RPLS Technical Standards and Specifications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ALTA/NSPS standards, what is the maximum allowable positional uncertainty for a Class A survey?
- 0.02 feet plus 50 ppm (Correct answer)
- 0.05 feet plus 50 ppm
- 0.07 feet plus 50 ppm
- 0.10 feet plus 100 ppm
Correct answer: 0.02 feet plus 50 ppm
ALTA/NSPS Table A specifies Class A positional uncertainty as 0.02 feet + 50 ppm of the distance measured.
Question 2: Under FGCS standards, which order of leveling requires the maximum allowable loop closure of 3mm√K, where K is distance in kilometers?
- First Order Class I
- Second Order Class I (Correct answer)
- Second Order Class II
- Third Order
Correct answer: Second Order Class I
Second Order Class I leveling has a closure tolerance of 3mm√K per FGCS specifications.
Question 3: What does the term 'positional accuracy' refer to in the NSRS context?
- The difference between a measured position and its true position (Correct answer)
- The repeatability of measurements taken with the same instrument
- The angular closure of a traverse
- The precision ratio of a linear measurement
Correct answer: The difference between a measured position and its true position
Positional accuracy is the closeness of a measured position to its true or accepted reference value in the NSRS.
Question 4: Which ACSM/ALTA specification requires that a surveyor certify the survey to the title insurer, lender, and buyer?
- Minimum Standard Detail Requirements (Correct answer)
- Table A Optional Items
- Section 5 Fieldwork
- Section 6 Plat or Map
Correct answer: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements
The Minimum Standard Detail Requirements mandate the certification statement naming the title insurer, lender, and buyer as certificate recipients.
Question 5: In GPS/GNSS surveying, PDOP stands for:
- Position Dilution of Precision (Correct answer)
- Planimetric Datum Offset Parameter
- Projected Distance Output Protocol
- Point Definition of Position
Correct answer: Position Dilution of Precision
PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision) quantifies the geometric strength of the satellite constellation for 3D positioning.
Question 6: What is the minimum number of GPS satellites required for a standard 3D position fix?
- 3
- 4 (Correct answer)
- 5
- 6
Correct answer: 4
Four satellites are required for a 3D position fix because three determine XYZ position and the fourth resolves the receiver clock error.
Question 7: Under the 2021 ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards, Table A Item 11 refers to:
- Location of utilities from field observations (Correct answer)
- Flood zone designation from FEMA maps
- Observed evidence of wetlands
- Evidence of cemeteries
Correct answer: Location of utilities from field observations
Table A Item 11 requires the surveyor to locate evidence of utilities observed during fieldwork and from available record sources.
RPLS Technical Standards and Specifications 2
According to ALTA/NSPS standards, what is the maximum allowable positional uncertainty for a Class A survey?