Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) - Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which methodology uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle?

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) (Correct answer)
Statistical Process Control only
Lean Manufacturing exclusively
Root Cause Elimination

Correct answer: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

The PDSA cycle is a cornerstone of CQI methodology, providing a structured approach to testing and implementing changes.

Question 2: When must flaggers be used instead of signs alone in a highway work zone, per MUTCD guidance?

When the work zone is on a divided highway
Whenever more than two workers are present in the work zone
When sight distance, lane closure, or traffic complexity requires human control that signs cannot provide (Correct answer)
Only when directed by a licensed traffic engineer

Correct answer: When sight distance, lane closure, or traffic complexity requires human control that signs cannot provide

Flaggers are required when traffic conditions, sight distance limitations, or complex merges exceed what static signing alone can safely manage.

Question 3: In a standard PLSS township, where is Section 1 located?

Northeast corner (Correct answer)
Southwest corner
Northwest corner
Southeast corner

Correct answer: Northeast corner

Section 1 is always located in the northeast corner of the township, with numbering proceeding westward and then snaking southward in a boustrophedon pattern.

Question 4: Which contract type places the MOST financial risk on the surveying firm for cost overruns?

Time-and-materials contract
Unit-price contract
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract
Lump-sum (fixed-price) contract (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Lump-sum (fixed-price) contract

Under a lump-sum contract, the firm bears all cost overrun risk since the price is fixed regardless of actual costs incurred.

Question 5: In a surveying firm, 'project closeout' activities MOST commonly include:

Final invoice submission, file archiving, client acceptance documentation, and lessons learned review (Correct answer)
Immediately starting a new project without any review
Returning all field equipment to the manufacturer
Deleting all project files to save server space

Correct answer: Final invoice submission, file archiving, client acceptance documentation, and lessons learned review

Project closeout formalizes completion through final billing, records archiving per retention requirements, client sign-off, and lessons learned documentation.

Question 6: For a complex subdivision survey, the project manager sets up a resource-leveling process. This technique is used to:

Ensure all surveyors are paid the same salary
Resolve resource conflicts by adjusting task timing without compromising project goals (Correct answer)
Distribute monuments evenly across the site
Level the terrain before fieldwork

Correct answer: Resolve resource conflicts by adjusting task timing without compromising project goals

Resource leveling adjusts task schedules to eliminate overallocation of personnel or equipment while maintaining project objectives.

Question 7: A surveyor discovers that a prism pole was not fully extended to 2.000 m during data collection but was set at 1.987 m. This is an example of which error type?

Personal mistake (blunder) (Correct answer)
Systematic blunder
Instrumental error
Random error

Correct answer: Personal mistake (blunder)

Failing to fully seat a prism pole is a personal mistake or blunder, not a systematic error, because it results from operator carelessness rather than a consistent bias.

Question 8: Under most state licensing laws, which action would most likely result in license revocation?

Using a new software tool not yet universally adopted
Submitting fraudulent documents to the licensing board (Correct answer)
Making a minor computational error corrected in the next business day
Taking on a project slightly outside your primary specialty

Correct answer: Submitting fraudulent documents to the licensing board

Fraud against the licensing board, such as falsifying documents, is among the most serious violations warranting license revocation.

Question 9: Which scheduling technique is BEST suited for identifying dependencies between survey project tasks?

Random task assignment
Gantt chart with no dependency lines
Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) / network diagram (Correct answer)
Alphabetical task listing

Correct answer: Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) / network diagram

PDM network diagrams explicitly show task relationships (finish-to-start, start-to-start, etc.) and dependencies, enabling critical path analysis.

Question 10: Which QC procedure best detects systematic errors in GPS baseline measurements?

Increasing the observation session duration
Using a higher-precision receiver
Comparing independently computed baselines that form closed loops (Correct answer)
Collecting data during solar maximum

Correct answer: Comparing independently computed baselines that form closed loops

Closing GPS baselines into loops and computing the loop misclosure is the primary method for detecting systematic errors in GNSS surveys.

Question 11: A title that is held 'in fee simple absolute' is best characterized as:

Ownership conditioned on continuous use for a specified purpose
The most complete form of ownership, unlimited in duration and freely alienable (Correct answer)
Ownership shared equally between grantor and grantee
Ownership for the life of the grantee only

Correct answer: The most complete form of ownership, unlimited in duration and freely alienable

Fee simple absolute is the broadest estate in land, conferring unlimited ownership rights with no conditions on duration, use, or transfer.

Question 12: Which coordinate system is used as the basis for State Plane Coordinates in the contiguous United States?

Universal Transverse Mercator only
Stereographic projection only
Albers Equal Area Conic only
Lambert Conformal Conic and Transverse Mercator projections (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Lambert Conformal Conic and Transverse Mercator projections

State Plane Coordinate systems use either Lambert Conformal Conic (east-west states) or Transverse Mercator (north-south states) projections.

Question 13: What is the purpose of using a 'check shot' to a known point during a total station survey?

To verify the instrument setup has not shifted or been disturbed (Correct answer)
To calibrate the instrument's EDM
To establish a new control point
To compute the local magnetic declination

Correct answer: To verify the instrument setup has not shifted or been disturbed

Periodically observing a check shot to a known point confirms that the instrument setup remains undisturbed and the orientation is still valid.

Question 14: In a survey notes abstract, what is the significance of recording the instrument's 'index error' or 'circle reading' at the start and end of a traverse?

It records the battery charge level of the instrument
It provides a check on the instrument's calibration and detects systematic errors during the observation session (Correct answer)
It is required only for GPS surveys, not total station work
It documents the color and model of the total station

Correct answer: It provides a check on the instrument's calibration and detects systematic errors during the observation session

Recording the instrument's index error or circle readings before and after observations provides a quality check on instrument calibration and helps detect systematic errors that could affect accuracy.

Question 15: When a surveyor reviews a prior survey and finds it to be materially incorrect, the NSPS standards suggest the reviewing surveyor should:

Publish the errors publicly to warn clients
Contact the prior surveyor to discuss findings before taking further action (Correct answer)
Immediately file a board complaint against the prior surveyor
Correct the plat without notifying anyone

Correct answer: Contact the prior surveyor to discuss findings before taking further action

NSPS standards promote professional courtesy by requiring a surveyor to first contact the original surveyor before escalating criticism or complaints.

Question 16: Quality control (QC) in survey project management PRIMARILY involves:

Ordering supplies and equipment
Scheduling employee performance reviews
Marketing the firm's services to new clients
Reviewing data and deliverables against project standards before submission (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Reviewing data and deliverables against project standards before submission

QC ensures that fieldwork, computations, and deliverables meet the specified accuracy standards and client requirements before final delivery.

Question 17: Which of the following is essential for all documentation entries?

Only the practitioners first name
Just the date without a signature
Date, time, signature, and credentials of the person documenting (Correct answer)
A stamp with the facility name only

Correct answer: Date, time, signature, and credentials of the person documenting

Complete entries require date, time, and authenticated signature with credentials for accountability and legal validity.

Question 18: What information must appear in the 'caption' or 'heading' block of a survey plat to identify the project?

Survey type, property location (county, state), client name, and date of survey (Correct answer)
The surveyor's home address and cell phone number
Only the legal description and parcel number
Only the client's name and phone number

Correct answer: Survey type, property location (county, state), client name, and date of survey

The caption block must identify the nature of the survey, the property's jurisdiction and location, the client, and the date so the plat can be properly indexed and referenced.

Question 19: How many Gunter's chains are equal to one statute mile?

120
80 (Correct answer)
100
40

Correct answer: 80

One Gunter's chain equals 66 feet, so 80 chains × 66 feet = 5,280 feet, which equals one statute mile.

Question 20: Which scenario represents a risk associated with using outdated aerial photography as a survey reference?

The imagery may show features that no longer exist or miss new construction (Correct answer)
Aerial photos always lack sufficient resolution for survey purposes
Outdated imagery causes GPS signal interference
Using aerial imagery violates ALTA/NSPS standards

Correct answer: The imagery may show features that no longer exist or miss new construction

Outdated aerial imagery may not reflect current ground conditions, leading to inaccurate feature depiction or missed changes to the site.

Question 21: A surveyor notices that benchmark elevations derived from a long level circuit differ by 0.08 ft from published NGS values. The best first QC step is to:

Re-run the level circuit in the opposite direction to isolate the error (Correct answer)
Average the two values and use the result
Accept the difference since it is within allowable tolerance
File a report with NGS to update the published benchmark

Correct answer: Re-run the level circuit in the opposite direction to isolate the error

Running the circuit in reverse provides an independent check that isolates whether the discrepancy is in the surveyor's work or in the published benchmark.

Question 22: When a navigable river changes course by 'avulsion,' the effect on the riparian boundary is that:

The boundary remains at the former channel location prior to the sudden change (Correct answer)
The state acquires title to the abandoned channel bed
The boundary is reestablished at the midpoint between old and new channels
The boundary moves with the new channel location

Correct answer: The boundary remains at the former channel location prior to the sudden change

Avulsion — a sudden, violent change in a watercourse — does not move the riparian boundary, which remains at the pre-avulsion channel.

Question 23: A 'meander line' in a PLSS survey:

Approximates the mean high water line of a navigable water body for area calculation purposes, but is not the legal boundary (Correct answer)
Marks the dividing line between federal and state-owned riverbeds
Follows the thalweg (center) of a navigable stream
Establishes the legal boundary of a riparian land grant

Correct answer: Approximates the mean high water line of a navigable water body for area calculation purposes, but is not the legal boundary

Meander lines approximate the mean high water mark of navigable bodies of water to calculate land areas; the actual legal boundary is the water line itself, not the meander line.

Question 24: During a control survey, the surveyor computes an angular misclosure of 42 seconds for a 7-sided polygon traverse. What is the per-angle correction?

+42 seconds to one angle
−6 seconds per angle (Correct answer)
+6 seconds per angle
−3 seconds per angle

Correct answer: −6 seconds per angle

The misclosure of 42 seconds is distributed equally by subtracting 6 seconds (42 ÷ 7) from each measured interior angle.

Question 25: Which document type formally defines the accuracy standards that a land survey must meet before being delivered to the client?

The project specifications or scope of work (Correct answer)
Field notes
The plat certificate
The deed description

Correct answer: The project specifications or scope of work

Project specifications or the scope of work define the required accuracy class, methods, and deliverable standards that QC must verify before project delivery.

Question 26: Which statistical measure describes the spread of repeated observations around their mean value?

Mean absolute error
Root mean square residual
Probable error
Standard deviation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Standard deviation

Standard deviation (σ) quantifies the dispersion of individual observations about the mean and is the fundamental measure of precision.

Question 27: What role does data collection play in quality improvement?

It provides objective evidence for identifying trends and measuring progress (Correct answer)
It is only needed for regulatory audits
It is optional if staff agree on the problem
It replaces professional judgment entirely

Correct answer: It provides objective evidence for identifying trends and measuring progress

Data-driven decision making provides objective evidence, helping identify patterns and measure the impact of improvement efforts.

Question 28: Which GPS QC metric measures the ratio of valid observations to total expected observations during a session?

Data completeness (tracking ratio) (Correct answer)
Observation-to-noise ratio
Multipath ratio
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

Correct answer: Data completeness (tracking ratio)

Data completeness or tracking ratio expresses the percentage of epochs where the receiver successfully tracked satellites, with low values indicating poor observing conditions.

Question 29: Which methodology uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle?

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) (Correct answer)
Lean Manufacturing exclusively
Root Cause Elimination
Statistical Process Control only

Correct answer: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

The PDSA cycle is a cornerstone of CQI methodology, providing a structured approach to testing and implementing changes.

Question 30: A surveyor is asked to certify an 'as-built' survey for a completed structure. What does this certification primarily convey to the recipient?

That the structure was built with high-quality materials
That the surveyor guarantees no future settlement or movement
That the building has passed all municipal inspections
That the structure's actual constructed dimensions and location conform to the approved design plans within stated tolerances (Correct answer)

Correct answer: That the structure's actual constructed dimensions and location conform to the approved design plans within stated tolerances

An as-built certification attests that the surveyor has measured and verified that the constructed improvements match the design plans within the tolerances specified in the project requirements.

Question 31: When performing a survey for a lender requiring ALTA/NSPS standards, which risk mitigation step is required regarding zoning information?

The surveyor must obtain and review a zoning letter or report as an optional Table A item if requested (Correct answer)
The surveyor must independently verify all zoning classifications without client instruction
The surveyor must show zoning information on the face of the plat by default
Zoning information is outside surveyor scope and need not be addressed

Correct answer: The surveyor must obtain and review a zoning letter or report as an optional Table A item if requested

Under ALTA/NSPS standards, zoning classification and setbacks are Table A optional items; if selected by the client, the surveyor must obtain current zoning information from the jurisdiction.

Question 32: A surveyor sets up a total station and observes the same direction in both face-left and face-right positions. The primary purpose is to:

Reduce the effect of atmospheric refraction
Satisfy state licensing board requirements for observations
Double the number of measurements for averaging
Eliminate errors due to horizontal and vertical circle eccentricity and collimation error (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Eliminate errors due to horizontal and vertical circle eccentricity and collimation error

Observing in both face positions (direct and reverse) cancels systematic instrumental errors including horizontal collimation, vertical index, and circle eccentricity errors.

Question 33: In a GPS survey, what does a PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision) value greater than 6 indicate?

The ionospheric correction model is invalid
The receiver has lost lock on all satellites
Poor satellite geometry that may degrade positional accuracy (Correct answer)
Excellent satellite geometry for high accuracy

Correct answer: Poor satellite geometry that may degrade positional accuracy

PDOP > 6 indicates poor satellite geometry where satellites are clustered close together, weakening the three-dimensional position solution.

Question 34: In a PLSS township, the 'excess' or 'deficiency' in measurement is placed in which sections?

Sections 31, 32, 35, and 36 in the south tier
The center section (Section 16) of the township
Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the northeast corner
The sections along the north and west boundaries of the township (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The sections along the north and west boundaries of the township

Under the PLSS design, all excess or deficiency is thrown into the sections along the north and west boundaries, which contain the fractional lots.

Question 35: When estimating project duration for a topographic survey, which factor has the GREATEST impact on field time?

The client's preferred report format
Office software licensing costs
Terrain complexity and vegetation density (Correct answer)
The color of the survey crew's vests

Correct answer: Terrain complexity and vegetation density

Terrain complexity and vegetation density directly affect instrument setup time, line-of-sight, and crew movement speed.

Question 36: What is a 'witness corner' in PLSS surveying?

A corner whose establishment was observed by two licensed surveyors
A corner set at the exact intersection of two section lines
A corner marked by a bearing tree instead of a physical monument
An auxiliary monument set to reference the true corner position when that location is physically inaccessible (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An auxiliary monument set to reference the true corner position when that location is physically inaccessible

A witness corner is an auxiliary monument set on a section line at a measured distance from the true corner when that corner falls in a body of water, on a cliff, or in another inaccessible location.

Question 37: Which communication method is MOST appropriate for formally documenting client approval of a final plat before recording?

A phone call with no follow-up
A casual conversation at a site visit
A text message
A written email or letter with confirmation of approval, retained in the project file (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A written email or letter with confirmation of approval, retained in the project file

Written documentation of client approval creates a clear record that protects the surveyor if disputes arise after the plat is recorded.

Question 38: A project manager for a large ALTA/NSPS survey creates a risk register. Which risk would be MOST commonly identified for this survey type?

Risk that the client moves to a different state
Risk that the surveyor's vehicle color is unfashionable
Risk of discovering unrecorded easements or encroachments that expand research and fieldwork scope (Correct answer)
Risk that the client changes the company name

Correct answer: Risk of discovering unrecorded easements or encroachments that expand research and fieldwork scope

Unrecorded easements or encroachments are common ALTA survey risks that can significantly increase research, fieldwork, and reporting requirements.

Question 39: A 'prescriptive easement' differs from adverse possession primarily in that:

Prescriptive easements must be established by court action, not by use alone
Prescriptive use must be permissive, not hostile
A prescriptive easement results in a use right rather than fee title to the land (Correct answer)
Adverse possession requires a shorter statutory period than prescriptive easement

Correct answer: A prescriptive easement results in a use right rather than fee title to the land

Adverse possession extinguishes the original owner's title and vests fee ownership in the adverse possessor, while a prescriptive easement confers only a right of use.

Question 40: A survey crew discovers that a control monument used for orientation has been disturbed after completing a day's fieldwork. The correct QC response is to:

Apply a rotation correction to all collected data
Average the day's data with data from a reliable monument
Use the disturbed monument only for interior shots, not boundary shots
Void the day's data and re-observe from verified control (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Void the day's data and re-observe from verified control

Data collected from a disturbed or unreliable control monument must be voided and re-observed from verified control to ensure accuracy and legal defensibility.

Question 41: When a deed conveys land 'to the center of the road,' the grantor is presumed to convey:

Only an easement appurtenant to the road
Fee simple title free of any road rights
Only to the edge of the road right-of-way
Title to the centerline of the road subject to the public easement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Title to the centerline of the road subject to the public easement

The common law presumption is that a conveyance to a road boundary carries title to its centerline, encumbered by the public right-of-way.

Question 42: Which of the following constitutes a conflict of interest for an RPLS?

Simultaneously representing both buyer and seller in a disputed boundary without disclosure (Correct answer)
Referring a client to a title company with no financial relationship
Using modern GPS equipment on a traditional boundary survey
Working for two different clients in unrelated counties

Correct answer: Simultaneously representing both buyer and seller in a disputed boundary without disclosure

Representing parties with opposing interests in the same matter without disclosure and consent creates a direct conflict of interest.

Question 43: Which document defines the minimum technical standards for the preparation of subdivision plats in most US jurisdictions?

Federal Highway Administration standards
State statutes and local subdivision ordinances adopted by the governing jurisdiction (Correct answer)
ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards
USGS topographic mapping standards

Correct answer: State statutes and local subdivision ordinances adopted by the governing jurisdiction

Subdivision plat requirements are governed by state enabling statutes and local municipal or county subdivision ordinances, which vary by jurisdiction.

Question 44: A 'gap' in the public land survey system refers to:

An area of unsurveyed public land
Land reserved by the federal government
An unintentional space between two adjoining parcels not conveyed to either (Correct answer)
A closing error in a traverse calculation

Correct answer: An unintentional space between two adjoining parcels not conveyed to either

A gap is an area of land left between two conveyances that was not included in either deed, creating a parcel with no recorded owner.

Question 45: What is the purpose of 'double centering' (direct and reverse) when prolonging a straight line with a transit or total station?

To determine the true North azimuth by solar observation
To eliminate the effect of a misaligned line of sight (collimation error) when extending the line forward (Correct answer)
To measure the horizontal distance by stadia
To measure the vertical angle to a distant target

Correct answer: To eliminate the effect of a misaligned line of sight (collimation error) when extending the line forward

Double centering averages the forward points set on face left and face right, canceling collimation error when extending a line past the instrument.

Question 46: Class 2 high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) is required for survey workers on or adjacent to roadways with traffic speeds up to:

35 mph
45 mph (Correct answer)
55 mph
25 mph

Correct answer: 45 mph

ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 vests are required for workers exposed to traffic speeds up to 45 mph; Class 3 is required above that threshold.

Question 47: A traverse with a linear closure of 1:10,000 means:

The angular error is 1 second per 10,000 feet
The error of closure is 1 unit for every 10,000 units traversed (Correct answer)
The allowable misclosure is 0.001 feet per station
The traverse closes within 10,000 feet

Correct answer: The error of closure is 1 unit for every 10,000 units traversed

A precision ratio of 1:10,000 indicates that the linear error of closure is 1 unit for every 10,000 units of total traverse length.

Question 48: What is the primary QC benefit of computing the 'compass rule' (Bowditch) adjustment vs. simply accepting raw traverse coordinates?

It corrects angular errors before linear errors
It distributes linear misclosure proportionally to leg length, producing consistent adjusted coordinates (Correct answer)
It automatically weights measurements by instrument precision
It eliminates all measurement errors from the traverse

Correct answer: It distributes linear misclosure proportionally to leg length, producing consistent adjusted coordinates

The compass rule adjusts latitudes and departures in proportion to each leg's length, distributing linear misclosure to produce geometrically consistent final coordinates.

Question 49: What is the 'horizontal distance' component measured by a total station when the slope distance and vertical angle are known?

HD = SD × tan(VA)
HD = SD / sin(VA)
HD = SD × sin(VA)
HD = SD × cos(VA) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: HD = SD × cos(VA)

Horizontal distance equals slope distance multiplied by the cosine of the vertical angle (HD = SD × cos(VA)), since the horizontal component is adjacent to the vertical angle in the right triangle.

Question 50: What is the primary purpose of computing 'residuals' during a least squares adjustment?

To identify observations that may contain blunders by examining unusually large residuals (Correct answer)
To determine the final adjusted coordinates
To compute the mean of repeated observations
To calculate the instrument's systematic error

Correct answer: To identify observations that may contain blunders by examining unusually large residuals

Residuals (differences between measured and adjusted values) are examined; unusually large residuals flag potential blunders or gross errors in specific observations.

Question 51: What does the term 'deflection angle' mean in route surveying?

The central angle of the curve
The angle between the extension of the back tangent and the forward tangent (Correct answer)
The interior angle at the PI
The angle measured from north to the tangent

Correct answer: The angle between the extension of the back tangent and the forward tangent

The deflection angle is measured from the extension of the incoming tangent to the outgoing tangent and equals the central angle Δ of the curve.

Question 52: What is the significance of the 'scale factor' in State Plane Coordinate calculations?

It accounts for atmospheric refraction
It corrects for the distortion introduced by projecting an ellipsoid onto a plane (Correct answer)
It adjusts for instrument scale error
It converts feet to meters

Correct answer: It corrects for the distortion introduced by projecting an ellipsoid onto a plane

The scale factor corrects the difference between grid distances on the projection plane and geodetic distances on the ellipsoid surface.

Question 53: A surveyor re-measures a distance three times and gets 100.02, 100.03, and 100.01 feet. What is the most probable value?

100.03 ft
100.02 ft (Correct answer)
100.025 ft
100.01 ft

Correct answer: 100.02 ft

The arithmetic mean (100.02 + 100.03 + 100.01) / 3 = 100.02 ft is the most probable value for a series of direct measurements.

Question 54: In PLSS surveying, what distinguishes a 'lost corner' from an 'obliterated corner'?

A lost corner was never originally set, while an obliterated corner was set and then removed
A lost corner is a section corner; an obliterated corner is a quarter-section corner
A lost corner has no remaining physical evidence, while an obliterated corner can be relocated from remaining evidence and reliable testimony (Correct answer)
A lost corner requires a court order to restore, while an obliterated corner does not

Correct answer: A lost corner has no remaining physical evidence, while an obliterated corner can be relocated from remaining evidence and reliable testimony

A lost corner has no evidence remaining—physical or testimonial—to determine its original position, whereas an obliterated corner can be recovered from evidence such as old monuments, field notes, or credible witness testimony.

Question 55: What is benchmarking in the context of quality improvement?

Eliminating competition between departments
Setting the lowest acceptable standard
Reducing all metrics to a single score
Comparing performance against best practices or industry standards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Comparing performance against best practices or industry standards

Benchmarking involves comparing an organizations performance against recognized leaders or standards to identify improvement opportunities.

Question 56: Why is root cause analysis important in quality improvement?

It identifies the underlying cause of problems rather than just symptoms (Correct answer)
It assigns blame to specific individuals
It eliminates the need for data collection
It replaces the need for corrective actions

Correct answer: It identifies the underlying cause of problems rather than just symptoms

Root cause analysis goes beyond surface-level symptoms to identify fundamental causes, enabling effective and lasting solutions.

Question 57: Which of the following best describes the legal effect of a 'senior patent' in the context of conflicting land grants?

The earlier-issued patent holds superior title and cannot be defeated by a subsequent patent for the same land (Correct answer)
The most recently recorded deed takes precedence
Both patents are void and title reverts to the government
The patent with the larger acreage prevails

Correct answer: The earlier-issued patent holds superior title and cannot be defeated by a subsequent patent for the same land

A senior (first in time) patent conveys valid title, and a junior patent issued for the same land is void to the extent of the overlap.

Question 58: Which type of surveying method is best suited for mapping large, uneven terrains?

Plane surveying.
Topographic surveying. (Correct answer)
Hydrographic surveying.
Construction surveying.

Correct answer: Topographic surveying.

Topographic surveying is specifically designed to measure and map the natural and artificial features of a land area, including its relief (elevation changes). This makes it ideal for large, uneven terrains where detailed elevation data and contour lines are necessary to accurately represent the landscape. Other surveying types serve different primary purposes.

Question 59: What does 'NAVD 88' stand for, and what is it used for?

North American Vertical Datum of 1988; it is the official vertical datum for orthometric heights in the US (Correct answer)
National Average Vertical Distance, 1988 edition; used for tidal benchmarks
National Adjusted Vertical Designation; used for GPS ellipsoidal heights
North Atlantic Vertical Datum; used for offshore surveys

Correct answer: North American Vertical Datum of 1988; it is the official vertical datum for orthometric heights in the US

NAVD 88 (North American Vertical Datum of 1988) replaced NGVD 29 as the official reference for orthometric (mean sea level–based) elevations in the US.

Question 60: When a deed description contains conflicting calls, 'natural monuments' take priority over 'artificial monuments' because:

Artificial monuments require government approval to establish
Natural monuments are always described in the original patent
Natural monuments are more difficult to move or alter by human action (Correct answer)
Artificial monuments are not legally recognized in most states

Correct answer: Natural monuments are more difficult to move or alter by human action

Natural monuments such as rivers, lakes, and rock outcrops are generally considered more reliable than artificial objects that may be moved, removed, or misidentified.

Question 61: A surveying project manager is using Earned Value Management (EVM). If the Planned Value (PV) is $50,000 and the Earned Value (EV) is $40,000, the Schedule Variance (SV) is:

$10,000 (ahead of schedule)
$90,000 (on schedule)
$0 (no variance)
-$10,000 (behind schedule) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: -$10,000 (behind schedule)

SV = EV - PV = $40,000 - $50,000 = -$10,000, indicating the project is behind the planned schedule.

Question 62: Which sections in a standard PLSS township most commonly contain fractional government lots?

Sections 1–6 and sections 31–36
Only the four corner sections (1, 6, 31, 36)
Sections 1–7 and sections 18, 19, 30, and 31 (Correct answer)
Sections 13, 18, 24, and 31

Correct answer: Sections 1–7 and sections 18, 19, 30, and 31

Fractional lots appear along the north tier (sections 1–6) and west column (sections 6–7, 18–19, 30–31), where the township absorbs excess or deficient measurements.

Question 63: In PLSS notation, 'T3N, R2W' means:

Township 3, Range 2, northwest quadrant
3rd township north of the baseline, 2nd range west of the principal meridian (Correct answer)
3rd range north, 2nd township west of the state line
3rd tier north, 2nd guide meridian west

Correct answer: 3rd township north of the baseline, 2nd range west of the principal meridian

'T3N' indicates the 3rd township tier north of the baseline and 'R2W' indicates the 2nd range west of the principal meridian.

Question 64: The FGDC Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards define accuracy in terms of:

The 95% confidence circle radius of horizontal positions relative to the datum (Correct answer)
The mean positional error relative to a local benchmark
The standard deviation of all measurements in the survey
The maximum allowable closure ratio for any traverse

Correct answer: The 95% confidence circle radius of horizontal positions relative to the datum

FGDC standards express horizontal accuracy as the radius of a circle centered at the true position within which 95% of tested points fall, referenced to the national datum.

Question 65: Under the PLSS, which corner controls the location of a quarter-section corner if both the section corners it connects are found intact?

The corner agreed upon by adjoining landowners
The quarter corner as set by the original government surveyor, if found (Correct answer)
The midpoint calculated by proportionate measurement between the two section corners
The corner as set by the most recent BLM resurvey

Correct answer: The quarter corner as set by the original government surveyor, if found

An original quarter corner, if found in its original position, controls regardless of whether it falls exactly at the midpoint between section corners.

Question 66: When should a surveyor perform an independent check of field measurements before leaving a project site?

Always, to detect blunders while equipment is still in place (Correct answer)
After returning to the office and processing the data
Only when the client specifically requests it
Only if the project exceeds one acre in size

Correct answer: Always, to detect blunders while equipment is still in place

Checking critical measurements before leaving the site allows blunders to be corrected immediately while the setup is intact, saving costly return trips.

Question 67: What is benchmarking in the context of quality improvement?

Comparing performance against best practices or industry standards (Correct answer)
Eliminating competition between departments
Setting the lowest acceptable standard
Reducing all metrics to a single score

Correct answer: Comparing performance against best practices or industry standards

Benchmarking involves comparing an organizations performance against recognized leaders or standards to identify improvement opportunities.

Question 68: What is the primary purpose of a 'datum' in surveying?

A type of horizontal control monument
The instrument height above the ground
The angular difference between true and magnetic north
A reference surface from which elevations or positions are measured (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A reference surface from which elevations or positions are measured

A datum is a defined reference surface (horizontal or vertical) from which all measurements in a survey are referenced.

Question 69: What does the term 'repeatability' mean in the context of land survey QC?

The ability to obtain the same result when the same measurement is made multiple times under the same conditions (Correct answer)
The process of repeating a survey to meet minimum state standards
The legal defensibility of a boundary determination
The number of times a benchmark has been verified by NGS

Correct answer: The ability to obtain the same result when the same measurement is made multiple times under the same conditions

Repeatability measures precision: consistent results across multiple observations under identical conditions indicate low random error and high reliability.

Question 70: Which specification governs the accuracy and content of FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)?

ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standards
ASPRS Accuracy Standards
NGS Geodetic Control Survey Standards
FEMA Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners (Correct answer)

Correct answer: FEMA Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners

FEMA's Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners define the technical requirements for FIRM production and maintenance.

Question 71: When performing a closure check on a traverse, what does a closure ratio of 1:5,000 indicate?

For every 5,000 units measured, there is 1 unit of linear error (Correct answer)
The traverse meets first-order accuracy standards
The angular closure error is 5,000 seconds
The traverse has 5,000 redundant measurements

Correct answer: For every 5,000 units measured, there is 1 unit of linear error

A closure ratio of 1:5,000 means there is one unit of linear misclosure for every 5,000 units of total traverse length.

Question 72: What is the purpose of 'face-left and face-right' (direct and reverse) observations with a theodolite or total station?

To eliminate systematic instrument errors such as vertical index error and horizontal axis error by averaging both positions (Correct answer)
To double-check the prism constant entered in the instrument
To verify that the instrument is set up over the correct monument
To measure both horizontal and vertical distances simultaneously

Correct answer: To eliminate systematic instrument errors such as vertical index error and horizontal axis error by averaging both positions

Measuring in both face positions (telescope normal and plunged) and averaging cancels most systematic instrument errors including collimation, vertical index, and trunnion axis errors.

Question 73: On a plane survey, the latitude of a course is defined as:

The vertical angle of a course
The easting or westing component of a course
The horizontal distance of a course
The northing or southing component of a course (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The northing or southing component of a course

Latitude is the orthogonal projection of a course onto the north-south meridian, yielding the northing (+) or southing (−) component.

Question 74: When using a digital level, what is the function of the bar-code rod?

It stores benchmark elevation data in the field
It measures atmospheric pressure for refraction corrections
It allows the instrument to electronically read rod height without a human reading (Correct answer)
It provides a magnetic north reference for the instrument

Correct answer: It allows the instrument to electronically read rod height without a human reading

The bar-code pattern on a digital level rod is scanned by the instrument's CCD sensor, automatically computing the rod reading and distance without a manual observation.

Question 75: In photogrammetric mapping, what is a 'ground control point' (GCP) used for?

To define the flight path of the aircraft
To calibrate the camera's focal length
To provide known coordinates that register aerial or satellite imagery to a real-world coordinate system (Correct answer)
To establish the overlap percentage between stereo pairs

Correct answer: To provide known coordinates that register aerial or satellite imagery to a real-world coordinate system

GCPs are surveyed points with known coordinates used to georeference and correct distortions in aerial/satellite imagery during photogrammetric processing.

Question 76: What is the basic area unit of land division in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS)?

Section (640 acres) (Correct answer)
Range (varies by latitude)
Quarter section (160 acres)
Township (23,040 acres)

Correct answer: Section (640 acres)

The section, nominally 640 acres (one square mile), is the basic unit of land division in the PLSS.

Question 77: What is the primary purpose of a pre-task safety briefing (tailgate meeting) for a survey crew?

To review the equipment maintenance log
To assign individual liability for accidents
To satisfy OSHA documentation requirements
To communicate site-specific hazards and controls before work begins (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To communicate site-specific hazards and controls before work begins

Tailgate meetings communicate hazards, controls, and emergency procedures specific to that day's work location and tasks.

Question 78: Which FGCS specification defines accuracy requirements for GPS geodetic control surveys?

Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques (Correct answer)
ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standards
ASPRS Accuracy Standards for Large-Scale Maps
NGS Technical Memorandum NOS NGS-58

Correct answer: Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques

The FGCS document 'Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques' governs GPS control survey accuracy.

Question 79: During a pre-construction survey project, which document BEST formalizes the agreed-upon scope, schedule, and fee between the surveying firm and the client?

A signed professional services agreement or contract (Correct answer)
A verbal agreement witnessed by a third party
An informal email from the client
A social media message from the client

Correct answer: A signed professional services agreement or contract

A signed professional services agreement is the legally binding document that defines scope, deliverables, timeline, fees, and responsibilities for both parties.

Question 80: What is the primary goal of a quality improvement program?

To continuously enhance processes and outcomes (Correct answer)
To identify and punish poor performers
To reduce staffing levels
To generate marketing materials

Correct answer: To continuously enhance processes and outcomes

Quality improvement focuses on systematic enhancement of processes, services, and outcomes for continuous betterment.

Question 81: A surveyor is working in a known wildfire-prone area. Which combination of personal protective equipment is most critical?

Chemical-resistant gloves and face shield
Fire-resistant clothing and an N95 respirator (Correct answer)
High-visibility vest and safety glasses
Steel-toed boots and hard hat

Correct answer: Fire-resistant clothing and an N95 respirator

Fire-resistant clothing protects against burns and ignition, while an N95 respirator reduces inhalation of smoke particulates.

Question 82: The ethical principle of 'competence' in land surveying means a surveyor should:

Hire the cheapest available crew for all fieldwork
Complete work faster than industry standards to maximize profit
Accept any project regardless of their technical knowledge
Only undertake work within their skill level or associate with qualified experts (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Only undertake work within their skill level or associate with qualified experts

Competence requires that surveyors recognize the limits of their expertise and either build the required skills or collaborate with specialists.

Question 83: What does a 'curve table' on a plat typically provide?

Delta angle, radius, arc length, chord bearing, and chord length for each curve (Correct answer)
Zoning classification for curved road frontages
Contour intervals and elevation data
Magnetic declination corrections for curved boundaries

Correct answer: Delta angle, radius, arc length, chord bearing, and chord length for each curve

A curve table lists the geometric elements (delta, radius, arc length, chord bearing, and chord length) needed to precisely define and reproduce each curved boundary or easement line.

Question 84: When advertising surveying services, an RPLS must ensure that all advertising is:

Approved by the state board before publication
Truthful, not misleading, and within the bounds of professional ethics codes (Correct answer)
Reviewed by a marketing firm with no surveying background
Limited to printed media only

Correct answer: Truthful, not misleading, and within the bounds of professional ethics codes

Professional ethics codes require that all advertising be accurate and non-deceptive, though pre-approval by the board is generally not required.

Question 85: In photogrammetric ground control, 'check points' differ from 'control points' in that check points are used to:

Independently verify the accuracy of the adjusted block rather than constrain the adjustment (Correct answer)
Tie adjacent flight strips together
Establish the vertical datum for the project
Define the exterior orientation of aerial imagery

Correct answer: Independently verify the accuracy of the adjusted block rather than constrain the adjustment

Check points are withheld from the photogrammetric adjustment and compared against adjusted output to provide an independent accuracy assessment of the final product.

Question 86: What is the most common method to calculate the area of an irregular polygon in land surveying?

Use the Pythagorean theorem for each side.
Divide the polygon into triangles and sum their areas. (Correct answer)
Approximate the area using circular segments.
Measure all diagonals and average the results.

Correct answer: Divide the polygon into triangles and sum their areas.

For irregular polygons, a common and accurate method to calculate the area is to divide the polygon into a series of non-overlapping triangles. The area of each triangle can then be calculated using known formulas, such as base times height divided by two. Summing the areas of all these triangles yields the total area of the irregular polygon.

Question 87: Which of the following is the primary legal distinction between a 'license' and an 'easement' affecting land?

A license is a personal, revocable permission; an easement is a property interest that runs with the land (Correct answer)
A license is recorded; an easement is unrecorded
A license must be in writing; an easement can be oral
An easement requires payment; a license is always gratuitous

Correct answer: A license is a personal, revocable permission; an easement is a property interest that runs with the land

A license is a personal privilege that can be revoked by the licensor at will, while an easement is an interest in real property that survives changes in ownership.

Question 88: When a boundary survey reveals a conflict between a deed call and a monument found in the field, how should this discrepancy be documented in the survey report?

Defer documentation until the client resolves the conflict
Describe both the record call and the field evidence with a resolution explanation (Correct answer)
Ignore the monument and report only the deed call
Report only the monument location without referencing the deed

Correct answer: Describe both the record call and the field evidence with a resolution explanation

Professional practice requires documenting both the record information and field evidence, then explaining the surveyor's resolution of the conflict per applicable priority rules.

Question 89: A surveyor's field crew is working near a busy highway. Under OSHA standards, which mitigation measure is most critical?

Working only during daylight hours
Reducing the crew size to minimize exposure
Wearing high-visibility vests and using traffic control devices (Correct answer)
Using GPS instead of total station

Correct answer: Wearing high-visibility vests and using traffic control devices

OSHA and MUTCD require high-visibility personal protective equipment and proper traffic control whenever crews work in or near traffic lanes.

Question 90: When a survey is performed in an area with active mineral rights or oil and gas leases, which risk mitigation step is most important?

Research and note mineral rights, severed interests, and any surface use agreements in the survey report (Correct answer)
Survey only the surface boundary without any subsurface references
Ignore mineral rights because they are not surface rights
Require the client to resolve mineral issues before commissioning the survey

Correct answer: Research and note mineral rights, severed interests, and any surface use agreements in the survey report

Mineral rights and surface use agreements can significantly affect property value and use; noting them in the survey protects the surveyor and informs all parties.

Question 91: When using a total station, what is the purpose of 'face left' and 'face right' observations?

To measure horizontal angles twice for redundancy
To check that the tribrach is level
To calibrate the EDM distance measurement
To eliminate systematic instrumental errors by averaging both face readings (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To eliminate systematic instrumental errors by averaging both face readings

Observing on both faces (direct and reverse) cancels out collimation, horizontal axis, and other systematic errors in the instrument.

Question 92: When original PLSS corners cannot be found, the surveyor must establish a 'proportionate measurement.' This technique is based on the principle that:

Errors in original surveys are distributed proportionally among the original distances (Correct answer)
The BLM must re-survey the area before any corners can be set
Adjoining landowners must agree on corner placement
New measurements should use modern GPS accuracy standards

Correct answer: Errors in original surveys are distributed proportionally among the original distances

Proportionate measurement distributes the difference between the original record distance and the measured distance equally among the intervals being divided.

Question 93: Under the federal survey system, a 'closing corner' is a monument set at the point where:

An independent resurvey terminates at an existing corner
A meander line intersects a navigable waterway (Correct answer)
A private survey intersects a federal reservation
A section line meets a township exterior boundary that was previously established

Correct answer: A meander line intersects a navigable waterway

Closing corners are established where subdivisional lines of a township close on previously surveyed exterior boundaries, rather than at the intersection of two simultaneously run lines.

Question 94: In State Plane Coordinate (SPC) systems, which projection is used for zones that are taller (north-south) than they are wide?

Lambert Conformal Conic
Albers Equal Area
Stereographic
Transverse Mercator (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Transverse Mercator

Transverse Mercator projection is used for SPC zones elongated in the north-south direction, such as those in narrow states.

Question 95: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the 'take' of protected migratory birds, their nests, and eggs. How does this most directly affect a land surveyor conducting fieldwork?

Surveyors must obtain annual permits from USFWS before entering any federal land during nesting season
Survey monuments may not be placed within 300 feet of a known migratory bird nesting area
Clearing vegetation or disturbing active nests during survey operations may violate the MBTA (Correct answer)
Surveyors must conduct bird species inventories before beginning boundary surveys near wetlands

Correct answer: Clearing vegetation or disturbing active nests during survey operations may violate the MBTA

Disturbing or destroying active nests of MBTA-protected species during survey vegetation clearing can constitute an illegal 'take' under federal law.

Question 96: When QC checking a boundary survey plat, which condition would most directly indicate a drafting error?

The plat scale differs from the original field sketch
The survey date predates the deed recording date
The deed calls reference the same monuments as the plat
The sum of interior angles of a closed polygon does not equal (n−2) × 180° (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The sum of interior angles of a closed polygon does not equal (n−2) × 180°

For a closed polygon with n sides, interior angles must sum to (n−2) × 180°; a deviation indicates a drafting or computation error in the angular data.

Question 97: What is the purpose of an 'optical plummet' on a total station or theodolite?

To precisely center the instrument over a ground point using a bent optical path (Correct answer)
To measure the vertical angle to a target
To sight distant targets more clearly
To illuminate the crosshairs in low light conditions

Correct answer: To precisely center the instrument over a ground point using a bent optical path

An optical plummet uses a prism or mirror to bend the line of sight 90°, allowing the surveyor to look straight down through the instrument to center it over a tack or nail.

Question 98: Under the doctrine of acquiescence, neighboring landowners may establish a binding boundary line by:

Obtaining a court order confirming the line
Filing a joint deed with the county recorder
Mutually recognizing and treating a line as the boundary for the statutory period (Correct answer)
Having a licensed surveyor monument the agreed line

Correct answer: Mutually recognizing and treating a line as the boundary for the statutory period

Acquiescence occurs when adjoining owners mutually recognize and treat a line as their common boundary for the period required by state statute.

Question 99: In differential leveling, the 'double-rodded' method improves QC by:

Running two independent level routes simultaneously on separate turning points between the same endpoints (Correct answer)
Applying two different atmospheric correction models
Observing each rod reading twice with the bubble re-centered
Using two instruments on the same setup

Correct answer: Running two independent level routes simultaneously on separate turning points between the same endpoints

Double-rodded leveling runs two independent level routes (Hi and Lo rod) between endpoints simultaneously, providing an immediate check on each setup.

Question 100: A surveying firm's project manager is conducting a post-project review ('lessons learned'). The PRIMARY goal of this process is to:

Identify successes and failures to improve future project planning and execution (Correct answer)
Assign blame to underperforming employees
Justify billing disputes with the client
Generate marketing materials

Correct answer: Identify successes and failures to improve future project planning and execution

Lessons learned capture knowledge from both successful practices and mistakes to continuously improve future project planning, processes, and outcomes.

Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) - Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS)

The NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam is required for professional land surveyor licensure, assessing competency in legal principles, professional survey practice, standards and specifications, business practices, and applied survey methods including boundary, control, construction, and topographic surveys.

100

Questions

360 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds