SMQT Introduction to Surveying 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'LiDAR' stand for in modern surveying technology?
- Linear Distance and Ranging
- Light Detection and Ranging (Correct answer)
- Laser Imaging Data and Recording
- Land Identification and Remote Assessment
Correct answer: Light Detection and Ranging
LiDAR uses pulsed laser light to measure distances to the Earth's surface, producing highly accurate 3D point clouds for mapping.
Question 2: Which of the following errors is classified as a 'systematic error' in surveying?
- Misreading a rod value by one foot
- Consistently using a tape that is too short (Correct answer)
- Accidentally moving a range pole
- Recording a wrong point number in field notes
Correct answer: Consistently using a tape that is too short
Systematic errors follow a consistent pattern and accumulate predictably, such as using an incorrectly calibrated tape for every measurement.
Question 3: In the PLSS, sections within a township are numbered beginning in which corner?
- Southwest corner, proceeding east then south
- Northwest corner, proceeding east then south
- Northeast corner, proceeding west then south (Correct answer)
- Southeast corner, proceeding north then west
Correct answer: Northeast corner, proceeding west then south
Sections are numbered 1–36 starting in the northeast corner, proceeding west across the top row, then east across the next row in a boustrophedon pattern.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a 'traverse' in surveying?
- To measure vertical angles along a profile line
- To connect a series of survey points by measuring distances and angles between them (Correct answer)
- To establish photo control points for aerial mapping
- To determine the area of a water body
Correct answer: To connect a series of survey points by measuring distances and angles between them
A traverse is a series of connected survey lines whose lengths and directions are measured to define the positions of points relative to one another.
Question 5: The term 'plumb bob' in surveying is used to:
- Measure horizontal distances on sloped terrain
- Establish a vertical reference line using gravity (Correct answer)
- Determine magnetic north in the field
- Set the height of an instrument above a point
Correct answer: Establish a vertical reference line using gravity
A plumb bob is a weight suspended on a string that defines a true vertical line, used to center an instrument directly above a survey point.
Question 6: What is a 'metes and bounds' description?
- A survey method using GPS coordinates for property corners
- A legal description of land using distances and directions along boundary lines (Correct answer)
- A deed description referencing only lot and block numbers
- A PLSS description using township, range, and section numbers
Correct answer: A legal description of land using distances and directions along boundary lines
Metes and bounds describes property boundaries by specifying distances (metes) and directions (bounds) along each boundary line, often referencing natural or artificial monuments.
Question 7: Which of the following best defines 'horizontal distance' in surveying?
- The distance measured along the slope between two points
- The straight-line distance projected onto a level plane between two points (Correct answer)
- The arc length along the Earth's curved surface
- The distance measured with a laser EDM regardless of terrain
Correct answer: The straight-line distance projected onto a level plane between two points
Horizontal distance is the projection of the slope distance onto a horizontal plane, which is required for accurate area calculations and plat preparation.
SMQT Introduction to Surveying 4
What does 'LiDAR' stand for in modern surveying technology?