Certified Survey Technician (CST) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which condition most degrades GNSS positioning by causing multipath?

Occupying the point for a longer time
Open sky with a low PDOP
Using a 15-degree elevation mask
Setting up next to a metal building or a chain-link fence (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Setting up next to a metal building or a chain-link fence

Reflective surfaces near the antenna cause signals to arrive by indirect paths, creating multipath error.

Question 2: A crew must stake a road alignment through habitat for a listed species. Which law most directly restricts disturbing that habitat?

Clean Air Act
Endangered Species Act (Correct answer)
Federal Land Policy and Management Act
Safe Drinking Water Act

Correct answer: Endangered Species Act

The ESA prohibits the take of listed species and protects critical habitat.

Question 3: Riparian buffer requirements most commonly restrict development within a set distance of what feature?

Streams, rivers, and other water bodies (Correct answer)
Section corners
Highway right-of-way lines
Utility easements

Correct answer: Streams, rivers, and other water bodies

Riparian buffers protect the vegetated land next to waterways to reduce erosion and pollution.

Question 4: What is an easement in the context of land surveying?

A right to use another's land for a specific purpose (Correct answer)
A government right-of-way acquisition
A type of legal description method
A survey monument set at a boundary corner

Correct answer: A right to use another's land for a specific purpose

An easement grants the right to use a portion of another owner's land for a specific, limited purpose such as access, utilities, or drainage.

Question 5: Under National Map Accuracy Standards, 90% of tested elevations must be accurate to within:

One-quarter of the contour interval
Two contour intervals
One-half of the contour interval (Correct answer)
One full contour interval

Correct answer: One-half of the contour interval

NMAS vertical accuracy requires 90% of tested points within one-half the contour interval.

Question 6: Which item belongs in a standard survey vehicle safety kit for roadside work?

Extra plumb bob string
A spare data collector stylus
Amber rotating or strobe warning lights (Correct answer)
Stake chaser flagging

Correct answer: Amber rotating or strobe warning lights

Amber warning lights make the vehicle more visible to approaching traffic in a work zone.

Question 7: Which organization publishes the Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for land title surveys in the United States?

ALTA and NSPS jointly (Correct answer)
The Bureau of Land Management alone
OSHA
NGS alone

Correct answer: ALTA and NSPS jointly

The American Land Title Association and the National Society of Professional Surveyors jointly publish the ALTA/NSPS standards.

Question 8: A Gunter's chain is 66 ft long. How many feet are in 12 chains?

726 ft
1,200 ft
792 ft (Correct answer)
660 ft

Correct answer: 792 ft

12 × 66 = 792 ft.

Question 9: In a two-peg test, the instrument at the midpoint shows the true elevation difference mainly because:

The rod is held closer
The compensator is turned off
Equal sight distances cancel collimation error (Correct answer)
Atmospheric refraction is removed entirely

Correct answer: Equal sight distances cancel collimation error

When sight lengths are equal, the collimation error is the same on both rods and cancels in the difference.

Question 10: Why are angles often measured in both face left and face right (direct and reverse)?

To correct for atmospheric refraction
To eliminate centering error over the point
To cancel instrument errors such as collimation and trunnion axis error (Correct answer)
To double the speed of data collection

Correct answer: To cancel instrument errors such as collimation and trunnion axis error

Averaging direct and reverse readings removes most systematic instrument axis errors.

Question 11: Which GPS survey method produces the highest accuracy for establishing control points?

Single-point autonomous positioning
Static differential GPS with post-processing (Correct answer)
Real-Time Kinematic (RTK)
WAAS-corrected navigation GPS

Correct answer: Static differential GPS with post-processing

Static differential GPS, where two or more receivers simultaneously collect data for extended sessions, achieves sub-centimeter accuracy through rigorous post-processing that eliminates most systematic error sources.

Question 12: How should hazardous conditions be handled during quality inspection work?

Report hazards only at the end of the day
Continue working if the hazard seems minor
Stop work, secure the area, report the hazard, and follow safety protocols (Correct answer)
Let someone else deal with it

Correct answer: Stop work, secure the area, report the hazard, and follow safety protocols

All hazardous conditions require immediate action: stop work, secure the area, report the hazard, and follow established safety protocols.

Question 13: What inspection procedure is essential for material selection?

Inspection is only needed for final sign-off
Systematic inspection following established checklists and standards (Correct answer)
The client determines inspection requirements
Visual spot checks are sufficient

Correct answer: Systematic inspection following established checklists and standards

Systematic inspections using established checklists and industry standards ensure quality and compliance at every stage.

Question 14: Why are fiberglass rods often chosen over aluminum rods near overhead power lines?

They are lighter
They are cheaper
They are non-conductive (Correct answer)
They are more accurate

Correct answer: They are non-conductive

Fiberglass does not conduct electricity, reducing electrocution risk.

Question 15: What type of marker should be used to label wooden stakes so the writing remains legible in rain?

Pencil
Water-based marker
Chalk
Permanent lumber crayon or waterproof marker (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Permanent lumber crayon or waterproof marker

Lumber crayons and waterproof markers resist rain and remain readable on wood.

Question 16: A legal description reading 'Lot 7, Block 3, Oak Ridge Addition' relies on which system?

State Plane coordinates
Lot and block (recorded plat) (Correct answer)
Metes and bounds
Public Land Survey System

Correct answer: Lot and block (recorded plat)

Lot and block descriptions refer to a subdivision plat recorded in public records.

Question 17: When staking a building corner offset, which material is typically used to mark the precise point on top of a wooden hub?

A dab of marking paint only
A chaining pin
A tack or small nail (Correct answer)
A rebar cap

Correct answer: A tack or small nail

A tack driven into the top of the hub marks the exact point for measurements and line.

Question 18: The U.S. survey foot is defined as:

12/39.37 ft
0.3048 m exactly
1200/3937 m (Correct answer)
0.3047 m exactly

Correct answer: 1200/3937 m

The U.S. survey foot equals 1200/3937 m; the international foot is exactly 0.3048 m.

Question 19: When setting a hub for an instrument setup on soft soil, which feature of the stake matters most?

Whether it is painted
Its color
Its weight
Length enough to be firmly seated and stable (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Length enough to be firmly seated and stable

A hub driven deep enough remains stable under the instrument and during repeated use.

Question 20: In the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), a standard township is divided into how many sections?

24
36 (Correct answer)
48
16

Correct answer: 36

A standard PLSS township is a 6-mile square subdivided into 36 sections, each nominally one square mile (640 acres).

Question 21: A survey crew is working on the shoulder of a highway. Which document sets the national standard for their temporary traffic control setup?

The ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (Correct answer)
The NSPS Model Standards
OSHA 1910 General Industry Standards

Correct answer: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The FHWA's MUTCD Part 6 covers temporary traffic control for work zones, including survey operations.

Question 22: Which material is commonly used for a prism pole because it is lightweight yet rigid?

Oak
Aluminum or carbon fiber (Correct answer)
Cast iron
Copper

Correct answer: Aluminum or carbon fiber

Aluminum and carbon fiber offer the strength-to-weight ratio needed for prism poles.

Question 23: Which consideration is most important when selecting materials for a project with strict environmental restrictions on a wetland site?

Setting concrete monuments at every point
Using biodegradable flagging and minimizing ground disturbance (Correct answer)
Using the most colorful paint
Using the cheapest flagging

Correct answer: Using biodegradable flagging and minimizing ground disturbance

Sensitive sites often require biodegradable materials and minimal impact methods.

Question 24: What does horizontal collimation error cause when observing the same point in both faces?

A bubble that will not center
Distances that differ by the prism constant
Horizontal readings that do not differ by exactly 180° (Correct answer)
Zenith angles that sum to more than 360°

Correct answer: Horizontal readings that do not differ by exactly 180°

Collimation error makes the line of sight not perpendicular to the trunnion axis, so face-left and face-right horizontal readings are not exactly 180° apart.

Question 25: Which of the following describes a closed traverse?

A survey with no known points
A route that ends where it began (Correct answer)
A GPS-only route
An open-ended measurement line

Correct answer: A route that ends where it began

A closed traverse is a series of connected survey lines that form a closed loop, meaning the starting point and ending point are the same. This configuration allows surveyors to check for angular and linear measurement errors by comparing the closing measurements to the starting ones. It provides a robust method for ensuring accuracy.

Question 26: What is the purpose of the compensator check on a total station?

To confirm the dual-axis compensator correctly corrects for small tilt (Correct answer)
To clean the telescope
To check battery voltage
To calibrate the prism

Correct answer: To confirm the dual-axis compensator correctly corrects for small tilt

A faulty compensator causes angle errors, so its index must be checked and recalibrated if needed.

Question 27: Recording a rod reading of 5.37 as 5.73 is classified as a:

Systematic error
Instrumental error
Random error
Blunder (mistake) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Blunder (mistake)

Transposing digits is a human mistake, not a measurement error, and must be found and removed.

Question 28: Which reference ellipsoid does the GPS system use as its foundational datum?

Clarke 1866
GRS 80
WGS 84 (Correct answer)
NAD 83

Correct answer: WGS 84

GPS uses the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) as its reference ellipsoid, which defines the coordinate system for all GPS-derived positions.

Question 29: How many U.S. survey feet are in one meter?

3.280840
3.300000
3.937000
3.280833 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3.280833

The U.S. survey foot is defined as 1200/3937 m, so 1 m = 3937/1200 = 3.280833 U.S. survey ft (the international foot gives 3.280840).

Question 30: When an existing structure was legally built before a new zoning ordinance and now violates it, it is generally described as what?

A variance
Legal nonconforming (grandfathered) (Correct answer)
An easement violation
An illegal encroachment

Correct answer: Legal nonconforming (grandfathered)

Structures lawfully built before a code change are typically legal nonconforming uses or structures.

Question 31: How should equipment be maintained for equipment operation operations?

Follow manufacturer-recommended preventive maintenance schedules (Correct answer)
Fix equipment only when it breaks
Inspect equipment annually only
Maintenance is optional for newer equipment

Correct answer: Follow manufacturer-recommended preventive maintenance schedules

Preventive maintenance following manufacturer recommendations ensures equipment reliability, safety, and longevity.

Question 32: What inspection procedure is essential for code compliance?

Inspection is only needed for final sign-off
Visual spot checks are sufficient
The client determines inspection requirements
Systematic inspection following established checklists and standards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Systematic inspection following established checklists and standards

Systematic inspections using established checklists and industry standards ensure quality and compliance at every stage.

Question 33: What does the bearing N45°E indicate?

45 degrees west of south
A vertical angle
Midpoint between north and west
45 degrees east of north (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 45 degrees east of north

A bearing is a direction expressed as an angle relative to either North or South. N45°E means starting from North and rotating 45 degrees towards East. This notation clearly defines the quadrant and the specific angle within that quadrant, providing a precise directional reference.

Question 34: When setting up a total station over a point with an optical plummet, what is the correct order of final adjustments?

Level with the tripod legs, then center with the leveling screws
Slide the instrument on the tripod head first, then level with the tripod legs only
Center with the leveling screws, roughly level with the tripod legs, then slide the instrument on the tripod head
Roughly level with the tripod legs, fine-level with the leveling screws, then slide the instrument on the tripod head to re-center (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Roughly level with the tripod legs, fine-level with the leveling screws, then slide the instrument on the tripod head to re-center

Rough leveling with the legs, fine leveling with the foot screws, and loosening the tripod head to re-center is repeated until the instrument is both level and over the point.

Question 35: A survey crew measures a 1,000 ft distance with a steel tape standardized at 68°F while the field temperature is 98°F. What correction should be applied?

Add about 0.195 ft (Correct answer)
No correction; temperature only affects EDM
Subtract about 0.195 ft
Add about 0.0195 ft

Correct answer: Add about 0.195 ft

Correction = 0.00000645 × (98−68) × 1000 ≈ +0.19 ft, because the tape expands and reads short.

Question 36: How can the circular bubble on a leveling rod be checked?

Check it against the tripod legs
Look at it from a distance
Compare the rod against a plumb line or a properly adjusted instrument's vertical crosshair (Correct answer)
Compare it to the sun's shadow

Correct answer: Compare the rod against a plumb line or a properly adjusted instrument's vertical crosshair

A plumb line or verified vertical crosshair gives a true vertical to check whether the rod bubble is correct.

Question 37: Which federal law requires an environmental review, such as an Environmental Assessment or EIS, before a major federally funded project?

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Correct answer)
Clean Air Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act

Correct answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of major federal actions.

Question 38: In a survey plat, what does a 'legend' provide?

The legal description of the parcel
A historical narrative about the property
The surveyor's certification statement
Explanations of symbols, abbreviations, and line types used on the drawing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Explanations of symbols, abbreviations, and line types used on the drawing

A plat legend defines all symbols, abbreviations, and linework conventions used in the drawing so the plat can be correctly interpreted by anyone reading it.

Question 39: A survey crew must work in the travel lane of a two-lane highway. Which federal document sets the standards for the temporary traffic control setup they must use?

The FGDC Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards
The ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (Correct answer)
OSHA 1926 Subpart P

Correct answer: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Part 6 of the MUTCD covers temporary traffic control for work zones, including survey operations.

Question 40: Which marking is commonly made on curbs or concrete to denote a point when no hardware can be set?

Chiseled X or cross cut (Correct answer)
Lumber crayon dot
Painted circle only
Flagging tied around the curb

Correct answer: Chiseled X or cross cut

A chiseled X is a durable, precise mark cut directly into concrete.

Question 41: A traverse with a 2,500 ft perimeter has a linear misclosure of 0.25 ft. What is its precision ratio?

1:2,500
1:10,000 (Correct answer)
1:1,000
1:25,000

Correct answer: 1:10,000

2,500/0.25 = 10,000, so the precision is 1:10,000.

Question 42: How should survey notes be recorded in the field?

In a bound field book (Correct answer)
Digitally only
On scrap paper for later copying
On the back of the site map

Correct answer: In a bound field book

Survey notes must be recorded systematically and permanently in a bound field book. This practice ensures that notes are organized, protected from loss, and legally defensible. A bound book prevents pages from being removed or altered, maintaining the integrity and chronological order of the survey record.

Question 43: What does 'azimuth' refer to in surveying?

A type of benchmark
A clockwise angle from north (Correct answer)
A unit of slope
A vertical elevation

Correct answer: A clockwise angle from north

Azimuth is a horizontal angle measured clockwise from a reference meridian, typically true North. It ranges from 0° to 360° and provides a unique and unambiguous direction for any line. Azimuths are widely used in surveying for defining directions and calculating coordinates.

Question 44: Under the 2021 ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements, what is the maximum allowable Relative Positional Precision for a survey?

0.10 feet plus 100 ppm
0.05 feet plus 20 ppm
0.07 feet (20 mm) plus 50 ppm (Correct answer)
0.20 feet plus 200 ppm

Correct answer: 0.07 feet (20 mm) plus 50 ppm

The ALTA/NSPS standards set Relative Positional Precision at 2 cm (0.07 ft) plus 50 parts per million at the 95% confidence level.

Question 45: How is parallax eliminated before taking readings through a telescope?

By changing the instrument height
By adjusting the leveling screws
By rotating the telescope to face right
By focusing the eyepiece on the crosshairs first, then focusing the objective on the target (Correct answer)

Correct answer: By focusing the eyepiece on the crosshairs first, then focusing the objective on the target

Focusing the crosshairs with the eyepiece and then the target with the objective makes the image and crosshairs lie in the same plane.

Question 46: Which practice best protects a total station during transport between setups?

Carrying it on the tripod over the shoulder through brush
Carrying it by the telescope
Removing it from the tripod and carrying it in its case, especially in a vehicle (Correct answer)
Leaving it mounted on the tripod in the truck bed

Correct answer: Removing it from the tripod and carrying it in its case, especially in a vehicle

Transporting the instrument in its case prevents shock and vibration damage, especially in vehicles or rough terrain.

Question 47: What is the most critical safety requirement in safety procedures?

Cost minimization
Speed of completion
Following all applicable safety regulations and wearing required PPE (Correct answer)
Working alone to avoid delays

Correct answer: Following all applicable safety regulations and wearing required PPE

Safety regulations and proper PPE use are the most critical requirements in safety procedures to prevent injury and ensure compliance.

Question 48: What is the purpose of a traverse adjustment?

To extend the survey area
To plot elevation contours
To measure area of a building
To correct for angular and distance errors (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To correct for angular and distance errors

Traverse adjustment is a mathematical procedure applied to survey data collected from a traverse (especially a closed traverse) to distribute accumulated errors. This process ensures that the traverse closes geometrically and that the coordinates of all points are consistent. It improves the overall accuracy and precision of the survey.

Question 49: What is the most critical safety requirement in technical measurements?

Speed of completion
Following all applicable safety regulations and wearing required PPE (Correct answer)
Cost minimization
Working alone to avoid delays

Correct answer: Following all applicable safety regulations and wearing required PPE

Safety regulations and proper PPE use are the most critical requirements in technical measurements to prevent injury and ensure compliance.

Question 50: Which first aid action is appropriate for a minor bleeding cut sustained while driving hubs?

Ignore it until the end of the day
Apply a tourniquet immediately
Pour gasoline on it to disinfect
Apply direct pressure with a clean dressing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Apply direct pressure with a clean dressing

Direct pressure with a clean dressing is the first-line treatment for controlling minor bleeding.

Question 51: Why must surveyors avoid conflicts of interest?

To preserve objectivity and fairness (Correct answer)
To gain more contracts
To reduce licensing fees
To avoid disclosing errors

Correct answer: To preserve objectivity and fairness

Surveyors must avoid conflicts of interest to ensure their professional judgment remains objective and unbiased. A conflict arises when a surveyor's personal interests or relationships could improperly influence their professional decisions or actions. Avoiding such conflicts is essential for maintaining public trust, upholding ethical standards, and ensuring fairness to all parties involved in a survey.

Question 52: A crew member records a wrong number in the field book. What is the accepted way to correct it?

Draw a single line through it and write the correct value nearby (Correct answer)
Tear out the page and recopy the notes
Erase it and write the correct value
Cover it with correction fluid

Correct answer: Draw a single line through it and write the correct value nearby

Field notes are legal records, so original entries must stay legible and never be erased.

Question 53: In survey field notes, what symbol or abbreviation typically denotes a benchmark?

BM (Correct answer)
HI
CP
TP

Correct answer: BM

BM is the standard abbreviation for benchmark, which is a point of known elevation used as a reference for leveling surveys.

Question 54: In reflectorless mode, which situation is most likely to cause a wrong distance?

Shooting a flat wall square to the line of sight
Shooting a target at short range
Using a correct ppm value
Aiming at the edge of a building where the laser footprint hits two surfaces (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Aiming at the edge of a building where the laser footprint hits two surfaces

When the beam footprint falls partly on a near surface and partly on a far one, the returned distance can be a mix or come from the wrong surface.

Question 55: What is the purpose of a 'turning point' (TP) in differential leveling?

A temporary point used to transfer elevation when the instrument must be moved (Correct answer)
A control monument for horizontal positioning
A point where the traverse changes direction
The point where the survey begins

Correct answer: A temporary point used to transfer elevation when the instrument must be moved

A turning point is a stable temporary point where both a foresight and backsight are taken, allowing the level instrument to be repositioned without losing elevation reference.

Question 56: What inspection procedure is essential for maintenance protocols?

The client determines inspection requirements
Systematic inspection following established checklists and standards (Correct answer)
Visual spot checks are sufficient
Inspection is only needed for final sign-off

Correct answer: Systematic inspection following established checklists and standards

Systematic inspections using established checklists and industry standards ensure quality and compliance at every stage.

Question 57: What is a metes and bounds description?

Zoning regulation
Plat map legend
A type of easement
Legal land description method (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Legal land description method

Metes and bounds is a traditional method of describing land parcels in legal documents, particularly in areas not covered by the Public Land Survey System. It defines property boundaries by describing distances (metes) and directions or angles (bounds) from specific natural or artificial monuments. This method creates a precise, sequential description of the perimeter of a property.

Question 58: On a subdivision plat, the note "10' U.E." next to a dashed line most likely indicates a:

10-foot unit elevation
10-foot unrecorded encroachment
10-foot unimproved extension
10-foot utility easement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10-foot utility easement

U.E. is the standard abbreviation for utility easement, usually drawn with dashed lines.

Question 59: How many square feet are in one acre?

40,000
45,360
36,000
43,560 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 43,560

One acre equals 43,560 sq ft, which is also 10 square chains.

Question 60: What is the main purpose of a written maintenance log for each instrument?

To record client billing
To track employee hours
To document calibrations, repairs, and checks so accuracy can be traced and defended (Correct answer)
To replace the manufacturer's warranty

Correct answer: To document calibrations, repairs, and checks so accuracy can be traced and defended

A maintenance log shows when an instrument was last checked or adjusted, which supports the quality of the survey data.

Question 61: What is a benchmark in surveying?

A fixed point of known elevation (Correct answer)
A type of GPS receiver
A control point for angles
A mark showing property lines

Correct answer: A fixed point of known elevation

A benchmark is a permanent, identifiable point on the ground or a structure whose elevation above or below a specific datum (like sea level) has been precisely determined. Surveyors use benchmarks as reference points for establishing elevations for other features. They are crucial for vertical control in surveying projects.

Question 62: In a heavily wooded area, which flagging color practice best helps the crew relocate survey points later?

Use a high-visibility color consistent with the project's color code (Correct answer)
Use black flagging for contrast with bark
Use no flagging to avoid vandalism
Use green flagging to blend with vegetation

Correct answer: Use a high-visibility color consistent with the project's color code

High-visibility flagging following a project color scheme makes points easy to find and identify.

Question 63: What is the primary purpose of a tailgate (toolbox) safety meeting before fieldwork?

To calibrate instruments
To assign billing codes
To complete the field book index
To review site-specific hazards and safe procedures with the crew (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To review site-specific hazards and safe procedures with the crew

Brief pre-job meetings identify the day's hazards and agree on controls before work begins.

Question 64: When recording GNSS antenna height on a tripod, what is most important?

Using the same height as the previous job
Recording the measurement type (slant or vertical) and the reference point measured to (Correct answer)
Measuring only once to save time
Rounding the height to the nearest 0.1 ft

Correct answer: Recording the measurement type (slant or vertical) and the reference point measured to

The software needs to know how and where the height was measured to reduce it to the antenna reference point correctly.

Question 65: What does a "fixed" RTK solution mean compared to a "float" solution?

Only code measurements are used
The receiver is mounted on a fixed pillar
Integer carrier-phase ambiguities are resolved, giving centimeter-level precision (Correct answer)
The base station coordinates are unknown

Correct answer: Integer carrier-phase ambiguities are resolved, giving centimeter-level precision

A fixed solution has resolved whole-cycle ambiguities, while a float solution is less precise, often decimeter-level.

Question 66: What is the main purpose of entering feature codes with each point in a data collector?

To calculate atmospheric corrections
To replace the need for control points
To identify point features and drive automated linework and mapping in the office (Correct answer)
To increase the accuracy of measured angles

Correct answer: To identify point features and drive automated linework and mapping in the office

Feature codes describe what each shot is and can automatically build lines and symbols during processing.

Question 67: Which item is used to temporarily mark the end of a tape length when chaining over the ground?

PK nail
Wooden hub
Chaining pin (Correct answer)
Rebar cap

Correct answer: Chaining pin

Chaining pins (taping arrows) mark tape ends and help count full tape lengths.

Question 68: Why do surveyors try to keep backsight and foresight distances about equal in differential leveling?

To eliminate rod-plumbness error
To make rod readings easier to read
To cancel collimation error and curvature/refraction effects (Correct answer)
To reduce the number of turning points

Correct answer: To cancel collimation error and curvature/refraction effects

Equal sight lengths make systematic errors equal on both sights, so they cancel in the elevation difference.

Question 69: Which type of legal description traces the perimeter of a parcel starting from a Point of Beginning?

Government rectangular
Geodetic description
Lot and block
Metes and bounds (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Metes and bounds

Metes and bounds descriptions trace parcel boundaries using courses and distances starting from a designated Point of Beginning.

Question 70: When taping down a steep slope, 'breaking tape' means:

Taping along the slope and correcting afterward
Replacing a damaged tape section
Measuring shorter horizontal segments and plumbing down at each one (Correct answer)
Applying a tension correction

Correct answer: Measuring shorter horizontal segments and plumbing down at each one

Breaking tape keeps the tape horizontal by measuring short segments and using a plumb bob at each point.

Question 71: Which skin rash–causing plant is identified by the saying 'leaves of three, let it be'?

Poison ivy (Correct answer)
Giant hogweed
Stinging nettle
Poison sumac

Correct answer: Poison ivy

Poison ivy has compound leaves with three leaflets and causes urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.

Question 72: Contour lines with short tick marks (hachures) pointing inward indicate:

A closed depression (Correct answer)
A benchmark location
A ridge line
A vertical cliff

Correct answer: A closed depression

Hachured contours show a depression whose ground falls toward the center.

Question 73: How should equipment be maintained for safety procedures operations?

Maintenance is optional for newer equipment
Inspect equipment annually only
Follow manufacturer-recommended preventive maintenance schedules (Correct answer)
Fix equipment only when it breaks

Correct answer: Follow manufacturer-recommended preventive maintenance schedules

Preventive maintenance following manufacturer recommendations ensures equipment reliability, safety, and longevity.

Question 74: What instrument condition does the two-peg test verify on an automatic or tilting level?

The line of sight is parallel to the level axis (horizontal) (Correct answer)
The rod graduations are correct
The tripod legs are stable
The vertical axis is truly plumb

Correct answer: The line of sight is parallel to the level axis (horizontal)

The two-peg test detects collimation error, where the line of sight is inclined relative to the true horizontal.

Question 75: A crew uses a prism with a -30 mm constant, but the total station is set to 0 mm. What happens to the measured distances?

Each distance is about 30 mm too long (Correct answer)
Distances are off by 30 mm per 100 m
Only vertical angles are affected
Each distance is about 30 mm too short

Correct answer: Each distance is about 30 mm too long

A -30 mm prism constant must be subtracted, so leaving it at 0 mm makes every distance 30 mm too long.

Question 76: How long is the National Tidal Datum Epoch used to compute tidal datums?

5 years
10 years
50 years
19 years (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 19 years

The 19-year epoch covers the full lunar nodal cycle.

Question 77: How many gradians (gons) make up a full circle?

6,400
400 (Correct answer)
360
200

Correct answer: 400

A full circle is 400 gon, so a right angle is 100 gon.

Question 78: A slope distance of 200.00 ft is measured between points with a 10.00 ft elevation difference. What is the horizontal distance?

199.50 ft
199.95 ft
190.00 ft
199.75 ft (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 199.75 ft

H = √(200² − 10²) = √39,900 ≈ 199.75 ft.

Question 79: A technician needs to mark a control point on a concrete sidewalk. Which marker is most appropriate?

Drill hole with a brass or aluminum disk set in epoxy (Correct answer)
Wooden lath
Rebar driven beside the walk
Wooden hub

Correct answer: Drill hole with a brass or aluminum disk set in epoxy

Disks epoxied into drilled holes are durable, precise points on concrete.

Question 80: Which ALTA/NSPS Table A item addresses the number and type of striped parking spaces?

Item 9 (Correct answer)
Item 13
Item 4
Item 18

Correct answer: Item 9

Table A Item 9 requires showing striping, number, and type of parking spaces, including accessible spaces.

Question 81: An RTK rover checks into a known control point and shows a 0.15 ft horizontal difference. What should the technician do first?

Adjust the control point coordinates to match
Verify the base setup, antenna heights, coordinate system, and localization before continuing (Correct answer)
Ignore it, since RTK is always accurate
Increase the elevation mask to 30 degrees

Correct answer: Verify the base setup, antenna heights, coordinate system, and localization before continuing

A failed check shot points to a setup, height, or coordinate system error, which must be resolved before collecting data.

Question 82: What is the convergence angle at a point on a grid projection?

The angle between grid north and geodetic (true) north (Correct answer)
The angle between the ellipsoid and geoid normals
The angle between magnetic north and true north
The difference between the grid scale factor and 1

Correct answer: The angle between grid north and geodetic (true) north

Convergence (the mapping angle) is the angle between grid north and geodetic north at a point.

Question 83: A crew member gets a tick bite during a woodland boundary survey. What's the recommended removal method?

Twist it quickly in circles
Burn the tick with a match
Smother it with petroleum jelly and wait
Grasp it close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers and pull straight up steadily (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Grasp it close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers and pull straight up steadily

The CDC recommends steady, upward pulling with fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick completely.

Question 84: A total station is moved from a 20°C truck cab to a 5°C job site. Following the common manufacturer rule of thumb, about how long should it acclimate before precise measuring?

No wait is needed for electronic instruments
About 30 minutes (Correct answer)
About 2 minutes
About 5 minutes

Correct answer: About 30 minutes

A common guideline is roughly 2 minutes per °C of temperature difference, so a 15°C change needs about 30 minutes.

Question 85: A circular (bull's-eye) bubble on a prism pole is out of adjustment. What is the most likely result?

The pole is not plumb when the bubble is centered, displacing the prism horizontally from the point (Correct answer)
The horizontal angle is unaffected and only elevations are wrong
The EDM cannot lock onto the prism
Distances measured to the prism are scaled incorrectly

Correct answer: The pole is not plumb when the bubble is centered, displacing the prism horizontally from the point

An out-of-adjustment pole bubble leaves the pole tilted, shifting the prism horizontally off the point and causing position errors.

Question 86: Before a GNSS survey, which item is a key equipment check?

The color of the data collector screen
Antenna cables and connectors for damage and a secure fit (Correct answer)
The weight of the receiver
The paint on the range pole

Correct answer: Antenna cables and connectors for damage and a secure fit

Damaged cables or loose connectors can cause signal loss and bad positions.

Question 87: A crew must survey across an active railroad. What is typically required before entering the railroad right-of-way?

Just checking a train schedule online
Notifying the local police only
Railroad permission and a railroad flagger or protection per the railroad's safety rules (Correct answer)
Nothing if the crew wears vests

Correct answer: Railroad permission and a railroad flagger or protection per the railroad's safety rules

Railroads require permits, roadway worker training, and often a railroad-provided flagger before work on their right-of-way.

Question 88: What code compliance requirement applies to quality inspection?

Follow codes only when inspectors are present
All work must comply with applicable local, state, and national codes (Correct answer)
Codes are guidelines, not requirements
Code compliance only matters for commercial projects

Correct answer: All work must comply with applicable local, state, and national codes

Code compliance is mandatory for all work, ensuring safety, quality, and legal adherence.

Question 89: A line bears N 60° E and is 200.00 ft long. What is its departure?

115.47 ft
346.41 ft
100.00 ft
173.21 ft (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 173.21 ft

Departure = 200 × sin 60° = 173.21 ft.

Question 90: Under ALTA/NSPS standards, which Table A item requires locating and showing substantial features observed in the process of conducting the fieldwork?

Item 19
Item 1
Item 20
Item 7 and Item 8 features (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Item 7 and Item 8 features

Table A Items 7 (building dimensions/area) and 8 (substantial features observed) cover visible improvements beyond the basic requirements.

Question 91: What is the correct procedure for correcting an error in handwritten field notes?

Use whiteout to cover the error
Draw a single line through the error and write the correction nearby (Correct answer)
Erase the mistake completely
Tear out the page and start over

Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error and write the correction nearby

Field note errors must be corrected by drawing a single line through the incorrect value, leaving it legible, and writing the corrected value beside it.

Question 92: What is the main purpose of a GNSS site calibration (localization)?

To set the prism constant
To lower the radio output power
To increase the number of tracked satellites
To fit GNSS-derived positions to local project control coordinates and elevations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To fit GNSS-derived positions to local project control coordinates and elevations

A localization computes a transformation so GNSS positions match the project's local control system.

Question 93: Federal regulations require notifying the FAA for construction or structures of what height above ground level, generally?

More than 200 feet (Correct answer)
More than 500 feet
More than 50 feet
More than 100 feet

Correct answer: More than 200 feet

Under 14 CFR Part 77, structures over 200 feet AGL (and others near airports) require FAA notice via Form 7460-1.

Question 94: Which reference ellipsoid is NAD 83 based on?

WGS 72
Clarke 1866
International 1924
GRS 80 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: GRS 80

NAD 83 uses the GRS 80 ellipsoid, while NAD 27 used Clarke 1866.

Question 95: Which OSHA standard requires protective systems for trench excavations that are 5 feet deep or more?

29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Correct answer)
29 CFR 1926 Subpart M
29 CFR 1910 Subpart D
40 CFR Part 122

Correct answer: 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P

Subpart P of the construction standards covers excavations, including sloping, shoring, and shielding.

Question 96: A FIRM shows a Zone VE along the coast. What does this zone indicate for a surveyor?

An area protected by a certified levee
A shallow flooding area with depths of 1 to 3 ft
An area of minimal flood hazard
A coastal high-hazard area with wave heights of 3 ft or more, with BFEs (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A coastal high-hazard area with wave heights of 3 ft or more, with BFEs

Zone VE is a coastal high-hazard area subject to wave action, with established BFEs.

Question 97: Which primary operational advantage does GNSS offer over traditional total station traversing on large-scale projects?

GNSS allows positions to be determined without intervisibility between stations (Correct answer)
GNSS eliminates the need for any field crew
GNSS is more accurate than total stations for distances under 100 meters
GNSS provides direct line-of-sight distance measurements

Correct answer: GNSS allows positions to be determined without intervisibility between stations

Unlike total station surveys that require unobstructed sightlines between consecutive points, GNSS receivers determine positions independently anywhere with a clear view of the sky, greatly increasing efficiency on large or obstructed sites.

Question 98: What does a coordinate system help establish in land surveying?

Survey dates
Feature descriptions
Land values
Precise spatial locations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Precise spatial locations

A coordinate system provides a framework for defining the precise spatial location of points on the Earth's surface using numerical values (e.g., Northing and Easting). This allows surveyors to accurately map, measure, and represent land features in a consistent and repeatable manner. It is fundamental for geospatial data integration.

Question 99: For centimeter-level RTK work, which solution type should the data collector show before storing a point?

Fixed (Correct answer)
Autonomous
DGPS
Float

Correct answer: Fixed

A fixed solution means integer ambiguities are resolved, which is needed for centimeter accuracy.

Question 100: What should the interior angles of a closed six-sided traverse sum to?

720° (Correct answer)
900°
540°
1,080°

Correct answer: 720°

The sum of interior angles is (n − 2) × 180°, so (6 − 2) × 180° = 720°.

Certified Survey Technician (CST) Exam

The CST certification validates the knowledge and skills of survey technicians in various levels of surveying practice.

100

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

70%

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