Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Point A has coordinates N 5,432.18, E 3,217.45 and Point B has coordinates N 4,891.32, E 3,648.72. What is the departure (ΔE) from A to B?

+540.86 ft
−540.86 ft
+431.27 ft (Correct answer)
−431.27 ft

Correct answer: +431.27 ft

Departure ΔE = E_B − E_A = 3,648.72 − 3,217.45 = +431.27 ft (eastward).

Question 2: What is the angular difference between grid north and true (geodetic) north called?

Meridian convergence (mapping angle) (Correct answer)
Grid variation
Magnetic declination
Azimuth correction

Correct answer: Meridian convergence (mapping angle)

Meridian convergence (also called the mapping angle or gamma) is the angular difference between true north and grid north at a given point.

Question 3: What is the primary ethical obligation of a PS professional when a conflict of interest arises during professional liability & ethics activities?

Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary (Correct answer)
Proceed while favoring the outcome that benefits the professional personally
Resolve the conflict privately without informing stakeholders
Ignore the conflict if it does not directly affect the current task

Correct answer: Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary

The primary ethical obligation when a conflict of interest arises in professional liability & ethics is to disclose it to all relevant parties and, if necessary, recuse from the decision. This maintains professional integrity and stakeholder trust.

Question 4: A PS professional encounters an unfamiliar situation while performing geodetic datums & coordinate systems duties. What is the most appropriate first action?

Apply a solution from an unrelated field without verification
Proceed based on general assumptions to avoid delays
Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding (Correct answer)
Skip the task entirely and move to the next assignment

Correct answer: Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding

When facing unfamiliar situations in geodetic datums & coordinate systems, the most appropriate action is to consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor. This ensures safety, accuracy, and compliance while building professional knowledge.

Question 5: What is the main advantage of using a total station in surveying?

It is only used for small surveys.
It allows for quick and accurate distance and angle measurements (Correct answer)
It can be used for measuring elevations only.
It doesn't require a reference point.

Correct answer: It allows for quick and accurate distance and angle measurements

A total station is an electronic/optical instrument used in modern surveying that combines an electronic theodolite (for measuring angles) with an electronic distance meter (EDM). This integration allows surveyors to quickly and precisely measure both horizontal and vertical angles, as well as slope distances, from a single setup. It greatly improves efficiency and accuracy in field data collection for a wide range of surveying tasks.

Question 6: When a surveyor is asked to perform work outside their area of competency, the NSPS Code of Ethics recommends they:

Decline or associate with a qualified expert and disclose this to the client (Correct answer)
Rely on standard textbooks as sufficient preparation
Complete the work and submit it for peer review after delivery
Accept the work but hire a subcontractor secretly

Correct answer: Decline or associate with a qualified expert and disclose this to the client

Professional ethics require a surveyor to decline work beyond their competence or to associate with qualified specialists, always with the client's knowledge.

Question 7: Which statement best describes passive remote sensing?

The sensor emits energy and measures the signal reflected back from the target
The system operates only in darkness using artificial illumination from ground-based sources
The platform must be within 500 m of the target surface for effective data collection
The sensor detects naturally available energy such as reflected solar radiation or thermally emitted energy from Earth's surface (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The sensor detects naturally available energy such as reflected solar radiation or thermally emitted energy from Earth's surface

Passive sensors record energy from natural sources—primarily reflected sunlight or long-wave thermal emission—without generating their own illumination, unlike active sensors such as LiDAR or RADAR.

Question 8: The 'scale factor' applied in state plane coordinate (SPC) computations accounts for the difference between:

NAD83 and NAD27 datum origins
Grid distance and ground distance (Correct answer)
Astronomic latitude and geodetic latitude
Magnetic azimuth and grid azimuth

Correct answer: Grid distance and ground distance

The SPC scale factor (k) converts between ground distance and grid distance: Grid Distance = Ground Distance × k, correcting for the distortion introduced by map projection.

Question 9: The Double Meridian Distance (DMD) of the FIRST course of a traverse equals:

Zero, because the first point lies on the reference meridian
Twice the latitude of the first course
The departure of the first course (Correct answer)
The sum of all departures in the traverse

Correct answer: The departure of the first course

By definition, the DMD of the first course equals its own departure; subsequent DMDs are computed by adding successive departures.

Question 10: In stadia surveying, the horizontal distance formula using a horizontal line of sight is:

D = s / K + C
D = K × s + C (Correct answer)
D = K × s² + C
D = K / s + C

Correct answer: D = K × s + C

The stadia formula for horizontal distance is D = K × s + C, where K is the stadia interval factor (typically 100), s is the rod intercept, and C is the stadia constant.

Question 11: Trigonometric leveling computes the elevation difference between instrument station and target as:

Δh = D·tan(α) + HI − RR (Correct answer)
Δh = D·sin(α)
Δh = HI + D·cos(α) − RR
Δh = D / cos(α)

Correct answer: Δh = D·tan(α) + HI − RR

Trigonometric leveling: Δh = D·tan(α) + HI − RR, where D is horizontal distance, α is vertical angle, HI is instrument height, RR is rod/reflector height.

Question 12: In traverse computation, the term 'departure' specifically refers to:

The east-west component of a course (positive east, negative west) (Correct answer)
The north-south component of a course (positive north, negative south)
The angular difference between two consecutive bearings
The total straight-line distance from start to end of the traverse

Correct answer: The east-west component of a course (positive east, negative west)

Departure is the horizontal east-west component of a traverse course; latitude is the north-south component.

Question 13: Why are ethical standards important in surveying?

To limit surveyor responsibilities.
To create personal gain.
To ensure fairness and accuracy in survey results (Correct answer)
To avoid legal issues.

Correct answer: To ensure fairness and accuracy in survey results

Ethical standards are paramount in surveying because surveyors provide critical data that impacts property rights, construction safety, and legal decisions. Adhering to ethical guidelines ensures that measurements are unbiased, accurate, and reliable, fostering public trust and preventing conflicts of interest or fraudulent practices. This integrity is fundamental to the profession's credibility and the validity of its results.

Question 14: Under the Doctrine of Acquiescence, a boundary line may be legally established when:

A surveyor stakes a line and both owners pay for the survey
Both parties formally sign a boundary agreement notarized by a judge
A municipality approves the line through zoning ordinance
Adjacent owners have silently accepted a line as the boundary for the statutory period (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Adjacent owners have silently accepted a line as the boundary for the statutory period

Acquiescence occurs when adjoining landowners mutually recognize and accept a boundary line over a long period, which can legally fix the boundary regardless of deed calls.

Question 15: A deed calls for a boundary 'running N 45° E, 200 feet to an iron pin.' What type of legal description element is '200 feet'?

Closure call
Bearing call
Distance call (Correct answer)
Monument call

Correct answer: Distance call

The distance call (200 feet) specifies how far to travel in the given direction to reach the next point or monument.

Question 16: Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in traverse & leveling calculations to verify that PS professional standards are being met?

Informal self-assessment without external validation
Annual reviews conducted exclusively by non-technical management
Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks (Correct answer)
Relying on client satisfaction surveys as the sole measure of quality

Correct answer: Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks

Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks are the most effective quality assurance methods in traverse & leveling calculations, providing objective, measurable evidence that PS standards are consistently met.

Question 17: Which of the following is a fundamental principle of legal descriptions & deed interpretation as it applies to Professional Licensed Surveyor?

Relying solely on personal experience without reference to guidelines
Avoiding documentation to streamline workflow efficiency
Prioritizing speed of completion over accuracy and compliance
Systematic evaluation and adherence to established industry standards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Systematic evaluation and adherence to established industry standards

A fundamental principle of legal descriptions & deed interpretation in Professional Licensed Surveyor is the systematic evaluation and adherence to established industry standards, which ensures consistency, quality, and regulatory compliance across all professional activities.

Question 18: In the context of construction layout & staking, what role does continuous professional development play for PS practitioners?

It is optional and only needed for career advancement
It serves primarily as a networking opportunity with no practical benefit
It is required only during the first year of certification
It ensures practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It ensures practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuous professional development is essential in construction layout & staking because it ensures PS practitioners remain current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices, maintaining competency throughout their careers.

Question 19: Under common law riparian doctrine, a landowner whose property borders a non-navigable stream owns to:

The center thread of the stream (ad medium filum aquae) (Correct answer)
The low-water mark on the near bank only
Only the land above the ordinary high-water mark
The high-water mark on the near bank only

Correct answer: The center thread of the stream (ad medium filum aquae)

At common law, adjacent owners of a non-navigable stream each own to the center thread of the stream (ad medium filum aquae), subject to the other owner's equal rights.

Question 20: What is the primary ethical obligation of a PS professional when a conflict of interest arises during legal descriptions & deed interpretation activities?

Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary (Correct answer)
Resolve the conflict privately without informing stakeholders
Proceed while favoring the outcome that benefits the professional personally
Ignore the conflict if it does not directly affect the current task

Correct answer: Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary

The primary ethical obligation when a conflict of interest arises in legal descriptions & deed interpretation is to disclose it to all relevant parties and, if necessary, recuse from the decision. This maintains professional integrity and stakeholder trust.

Question 21: What is the term for the fractional sections created along the north and west edges of a PLSS township to account for convergence and measurement errors?

Lots
Government lots (Correct answer)
Excess sections
Aliquot parts

Correct answer: Government lots

Government lots are irregular fractional sections found along the north and west boundaries of a township where closure errors and convergence are absorbed.

Question 22: Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry is distinguished from classical photogrammetry primarily by its ability to:

Produce imagery in wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum using consumer cameras
Achieve centimeter-level accuracy without any ground control points under all conditions
Operate effectively and produce accurate 3D results from a single high-resolution photograph
Simultaneously reconstruct 3D scene geometry and solve for camera positions from unordered overlapping image sets (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Simultaneously reconstruct 3D scene geometry and solve for camera positions from unordered overlapping image sets

SfM uses automatic feature detection and matching across many overlapping images to jointly solve for camera poses and sparse 3D point positions, requiring no predefined camera locations or calibration—ideal for drone-based surveys.

Question 23: In the State Plane Coordinate System, which map projection is used for states or zones that are elongated in the east-west direction?

Albers Equal-Area Conic
Transverse Mercator
Lambert Conformal Conic (Correct answer)
Oblique Mercator

Correct answer: Lambert Conformal Conic

Lambert Conformal Conic is used for east-west elongated zones because it minimizes distortion along the two standard parallels.

Question 24: What does a land surveyor do in boundary determination?

They provide legal advice.
They make changes to property laws.
They measure and mark property boundaries (Correct answer)
They create new land plots.

Correct answer: They measure and mark property boundaries

A land surveyor's core responsibility in boundary determination is to physically measure the land according to legal descriptions and historical records. They then place physical markers (like iron rods or concrete monuments) on the ground to clearly indicate these established property lines. This process provides a tangible and legally defensible definition of property limits.

Question 25: Stadia tacheometry uses the rod intercept (top wire minus bottom wire reading) and a stadia constant (typically 100) to determine:

Elevation difference between instrument and rod only
The magnetic bearing of the line of sight
The vertical angle to the prism target
Horizontal distance from instrument to rod (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Horizontal distance from instrument to rod

Horizontal distance = K × rod intercept × cos²(vertical angle), where K is the stadia interval factor (usually 100).

Question 26: When a deed description closes mathematically but the actual parcel differs from what was intended, the appropriate remedy is typically:

Adverse possession claim by the grantee
Re-survey by the original surveyor only
Deed reformation by a court of equity (Correct answer)
Automatic correction by the county recorder

Correct answer: Deed reformation by a court of equity

Deed reformation is an equitable remedy where a court corrects a written deed to reflect the true agreement of the parties when the document fails to do so due to mistake.

Question 27: What does the abbreviation 'POB' stand for in a metes and bounds description?

Point of Bearing
Point of Beginning (Correct answer)
Perimeter of Boundary
Place of Boundary

Correct answer: Point of Beginning

POB stands for Point of Beginning, which is the starting and ending reference point of a closed metes and bounds description.

Question 28: In a PLSS description, 'T.3N., R.5E.' means the township is located:

Tier 3 and Range 5 measured from the nearest survey corner
3 miles north and 5 miles east of the county seat
3 townships north and 5 ranges east of the principal meridian and baseline (Correct answer)
3rd row north and 5th column east of the state capital

Correct answer: 3 townships north and 5 ranges east of the principal meridian and baseline

PLSS township descriptions identify position by tiers (T.) north or south of the baseline and ranges (R.) east or west of the principal meridian.

Question 29: In differential leveling, a backsight (BS) of 8.42 ft is taken on BM-A with elevation 312.65 ft. What is the Height of Instrument (HI)?

316.07 ft
304.23 ft
321.07 ft (Correct answer)
308.65 ft

Correct answer: 321.07 ft

HI = Elevation of BM + BS reading = 312.65 + 8.42 = 321.07 ft.

Question 30: What arithmetic check verifies differential leveling notes for a closed loop returning to the starting benchmark?

ΣBS − ΣFS should equal zero (Correct answer)
Each turning-point elevation must be a whole-foot value
ΣBS + ΣFS should equal the total loop distance
The count of BS readings must exceed FS readings by one

Correct answer: ΣBS − ΣFS should equal zero

For a closed leveling loop, ΣBS − ΣFS = 0 confirms arithmetic; for an open line it equals the net elevation change.

Question 31: In RTK GPS surveying, the 'initialization' phase establishes:

The datum transformation parameters
PDOP threshold acceptance
Integer ambiguity resolution of the carrier phase (Correct answer)
The satellite ephemeris download

Correct answer: Integer ambiguity resolution of the carrier phase

RTK initialization resolves the integer number of carrier-phase wavelengths (ambiguity resolution) between satellite and receiver, enabling centimeter-level real-time positioning.

Question 32: Why is land measurement important in construction projects?

To help with zoning and permits.
To prevent land value fluctuation.
To calculate material costs.
To ensure proper land use and placement of structures (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To ensure proper land use and placement of structures

Accurate land measurement is critical in construction projects to ensure that all structures, roads, and utilities are designed and built according to plans and within legal boundaries. Surveyors establish precise property lines, elevations, and the exact placement of proposed structures, preventing costly errors, disputes, and ensuring compliance with zoning regulations. This foundational data is vital for the entire construction lifecycle, ensuring safety and functionality.

Question 33: In the DMD method, the Double Meridian Distance of the SECOND course equals:

Sum of all departures up through the second course
Departure of second course only
Twice the departure of the second course
DMD of first course + departure of first course + departure of second course (Correct answer)

Correct answer: DMD of first course + departure of first course + departure of second course

The propagation rule is: DMDₙ = DMDₙ₋₁ + Depₙ₋₁ + Depₙ; for the second course this equals DMD₁ + Dep₁ + Dep₂.

Question 34: What is the combined scale factor (CSF) used for in State Plane coordinate computations?

Computing geoid undulation
Converting bearings to azimuths
Transforming between datums
Converting ground distances directly to grid distances (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Converting ground distances directly to grid distances

The combined scale factor (elevation factor × grid scale factor) converts ground distances directly to grid distances in SPCS.

Question 35: A licensed surveyor is asked to testify as an expert witness and realizes their opinion would harm their longtime client. Ethically, the surveyor should:

Request that the court excuse them due to personal bias
Refuse to testify under any circumstances
Adjust their opinion to protect the client relationship
Provide honest, objective testimony regardless of the impact on the client (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Provide honest, objective testimony regardless of the impact on the client

Expert witnesses are obligated to provide truthful, objective opinions; shading testimony to favor a client relationship is unethical and potentially perjurious.

Question 36: Under the Public Trust Doctrine, the state holds tidal and navigable waters in trust for the public. This doctrine most directly affects surveyors when:

Setting corners for inland agricultural parcels
Computing areas for subdivision plats
Locating PLSS section corners in the Great Plains
Establishing boundaries adjacent to tidal or navigable waters (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Establishing boundaries adjacent to tidal or navigable waters

The Public Trust Doctrine means the boundary between private upland and publicly held tidelands/navigable riverbeds must be carefully established, often at the ordinary high-water mark.

Question 37: When staking a sewer line by the invert method, the cut noted on the stake refers to:

The amount of soil to remove to reach natural ground
The depth from the top of the stake to the pipe invert elevation (Correct answer)
The difference between manhole rim and pipe crown
The depth of the trench below existing grade

Correct answer: The depth from the top of the stake to the pipe invert elevation

In sewer staking, 'cut' is the vertical distance from the top of the offset stake to the design pipe invert, telling the excavator exactly how deep to dig.

Question 38: When a deed calls for a boundary along a non-navigable stream, under common law the boundary is presumed to run:

Along the high-water mark on the grantee's side of the stream
At the low-water mark of the nearest bank
Along the thread (center line) of the stream (Correct answer)
Along the ordinary high-water mark on both banks

Correct answer: Along the thread (center line) of the stream

Under the ad medium filum aquae doctrine, ownership of a non-navigable stream extends to its centerline (thread) from each bank.

Question 39: Which exception in a deed conveyance most accurately reserves a strip of land from the grant?

Exception (Correct answer)
Condition
Reservation
Easement

Correct answer: Exception

An exception withholds a specific portion of land from the grant, meaning that parcel was never conveyed and title remains with the grantor.

Question 40: During a GPS static survey, a minimum of how many satellites must be simultaneously observed to obtain a 3D position fix?

6
2
3
4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 4

A minimum of four satellites are required for a 3D GPS position fix: three satellites determine position in three spatial dimensions and a fourth resolves the receiver clock error.

Question 41: What is the importance of using accurate measurements in land boundary determination?

To reduce survey costs.
To improve real estate sales.
To determine land value.
To prevent legal disputes and ensure clear property boundaries (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To prevent legal disputes and ensure clear property boundaries

Accurate measurements are paramount in land boundary determination because even small errors can lead to significant legal conflicts between property owners. Precise surveys establish unambiguous property lines, which are essential for property transactions, construction, and avoiding costly litigation. This ensures clarity and certainty regarding land ownership.

Question 42: When a surveyor is asked to serve as an expert witness, the primary duty of the expert is to:

Advocate for the client who retained them
Provide impartial, objective opinion based on professional knowledge (Correct answer)
Refuse to testify against other licensed surveyors
Only testify about matters explicitly listed in their license

Correct answer: Provide impartial, objective opinion based on professional knowledge

Expert witnesses must provide impartial and objective testimony based on their professional expertise, regardless of which party retained them.

Question 43: Which angular measurement defines a point's position in the direction perpendicular to the equatorial plane on a geodetic ellipsoid?

Reduced latitude
Geocentric latitude
Geodetic latitude (Correct answer)
Geodetic longitude

Correct answer: Geodetic latitude

Geodetic (ellipsoidal) latitude is the angle between the ellipsoidal normal at a point and the equatorial plane.

Question 44: Using the same two points (A: N 5,432.18, E 3,217.45 and B: N 4,891.32, E 3,648.72), what is the horizontal distance AB?

825.4 ft
692.0 ft (Correct answer)
431.3 ft
540.9 ft

Correct answer: 692.0 ft

Distance = √(ΔN² + ΔE²) = √(540.86² + 431.27²) = √478,523 ≈ 692.0 ft.

Question 45: What is the ellipsoidal flattening (f) of GRS80, the ellipsoid underlying NAD83?

1/298.257222101 (Correct answer)
1/300.000000000
1/297.000000000
1/298.257223563

Correct answer: 1/298.257222101

GRS80 has a flattening of 1/298.257222101, making it nearly identical to WGS84's 1/298.257223563.

Question 46: A surveyor must offset around an obstacle on a straight line. After placing a 90° angle and measuring 30 ft perpendicular to the line, how far must the surveyor offset back to return to the original line?

60 ft
15 ft
30 ft (Correct answer)
45 ft

Correct answer: 30 ft

To return to the original line after a perpendicular offset of 30 ft, the surveyor must offset the same 30 ft back in the opposite direction at the far end of the obstacle.

Question 47: What term describes the PLSS legal description 'NE¼ of the SW¼ of Section 14, Township 3 North, Range 5 East'?

Monument description
Lot and block description
Metes and bounds description
Aliquot part description (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Aliquot part description

A description using quarter-quarter section notation within a numbered section is called an aliquot part description in the PLSS framework.

Question 48: The 'record plat' rule in subdivisions holds that lot lines shown on a duly recorded subdivision plat:

Expire 20 years after recordation unless re-recorded
Are always superseded by subsequent deed calls in individual lot conveyances
Are only binding if separately signed by each lot purchaser
Constitute constructive notice to all subsequent purchasers of the lots (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Constitute constructive notice to all subsequent purchasers of the lots

A recorded subdivision plat is a public document providing constructive notice; all lot purchasers are charged with knowledge of the lot dimensions and conditions shown.

Question 49: What is the significance of the 'elevation mask angle' setting in GNSS receivers?

It excludes satellites below a set elevation to avoid severe atmospheric delays and multipath near the horizon (Correct answer)
It limits the maximum satellite elevation used to reduce multipath from high angles
It sets the minimum PDOP before a fix is accepted
It defines the antenna tilt correction threshold

Correct answer: It excludes satellites below a set elevation to avoid severe atmospheric delays and multipath near the horizon

The elevation mask (typically 10°–15°) rejects low-elevation satellites whose signals travel through more atmosphere, suffer greater multipath, and degrade solution quality.

Question 50: On a construction project with GPS machine control, the surveyor's primary responsibility includes:

Performing all cut and fill calculations for the operator
Operating the GPS base station antenna during grading
Establishing and verifying control points and the calibration surface model used by the machine (Correct answer)
Inspecting GPS antenna cables on the machine

Correct answer: Establishing and verifying control points and the calibration surface model used by the machine

The licensed surveyor must establish accurate control, verify the design surface model, and confirm calibration so that machine control operates from correct data.

Question 51: Under the doctrine of 'agreed boundaries,' two adjoining landowners may legally fix a disputed boundary by oral agreement if:

There is a genuine uncertainty about the true boundary location and both parties acquiesce to the agreed line (Correct answer)
The agreed line is later confirmed by a professional survey that matches the deed record
The agreement is witnessed by a licensed land surveyor and filed with the county recorder
The state statute of frauds is waived in writing by both parties before the agreement is made

Correct answer: There is a genuine uncertainty about the true boundary location and both parties acquiesce to the agreed line

Agreed boundary doctrine requires an actual doubt about the true line's location plus mutual recognition and acquiescence to a fixed line, which can ripen into a legal boundary without a written instrument.

Question 52: What is a boundary survey?

Surveying for construction projects.
Surveying air space.
Surveying land for agriculture.
Defining property lines and boundaries (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Defining property lines and boundaries

A boundary survey is a specific type of land survey focused entirely on identifying, locating, and marking the precise legal limits of a property. Its primary purpose is to clearly delineate where one property ends and another begins, based on legal descriptions and existing monuments. This is distinct from surveys for construction or agriculture, which might use boundary information but have different primary objectives.

Question 53: In plane-table surveying, the method where the instrument is set up at the unknown point and oriented by sighting known points is called:

Resection (three-point problem) (Correct answer)
Traversing
Radiation
Intersection

Correct answer: Resection (three-point problem)

The three-point problem (resection) on a plane table involves locating the table's position by drawing rays from three known points visible on the sheet without moving the table.

Question 54: What is the purpose of the GNSS signal observable called 'pseudorange'?

The range corrected for ionospheric delay only
The true geometric range from satellite to antenna
The measured range biased by receiver and satellite clock errors (Correct answer)
The carrier phase range with integer ambiguity removed

Correct answer: The measured range biased by receiver and satellite clock errors

Pseudorange is the code-based range measurement that contains the true geometric distance plus receiver clock error, satellite clock error, and atmospheric delays.

Question 55: What is photogrammetry in surveying?

Using drones for surveying.
Using photographs to create accurate measurements and maps (Correct answer)
Using satellite images for land mapping.
Measuring land boundaries with a tape.

Correct answer: Using photographs to create accurate measurements and maps

Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements from photographs, especially for recovering the exact positions of surface points. In surveying, it involves taking overlapping images, often from drones or aircraft, and using specialized software to process them into detailed 2D maps, 3D models, and elevation data. This technique is highly efficient for mapping large or inaccessible areas, providing comprehensive visual and measurable information.

Question 56: Under the Equal Footing Doctrine, when a new state is admitted to the Union, it acquires title to:

Beds of navigable waters within its boundaries (Correct answer)
All federal land within its borders
All PLSS sections numbered 16 and 36
Mineral rights beneath all private land

Correct answer: Beds of navigable waters within its boundaries

The Equal Footing Doctrine grants newly admitted states title to the beds of navigable waters, placing them on equal legal footing with the original thirteen states.

Question 57: Which element is typically NOT required on a recorded subdivision plat under most state statutes?

The appraised market value of each lot (Correct answer)
Licensed surveyor's seal and signature
Dedication language for public rights-of-way
Bearings and distances of all boundary lines

Correct answer: The appraised market value of each lot

Market value appraisals are not a surveying or plat-recording requirement; plats must show legal descriptions, dimensions, certifications, and dedications.

Question 58: When staking a building corner using coordinate geometry, the surveyor computes an angle and distance from a control point. What is this layout method called?

Triangulation
Three-point intersection
Polar stakeout (Correct answer)
Resection

Correct answer: Polar stakeout

Polar stakeout (also called radial stakeout) uses a computed bearing and distance from a known control point to locate a design point.

Question 59: Which method is most appropriate for locating a point that is inaccessible due to an obstacle?

Intersection from two known stations (Correct answer)
Direct chaining
Open traverse
Radiation

Correct answer: Intersection from two known stations

Intersection (triangulation from two or more known control points) allows a surveyor to locate an inaccessible point by measuring angles from accessible stations.

Question 60: What is the purpose of the ethical guidelines in surveying?

To guide professional behavior and maintain integrity (Correct answer)
To promote competitive behavior.
To increase profits.
To reduce surveyor workload.

Correct answer: To guide professional behavior and maintain integrity

Ethical guidelines in surveying provide a framework for professional conduct, ensuring that surveyors uphold the highest standards of honesty, objectivity, and competence. These guidelines protect the public interest, maintain the reputation of the profession, and help surveyors navigate complex situations with integrity. They are essential for fostering trust and accountability within the industry, ensuring reliable and fair services.

Question 61: In RTK surveying, 'latency' refers to:

The delay between when a correction is generated at the base and when it is applied at the rover (Correct answer)
The time required to resolve integer ambiguities
The time for the rover to acquire satellite lock
The age of the ephemeris data used

Correct answer: The delay between when a correction is generated at the base and when it is applied at the rover

RTK latency is the transmission and processing delay between correction generation at the base and its application at the rover, typically 0.1–1 second.

Question 62: In a closed traverse, the algebraic sum of latitudes and departures should equal:

Zero (Correct answer)
The total perimeter distance
The azimuth closure
The area of the traverse

Correct answer: Zero

In a geometrically closed traverse, the sum of all northing components (latitudes) and all easting components (departures) must each equal zero for perfect closure.

Question 63: In the PLSS, section 6 is always located in which corner of a township?

Southwest corner
Northwest corner (Correct answer)
Southeast corner
Northeast corner

Correct answer: Northwest corner

In PLSS townships, sections are numbered starting with Section 1 in the northeast corner and serpentining to Section 36 in the southeast, placing Section 6 in the northwest corner.

Question 64: A developer pressures a surveyor to depict a lot as larger than it actually is to improve its marketability. The surveyor's correct response is to:

Comply if the difference is less than 5%
Seek a second opinion from another surveyor before deciding
Comply but note the discrepancy in an internal memo
Refuse and explain that falsifying measurements violates professional ethics and law (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse and explain that falsifying measurements violates professional ethics and law

Misrepresenting property dimensions, regardless of the magnitude, is professional fraud and a direct violation of ethical duties and licensing law.

Question 65: When using the Transit Rule to balance a traverse, the correction applied to the latitude of a course is proportional to:

An equal correction applied to every course
The absolute value of that course's departure
The course length divided by the total traverse perimeter
The absolute value of that course's latitude divided by the sum of all absolute latitudes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The absolute value of that course's latitude divided by the sum of all absolute latitudes

The Transit Rule weights latitude corrections by each course's absolute latitude relative to the total sum of absolute latitudes.

Question 66: Sidelap between adjacent aerial flight strips is typically maintained at what percentage for standard mapping projects?

5–10%
70–80%
50–60%
20–30% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 20–30%

A sidelap of 20–30% is the standard specification for aerial mapping; this ensures complete ground coverage with no gaps between strips while keeping the total number of flight lines and mission cost manageable.

Question 67: What is leveling in surveying?

Creating a topographic map of land.
Determining the elevation of points using a leveling instrument (Correct answer)
Measuring the distance between two points.
Calculating the area of a land parcel.

Correct answer: Determining the elevation of points using a leveling instrument

Leveling is a core surveying operation used to determine the relative heights or elevations of different points on the Earth's surface. Surveyors use a leveling instrument, such as a dumpy level or an automatic level, along with a graduated staff, to establish a horizontal line of sight and measure vertical distances. This process is essential for construction projects, drainage design, and creating accurate topographic maps.

Question 68: On a topographic map, two contour lines of different elevations may touch but never cross because:

A single point on Earth cannot simultaneously have two different elevations (Correct answer)
Crossing contours indicate map errors only in flat terrain
It would make the map too difficult to read
Cartographic standards prohibit it

Correct answer: A single point on Earth cannot simultaneously have two different elevations

Each contour line represents a unique elevation, so two different contours crossing would imply one ground point has two elevations, which is physically impossible.

Question 69: A deed to 'riparian land' along a non-navigable stream presumptively grants the owner title to:

The near bank only
The opposite bank
Only the dry land above the ordinary high water mark
The thread (centerline) of the stream (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The thread (centerline) of the stream

Under the common law riparian doctrine, ownership of land bordering a non-navigable stream extends to the thread (centerline) of the stream unless the deed expressly limits the boundary to the bank.

Question 70: On a topographic map, contour lines that are spaced very close together indicate:

A depression
Gentle slopes
Flat terrain
Steep slopes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Steep slopes

Closely spaced contour lines represent steep terrain because the elevation changes rapidly over a short horizontal distance.

Question 71: Which principle from the NSPS Code of Ethics requires surveyors to act in the public interest even when it conflicts with a client's wishes?

Competency
Loyalty
Confidentiality
Primacy of public welfare (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Primacy of public welfare

The primacy of public welfare principle holds that protection of public safety and welfare supersedes the interests of individual clients.

Question 72: In profile leveling, intermediate foresights (IFS) differ from turning-point foresights (FS) in that:

IFS readings require computing a new HI before continuing
IFS and FS readings serve identical computational purposes
IFS readings yield ground elevations but do not establish a new HI — the instrument is not moved (Correct answer)
IFS readings are taken only at whole-station intervals along the alignment

Correct answer: IFS readings yield ground elevations but do not establish a new HI — the instrument is not moved

An intermediate foresight is a minus-sight only (Elev = HI − IFS); no turning point is established, so the HI remains unchanged.

Question 73: What is the term for a monument placed on a meander line where it intersects a section line in the PLSS?

Witness corner
Closing corner
Meander corner (Correct answer)
Mile corner

Correct answer: Meander corner

A meander corner is set at the intersection of a meander line with a township or section line to document the approximate location of a navigable waterway.

Question 74: When running a differential level circuit, the purpose of using equal backsight and foresight distances is to eliminate the effect of:

Curvature of the earth and atmospheric refraction (Correct answer)
Temperature fluctuations on the rod
Rod settlement and atmospheric refraction only
Instrument centering error and parallax

Correct answer: Curvature of the earth and atmospheric refraction

Balancing backsight and foresight distances cancels systematic errors due to earth curvature and atmospheric refraction, since both affect the readings equally.

Question 75: What is the primary ethical obligation of a PS professional when a conflict of interest arises during boundary law & riparian rights activities?

Resolve the conflict privately without informing stakeholders
Proceed while favoring the outcome that benefits the professional personally
Ignore the conflict if it does not directly affect the current task
Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Disclose the conflict to all relevant parties and recuse from the decision if necessary

The primary ethical obligation when a conflict of interest arises in boundary law & riparian rights is to disclose it to all relevant parties and, if necessary, recuse from the decision. This maintains professional integrity and stakeholder trust.

Question 76: In the DMD area method, 2A (double area) for the entire traverse equals:

Σ(Departure × DMD) for all courses
The absolute value of Σ(Latitude × DMD) for all courses (Correct answer)
Σ(Latitude + Departure) × DMD for all courses
Σ(Latitude × Departure) for all courses

Correct answer: The absolute value of Σ(Latitude × DMD) for all courses

The DMD method yields 2A = |Σ(Lat × DMD)|; divide by 2 for the actual area of the traverse.

Question 77: A PS professional encounters an unfamiliar situation while performing boundary law & riparian rights duties. What is the most appropriate first action?

Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding (Correct answer)
Proceed based on general assumptions to avoid delays
Apply a solution from an unrelated field without verification
Skip the task entirely and move to the next assignment

Correct answer: Consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor before proceeding

When facing unfamiliar situations in boundary law & riparian rights, the most appropriate action is to consult relevant standards, guidelines, or a qualified supervisor. This ensures safety, accuracy, and compliance while building professional knowledge.

Question 78: In photogrammetric topographic mapping, what is the principal purpose of ground control points (GCPs)?

To identify cultural features on the ground
To set the contour interval for the map
To define the map border coordinates
To georeference and scale aerial imagery to real-world coordinates (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To georeference and scale aerial imagery to real-world coordinates

GCPs are surveyed points with known coordinates used to georeference aerial or satellite imagery, enabling accurate measurement of positions and elevations.

Question 79: When documenting activities related to legal descriptions & deed interpretation, which practice is considered essential for PS certification holders?

Recording only outcomes while omitting the methods and processes used
Completing documentation only when requested by auditors or supervisors
Maintaining comprehensive records that include procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies (Correct answer)
Keeping documentation in personal notes that are not accessible to other team members

Correct answer: Maintaining comprehensive records that include procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies

Comprehensive documentation that includes procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies is essential in legal descriptions & deed interpretation. This supports quality assurance, enables peer review, and satisfies regulatory and audit requirements.

Question 80: The method of 'resection' in surveying allows a surveyor to:

Measure an inaccessible distance by triangulation
Extend a straight line past an obstacle
Determine their own position by observing known control points (Correct answer)
Set a line perpendicular to a baseline

Correct answer: Determine their own position by observing known control points

Resection determines an unknown instrument station location by measuring angles to three or more known control points (e.g., Pothenot's method).

Question 81: Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in legal descriptions & deed interpretation to verify that PS professional standards are being met?

Relying on client satisfaction surveys as the sole measure of quality
Informal self-assessment without external validation
Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks (Correct answer)
Annual reviews conducted exclusively by non-technical management

Correct answer: Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks

Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks are the most effective quality assurance methods in legal descriptions & deed interpretation, providing objective, measurable evidence that PS standards are consistently met.

Question 82: When documenting activities related to topographic & contour mapping, which practice is considered essential for PS certification holders?

Maintaining comprehensive records that include procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies (Correct answer)
Completing documentation only when requested by auditors or supervisors
Keeping documentation in personal notes that are not accessible to other team members
Recording only outcomes while omitting the methods and processes used

Correct answer: Maintaining comprehensive records that include procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies

Comprehensive documentation that includes procedures, observations, results, and any anomalies is essential in topographic & contour mapping. This supports quality assurance, enables peer review, and satisfies regulatory and audit requirements.

Question 83: When distributing closure error in a differential leveling circuit among multiple sections, the correction for each section is proportional to:

The absolute elevation change in each section
An equal share distributed to every turning point
The length of that section relative to the total circuit length (Correct answer)
The number of turning points in each section

Correct answer: The length of that section relative to the total circuit length

Leveling misclosure is distributed proportionally to section length — longer sections absorb a larger share of the closure error.

Question 84: The base-to-height (B/H) ratio in aerial stereoscopy is defined as:

The ratio of forward overlap percentage to sidelap percentage
The ratio of air base distance between exposure stations to flying height, controlling stereo height accuracy (Correct answer)
The ratio of focal length to flying height
The ratio of photo footprint width to photo footprint length

Correct answer: The ratio of air base distance between exposure stations to flying height, controlling stereo height accuracy

The B/H ratio (air base divided by flying height) governs the geometry of stereo height determination—a larger B/H improves vertical accuracy but increases relief displacement.

Question 85: The 'inverse' computation in coordinate geometry refers to:

Running a traverse in reverse to verify closure
Converting grid distances to ground distances using a scale factor
Computing coordinates from a given bearing and distance
Computing the bearing and horizontal distance between two points of known coordinates (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Computing the bearing and horizontal distance between two points of known coordinates

Inverse computation solves for the direction (bearing) and distance between two coordinate pairs — the reverse of the forward (direct) problem.

Question 86: A geodetic survey finds a height difference of +2.352 m between two benchmarks using spirit leveling. This is best described as a difference in:

Orthometric heights (Correct answer)
Dynamic heights
Geoid heights
Ellipsoidal heights

Correct answer: Orthometric heights

Spirit leveling directly determines orthometric height differences referenced to the geoid (gravity field), not ellipsoidal heights.

Question 87: What is the primary purpose of performing a 'calibration baseline' survey for EDM instruments?

To determine the scale error and zero-error (additive constant) of the distance measurement system (Correct answer)
To verify the instrument's vertical angle accuracy
To check the instrument's pointing accuracy at long range
To measure the prism constant of each prism in the inventory

Correct answer: To determine the scale error and zero-error (additive constant) of the distance measurement system

An EDM calibration baseline with precisely known distances allows the surveyor to solve for the instrument's additive constant and scale correction factor using a least-squares fit.

Question 88: When a deed description calls for a monument and also gives a bearing and distance, and these conflict, general rules of construction give priority to:

The distance over both the monument and the bearing
The monument over the bearing and distance call (Correct answer)
The bearing call over the monument
The bearing and distance equally over the monument

Correct answer: The monument over the bearing and distance call

The standard hierarchy of conflicting calls places monuments first, then natural calls, then artificial calls, then adjoiner calls, then directions and distances, and finally area.

Question 89: Which legal concept allows a long-term, open, notorious, and hostile possessor to gain title to land without a deed?

Dedication
Adverse possession (Correct answer)
Prescriptive easement
Eminent domain

Correct answer: Adverse possession

Adverse possession allows a claimant who openly, continuously, notoriously, and hostilely possesses another's land for the statutory period to acquire fee title by operation of law.

Question 90: A deed conveys 'the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 14.' How many acres does this parcel contain in a regular section?

160 acres
40 acres
80 acres (Correct answer)
320 acres

Correct answer: 80 acres

The SE¼ of a section contains 160 acres; the north half of that equals 80 acres.

Question 91: Which component of a digital level is responsible for converting the bar-code rod image into a height reading?

CCD or CMOS image sensor (Correct answer)
Electrolevel bubble
Phase detection circuit
Compensator pendulum

Correct answer: CCD or CMOS image sensor

Digital levels use a CCD or CMOS sensor to capture the bar-code pattern on the rod and correlate it to a stored reference pattern to compute the reading.

Question 92: A building is to be laid out with corners at known state plane coordinates. The first step after setting up over a control point is to:

Orient the instrument by backsighting another control point of known coordinates (Correct answer)
Set up a temporary benchmark for elevation control
Establish a local grid parallel to the building walls
Measure the building diagonal to check squareness

Correct answer: Orient the instrument by backsighting another control point of known coordinates

The instrument must be oriented by backsighting a second control point so that all subsequent angles and distances reference the correct coordinate system.

Question 93: The legal concept of 'privity of estate' is relevant to adverse possession because it:

Establishes the date a deed was first recorded
Permits successive possessors to tack their periods of possession together (Correct answer)
Requires that adverse use be exclusive to a single claimant
Allows a surveyor to set a new corner without a court order

Correct answer: Permits successive possessors to tack their periods of possession together

Privity allows the time periods of successive adverse possessors to be combined (tacked) if each possessor transferred possession to the next in a connected chain.

Question 94: A surveyor is asked to sign and seal plans prepared by an unlicensed individual. This practice is commonly called:

Plan stamping or rubber stamping (Correct answer)
Sub-licensing
Delegation of authority
Professional mentorship

Correct answer: Plan stamping or rubber stamping

Signing and sealing work that the licensed surveyor did not supervise or prepare is called 'rubber stamping' and is prohibited as it misrepresents professional oversight.

Question 95: Which of the following best describes the geoid undulation (N) and its role in GNSS-derived elevations?

N is the PDOP value used to weight vertical measurements
N is the separation between the ellipsoid and the geoid, used to convert ellipsoid heights to orthometric heights via H = h − N (Correct answer)
N is the atmospheric refraction correction applied to GNSS heights
N is the ellipsoid height; it converts orthometric heights to GPS heights

Correct answer: N is the separation between the ellipsoid and the geoid, used to convert ellipsoid heights to orthometric heights via H = h − N

Geoid undulation N relates ellipsoid height h (from GNSS) to orthometric height H (used in engineering and surveying) by H = h − N.

Question 96: A condominium surveyor's plat must typically show which additional element not required on a standard boundary survey?

Setback distances from federal wetlands
Floor plans and vertical limits of each unit (Correct answer)
Traffic impact analysis for the building
Soil classification of the underlying land

Correct answer: Floor plans and vertical limits of each unit

Condominium plats must delineate individual unit boundaries in three dimensions, including floor-to-ceiling vertical limits for each unit as required by state condominium acts.

Question 97: A batter board is set for building excavation. What is the primary function of the saw kerf or nail in the batter board?

To provide a precise reference point from which string lines can be consistently re-established (Correct answer)
To indicate the direction of the building's main axis
To mark the depth of footing excavation
To anchor the survey control monument

Correct answer: To provide a precise reference point from which string lines can be consistently re-established

The kerf or nail in the batter board gives a fixed, repeatable notch so string lines can be removed and replaced in exactly the same position during construction.

Question 98: On a topographic map, contour lines that represent a cliff or vertical face will appear to:

Converge into a single line or overlap (Correct answer)
Run parallel to the base of the feature
Form a perfect circle
Be widely spaced with depression ticks

Correct answer: Converge into a single line or overlap

At a vertical or near-vertical cliff, multiple contour lines representing different elevations converge or merge because there is no horizontal distance separating them.

Question 99: Which principle governs the interpretation of ambiguous deed calls when later-prepared documents conflict with earlier ones?

Senior rights prevail over junior rights in conflicting conveyances (Correct answer)
Later conveyances supersede earlier conveyances in all cases
Junior deeds always take priority when recorded first
Ambiguity is resolved by the surveyor's professional judgment alone

Correct answer: Senior rights prevail over junior rights in conflicting conveyances

The principle of seniority holds that earlier (senior) conveyances have priority over later (junior) ones when boundaries conflict.

Question 100: In trigonometric leveling, when measuring elevation differences over long distances, the surveyor must apply corrections for:

Solar radiation and wind drift
Temperature and humidity effects on the EDM only
Magnetic declination and instrument height only
Earth curvature and atmospheric refraction (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Earth curvature and atmospheric refraction

Over long sight distances, the combined correction for earth curvature (+0.0206 × d²) and atmospheric refraction (−0.0028 × d²) must be applied, yielding a net correction of about +0.0178 × d² (d in miles).

Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam

The PS exam assesses a candidate's understanding of the principles and practices of land surveying, covering legal, technical, and ethical aspects required for professional licensure.

100

Questions

300 min

Time Limit

70%

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

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