What types of calculations do surveyors need to do while surveying property boundaries?

Essential Calculations in Land Surveying For Boundaries

The most immediate answer to this question involves two key mathematical concepts: trigonometry and coordinate geometry. These are fundamental in land surveying for calculating precise measurements and positions.

 

 Public Land Surveying System (PLSS)

Implementing the Public Land Surveying System (PLSS) for boundary walls involves using a standardized grid to precisely define property boundaries. This system helps in accurately marking property corners, ensuring that boundaries are clearly defined and legally recognized. Surveyors use tools like trigonometry and coordinate geometry to calculate exact positions and measurements. They also consider factors like the dignity of calls, where some boundary markers are given more importance than others. By applying the PLSS, landowners and developers can avoid disputes, ensure proper land division, and maintain accurate records of property lines.

However, other calculations can vary depending on the state you are in, specifically whether it follows the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) or uses the metes and bounds system. In PLSS states, property corners are often prorated when replaced, meaning any shortage or overage in the distance is adjusted along a line where they shall be set. Each situation is unique and requires careful consideration.

 

A crucial concept in land surveying is the “dignity of calls,” which assigns different weights to various monuments. Some monuments are considered more significant than others when setting corners, which are intended to be permanent markers. Surveyors often need to locate original section corners, and it's important to note that there is no such thing as a perfect 'section.' Many of these 1-mile square sections were laid out using a 66-foot chain, measured 80 times per side, often over rough terrain and with factors like magnetic declination and local resistance complicating the process. When these sections are subdivided, all these factors must be considered. For example, observe the kink in the supposed straight west line of Colorado or the slight 2-mile discrepancy between the northwest corner of Texas and the southwest corner of Oklahoma’s panhandle. Interestingly, the Four Corners Monument is about 1800 feet off from its intended location.

 

Additionally, surveyors must consider the geoid, which complicates global mapping. The Earth isn't a perfect sphere but rather has various geological imperfections. This makes a simple, uniform approach to mapping impossible. Instead, surveyors work with a geoid for a particular region and apply a scale factor to account for these imperfections. The geoid is a mathematical model of the Earth’s shape that surveyors use because it's easier to work with than the actual irregular surface of the planet. Applying a scale factor compensates for these irregularities. For a more detailed understanding of geoids, further research is recommended.

 

I hope this explanation helps and doesn't seem too complicated. Don't let this deter you from considering a career in land surveying. The field is currently in need of more professionals and could greatly benefit from new talent.