FUNDAMENTAL SURVEYING Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield FUNDAMENTAL SURVEYING facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. In order of priority, which type of monument takes precedence in resolving boundary conflicts? → Natural monuments over artificial monuments over record distances
2. What is a 'monument' in boundary surveying? → A physical object marking a corner or boundary point of a survey
3. What is the central meridian scale factor in the UTM projection? → 0.9996
4. The length of a vertical curve is formally measured as: → The horizontal distance from PVC to PVT
5. What type of error is eliminated by observing both face-left and face-right with a theodolite? → Systematic errors including collimation and trunnion axis errors
6. Given coordinates N1000, E1000 and N1000, E1500, what is the bearing of the line? → N 90° E (due East)
7. In a traverse, the azimuth of each successive course is computed by: → Adding the previous azimuth to the deflection angle with sign
8. A traverse has a departure error of +0.32 ft and a latitude error of -0.45 ft. What is the linear closure? → 0.55 ft
9. An 'equal-area' map projection preserves which property? → Areas of regions
10. The middle ordinate (M) of a horizontal curve is the distance measured from: → The midpoint of the long chord to the midpoint of the arc
11. What is the Transit Rule for traverse adjustment? → Distribute errors proportional to the absolute values of latitudes and departures
12. When converting an azimuth of 310 degrees to a bearing, the result is: → N 50 W
13. What is the standard deviation of a series of measurements: 10.1, 9.9, 10.0, 10.2, 9.8? → 0.158
14. What is the 'combined factor' in state plane surveying? → Scale factor times elevation factor, used to convert ground distances to grid distances
15. Using the chord definition, the degree of curve (Dc) is the central angle subtended by a chord of: → 100 feet
16. In total station surveying, what does 'PPM' correction refer to? → Parts per million atmospheric correction applied to EDM measurements
17. What is the departure (ΔE) of a line with a length of 200 ft and a bearing of S 30° W? → -100.0 ft
18. What does 'GNSS' stand for in modern surveying? → Global Navigation Satellite System
19. A construction survey 'blue top' (grade stake) indicates: → A hub set at exact design grade elevation used to control earthwork
20. For a precision requirement of 1:5,000 on a 2,500-ft traverse, what is the maximum allowable linear closure? → 0.5 ft
21. When a compass bearing is recorded as N 0 E, it means the line is directed: → Due north
22. A line has an azimuth of 225 degrees. What is its equivalent bearing? → S 45 W
23. In surveying, the propagation of random errors follows which law? → Law of error propagation
24. What is the role of a CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station) network in GPS surveying? → It provides real-time or post-processed corrections to improve GPS accuracy
25. What is 'stadia' in surveying? → An optical distance measurement method using the rod intercept between stadia crosshairs
26. What is a 'turning point' (TP) in differential leveling? → A temporary point used to carry elevation forward
27. The minimum length of a crest vertical curve is most commonly governed by: → Stopping sight distance for a driver approaching an obstacle
28. A reverse curve is characterized by: → Two simple curves joined at a point where they turn in opposite directions
29. A steel tape calibrated at 68°F is used at 95°F. If the tape is 100 ft long, what is the temperature correction? → +0.018 ft
30. The semi-major axis of the GRS80 ellipsoid (used for NAD83) is approximately: → 6,378,137 m