NCEES MCQ Surveying 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A total station measures a horizontal angle of 47°23'48". Converted to decimal degrees, this equals:
- 47.3967°
- 47.3947°
- 47.3967°
- 47.397° (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 47.397°
Convert 23' to degrees: 23/60 = 0.3833°; convert 48" to degrees: 48/3600 = 0.01333°; total = 47 + 0.3833 + 0.0133 = 47.397°.
Question 2: In differential leveling, the term 'foresight' (FS) refers to:
- A rod reading taken on a point of known elevation
- A rod reading taken on a benchmark
- A rod reading taken on a new point to determine its elevation (Correct answer)
- The first reading taken at the start of a level run
Correct answer: A rod reading taken on a new point to determine its elevation
A foresight is a rod reading taken on an unknown or new point to determine its elevation from the current instrument height.
Question 3: The geodetic datum NAD83 is based on which reference ellipsoid?
- Clarke 1866
- GRS80 (Correct answer)
- WGS72
- Bessel 1841
Correct answer: GRS80
NAD83 uses the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid as its reference surface.
Question 4: A survey township contains how many sections?
- 16
- 24
- 36 (Correct answer)
- 48
Correct answer: 36
Under the Public Land Survey System, each township is divided into 36 sections, each nominally 1 mile × 1 mile (640 acres).
Question 5: Which type of error in surveying is characterized by being consistent in magnitude and sign under the same conditions?
- Random error
- Blunder
- Systematic error (Correct answer)
- Gross error
Correct answer: Systematic error
Systematic errors follow a definite pattern and remain consistent in sign and magnitude, making them correctable once the source is identified.
Question 6: The closure error of a traverse is 0.45 ft and the total perimeter is 3,600 ft. The precision ratio is:
- 1:7,000
- 1:8,000 (Correct answer)
- 1:9,000
- 1:10,000
Correct answer: 1:8,000
Precision ratio = 1 / (perimeter / error) = 1 / (3600 / 0.45) = 1 / 8000.
Question 7: A bearing of S 62°30' W is equivalent to which azimuth (measured clockwise from North)?
- 117°30'
- 207°30'
- 242°30' (Correct answer)
- 297°30'
Correct answer: 242°30'
South bearings start at 180°; S 62°30' W = 180° + 62°30' = 242°30' azimuth.
NCEES MCQ Surveying 2
A total station measures a horizontal angle of 47°23'48".
Converted to decimal degrees, this equals: