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 Definition of a Surveyor
A surveyor is one who has the ability to use
mathematics as a means to visualize objects,
measure distances, sizes, and other abstract
forms. They have to work with precision and
accuracy, as mistakes can be costly.

Surveying is called both a science and an art.

Measurements are never exact or perfect, legal
principles change from case law and can be
considered vague at best in many circumstances.

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 A Surveyor’s Job
• A surveyor shares many different roles/disciplines:
– Historian - tracing deeds and ownerships to their past, determining
original sizes of property, where roads and rights of way were
located, etc.
– Archeologist - determining when buildings were constructed, ages
of barbed wire and fence posts, dating monuments by materials,
etc.
– Botanist - identifying trees called for in deeds (14” shagbark
hickory or a 8” pin oak tree), If a deed in 1850 called for a 24”
black oak, what would it’s diameter be in 2006? If only a stump is
found – count the rings to date it.
– Mathematician - studying analytic geometry, statistics, and
trigonometry.
– Artist - some maps and plats (especially the older hand drawn
ones) are exquisite forms of artwork. Surveying is also known as
both a science and an art form, due to some measurements and
evidence not fitting together as they should.
– Lawyer - knowledge of Local, State and Federal laws pertaining to
property (adverse possession, eminent domain, riparian rights,
navigational servitude, rights of ways, etc.)

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 Types of Surveying
• Geodetic
– High Precision, taking many variables into account for
measurements (temperature, pressure, earth’s curvature,
refraction, etc.). Used by other surveys (such as making
projections, highly accurate control points, etc.)

• Topographic/Hydrographic
– Shows relief of the ground (and water) through contours and
elevations.

• Construction/Engineering/Rout
e
– Designing and laying out various civil/architectural projects
(buildings, roads, railroads, sewers, underground mining, etc.)

• Property
– Cadastral (plane surveying), dealing with recorded deeds, plans of
lots, rights of ways, easements, and other items dealing with real 5
property.
 Surveying Techniques

• Global Positioning Surveying (GPS)

– Positioning from satellites based on time, vectors and additional
base station triangulation. Survey grade GPS is accurate to within
5mm (< 1/4”) AFTER least squares adjustment and network
triangulation. On the fly (uncorrected) can vary from 2cm (3/4”) to
1m (3’). Mapping grade is anywhere from 1m (3’) to 30m (100’),
with some increasing accuracy with post processing of points
based upon control monumentation.

• Digital Theodolite/EDM
– Measuring through digital readout of horizontal circle (degrees,
minutes, seconds) and distances (slope, horizontal, and vertical)
through infrared. Typical accuracy of EDM is ¼”.

• Transit and Tape

– Measuring through a vernier readout of horizontal circle and using
a steel chain (tape) to measure distances.

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 A surveyor cannot change or revise a property line – they would
give his/her legal ‘opinion’ as to it’s location. Only a judge can
move the boundary. Very similar to a lawyer who cannot give a
judgment in a law case, but rather their ‘opinion’.

Many times – the judge may not be very familiar with real estate and
boundary law… he may split the difference of the dispute (regardless of any
evidence and procedures that surveyors follow).
1 Kings 3:16–28 (King Solomon’s Decree)
“And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”

Surveying is known as the worlds second oldest profession. Listed in the

Bible in various places:
Joshua 18:4
“Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and
to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me.”

Deuteronomy 19:14
“Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the
inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.”

Deuteronomy 27:17
"Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." 7
 LICENSURE
All 50 states require a PLS for Cadastral work.
11 of the 50 States require a PLS for Cadastral survey work
only (includes Pennsylvania).
The remaining 39 States require a license for any one, parts,
or all of the following: Photogrammetry, Geodesy,
Topography (36 States), Mining, Subdivision Engineering,
Construction, Land Planning, GIS, Hydrography, and
Teaching Land Surveying.
10 states now require a PLS to oversee GIS (Alabama,
California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New
Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Dakota)

To obtain a professional surveyors license in Ohio (as well as

some other States), a four year degree in surveying is now
required. Pennsylvania is leaning towards the same, but has
not enacted this into law.

In Pennsylvania, the exam for licensure is given twice a year, and is

two 8 hour sessions (16 hours). Both Federal and State portions are
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incorporated, including ethics, law, hydrology, and measurements.
Surveying Facts
George Washington,
Abraham Lincoln, and
Thomas Jefferson were all
land surveyors.

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Examples, Maps, and
Diagrams

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Precision is a measure of repeatability while
accuracy refers to how close the average
value is to the ‘true’ value.

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 Ellipsoid, Geoid, and
Orthometric Heights
H = Orthometric Height (NAVD 88)
h = Ellipsoidal Height (NAD 83)
N = Geoid Height (GEOID 03) H =h-N

h TOPOGRAPHIC SURFACE

A H N B
GEOID03
Ellipsoid Geoid
GRS80

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 Trigonometry/Geometry
Guyasuta Survey
KNOWN:
Point #10 Slope Distance: 293.93’, Zenith Angle: 72° 37’ 35”
(PK)
861.58’ Horizontal Distance = SD * sine (ZA)
Elevation Vertical Difference = SD * cosine (ZA)

Point #2
(PK)
774.36’
Elevation

Using trig, you get 87.77’

difference, but need to
account for the difference
in the height of
instrument and height of
rod (-0.55’) 13
 Guyasuta
Traverse:
Closure Error: 0.26’
(3 inches)

Total Distance Traveled:

3,085.08’

Precision =
distance/error

??Answer??

1:11,866

Third Order=1:10,000
Second Order=1:50,000
First Order=1:100,000

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The pin is no
where close to
where the
property line
should be!!!!???

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 KNOWN:
Horizontal Distance: 100’, Zenith Angle: 75° 00’ 00”

Vertical Difference = HD * cosine (ZA)

25.9’

75 degrees

100’
5’ 5’

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 KNOWN:
Length of tree shadow, your shadow length, your height

your shadow/your height

3/5=0.6
41.7’
Your shadow is 0.6 times your height
Take tree shadow length/0.6 = ?

5’
’
25
3’

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 5’ 40’ 1’
5’ 5’

20’ House to be located

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 5’ 40’ 1’
5’ 5’

20’ House to be located

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 S 81°00

'
113.83
'00" E
120.00'

0'27" E
S 75

N 09°5
°50'0
8" E
115.9
3'

'
82
5.
16

322.00'
E
2"
5'2

'01" W
°5
36
N

S 09°07
.00'
'12" E 106
N 81°35

L10

N 77°
L3 13'00
L9

"W 2
31.0 0'
0'
S 86°52'00" W 194.0
L4
L8

L5
L7
L6
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 S 81°00

'
113.83
'00" E
120.00'

0'27" E
S 75

N 09°5
°50'0
8" E
115.9
3'

'
82
5.
16

322.00'
E
2"
5'2

'01" W
°5
36
N

S 09°07
.00'
'12" E 106
N 81°35

L10

N 77°
L3 13'00
L9

"W 2
31.0 0'
0'
S 86°52'00" W 194.0
L4
L8

L5
L7
L6
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Trail located – 46 and 32’ off

3 points shot on pavilion… all

good PDOP. Why one 127’
away? (Note elevation of
1059 compared with others
adjacent at 850-889’)

Boy Scouts Camp Guyasuta

(Trimble GeoXT) – Typ. 3’ accuracy
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Majority of input data has been ‘rubbersheeted’ (stretched
in either x, y, or both to fit all errors) – losing it’s integrity.
Especially deeds and parcels.
Unless metadata kept up – most points have no
accuracy… they may be field surveyed accurately, spotted
on (guessed), or done with a GPS with 10m accuracy.
Ali Al Salem example (one survey grade GPS receiver with no base station for
differential corrections – all of base buildings off by 0-30’)

Aviano example (no checks into base control monuments, no idea of accuracy,
movement of base station with no ones knowledge – import it all into GIS for a nice looking (but
very inaccurate) map.

Tyndall example (given coordinates to stake where a berm is to be constructed. When

first turned PLGR on – it gave me coordinates, distance and bearing – but the accuracy was >1 mile!
After letting it gather almanac and more satellites, was able to navigate to the approximate area
(where they were already working)).
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Choosing the
wrong projection
can make a HUGE
difference in
location (Note
California or
Maine)
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Using two different Datums:

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 75’
Road* Post in Road

Tax Maps and GIS layers

show the mathematical
polygon of the deed
150’ description as recorded. The
original survey may have
been paced or even guessed,
but the calls to monuments
(stone, tree, road, etc.) hold.

Stone
12” Cherry
Monument
Tree

* Call in deed just for “road” – does it mean

centerline, edge of road pavement, or edge
of right of way? 28
 75’ Post not found (you were
Road
expecting to find one?)

150’ 202’
measured

Stone 36” Cherry Stump

Monument with Iron Pin
placed in center

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Edge of Pavement

75’ Centerline of Road

Edge of Pavement

202’ Surveyed How would this affect a GIS

(150’ by deed) map if it was input as 75’ x
150’ as the errant deed
called for?

Original Deed Line

52’ was added to the ‘depth’
(in error) of the parcel from a survey.

36” Cherry Stump with Iron

Stone Monument Pin placed in center (FOUND)
(FOUND)
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 0º

90º
90º

0º

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 0º/360º

90º
270º

180º

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 What would the Bearing be of this
line? The Azimuth?

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Bearing: Due South (or South 0° East, or South 0° West) Azimuth: 180 degrees
How many feet in a mile? 5,280 feet

How many square feet in an acre? 43,560 square feet

How many feet in a rod/perch? 16.5 feet

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Lots 1 and 2 are adjacent to
each other – but the
common line between the
two have different bearings
(45° and 55°) – so they are
different lines?

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Lots 1 and 2 common
corner on the road moved to
coincide with each other –
note the gap – and also the
call for a 24” Oak tree –
which should be the same
corner.

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 Lot 2 is rotated to fit Lot 1
common line (as the subject
survey parcel is lot #1).
Note there is no gap, and
the 24” Oak is common to
both lots and shown
correctly.

Can anyone answer WHY the

common lines would have two
separate/different bearings? 44
 15’
error
Errant Deed Plotted

Call for Pin

(FOUND)
Call for Pin
(FOUND)

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 15’
Two Deeds Plotted with Iron error
Pins (called for) held at
different deed corners Note overlap
between two
adjacent deeds.
Both have errors
– so field
evidence would
hold.
Adjacent Deed
(parcel to the
east) – also Errant
errant. Deed line

Call for Pin

by deed
and found
location 46
Surveyed Field Evidence

Brand new wire

fencing installed
– new fence
posts (following
errant deed line)

Existing, ancient
fence (old posts
and wire fencing
– some grown
into older trees)

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Property Line Calculated from
Field Evidence

' 89
352 .
0 "W
Surveyed line follows

' 4
existing, original

°50
evidence, which does

N 12
not correspond
exactly as either deed
(but generally). 30'

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 Deleted Scenes
• Pennsylvania Law
• Legal Description of Pennsylvania from King George
• Delaware’s Boundary Dispute with Pennsylvania
• Corradene Survey Quandary (Deed overlay/Title)
• What is NOT a surveyor?

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Pennsylvania Law:

1.2 Statutory Definition of Land Surveying

According to the Registration Law, Section 2. Definitions
"Practice of Land Surveying" means the practice of that branch of the profession of
engineering which involves the location, relocation, establishment, reestablishment or
retracement of any property line or boundary of any parcel of land or any road right-of-way,
easement or alignment; the use of principles of land surveying, determination of the position
of any monument or reference point which marks a property line boundary, or corner setting,
resetting or replacing any such monument or individual point including the writing of deed
descriptions; managing or conducting as managers, proprietors or agent any place of
business from which land surveying work is solicited, performed or practiced; . . . (p.2)
"Professional Land Surveyor" means an individual licensed and registered under the laws of
this Commonwealth to engage in the practice of land surveying. A professional land surveyor
may perform engineering land surveys but may not practice any other branch of engineering.
(p.3)
"Engineering Land Surveys" means surveys for: (i) the development of any tract of land
including the incidental design of related improvements, such as line and grade extension of
roads, sewers and grading but not requiring independent engineering judgment: Provided,
however, That tract perimeter surveys shall be the function of the Professional Land Surveyor;
(ii) the determination of the configuration or contour of the earth’s surface, or the position of
fixed objects thereon or related thereto by means of measuring lines and angles and applying
the principles of mathematics, photogrammetry or other measurement method; (iii) geodetic
survey, underground survey and hydrographic survey; (iv) storm water management surveys
and sedimentation and erosion control surveys; (v) the determination of the quantities of
materials; (vi) tests for water percolation in soils; and (vii) the preparation of plans and
specifications and estimates of proposed work and attendant costs as described in this
section. (p.3)
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See also the “Licensure” slide further on.
 Legal Description excerpt from King George to William Penn
In consideration thereof, of Our Speciale grace, certaine Knowledge, and
meere Motion have Given and Granted, and by this Our present Charter, for Us,
Our Heires and Successors, doe give and Grant unto the said William Penn, his
Heires and Assignes, all that Tract or Parte of Land in America, with all the Islands
therein conteyned, as the same is bounded on the East by Delaware River, from
twelve miles distance Northwards of New Castle Towne unto the three and fortieth
degree of Northerne Latitude, if the said River doeth extende so farre Northwards;
But if the said River shall not extend soe farre Northward, then by the said River
soe farr as it doth extend; and from the head of the said River, the Easterne
Bounds are to bee determined by a Meridian Line, to bee drawne from the head of
the said River, unto the said three and fortieth Degree. The said Lands to extend
westwards five degrees in longitude, to bee computed from the said Easterne
Bounds; and the said Iands to bee bounded on the North by the beginning of the
three and fortieth degree of Northern Latitude, and on the South by a Circle
drawne at twelve miles distance from New Castle Northward and Westward unto
the beginning of the fortieth degree of Northern Latitude, and then by a streight
Line Westward to the Limit of Longitude above-mentioned.

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Corradene Parcel
Red=Deed
Blue=Survey of 1960
Green=Tax Map

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Corradene Parcel
Chain of Title (Deeds)
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1910 to Present
 What is NOT a Surveyor
(but may be using the tools of the trade)
Anyone measuring with a GPS, tape/chain, or
Theodolite/Transit.
– State Police (accident reconstruction)
– Related Technical Professionals (Archaeologists,
Biologists, Engineers, Geologists, etc…….. They may use
the tools of the surveying trade, but may not know how to
validate, verify and balance if necessary, and properly
convey the data.

– Anyone can be taught to turn an angle and shoot a distance,

or write down coordinates. Many times I have asked those
using GPS, “What is the accuracy of the locations?”, and
99% of the users do not know. They don’t record PDOP’s
(or even know what that means), and do not know the
accuracy of the equipment. Most say the coordinate
readout is to 8 decimal places – so it HAS to be accurate.

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