Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Questions and Correct Answers
How to figure out horizontal distance with stadia hairs
Subtract lower stadia hair reading from upper, then multiply by 100.
What is a US Survey foot? (on formula sheet already)
Expressed as a fraction: 1200/3937 m
1 US survey foot = 0.30480061
(Take inverse to get meters to feet... 1/0.30480061)
What is an International (Standard) Foot? (on formula sheet already)
Expressed as a decimal:
1 Int. Foot = 0.30480000 m.
(Take inverse... 1/0.30480000)
1 meter = 3.280839 Int. ft.
What is a Gradian?
An entire circle (360 degrees) is 400 gradians (gon). Therefore, a 90 degree angle is 100 grad.
1 grad = 00 deg. 54'.... Or.... 1 gradian = 0.9 deg
,How many miles for one degree of latitude?
One degree of latitude is 69 miles
How to convert inches to tenths of a foot (decimal feet)?
Take inch value and divide by 12
What is a rod?
1 rod = 16.5 feet
How many feet in a yard?
3 feet
How to figure out sum of interior angles of any closed polygon
n-2(180)
How to figure out total exterior angles of a closed polygon
(n+2)180
How many feet in a meter?
,3.281 feet (take the inverse of the international foot on the formula sheet)
Cosecant is...
= arcsin..... sin
Secant is...
= arccos.... cos
The distance formula (Inversing)
Sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2) or
Sqrt((y2-y1)^2+(x2-xs1)^2)
Cartesian Coordinate Systems are also called...?
Rectangular Coordinate Systems
What is a range pole?
IS NOT A LEVELING ROD!!! The stripes on it alternate white and black, and it marks the position
of stations for sightings (it is a marker). It is the pole that a prism is attached to.
, What is a theodolite?
Can rotate along vertical (zenith axis) and horizontal axis (trunnion axis). ONLY measure angles,
not distances.
Same as a transit, but more accurate.
It is not robotic. A "regular" theodolite has no electronic capabilities.
A 1" theodolite means it is accurate to +or- 1"
What is a digital theodolite?
A theodolite with electronic capabilities (a screen and interface). We used this in plane
surveying lab.
What is a total station?
Measures both angles and distances... (i.e... A theodolite combined with distance measuring
capabilities). Needs a prism for the distances.
We used this in plane surveying lab.
What is a dumpy level?
It is purely an optical leveling instrument, no robotic capabilities. Purely rely on level vials to
orient lines of sight (the level bubble IS the level vial). Only orients in the direction of gravity.
Questions and Correct Answers
How to figure out horizontal distance with stadia hairs
Subtract lower stadia hair reading from upper, then multiply by 100.
What is a US Survey foot? (on formula sheet already)
Expressed as a fraction: 1200/3937 m
1 US survey foot = 0.30480061
(Take inverse to get meters to feet... 1/0.30480061)
What is an International (Standard) Foot? (on formula sheet already)
Expressed as a decimal:
1 Int. Foot = 0.30480000 m.
(Take inverse... 1/0.30480000)
1 meter = 3.280839 Int. ft.
What is a Gradian?
An entire circle (360 degrees) is 400 gradians (gon). Therefore, a 90 degree angle is 100 grad.
1 grad = 00 deg. 54'.... Or.... 1 gradian = 0.9 deg
,How many miles for one degree of latitude?
One degree of latitude is 69 miles
How to convert inches to tenths of a foot (decimal feet)?
Take inch value and divide by 12
What is a rod?
1 rod = 16.5 feet
How many feet in a yard?
3 feet
How to figure out sum of interior angles of any closed polygon
n-2(180)
How to figure out total exterior angles of a closed polygon
(n+2)180
How many feet in a meter?
,3.281 feet (take the inverse of the international foot on the formula sheet)
Cosecant is...
= arcsin..... sin
Secant is...
= arccos.... cos
The distance formula (Inversing)
Sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2) or
Sqrt((y2-y1)^2+(x2-xs1)^2)
Cartesian Coordinate Systems are also called...?
Rectangular Coordinate Systems
What is a range pole?
IS NOT A LEVELING ROD!!! The stripes on it alternate white and black, and it marks the position
of stations for sightings (it is a marker). It is the pole that a prism is attached to.
, What is a theodolite?
Can rotate along vertical (zenith axis) and horizontal axis (trunnion axis). ONLY measure angles,
not distances.
Same as a transit, but more accurate.
It is not robotic. A "regular" theodolite has no electronic capabilities.
A 1" theodolite means it is accurate to +or- 1"
What is a digital theodolite?
A theodolite with electronic capabilities (a screen and interface). We used this in plane
surveying lab.
What is a total station?
Measures both angles and distances... (i.e... A theodolite combined with distance measuring
capabilities). Needs a prism for the distances.
We used this in plane surveying lab.
What is a dumpy level?
It is purely an optical leveling instrument, no robotic capabilities. Purely rely on level vials to
orient lines of sight (the level bubble IS the level vial). Only orients in the direction of gravity.
