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Survey Calculations & Coordinate Systems Flashcards

7 cards from real CST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. In the State Plane Coordinate System, which projection is normally used for a state that is long in the east-west direction?

    Answer: Lambert Conformal Conic

    Lambert Conformal Conic keeps scale distortion low along east-west bands, so it suits states that are wide east to west.

  2. How wide is each Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone in longitude?

    Answer: 6°

    UTM splits the globe into 60 zones, each 6° of longitude wide.

  3. What is the scale factor on the central meridian of a UTM zone?

    Answer: 0.9996

    UTM uses a central-meridian scale factor of 0.9996 to balance distortion across the zone.

  4. What false easting is assigned to the central meridian of every UTM zone?

    Answer: 500,000 m

    A false easting of 500,000 m keeps all eastings in a zone positive.

  5. Which reference ellipsoid is NAD 83 based on?

    Answer: GRS 80

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

  6. What is the convergence angle at a point on a grid projection?

    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.

  7. To turn a measured horizontal ground distance into a state plane grid distance, what do you multiply it by?

    Answer: The combined factor (grid scale factor × elevation factor)

    Grid distance = ground distance × combined factor, where the combined factor = scale factor × elevation factor.