Practice Test Geeks(LSIT) Land Surveyor in Training Practice Test
← All LSIT Flashcard Decks

Geodesy and Control Surveys Flashcards

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

Read the first 7 Geodesy and Control Surveys flashcards as text

  1. The geoid is best described as:

    Answer: An equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field approximating mean sea level

    The geoid is an equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field that closely approximates mean sea level globally.

  2. The difference between ellipsoidal height (h) and orthometric height (H) is called:

    Answer: Geoid undulation (N)

    Geoid undulation (N) is the signed vertical distance between the ellipsoid and the geoid at a given point, expressed as h = H + N.

  3. NAD 83 is based on which reference ellipsoid?

    Answer: GRS80

    NAD83 uses the GRS80 (Geodetic Reference System 1980) ellipsoid, while NAD27 was based on the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid.

  4. Which vertical datum is the official vertical datum for the contiguous United States?

    Answer: NAVD 88

    NAVD 88 (North American Vertical Datum of 1988) replaced NGVD29 as the official vertical datum for the contiguous United States.

  5. A benchmark is best defined as:

    Answer: A permanent marked point with a known elevation referenced to a vertical datum

    A benchmark is a permanent, stable monument with a known elevation referenced to a vertical datum such as NAVD 88.

  6. NAD 27 was based on which reference ellipsoid?

    Answer: Clarke 1866

    NAD27 used the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid with its origin fixed at Meades Ranch, Kansas.

  7. The National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) is maintained by which U.S. agency?

    Answer: NGS (National Geodetic Survey)

    The NGS, a division of NOAA, is responsible for maintaining the NSRS, which defines the national horizontal and vertical control networks.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. ncees.org — Passing score, score release, test delivery, eligibility, fees, exam format, retake policy, test dates · verified Oct 2026