO WILL BENEFICIARIES NOT REQUIRED. ****Order Admitting Will to Probate as Muniment of Title Only cannot be entered unless there are *no unpaid debts (other than mortgage on homestead). Funeral expenses, debts, etc. should be paid before petition for muniment of title probate is filed.
Dune protection act
Prohibits damaging, destroying, or removing a sand dune or dune vegetation seaward of the local counties dune protection line.
Homestead Rights
Protection of a primary home against certain creditors
Pole zenith star
Pzs triangle stands for
ROM
Read Only Memory
Why not all surveyors records can be admitted as evidence in court
Records without the testimony of the surveyor are considered hearsay evidence.
Fiducial Marks
Reference marks on the edges of aerial photos, used to locate the principal point on the photo
Emblements
Refers to crops which require annual planting.
Digital aerial photography
Replaces aerial film style photography with an array of light sensitive detectors that record digital images. Some can capture multiple types at once like black and white, natural color, and infrared data simultaneously. Generally use two types of technology. "Frame imaging" uses a shutter device much old school , and "push-broom imaging" collects a continuous long row of an image along the flight path.
1955 registered surveyor's act
Required surveyors to be registered to survey private land
Differential GPS
Requires the use of a second set of gps observations, taken simultaneously with the first at a known position that is used as a base station. Elevation mask (ignores satellites from horizon and 10degrees etc.)of 10 degrees at base and 15 degrees at receiver.
elliptical orbit
Revolving around another celestial object in an oval-shaped path.
slope
Rise over run. Y2-y1/x2-x1
0.001
Rule of thumb for the length increase of a steel chain per additional 3 lbs of tension applied to the chain.
scale at particular an elevation
S=f/H-h S=scale F=focal point H=altitude of aircraft above datum h=height of ground above datum
Republic of Texas is formed May 14, 1836
Santa Anna surrender Texas and 10 minutes from Mexico by signing the republic of Texas treaty.
GPS (global positioning system)
Satellite based radio navigation system owned by the US government and operated by the US Air Force. It is a form of GNSS that requires an unobstructed line of sight to 4 or more satellites.
Rene-Robert de La Salle
Sent by King Louis XIV to stake claim to the Mississippi valley to Route to separate Florida from Spain. By error he settled in Matagorda Bay. Attempted to correct mistake but failed. Did create fort St. Louis; however was eventually killed by Spanish expeditions. (1684-1687)
Captain Alonso de Leon
Sent by Spain via Mexico City to evict La Salle. During the effort, he explored and mapped interior Texas and Named several rivers including San Marcos, Guadalupe, Medina, Nueces, and the trinity rivers. After finding for Luis nearly abandoned by La Salle, Leon established a mission in East Texas called the mission San Francisco de los Tejas. (1690)
Surveys on Navigable Streams
Shall be limited to river frontage equal to 1/2 the square root of the called for acreage. So 640ac = 5280 = 2640
Surveys on Non Navigable Streams
Shall be square as far as lines previously surveyed will permit.
Wavelength of colors of the visible spectrum
Shortest to longest wavelength: Violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red
Pre-emption Grant
Similar to headright grants, preemption grants were made after statehood. From 1845 to 1850 for homesteaders to claim 320 acres. From 1854 to 1856, and 1866 1898, up to 160 acres could be claimed. Homesteaders were required to live on the land for three years and make improvements in order to qualify for preemption grandpa by 160 acres
Double Angle Identities
Sin(2x) = 2SinxCosx Cos(2x) = Cos^2x - Sin^2x Cos(2x) = 2Cos^2x - 1 Cos(2x) = 1 - 2Sin^2x Tan(2x) = (2Tanx) / (1 - Tan^2x)
Grad
Some European instruments use these instead of degrees. Equal to 1 hundredth of a right angle. There are 400 _______s in a circle, and is equal to 00°54'.
Six Flags over Texas
Spain 1519-1685, 1690-1821 France 1685-1690 Mexico 1821-1836 Republic of Texas 1836-1845 Texas in the Confederacy 1861-1865 Back to American Union 1845-1861, 1865-present
Civil Law
Spain and Mexico we're governed by this. Evolved from Roman law. The republic of Texas switched to common law officially on January 20, 1840. All land grants prior to this we're face and civil law which Reserved mineral rights to the sovereign. This was later relinquished by the state in 1866.
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
Spanish explorer who explored what is now Texas in 1528-1835. He was shipwrecked near Galveston and was subsequently enslaved by native living in the area.
4 ft 8 1/2 in
Standard gauge(width) of railroad tracks
Texas Open Beaches Act
State legislation that allows public ingress and egress to the beaches of the state. The easement is defined as the area between vegetation line and the mean average low tide line.
hard drive
Storage device that stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating rigid disks with magnetic surfaces. The device is either permanently installed within the computer case or can be portable
License
Such as a privilege to enter, is nonpossessory and revocable. One of the salient differences between a license and an easement is the licenses revocability.
Constructive Notice
Such notice as is implied or imputed by law, as in the case of notice of documents which have been recorded in the appropriate registry of deeds or probate
Laser Scanning
Technique used to build 3D computer models of real world locations. 2 techniques used to measure range: Time of flight- uses sub-nanosecond timing to measure time it takes light pulse to travel there and back Phase shift- 100 times faster than TOT. Uses a light source that is continually on. Restricted to a shorter range. The 3 main approaches to controlling (connecting) subsequent scans are: cloud to cloud matching, three point (minimum) resection- involves sighting three or more targets on points with known coords, and traversing.
head
Term that refers to the depth of the water flow over a weir.
Titled Land
Term used by the GLO in reference to land granted by the Spanish or Mexican governments.
Grade rod
Term used in when staking slope stakes. It is the rod reading that would occur if the bottom of the rod was at the finish grade at the centerline.
Diapositive
Term used to describe a positive aerial photograph printed on a glass plate for preparation of their projection in a stereoscopic plotting instrument.
Ground rod
Term used when staking slope stakes. Actual rod reading on the ground.
Platting statutes
Texas Local Government Code Title 7, Regulation of Land Use 212.004 A plat is required if you're on a track of land within the limits of a Municipality and wish to subdivide your tracks for building, laying out street, and other purposes. 212.013 Vacating a plat is basically un-platting 212.015 Replat-making changes to a plat
dihedral angle
Th angle between 2 intersecting planes. For example, the angle between the plane of the horizontal ground and the plane of an aircraft taking an aerial photo. Also known as the tilt of an aerial photo
X and y tilt
Th angle of the rotation around the axis of the flight line, AND the angle of the rotation around the axis perpendicular to the flight line. Respectively.
Habendum Clause
That part of a deed beginning with the words "to have and to hold," following the granting clause and defining the extent of ownership the grantor is conveying.
Local Hour Angle (LHA)
The ANGLE between the Meridian of the observer and the Meridian of the geographical position of the celestial body. Due to the earths rotation the sun moves through 15° of longitude in one hour. LHA is measured Westwards from the observers Meridian. For example, at noon the suns LHA will be 0°, but if the time is two hours and three minutes after noon then the angle will be 30° 45'. 12 hours is always added to LHA to get LMT. The angle BNU and the angle CPX on the picture.
Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
The Board's role in the protection of the public is to license qualified engineers and surveyors, enforce the Texas Engineering and Surveying Practice Acts, and regulate the practice of professional engineering and surveying in Texas. Currently, over 69,000 Professional Engineers and over 2,800 Registered Surveyors offer services in Texas. The Board handles over 600 enforcement cases per year, and provides a system of rules and regulations for the ethical and acceptable practice of professional engineering and surveying.
US Department of the Interior
The Bureau of land management is under this department and prepares the manual of surveying instructions for the public land survey system.
Mexican federal act of May 7, 1824
The Mexican government combined by and see individual Mexican states of Coahuila and Texas.
Gradient Boundary
The Texas definition of the boundary line along rivers. It is a line formed along the midway mark between the lower "accretion" bank and the toe of that bank where it meets the river bed. Arguably not a very clear definition.
Lousinana Purchase
The United States under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory encompassing 820,000 mi.² from France. The western mind of the territory was in dispute prior to the purchase between France and Spain, and continued after she purchased between United States and Spain.
Gal
The acceleration of gravity. An object falling at 1 cm/s at the end of the first second of its fall has accelerated rated to the rate of 2 cm/s at the end of the next second, then it has accelerated rated 1 gal.
Gal
The acceleration of gravity. In other words the rate of change in the velocity of a falling body.
remote sensing
The acquisition of data about Earth's surface like a satellite orbiting the planet or other long-distance methods.
accretion
The action of water gradually building up sand and soil and the subsequent formation of firm ground.
Seisin
The actual possession of land by one who claims rightful ownership of a freehold estate therein.
Operating Margin
The amount above a firms costs for a project that they add as part of the total fee charged. Total fee - job cost / job cost
spherical excess
The amount by which the sum of the angles of a triangle on the surface of a sphere exceeds 180 degrees. The amount is to be added to 180° and distributed evenly among the angles.
capitalized cost
The amount of money needed to support the project on the earned interest alone. Also known as "life cycle cost".
Obliquity
The angle of the earths rotation axis. The earths rotation axis differs by approximately 23° 26 1/2' from a perpendicular to the orbital plane created by the earth and the sun.
Apex Angle
The angle opposite the base of a triangle or a cone. For example, the angle at the tip of the cone in a lambert projection in SPC. The symbol for it is a lowercase cursive L.
Yaw Angle
The angle to the left or right of an airplanes direction of motion.
Hour Angle
The angle, in units of hours, minutes and seconds, between the celestial meridian (observers meridian) and the hour circle of the object. The angle is said to be negative if the object is east of the celestial meridian and positive if west of the celestial meridian.
convergence angle
The angular difference between grid and geodetic north in the Lambert and Mercator projection's. Also known as the gamma angle, y.
Right Ascension
The angular distance eastward along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox to the intersection of the hour circle that passes through the body
Right Ascension
The angular distance measured eastward along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox to the intersection of the hour circle that passes through the body
Fillet
The area between the arc of a curve and it's tangents
Neat Model
The area within the overlap where measurements and mapping are limited to in order to minimize distortion. 100% of photo - overlap = neat model
Area of ellipse
The area, a, of an ellipse can be determined using the formula a = πxy, where x and y are half the lengths of the largest and smallest diameters of the ellipse.
Superelevation
The banking of a curved section of road to help overcome the effects of centrifugal force
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another. For example, the bending of light through the earths atmosphere that makes celestial objects appear higher in the sky than its true altitude. Refraction corrections are always subtracted from the observed altitude.
Abstract of Title
The condensed history of a title to a particular parcel of real estate, consisting of a summary of the original grant and all subsequent conveyances and encumbrances affecting the property and a certification by the abstractor that the history is complete and accurate.
Stadia interval
The distance between the top and bottom hairs in a level or instrument that can be used to calculate distance by multiplying by a factor of 100 (usually).
focal length
The distance from the center of a lens to the focal point inside the camera. This distance Affects the angle of view, how much of the scene will be captured, and the magnification. The longer the length the narrower the angle of view and higher magnification. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view and lower the magnification.
Life Estate
The duration of a life estate is measured by the life of some person. However, this person does not to be the holder of the estate, as a life estate can be conveyed to a third-party. It is a freehold.
Ecliptic
The earths yearly orbit around the sun creates the apparent movement of the sun through the sky. The apparent path of the sun traced out on the celestial sphere as the ___________.
Rectified
The effects of tilt have been removed from an aerial photograph by translating, rotating, and scaling.
focal point
The exact point at which the camera is focused at maximum sharpness.
Elevation Factor
The factor used to convert ground distances to sea-level distances (20,906,000/20,906,000+elevation)=factor Then times factor by the distance recorded. 20,906,000=assumed earths radius
Apogee and perigee
The farthest and closest positions, respectively, of objects relative to the earth.
Aphelion and perihelion
The farthest and closest positions, respectively, of objects relative to the sun.
Demurrer
The formal method of disputing the sufficiency and law of the pleading of the other side. An assertion that complaint does not set forth a cause of action upon which relief can be granted.
low frequencies
The frequency used for sounding in deeper water, because they have a lower absorption rate and higher penetrating power. Less accurate for shoal depths. Below 15 kHz and in the audible range.
Sampling rate
The frequency, usually in hertz, that an analog signal is checked during the creation of its digital representation.
Escrow Agent
The grantor places the deed with an escrow agent to be held until all conditions of the sale contract are fulfilled. A person or company performs the closing function for a fee; escrow agents collect all needed documents and funds for disbursement at the closing. Possible they can assist with a correction deed after sale.
Parabola
The graph of a quadratic function. A two dimensional symmetrical curve, which is approximately u-shaped (the path a projectile under the influence of gravity follows a curve of this shape).
Moiety
The half of anything. Joint tenants are said to hold by moieties.
Fee Simple
The highest interest in real estate recognized by the law; the holder is entitled to all rights to the property.
point of cusp
The intersection of two curves or a curve and a line of opposite direction.
Geoid
The irregular shape the surface of the ocean would take under the influence of gravity (not consistent everywhere) and the rotation of the earth alone. Not influenced by winds, tides, and currents, etc.
Mexican law of April 6, 1830
The law was enacted to attempt to stop the immigration of United States citizens into the Mexican region of Texas. The lawfocused on making sure empresarios were adhering to colonization laws in suspended many existing empresario contracts.
Surveyors liability
The liability incurred by the surveyor is proportional to the fee that the client is charged.
Line of Demarcation (1493)
The line of demarcation was first established 100 leagues west of the Azores and Cape Verde Islands. (Islands off the coast of Africa) It was designed by Pope Alexander IV. It's stated that the lands west of the language to be controlled by Spain in the land east of the line were to be controlled by Portugal. This gave Spain control of the majority of North and South America With the exception of the eastern portion of present day Brazil.
Agreement & Acquiescence
The main element of acquiescence is uncertainty, doubt, and or dispute. If the true line location is known, acquiescence to a line is not possible. The time duration requirement is sometime after adverse possession statutes of limitations (between 25 years;possibly 10 years). acquiescence can be summarized as the silent assumption of Adaline's location between two parties.
1/4000
The maximum allowable air of closure for the perimeter of a regular or irregular Township.
Mean high tide
The mean of all high tides, and the average to be used should be, if possible, the average of all the high tides over a period of 18.6 years. Used in all grants after December 14, 1837.
prescription
The method of obtaining easement rights from long usage
realization
The monumentation of the physical network of reference points on the earth's surface that is provided with known coordinates in the subject datum.
NAVSTAR
The name given to GPS satellites. Acronym that stands for Navigation system by timing and ranging. The satellite constellation is designed to provide 4 satellites above the horizon everywhere on earths surface, 24 hours a day. An approximately 26,000 km orbit with a 12 hour orbital period.
Trespass to try title
The name of the action used for the recovery of the possession of real property, with damages for any trespass committed upon the same by the defendant. Used against adverse possession. A procedure by which rival claims to title or right to possession of land may be adjudicated, and as an incident partition may also be had when the controversy concerning title or right to possession is settled.
rate of return
The net gain or loss on an investment over a time period, expressed as a percentage of the investments initial cost.
Baud Rate
The number of bits that pass through the data line per second. (bps)
degrees of freedom
The number of individual scores that can vary without changing the sample mean. Statistically written as 'N-1' where N represents the number of subjects.
Survey number
The number recorded on the survey or's the old notes on file at the Texas general land office.
initial point
The origin of the principal meridians and baseline that control the public land surveys of an area.
Upper left pixel
The origin point (0,0) of the rows and columns of a digital aerial photo.
appellant (petitioner)
The party challenging the trial court's disposition of the action
egress
The path by which a person goes out. Exit. Also the means for process for getting out. An outlet.
Devisee
The person to whom land or other real properties are devised or given by Will.
nadir
The point on the celestial sphere which is diametrically opposite the zenith.
Vernal Equinox
The point where the sun crosses the celestial equator. The point of reference for right ascension.
frustum of a pyramid
The polyhedron that results from slicing a pyramid with a plane parallel to its base and using the section of the plane as a face.
Voltage
The potential difference measured in volts. The amount of work to be done to move a charge from one point to another along an electric circuit.
hydrostatic pressure
The pressure exerted by a liquid that depends on how deep it is.
Baseline
The principal east west line that all rectangular surveys in a defined area are based on in the public land survey system.
stare decisis
The principle that past court decisions on an exact topic are used for future cases.
Registration of the scans
The process of merging several different scans to complete a model of the subject. The scans could be connected by cloud to cloud, three point resection, or traverse.
condemnation
The process of taking private property for public use through the power of eminent domain with the payment of just compensation to the properties owner.
Adjudication
The pronouncing of a judgment or decree in a cause; also the judgment given
Common Law Littoral Rights
The property line of Patents granted after January 20, 1840 Extend to the mean high tide line, or on the 0.4 foot contour above sea level.
sinuosity
The quality of curving in and out.
discount rate
The rate that determines the value of an investment prior to its maturity.
K factor
The ratio of the air base length to the altitude at which a pair of aerial photographs were taken.
ratio of error
The ratio of the error of closure to perimeter of traverse. ratio of error = error of closure of traverse / perimeter = 0.26925/2142.93 = 1/7959 this would be rounded to 1/8000
Title Commitment
The result of the title search that the title company performs. It shows any potential issues, as well as disclosing encumbrances on the title that the buyer can't get away from (like deed restrictions, easements, and leases).
Reversion
The right of he original owners or their heirs, to possess or succeed to property on the death of the present possessor or at the end of a lease.
title
The right own property, the evidence of the right to own real property, and the legal instrument constituting the evidence to the right to ownership.
Easement
The right to use the land of another for a particular purpose.
Hertz
The standard unit for measuring the frequency (The rate of repetition) of a wave. One hertz equals one repetition per second
submerged land
The state of Texas has title to all submerged lands of all bays, inlets, and other waterways along the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas state constitution 1866
The state quit-claim all mineral rights to the owners of the soil.
Open beaches act
The statute defines the public easement as being unobstructed, lying between the line of mean low tide in the Upland vegetation line. Where no vegetation lines exist, it extends 200 feet Upland from the low tide line.
Avulsion
The sudden separation of land from one property and its attachment to another, especially by flooding or change in the course of a river.
areal density
The surface area allocated to a bit on a storage medium, typically measured in bits, bytes, or tracks per inch; also called "recording density" or "bit density." = (#of bits per track) x (# of tracks per radial in.)
stadia
The two horizontal crosshairs that are equidistant from the center crosshair in the sight of a level or total station. Can be used to determine distance by multiplying distance between hairs (known as the "intercept) by 100. To find horizontal distance when on a slope H=100 x (read intercept) x (cos vert angle)^2
chain
The unit of length prescribed by law for the survey of the public lands of the United States. The chain is equivalent to 66 feet or 4 rods, poles or perches. 10 square chains equals one acre.
Autonomous GPS
The use of only a stand alone receiver, and provides accuracy with a few meters
softcopy photogrammetry
The use of specialized software to digitally manipulate the spatial geometry of the view depicted in overlapping photos. Replaces a stereoplotter due to speed, accuracy, and it is more easily used for other processes.
Mode
The value that occurs most frequently in a given data set.
Spanish Royal commission arrives (1767)
This commission finally arrives to establish serving standards and forms of basis of establishing settlements. The settlers of holy day as far gone in south Texas requested land surveys earliest 1753
Accession to real property
Title to real property can be acquired by accession, which is the addition to property by growth, increase, or labor. Land gradually deposited on the bank of a stream by imperceptible means becomes the land of the upland owner by accession.
Rebut
To contradict or opposed by formal legal argument, three or countervailing proof.
Factoring
To express a polynomial as the product of monomials and polynomials. The opposite of multiplication. First always take out common factors to the side. For trinomials where the x^2 is larger than 1 (2x^2) Factor by grouping by using trial and error to equal middle term if multiplied out. Check by multiplying and should equal original term.
Double Centering
To set a point on a projection of a line by sighting the point with the telescope erect and inverted and splitting the difference between the two points
Estop
To stop, bar or impede; to prevent; to preclude
Adams-Onis Treaty
Treaty between the US and Spain that reestablished us being record as boundary between the countries. The west line of the Louisiana purchase is ultimately determined.
Treaty of Hidalgo
Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of Texas, New Mexico, and California in exchange for $15 million. Also established the Thalweg Of the Rio Grande River has the international boundary.
deciduous
Trees that lose their leaves for part of the year, and grow them back again typically in the spring. This is the root of the beauty of fall foliage that we see as many trees turn yellow, orange and red come Autumn. Deciduous is the opposite of evergreen.
Trig functions in quadrants
Trig functions can be positive or negative depending on which quadrant you are trying to solve a right triangle in. Helps to remember Add Sugar To Coffee, in other words quadrant 1 all positive, quadrant 2 sin positive, etc.
practical location
True location is not known, but the location is believed to be known.
Doubling the angle
Turning a horizontal angle with the telescope of the instrument in both the direct and the inverted positions.
supplementary
Two angles whose sum is 180 degrees
complementary
Two angles whose sum is 90 degrees
reverse curve
Two circular curves lying on opposite sides of a common tangent
Compound Curve
Two circular curves with different radii lying on the same side in the common tangent
Carrier and code phase measurements
Types of signals produced by satellites for GNSS. Code phase signal allows for sub meter accuracy, but coupled with carrier phase allows for centimeter level accuracy
State Plane Coordinate System
USA only. Its measured in feet. 120 zones follow states and counties boundaries. Uses the lambert - EW oriented zones. Transverse Mercator NS - oriented zones. Designed to limit scale distortion to 1 part in 10,000, in other words not less than 0.9999000 or more than 1.0001000
ultrasonic frequency
Unaffected by noise interference, and more accurate in measuring shoal depths. The higher absorption rate makes them ineffective in deep water.
Patent Ambiguity
Uncertainty of meaning created by ambiguous language in a written instrument.
Texas Mineral Rights History
Under Spanish, Mexican, and Republic law the minerals beneath the land were reserved for the sovereign. The adoption of English law in 1840 change that.
Deed of acquittance
Under Texas Natural Resources Code Section 51.246, if excess acreage is discovered on titled or patented land, that property is technically still owned by the State. The Excess Acreage log records where and how much land is in excess. The land owner may purchase the excess from the State at market value after which the Commissioner of the General Land Office will issue a Deed of Acquittance relinquishing the excess back to the land owner.
UTM
Universal Transverse Mercator based on the Jacobi reference ellipsoid, and the coordinates are expressed in meters. The foundation of UTM is WGS84. It was designed and established by the US ARMY in cooperation with NATO.
Lakes
Unless a lake is a naturally occurring like on a navigable river, it is privately owned.
Deviation of the vertical
Up and down are not the same on the geoid as they are on the spheroid.
Airborne gps
Used in aerial mapping by establishing the aircrafts precise position. Reduces the need for ground control points, but some ground surveying is usually required for confirmation of accuracy.
Overhead Rate
Used to calculate the portion of a companies indirect costs applies to a specific project. Total indirect costs / total direct labor costs
Collimator
Used to calibrate an aerial camera.
Bounds description
Used to describe property and easements solely by reference to the adjoining owners. A description that can best be described as if the person were standing in the center of the parcel of land and then looks outward to the boundaries of the parcel that is being described.
Common Reputation
When long, continuous, recognition from involved yet knowledgeable person is used to determine boundaries. A Last case resort of boundary line determination and it is only used when evidence, witness testimony, etc. have disappeared or is unascertainable
Vernal and Autumnal Equinox
When sun crosses celestial equator. Day and night of equal duration
Small bill
Where Natural Resources Code 21.012 (supra) and earlier state law forbade survey lines from crossing navigable streams, many did. Rather than voiding the surveys or relinquishing the state's rights to stream beds included in the surveys, this bill was enacted to alleviate the problem. It was commonly called the "Small.Bill", named after the legislation's author. A Article 5414 and later codified as Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (VTCS) Title 86, provisions were made, where a survey line crossed a navigable stream, to partion the stream to supply the necessary acreage to a patent deficient in quantity. The following statute makes such provision without specific instruction as to how the patent shortage would be made from the river, except that it would be. Presumably, the General Land Office and the land Board would be expected to work out the details on a case-by-case, practical manner
Boundary evidence is gathered to prove?
Where a monument was set not where it should have been set.
extraneous evidence
With reference to a contract, deed, will, or any writing, extraneous evidence is such as is not furnished by the document itself, but is derived from outside sources; the same as evidence aliunde.
Slope Stakes
Wooden stakes that mark the line where cut or fill side slopes intersect the original ground surface
Slope Stakes
Wooden stakes that mark the line where cut or fill side slopes intersect the original ground surface.
littoral
Word used to describe rights associated with water that is not flowing. Usually pertains to seashore, but also used regarding lakes and ponds.
Deed metes and bounds description can be considered void by court if
You cant locate with reasonable certainty
Siete Partidas
a Castilian statutory code established in 13th century Spain with the intent of establishing a uniform body of normative rules for the kingdom. The seven parts were air, rain, water, sea, Shores, harbors, and Highways belong to all of creation. Derived from Roman Justinian code.
dual frequency
a GPS receiver that can pick up both the L1 and L2 frequency. Helps remove error created by atmospheric conditions. Require shorter occupation time.
Partnership
a business organization owned by two or more persons who agree on a specific division of responsibilities and profits. Least used in US.
Sole Proprietorship
a business owned and managed by a single individual
geosynchronous
a circular orbit around the Earth having a period of 24 hours. Puts the satellite in exactly the same place at exactly the same time everyday.
Curtesy
a common law right of a husband to the estate and property of his deceased wife.
Corporation
a company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity (legally a person) and recognized as such in law.
Fee Simple on Condition Subsequent
a defeasible fee estate in which a grantor conveys a parcel of real estate subject to a condition of ownership; the grantor must go to court to assert their right to retake ownership (right of re-entry)
echo sounder
a device for determining the depth of the seabed or detecting objects in water by measuring the time taken for sound echoes to return to the listener. (Fathometer)
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
a form of business ownership that offers both limited liability to its owners and flexible tax treatment
Ecliptic
a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun's apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can occur only when the moon crosses it.
license
a legal document giving official permission to do something. In boundary law it can be granted in the form of an easement, but is revocable by the land owner.
plumb line
a line directed to the center of gravity of the earth; a line with a weight at one end to determine verticallity
Tropic of cancer
a line of latitude about 23 1/2 degrees North of the equator where the sun is directly overhead on June 22
Tropic of Capricorn
a line of latitude about 23 degrees South of the equator where the sun is directly overhead on December 22
weir
a low dam built across a river, canal, stream, or sewer to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow. May be used as a water measuring structure. For example, a sharp created weir is used primarily for measuring water flow.
conic projection
a map created by projecting an image of Earth onto a cone placed over part of an Earth model
Mercator
a map projection of the earth onto a cylinder
standard deviation
a measure of variability that describes an average distance of every score from the mean. Also known as standard error.
Differential GPS (DGPS)
a method of using a base station for ground based corrections applied to the rover.
Cramer's Rule
a method that uses determinants to solve a system of linear equations
hectare
a metric unit of square measure, equal to 100 ares (2.471 acres or 10,000 square meters).
Appellant
a person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.
Plaintiff
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
completing the square
a process used to make a quadratic expression into a perfect square trinomial
scalar quantity
a quantity that can be described by magnitude only and has no direction
scalar quantity
a quantity that can be described by magnitude only and has no direction. Example, 5 meters, or 256 bytes.
vector quantity
a quantity that has both magnitude and direction
sector
a region bounded by an arc of the circle and the two radii to the arc's endpoints
Tuple
a row in a table that contains data about a specific item in a database table
chromatic aberration
a spherical lens defect in which light passing through a lens is focused at different points, causing an object viewed through a lens to seem to be ringed with color
Octantis
a star that is closest to the south celestial pole
Circumpolar
a star, as viewed from a given latitude on Earth, that never sets below the horizon due to its apparent proximity to one of the celestial poles.
affidavit
a sworn written statement
ephemeris
a table or data file giving the calculated positions of a celestial object at regular intervals throughout a period. Makes determining azimuth simpler, because it tabulates the GHA and declination of the sun and Polaris.
evergreen
a tree doesn't lose its leaves over the winter. While most evergreens are also coniferous trees, there are some coniferous trees that lose their leaves, such as larches, and likewise, certain broadleaf trees keep their leaves all year round, such as the various live oak. Evergreen is the opposite of Decidous.
evergreen
a tree that does not lose its leaves in the winter and stays green all year round
isosceles
a triangle with 2 equal sides and 2 equal angles
equilateral
a triangle with 3 congruent sides and 3 congruent angles
Radian
a unit of angle, equal to an angle at the center of a circle whose arc is equal in length to the radius. One _______ is Equal to 180°/Pie, or 57°17'44.8"
Gerund
a verb ending in "ing" that serves as a noun
caveat
a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
Cotangent
adjacent/opposite Reciprocal of tangent
Parol Evidence
any oral or written words outside the four corners of a written contract. May only be used to explain ambiguous parts of the deed. Usually not admissible in court.
prima facie
based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise
abut
border upon; adjoin
ALTA Survey
boundary survey prepared to a set of minimum standards that have been jointly prepared and adopted by the (American Land Title Association and American Congress on Surveying and Mapping). Additionally, it shows improvements, easements, rights-of-way, and other elements impacting the ownership of land. It is often prepared for commercial properties, as it will provide the title company with the information required to insure the title to the land and improvements to the high degree that a commercial development The maximum allowable relative positional precision is 2 cm (0.07 feet) +50 ppm (Based on the direct distance between the two corners being tested) The survey or must be provided with: The current descriptions of any adjoiners, any recorded easements benefiting the property, also any recorded easements, servitudes, or covenants burdening the property, and any recorded documents affecting the property being surveyed if desired by the client
ALTA Survey
boundary survey prepared to a set of minimum standards that have been jointly prepared and adopted by the (American Land Title Association and American Congress on Surveying and Mapping). Additionally, it shows improvements, easements, rights-of-way, and other elements impacting the ownership of land. It is often prepared for commercial properties, as it will provide the title company with the information required to insure the title to the land and improvements to the high degree that a commercial development may require.
ipso facto
by the fact itself (Latin)
Computer Components
central processing unit (CPU), main memory, and external devices (input or output)
secular variation
change in the location of the magnetic poles over time compared to geographic poles. For example, the change in magnetic bearings over time.
Commissioners' court
conducts the general business of the county and consists of the County Judge and four Commissioners. The Court adopts the county's budget and tax rate, approves all budgeted purchases of the county and fills vacancies in elective and appointive offices. The Court also sets all salaries and benefits, has exclusive authority to authorize contracts and provides and maintains all county buildings and facilities.
System of Surveys
contiguous blocks created by the individual railroads under a specific contract and survey. Simultaneous conveyances treated like a subdivision with Proration.
indirect costs
costs that are the result of a firm's general operations and are not directly tied to any specific cost object. Examples: rent, wages that are spread over several projects, utilities, etc.
Latitude
distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees
Intestate
dying without a will
Joint tenants
each own an undivided interest in the whole. Joint tenants enjoy a right of survivorship, meaning a deceased joint tenant's interest passes to the surviving joint tenant(s), instead of the interest passing to the deceased's heirs.
Agiosperms
flowering plants, seeds protected by ovary wall. Represents approximately 80 percent of all the known green plants now living.
Escheat
forfeiture of a decedent's property to the state in the absence of heirs
Preemption Grants
from 1845 to 1854 individuals could claim 320 acres from unappropriated public domain. The amount was reduced to 160 acres in 1854 grant cancelled in 1856, 160 acres re instituted in 1866 to 1898, settlers required to live on land 3 years and make improvements.
accretion
growth in size or increase in amount. Usually from deposits from a river.
semimajor axis
half of the longest diameter across an ellipse
semiminor axis
half of the short axis of an ellipse
finite
having limits; lasting for a limited time
Orthometric Height
height above the geoid
ellipsoidal height
height above the reference ellipsoid, also known as geodetic height.
Secant
hypotenuse/adjacent Reciprocal of cosine
Secant
hypotenuse/adjacent (reciprocal of cosine)
Cosecant
hypotenuse/opposite Reciprocal of sine
Cosecant
hypotenuse/opposite (reciprocal of sine)
Stereoscopy
illusion of three dimensions by simultaneously viewing two photographs of a scene that are taken from slightly different angles, as the scene would be seen by two eyes. Used by stereoplotter.
Hour Angle
in astronomy, a coordinate in the equatorial coordinate system . The hour angle of a celestial body is the angular distance, expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds (one hour equals 15 degrees), measured westward along the celestial equator from the observer's celestial meridian to the hour circle of the object being located. The hour angle is used in measuring astronomical time local sidereal time is equal to the hour angle of the vernal equinox.
Joint Tenants in Common
in the event of death of one party, the survivors receive only their portion of the account. The remaining assets go to the deceased's estate.
asymmetrical
irregular shape
surplusage
irrelevant matter in a proceeding; excessive verbiage
supercomputer
largest and fastest computers, capable of storing and processing tremendous volumes of data. Categories based on physical size.
Discovery Rule
legal theory that provides that the statute of limitations begins to run at the time the error is discovered.
LIDAR
light detection and ranging technology that is the optical equivalent of radar and uses a laser range finder to measure elevation. Records the time difference between the laser pulses initial transmission and the reflected pulses return. Airborne systems include a geodetic grade GPS receiver that measures the position every second, and internal measure the unit (IMU) that determines the aircrafts orientation. Can scan through foliage or other obstacles from above to determine elevation.
infrared light
light that has longer wavelengths, penetrates more deeply, has less energy, and produces more heat than visible light; makes up 60 percent of natural sunlight. Used in edm.
3 marine leagues
limit of Texas state waters into the gulf. Is equal to 9 nautical miles. Differs from other states, which is 3 nautical miles, because of original boundary agreement between republic of Texas and USA.
gnomonic projection
made by projecting points and lines from a globe onto a piece of paper that touches the globe at a single point. The arc of a great circle will be a straight line.
Geocentric
measured from the earth's center; having the earth as a center. The point (0, 0, 0) is defined as the center of mass of the earth.
salient
most noticeable or important
pith
often called medulla. Tree's have a pith when young but as the tree matures its pith transforms into the xylem. The pith in the middle of some plants often dries completely out so that the stem of the plant becomes hollow.
quadrant
one of four sections into which the Cartesian coordinate plane is divided
Riparian Rights
refers to a property owner's rights (subject to the states laws) to use or enjoy the water when the property is located along the bank of a stream or river as long as he doesn't interrupt the water flow
Joint tenant
right of survivorship, upon the death of a joint tenant, the deceased's interest transfers directly to the surviving joint tenant, the last joint tenant owns the property in severalty. A joint tenant is free to convey interest in the jointly held property, but doing so destroys the unities of time and title. Right of survivorship can't be conveyed to the new heirs, owner cannot become a joint tenant, they will become a tenant in common with the remaining joint tenants. PITT four unities: possession, interest, time & title.
RMSE
root mean square error, Which is used to estimate positional accuracy, as the square root of the average of a set squared differences between data set coordinate values and coordinate values from an independent source of higher accuracy for identical points.
Isogonic Chart
shows magnetic declination. Map of North American continent which has the lines and degree readings showing the difference between True North and Magnetic North
Color of Title
some plausible but not completely clear-cut indication of ownership rights
Texas Open Beaches Act
states that the land between the mean low tide and the line of vegetation is considered a public beach and structures may not be built on the easement, whether privately or publicly owned. This easement may shift due to natural or man made causes.
Add tape
survey tape on which minor graduations are placed ahead of the zero point.
coniferous
term used to refer to trees that produce seed-bearing cones and have thin leaves shaped like needles
ingress
the act of entering
Reversion
the act or process of returning to a former state or condition
law of reflection
the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
Declination
the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator.
Paralax
the apparent change in position of an object when seen from different places. For example, the change in position of the sun, moon, or Milky Way planets from the earth surface opposed to viewing it from the middle of the earth. There is no measurable affect on stars due to their distance from the earth. The effect of parallax is always added to the altitude.
venation
the arrangement of veins in a leaf
mean high water
the average height of all high tide water levels measured over a 18.6 year period. Line used in grants that were surveyed after March 17, 1840 and are based on English common law.
Mean high tide
the average of all the high tides over a period of 18.6 years that is used as the boundary between the publicly owned submerged lands and uplands (privately owned).
principal point
the center point of an aerial photo
principal point
the center point of an aerial photo. The point where lines through opposing sets of fiducial marks intersect.
Altitude and Azimuth
the coordinates used in the horizon system (astronomic coordinate system). Measured with respect to the observers horizon and astronomic north.
Ohm's Law
the current in a circuit equals the voltage difference divided by the resistance V=IR
equation of time
the difference between apparent solar time and mean solar time. It reaches its maximum negative value in February and it's maximum positive value in November but neither value exceeds 00 hr 16 1/2 minutes.
equation of time
the difference between mean solar time and apparent solar time (actual position of the sun).
magnetic declination
the difference between the magnetic north and the true north. Angle given in terms from magnetic north, for example 1° West.
magnetic declination
the difference between the magnetic north and the true north. Given angle is applied to magnetic north to find true north, then apply to bearings.
magnetic declination
the difference between the magnetic north and the true north. It is usually stated as angle such as, 5°10' W or 1° 05' E, and that correction is applied to Magnetic north and the bearings change accordingly. It also changes over time.
Azimuth
the direction of a celestial object from the observer, expressed as the angular distance from the north or south point of the horizon to the point at which a vertical circle passing through the object intersects the horizon. Coupled with altitude it gives coordinates to a star.
focal length
the distance from the center of a lens to the focal point
Right Ascension
the distance of a point east of the First Point of Aries, measured along the celestial equator and expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Vernal equinox
the equinox in spring, on about March 20 in the northern hemisphere and September 22 in the southern hemisphere.
principal point
the geometric center of a photograph
Servient Estate
the land over which an easement is granted
stare decisis
the legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent. (Latin)
horizon
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet. In practical astronomy it is perpendicular to the observers plumb line projected to the festival sphere.
Radians
the measure of an angle obtained by dividing the length of the arc by the radius.
Bathymetry
the measurement of ocean depths and the charting of the shape or topography of the ocean floor. A LIDAR unit that is designed specifically for this task can be used.
Heartwood
the older harder nonliving central wood of trees that is usually darker, denser, less permeable, and more durable than the surrounding sapwood : the usually dark wood in the center of a tree
appellee or respondent
the party in a case against whom an appeal has been filed
barometric pressure
the pressure due to the weight of the atmosphere; also called air pressure or atmospheric pressure. As elevation increases this pressure decreases. As a rule a difference of altitude of 1000 feet causes a difference of atmospheric pressure of 1 in of mercury. (Hg)
Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA)
the primary consumer protection law in Texas, designed to prevent service providers from using false and misleading statements or deceptive practices.
Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA)
the primary consumer protection law in Texas, which protects against misrepresentation, deceptive practices, breach of contract, etc.
electromagnetic spectrum
the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends. List from shortest to longest wavelength: gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave, and radio.
Easement
the right to use land for a specific and limited purpose
Ambit
the scope, extent, or bounds of something.
Geoid
the shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the influence of Earth's gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other influences such as winds and tides.
operating system
the software that supports a computer's basic functions, such as scheduling tasks, executing applications, and controlling peripherals (keyboard, disk drives, etc.)
Alluvium
the sorted material deposited by a stream
Variance
the square of the standard deviation
Variance
the square of the standard deviation and is a value that gives the precision of a data set.
standard deviation
the square root of the variance
standard deviation mean
the standard deviation of a set of measurements divided by the square root of the number of measurements in the set
angle of repose
the steepest angle at which a sloping surface formed of a particular loose material is stable.
angle of repose
the steepest angle at which loose material remains stationary without sliding downslope
Amperage
the strength of an electric current in amperes.
geology
the study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth
sidereal time
the time for one complete rotation of the earth relative to a particular star, about 4 minutes shorter than a mean solar day. Also known as star time. 23 hours and 56 min.
sidereal day
the time for one complete rotation of the earth relative to a particular star, about 4 minutes shorter than a mean solar day. Time typically used for observations in stars.
access time
the time it takes a storage device to locate its stored data
Equinox
the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length (about September 22 and March 20).
mean solar time
time kept according to the average length of the solar day. 365.2422 mean solar days a year. The mean suns rate of movement is 15 degrees of longitude per hour. It is an hour earlier to the west and an hour later to the east.
Remand
to send a case back to a lower court to be tried again
broadleaf
trees are essentially the opposite of conifers. They have flat, broad leaves.
coniferous
trees with cones. Pine trees. Spruce, firs, redwoods, hemlocks, larches, cypress, these are all in that range. Though not scientifically conifers, alder trees also have cones and are pretty cool like that. Coniferous trees typically have needles.
bole
trunk of a tree
Strip and Gore Doctrine
unless the grantor explicitly reserves with plain and specific language in the deed a fee in a narrow strip of land adjoining the conveyed land, it is presumed that a grantor has no intention of reserving a fee in a narrow, adjoining strip of land when the strip ceases to be of use by virtue of the conveyance. It is not in the surveyors purview to make a decision on this, but rather to show the title line and the disputed area.
Geoid Height
vertical distance between ellipsoid and geoid
Adverse Possession
when the land of another private person is adversely and exclusively possessed in an open and notorious way
General Land Office
Office that was created by an act in 1836, approved by the people in 1837, began operation in 1838. Its primary tasks include handling public lands, and collection of royalties and other incomes from the public school lands. Prior to 1887 conveyances from the state or were not required to be filed in the county deed records. First commissioner was John Borden. Another notable commissioner was Charles Rogan 1902, because he identified the problem where county commissioners were classifying all land in a way to make it $1 per acre which led to the creation of the highest bidder law. Also he helped restore the states mineral rights for unclaimed lands, which were accidentally released in 1869 by a constitutional amendment.
Mother Hubbard Clause
Often of the form, " All of budding strips of land owned by the grantor, whether owned of record or by virtue of the statute of limitations." In most states this allows tacking on of the adverse or possession rights. If only the written title is conveyed, and interruption of possession occurs in the time necessary for possession lesson start again.
serial interface
One way a computer transmits data. Bits are transmitted as a series of pulses on one wire. (Mouse)
parallel interface
One way a computer transmits data. Each bit sent at the same time on separate wires(Printer)
passing calls
Only control lines where the end points are uncertain. In other words Do Not hold passing calls if the end points are found and the passing calls would creat angle points.
Intervalometer
Operates the shutter of the camera automatically, making exposures that take the speed of the airplane into account to assure photographs with predetermined overlap.
Calculates standard deviation
Button on HP 35s S, (upside down Q)
Calculates mean
Button on HP 35s X (with line over it), y (with line over it)
ab initio
Latin word meaning from the beginning; From the first stack; from the inception
Aerial camera shutter types
Between the lens- used on most aerial cameras, it exposes the whole negative at once Focal plane shutter- capable of faster speeds, exposes negative from one end to the other by moving across it.
Land grants for military duty
Bounty (independence), donation (in 1879 gave veterans of independence) , and scrip grants (civil war)
Military Land Grants
Bounty grants- for service during revolution, 320 acres for for every 3 months up to 1280 ac. Also, for guarding the frontier 1838 to 1842,l soldiers got 240 ac. Donation grants- 640 ac for participation in specific battles, siege of bexar, battle of
spirit level
Instrument or tool capable of vertical(plumb) and horizontal(level) line check. Aka bubble level.
Mesne conveyance
Intervening or intermediate instruments. For example, past conveyances of a property granting ownership of a particular property that is currently owned by a new person.
plane rectangular Cartesian coordinate system
Involves linear measurements in two directions from a pair of perpendicular fixed axes. Based on the assumption that the earth is flat. Works well with relatively small areas.
National Geodetic Survey (NGS)
Is responsible for precise horizontal and vertical control survey. Formally known as USC & GS: United States Coast and geodetic survey. Branch of NOAA: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OPUS: Online positioning user service
Scrip
Issued by the republic of Texas 1836 for the sale of land at no less than $.50 acre to offset the expenses of the government.
Republic veterans donation grant
Issued to veterans, or widows of veterans, of the revolution and signers of the declaration of independence. Two laws were passed: law of 1879 provided 640 acres with proof of poverty required, Law of 1881 provided 1280 acres with no proof of poverty required.
first US attempt to purchase Texas from Mexico 1822-1827
John Quincy Adams, the United States president, offered Mexico $1 million to the purchase Texas.
Length of Vertical Curve
L = (g2-g1)/r r = maximum allowable rate of change
Vacancy
Land that has not been officially surveyed and separated from the public domain, more formally known as the public school land and sometimes as a public free school land.
res gestae
Latin for "things done." Statements made by a person present at the time of an alleged negligent act that are admissible as evidence in a court of law.
Negative Easement
allows the holder to prevent the servient owner from performing an act on the servient land
Quasi-Easement
an access route used by the landowner when the land was not yet divided
Matrices
an arrangement of numbers in rows and columns.
Interpolation
an estimation of a value within two known values in a sequence of values. For example, drawing contour lines in between shots.
money market account
an interest-bearing account that typically pays a higher rate than a savings account, and which provides limited check-writing ability. Thus the account offers the holder benefits typical of both savings and checking. Typically requires a higher balance than a savings account and is Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured.
cambium layer
part of the tree where growth takes place. Just inside bark.
Firmware
permanent software programmed into a read-only memory (ROM)
Real Property
physical property such as land and buildings
radii
plural of radius
Personal Property
possessions such as jewelry, furniture, and boats, money
Littoral Rights
properties which border large navigable lakes, oceans, or seas and typically involve the use and enjoyment of the shore. Subject to state laws.
district clerk
public official who is the main record-keeper of district court documents
county clerk
public official who is the main record-keeper of the county
