Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
ALTA Survey - ANSWER-boundary survey prepared to a set of minimum standards that
have been jointly prepared and adopted by the (American Land Title Association and
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping). Additionally, it shows improvements,
easements, rights-of-way, and other elements impacting the ownership of land. It is
often prepared for commercial properties, as it will provide the title company with the
information required to insure the title to the land and improvements to the high degree
that a commercial development may require.
arbitrator - ANSWER-A third party to a negotiation who has the authority to dictate an
agreement.
atomic clock - ANSWER-A clock regulated by the resonance frequency of atoms or
molecules. Within GPS satellites the elements used include cesium, hydrogen and
rubidium.
attest - ANSWER-(v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine
Automatic level - ANSWER-A surveyor's level whose line of sight is automatically
maintained in the horizontal plane, once the instrument is roughly leveled.
Avulsion - ANSWER-A river's sudden change in flow alignment out from its previous left
and right banks to a new channel, leaving an identifiable upland area between the
abandoned channel and the new channel.
breaking chain - ANSWER-Measurements less than a full chain length that are used
when chaining a slope.
Bureau of Land Management - ANSWER-A federal bureau within the Department of the
Interior which manages and controls certain lands owned by the United States. Created
1946
Byte - ANSWER-8 bits
chain - ANSWER-The unit of length prescribed by law for the survey of the public lands
of the United States. The chain is equivalent to 66 feet or 4 rods, poles or perches. 10
square chains equals one acre.
Cadastral Survey - ANSWER-Original survey, resurvey, or retracement of public lands
within the public land survey system of the United States for restoration of property lines
,Certified federal surveyor - ANSWER-A surveyor's additional endorsement for boundary
work for BIA, Tribes and adjacent Indian Trust Lands in addition to the State
Certification.
Certificate of Survey - ANSWER-A document containing a statement dated and signed
by a cadastral surveyor to the effect that a survey has been executed in strict conformity
with the special instructions, the Manual of Instructions, and in the specific manner
described in the field notes with which it is filed.
Chain of Title - ANSWER-A history of the ownership affecting title to a parcel of land.
Parol Evidence - ANSWER-any oral or written words outside the four corners of a
written contract. May only be used to explain ambiguous parts of the deed. Usually not
admissible in court.
Warranty Deed - ANSWER-A deed in which the grantor makes formal assurance as to
quality of title.
Easement - ANSWER-The right to use the land of another for a particular purpose.
Pole zenith star - ANSWER-Pzs triangle stands for
Metes and Bounds - ANSWER-A term used in describing the boundary lines of land,
setting forth all the boundary lines together with their terminal points and angles. Metes
(length or measurements) and Bounds (boundaries) description is often used when a
great deal of accuracy is required.
Cramer's Rule - ANSWER-a method that uses determinants to solve a system of linear
equations
abut - ANSWER-border upon; adjoin
accretion - ANSWER-growth in size or increase in amount. Usually from deposits from a
river.
acre - ANSWER-A measure of land equal to 43,560 square feet.
Adjudication - ANSWER-The pronouncing of a judgment or decree in a cause; also the
judgment given
Adverse Possession - ANSWER-when the land of another private person is adversely
and exclusively possessed in an open and notorious way
affidavit - ANSWER-a sworn written statement
Alluvium - ANSWER-the sorted material deposited by a stream
,aliquot - ANSWER-Contained an exact number of times in another; a part of a
measurement that divides the measurement without a remainder.
Aliunde - ANSWER-From another source. Evidence aliunde is evidence from outside or
from another source
claimant - ANSWER-An individual, corporation, association, State or local government,
etc., asserting title or rights in land.
Clinometer - ANSWER-A hand held instrument used to measure vertical angles or the
inclination of a slope. Also called an Abney Level.
Clock bias - ANSWER-The discrepancy between a GPS receivers clock and the
satellite's clock and a reference such as Coordinated Universal Time or International
Atomic Time.
least squares - ANSWER-A method of adjusting a traverse that is adaptable to any
traverse. It is difficult and seldom used.
Compass Rule - ANSWER-An adjustment of a traverse where distances and angles
collected with same degree of confidence and precision. Gives nearly same accuracy
as least squares. It is used in the majority of traverses. The difference between latitude
(northing) and departure (easting) of closure is distributed over traverse. The
adjustment is applied to each leg in proportion to it length within the entire traverse.
(Length of leg/entire traverse length)x total error
ratio of error - ANSWER-The ratio of the error of closure to perimeter of traverse.
ratio of error = error of closure of traverse / perimeter = 0.26925/2142.93 = 1/7959
this would be rounded to 1/8000
transit rule - ANSWER-- In balancing a survey, that the angular measurements are
more precise than are those of chaining is the assumption base upon. Seldom used
Crandall - ANSWER-A method of adjusting a traverse used when angular accuracy is
higher. More accurate than transit method. Seldom used.
Balancing traverse steps - ANSWER-1. Compute angular error and adjust
2. Compute bearings of each leg
3. Compute latitude and departure of each leg.
4. Compute error of closure
5. Compute latitude and departure corrections
6. Adjust
, Accuracy vs. Precision - ANSWER-Accuracy refers to final result of measurement and
indicates reduced systematic errors.
Precision refers to the procedure by which the result was obtained and indicates
reduced random errors.
spherical excess - ANSWER-Difference between the angles of a plane triangle and
spherical triangle
magnetic declination - ANSWER-the difference between the magnetic north and the
true north
Matrices - ANSWER-an arrangement of numbers in rows and columns.
Geoid - ANSWER-the shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the
influence of Earth's gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other influences
such as winds and tides.
angle of repose - ANSWER-the steepest angle at which a sloping surface formed of a
particular loose material is stable.
Equation of a circle - ANSWER-(x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2
(h,k) is the center, r is the radius
completing the square - ANSWER-a process used to make a quadratic expression into
a perfect square trinomial
hectare - ANSWER-a metric unit of square measure, equal to 100 ares (2.471 acres or
10,000 square meters).
Radians - ANSWER-the measure of an angle obtained by dividing the length of the arc
by the radius.
mean - ANSWER-average
Median - ANSWER-Middle number
Mode - ANSWER-The value that occurs most frequently in a given data set.
geology - ANSWER-the study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth
dendrology - ANSWER-study of trees
slope - ANSWER-Rise over run. Y2-y1/x2-x1
Questions And Correct Answers
ALTA Survey - ANSWER-boundary survey prepared to a set of minimum standards that
have been jointly prepared and adopted by the (American Land Title Association and
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping). Additionally, it shows improvements,
easements, rights-of-way, and other elements impacting the ownership of land. It is
often prepared for commercial properties, as it will provide the title company with the
information required to insure the title to the land and improvements to the high degree
that a commercial development may require.
arbitrator - ANSWER-A third party to a negotiation who has the authority to dictate an
agreement.
atomic clock - ANSWER-A clock regulated by the resonance frequency of atoms or
molecules. Within GPS satellites the elements used include cesium, hydrogen and
rubidium.
attest - ANSWER-(v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine
Automatic level - ANSWER-A surveyor's level whose line of sight is automatically
maintained in the horizontal plane, once the instrument is roughly leveled.
Avulsion - ANSWER-A river's sudden change in flow alignment out from its previous left
and right banks to a new channel, leaving an identifiable upland area between the
abandoned channel and the new channel.
breaking chain - ANSWER-Measurements less than a full chain length that are used
when chaining a slope.
Bureau of Land Management - ANSWER-A federal bureau within the Department of the
Interior which manages and controls certain lands owned by the United States. Created
1946
Byte - ANSWER-8 bits
chain - ANSWER-The unit of length prescribed by law for the survey of the public lands
of the United States. The chain is equivalent to 66 feet or 4 rods, poles or perches. 10
square chains equals one acre.
Cadastral Survey - ANSWER-Original survey, resurvey, or retracement of public lands
within the public land survey system of the United States for restoration of property lines
,Certified federal surveyor - ANSWER-A surveyor's additional endorsement for boundary
work for BIA, Tribes and adjacent Indian Trust Lands in addition to the State
Certification.
Certificate of Survey - ANSWER-A document containing a statement dated and signed
by a cadastral surveyor to the effect that a survey has been executed in strict conformity
with the special instructions, the Manual of Instructions, and in the specific manner
described in the field notes with which it is filed.
Chain of Title - ANSWER-A history of the ownership affecting title to a parcel of land.
Parol Evidence - ANSWER-any oral or written words outside the four corners of a
written contract. May only be used to explain ambiguous parts of the deed. Usually not
admissible in court.
Warranty Deed - ANSWER-A deed in which the grantor makes formal assurance as to
quality of title.
Easement - ANSWER-The right to use the land of another for a particular purpose.
Pole zenith star - ANSWER-Pzs triangle stands for
Metes and Bounds - ANSWER-A term used in describing the boundary lines of land,
setting forth all the boundary lines together with their terminal points and angles. Metes
(length or measurements) and Bounds (boundaries) description is often used when a
great deal of accuracy is required.
Cramer's Rule - ANSWER-a method that uses determinants to solve a system of linear
equations
abut - ANSWER-border upon; adjoin
accretion - ANSWER-growth in size or increase in amount. Usually from deposits from a
river.
acre - ANSWER-A measure of land equal to 43,560 square feet.
Adjudication - ANSWER-The pronouncing of a judgment or decree in a cause; also the
judgment given
Adverse Possession - ANSWER-when the land of another private person is adversely
and exclusively possessed in an open and notorious way
affidavit - ANSWER-a sworn written statement
Alluvium - ANSWER-the sorted material deposited by a stream
,aliquot - ANSWER-Contained an exact number of times in another; a part of a
measurement that divides the measurement without a remainder.
Aliunde - ANSWER-From another source. Evidence aliunde is evidence from outside or
from another source
claimant - ANSWER-An individual, corporation, association, State or local government,
etc., asserting title or rights in land.
Clinometer - ANSWER-A hand held instrument used to measure vertical angles or the
inclination of a slope. Also called an Abney Level.
Clock bias - ANSWER-The discrepancy between a GPS receivers clock and the
satellite's clock and a reference such as Coordinated Universal Time or International
Atomic Time.
least squares - ANSWER-A method of adjusting a traverse that is adaptable to any
traverse. It is difficult and seldom used.
Compass Rule - ANSWER-An adjustment of a traverse where distances and angles
collected with same degree of confidence and precision. Gives nearly same accuracy
as least squares. It is used in the majority of traverses. The difference between latitude
(northing) and departure (easting) of closure is distributed over traverse. The
adjustment is applied to each leg in proportion to it length within the entire traverse.
(Length of leg/entire traverse length)x total error
ratio of error - ANSWER-The ratio of the error of closure to perimeter of traverse.
ratio of error = error of closure of traverse / perimeter = 0.26925/2142.93 = 1/7959
this would be rounded to 1/8000
transit rule - ANSWER-- In balancing a survey, that the angular measurements are
more precise than are those of chaining is the assumption base upon. Seldom used
Crandall - ANSWER-A method of adjusting a traverse used when angular accuracy is
higher. More accurate than transit method. Seldom used.
Balancing traverse steps - ANSWER-1. Compute angular error and adjust
2. Compute bearings of each leg
3. Compute latitude and departure of each leg.
4. Compute error of closure
5. Compute latitude and departure corrections
6. Adjust
, Accuracy vs. Precision - ANSWER-Accuracy refers to final result of measurement and
indicates reduced systematic errors.
Precision refers to the procedure by which the result was obtained and indicates
reduced random errors.
spherical excess - ANSWER-Difference between the angles of a plane triangle and
spherical triangle
magnetic declination - ANSWER-the difference between the magnetic north and the
true north
Matrices - ANSWER-an arrangement of numbers in rows and columns.
Geoid - ANSWER-the shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the
influence of Earth's gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other influences
such as winds and tides.
angle of repose - ANSWER-the steepest angle at which a sloping surface formed of a
particular loose material is stable.
Equation of a circle - ANSWER-(x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2
(h,k) is the center, r is the radius
completing the square - ANSWER-a process used to make a quadratic expression into
a perfect square trinomial
hectare - ANSWER-a metric unit of square measure, equal to 100 ares (2.471 acres or
10,000 square meters).
Radians - ANSWER-the measure of an angle obtained by dividing the length of the arc
by the radius.
mean - ANSWER-average
Median - ANSWER-Middle number
Mode - ANSWER-The value that occurs most frequently in a given data set.
geology - ANSWER-the study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth
dendrology - ANSWER-study of trees
slope - ANSWER-Rise over run. Y2-y1/x2-x1
