Description
Students will learn the foundations for field survey techniques with field labs using methods and tools such as a total station and leveling equipment. The course covers the Professional Land Survey System along with how to establish and adjust control and conduct field survey to produce a topographic map.
Grading Basis
Graded
Course Learning Outcomes
Core Topics
- Overview of the history of public land survey methods
- Principles of vertical and horizontal survey methods including reading the rod, using math to transfer elevations, note taking, field measurements, loop closures, angles and distances, azimuth, degrees/minutes/seconds, stakeout, traverse, and instrument care.
- Taking field survey measurements using a total station and GPS instruments.
- Establishment of survey evidence using monuments, written, measurements, parol, occupation, and judicial notice.
- Understanding datum and coordinate systems.
- Collecting survey data to produce a topographic map.
- Survey principles for plan reading and layout.
- Establishment of horizontal and vertical curves.
- Analysis and interpretation of legal descriptions.
- Understanding the legal principles of property boundaries and the Public Land Survey System.
- Identification and correction of survey errors.
- How and where to conduct survey research.
- Understanding survey ethics and safety.
- Introduction to other survey technologies such as LIDAR, bathymetry, scanners, and drones.
- Weekly field labs covering (at a minimum) the following topics: differential leveling, taping, traverse leveling, horizon closure, traverse angle measurement, building layout, and grade staking.