Practice Test Geeks(PS) Professional Licensed Surveyor Practice Test
← All PS Flashcard Decks

Surveying Methods & Techniques Flashcards

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

Read the first 7 Surveying Methods & Techniques flashcards as text

  1. In a closed traverse, the algebraic sum of latitudes and departures should equal:

    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.

  2. The Bowditch (Compass) Rule distributes traverse closure error proportionally to:

    Answer: The length of each course

    The Bowditch Rule distributes linear closure error to each course in proportion to the length of that course relative to the total traverse perimeter.

  3. Which method is most appropriate for locating a point that is inaccessible due to an obstacle?

    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.

  4. A backsight reading of 4.52 ft and a foresight reading of 7.18 ft are taken with a level. The elevation of the foresight turning point is:

    Answer: Benchmark elevation − 2.66 ft

    The elevation difference is FS − BS = 7.18 − 4.52 = +2.66, so the foresight point is 2.66 ft lower than the benchmark (subtract from HI).

  5. In stadia surveying, the horizontal distance formula using a horizontal line of sight is:

    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.

  6. A total station using the EDM measures slope distance. To obtain horizontal distance, the surveyor must also measure the:

    Answer: Vertical angle

    Horizontal distance = Slope distance × cos(vertical angle); the vertical angle is required to reduce slope distance to horizontal distance.

  7. The method of 'resection' in surveying allows a surveyor to:

    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).

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 — Test delivery, eligibility, fees, passing score, retake policy, score release, exam format, time limit · verified Oct 2026