RPLS Surveying Principles and Methods 2

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

To eliminate systematic instrumental errors by averaging both face readings

Answer

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

Question 2

A survey crew measures a traverse leg as 452.78 ft. The EDM has a constant error of +0.005 m and a scale error of 5 ppm. What type of error is the ppm component?

Accepted Answer

Systematic proportional error

Answer

PPM (parts per million) errors grow proportionally with distance, making them systematic proportional (scale-dependent) errors.

Question 3

In a closed traverse, what does the term 'closure error' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The vector difference between the computed final position and the starting point

Answer

Closure error is the linear distance between the computed ending position and the known starting point after traversing the loop.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of establishing control points in a large survey project?

Accepted Answer

To provide a network of accurately known positions from which detail surveys are referenced

Answer

Control points provide a framework of accurate horizontal and vertical positions that ensure all subsequent survey work ties to a common datum.

Question 5

A surveyor observes a vertical angle of +3°15'30" to a target. If the instrument height is 5.25 ft and the target height is 6.00 ft, what additional data is needed to compute the elevation difference?

Accepted Answer

The horizontal distance between instrument and target

Answer

The elevation difference via trigonometric leveling requires the slope or horizontal distance along with the vertical angle and height corrections.

(RPLS) Registered Professional Land Surveyor Practice Test

(RPLS) Registered Professional Land Surveyor Practice Test

RPLS Surveying Principles and Methods 2