PS Land Measurement & Boundary Determination 3

Question 1

In the Public Land Survey System, a 'correction line' (standard parallel) is established every 24 miles north or south of the baseline primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Compensate for the convergence of meridians toward the poles

Answer

Standard parallels re-establish the standard 6-mile township width that is lost due to meridian convergence as surveys move north or south.

Question 2

A surveyor finds a bearing of N 45°30'00" E in an old deed referencing a local magnetic meridian with a known declination of 5°15' E. The true bearing of that line is:

Accepted Answer

N 50°45'00" E

Answer

When magnetic declination is east, true north is west of magnetic north, so add the eastward declination to the magnetic bearing to get the true bearing: 45°30' + 5°15' = 50°45' E.

Question 3

In a PLSS township, Section 6 is located in which corner of the township?

Accepted Answer

Northwest corner

Answer

Sections are numbered 1–36 starting in the northeast corner and snaking westward, so Section 6 falls in the northwest corner of the township.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes a 'latent ambiguity' in a deed description?

Accepted Answer

A defect that only appears when the description is applied on the ground

Answer

A latent ambiguity is not apparent from reading the deed alone but becomes evident when attempting to locate the described parcel on the ground.

Question 5

A surveyor computes a parcel's area using the coordinate (DMD) method and obtains 2.543 acres. The field measurement using a planimeter on the same plat gives 2.548 acres. The difference is most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Plotting scale error and the inherent imprecision of mechanical planimetry

Answer

Mechanical planimeters introduce small graphical and operator errors, so minor discrepancies from coordinate-method calculations are expected.

(PS) Professional Licensed Surveyor Practice Test

(PS) Professional Licensed Surveyor Practice Test

PS Land Measurement & Boundary Determination 3