LSIT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. The State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS) uses which map projections? → Lambert Conformal Conic and Transverse Mercator
2. Under the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), who holds legal authority to establish section corners that are lost and cannot be restored by evidence? → The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under federal law
3. In GPS surveying, 'PDOP' (Position Dilution of Precision) is a measure of: → The effect of satellite geometry on positional accuracy
4. A surveyor measures a slope distance of 250.00 ft at a vertical angle of +5°. What is the approximate horizontal distance? → 248.98 ft
5. A circular curve has a radius of 800 ft and a central angle (Δ) of 24°30'. What is the arc length? → 341.75 ft
6. A vertical curve connects a +3.5% grade with a -2.5% grade. The algebraic difference of grades (A) equals: → 6.0%
7. What is an easement? → Right to use another persons land for specific purpose without owning it
8. When reading a cadastral map, what does the term "parcel" refer to? → A unit of land that has been surveyed and mapped, often for legal or ownership purposes
9. The Bowring method in geodesy is used to solve which type of problem? → Converting ECEF Cartesian coordinates to geodetic latitude, longitude, and height
10. A random error in surveying measurements is best characterized as: → Unpredictable in sign and magnitude, following a normal distribution
11. A benchmark labeled 'BM 1452.67' on a USGS quadrangle map indicates what? → A vertical control point with an elevation of 1452.67 feet
12. The geoid is best described as: → An equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field approximating mean sea level
13. A surveyor measures a slope distance of 250.00 ft at a vertical angle of +3°30'. What is the approximate horizontal distance? → 249.31 ft
14. A surveyor uses a steel tape that is 100.02 ft long instead of exactly 100.00 ft. After measuring a 500 ft line, the corrected distance is: → 500.10 ft
15. In coordinate geometry (COGO), the inverse computation determines: → Distance and bearing between two known coordinate pairs
16. A laser level emits a beam that is 0.003° out of horizontal. At 200 ft, what vertical error does this introduce? → Approximately 0.010 ft
17. A NGS first-order horizontal control monument has a positional accuracy standard of: → 1:100,000
18. Which type of level is most affected by atmospheric refraction and Earth's curvature over long sights? → Trigonometric leveling
19. Which of the following best describes the legal effect of recording a subdivision plat in the public records? → It offers the lots for public sale and dedicates shown public areas to the public
20. A 'double proportionate measurement' in PLSS is used to restore which type of corner? → Interior quarter-section corner
21. What is right-of-way? → Land strip designated for transportation or utility purposes
22. What is a bearing in land surveying? → Direction as angle from north or south, measured east or west
23. Orthometric height is defined as the: → Height above the geoid, measured along the plumb line direction
24. Which vertical datum is the official vertical datum for the contiguous United States? → NAVD 88
25. Which curve element represents the distance along the arc from the PC to the PT? → Length of Curve (L)
26. A 'color of title' claim in adverse possession refers to: → A written instrument that appears to convey title but is defective in some legal respect
27. A GPS observation yields an ellipsoidal height h = 312.45 m. The GEOID12B undulation N at that point is −28.37 m. What is the NAVD 88 orthometric height? → 340.82 m
28. What is the purpose of using "scale" on a map? → To represent the proportion of distance on the map to the actual distance on the ground
29. On a survey map legend, a symbol showing a filled circle at a corner followed by a pipe description typically represents what? → A found or set iron pipe or monument
30. The Compass (Bowditch) Rule for traverse adjustment distributes the misclosure: → Proportional to the length of each traverse leg