Principles and Practice of Surveying Exam (PS) Professional Practice, Ethics, and Survey Standards Syllabus

What are records research requirements before performing a boundary survey?

The surveyor must research deeds, prior surveys, plats, easements, rights-of-way, adjoiner descriptions, public land survey records, tax maps, and any senior/junior rights documents to reconstruct the original intent of the boundaries.

What is a typical record retention requirement for a surveyor's field notes and project records?

Many states require retention of survey records (field notes, computations, plats) for a minimum period—commonly on the order of 5 to 10 years, with some jurisdictions requiring longer or permanent retention—to support future re-surveys and defend against claims.

What does the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), maintained by NGS, provide?

A consistent national framework of geodetic control defining latitude, longitude, height (orthometric and ellipsoidal), scale, gravity, and orientation, enabling surveys nationwide to be tied to a common, accurate reference.

What federal agency is responsible for defining and maintaining the U.S. national geodetic datum and standards?

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), an office within NOAA. NGS establishes geodetic control, datums (e.g., NAD 83 transitioning to NATRF2022), and the National Spatial Reference System.

What is the purpose of an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey?

To provide a title insurance company and lender with a detailed, standardized survey showing boundaries, improvements, easements, encroachments, and other matters affecting title to a parcel, performed to nationally uniform requirements jointly adopted by ALTA and NSPS.

What is 'Table A' in the ALTA/NSPS standards?

An optional list of additional survey items (e.g., zoning, flood zone, utilities, parking counts, building heights) that the client may request beyond the minimum required items. The client selects which Table A items to include in the survey.

What is a 'record of survey' and when is it typically required to be filed?

A map documenting the results of a boundary survey, filed with a public agency (e.g., county recorder/surveyor). It is commonly required when the survey establishes new monuments, reveals discrepancies, creates new boundary evidence, or material differences from record are found.

What is the difference between a 'plat' and a 'record of survey'?

A plat (subdivision map) divides land into lots and dedicates streets/easements, creating new legal parcels and requiring government approval. A record of survey documents the measurement and monumentation of existing boundaries without creating new parcels.

Distinguish a metes-and-bounds description from a lot-and-block description.

A metes-and-bounds description traces the perimeter using courses (bearings and distances) and monuments from a point of beginning back to it. A lot-and-block description references a recorded subdivision plat by lot number, block, and map reference.

What essential elements must a legal property description contain?

A clear point of beginning, unambiguous courses (bearings/distances) or references to a recorded plat, identification of monuments, a closed perimeter returning to the point of beginning, area, and reference to the controlling jurisdiction/datum.

What is a 'point of beginning' (POB) in a metes-and-bounds description?

The fixed, identifiable starting reference point of the boundary traverse, ideally tied to a monument or known geodetic point, from which all courses proceed and to which the description must ultimately return (close).

What are the key components that should be included in a surveying contract or proposal?

Scope of services, deliverables, schedule, fee and payment terms, standard of care, client responsibilities, limitations/exclusions, indemnification, ownership of documents, dispute resolution, and signatures of both parties.

Why is a clearly defined scope of work important in a surveying agreement?

It establishes the precise services to be performed, prevents 'scope creep,' sets client expectations, limits liability to agreed tasks, supports proper fee determination, and provides a basis for resolving disputes about deliverables.

What is a 'scope creep' and how should a surveyor handle additional requested work?

Scope creep is the uncontrolled expansion of work beyond the original agreement. The surveyor should document the change, issue a written change order or supplemental agreement specifying added scope, fee, and schedule, and obtain client approval before proceeding.

Compare lump-sum, cost-plus, and hourly (time-and-materials) fee structures for survey contracts.

Lump-sum: a fixed total price; risk on the surveyor if effort exceeds estimate. Cost-plus: reimbursement of actual costs plus a fee/markup. Hourly/time-and-materials: billing by actual hours and expenses; risk on the client if scope grows.

In project planning, what factors drive resource and cost estimation for a survey?

Project size and complexity, terrain and access, required accuracy, amount of records research, field crew size and equipment, travel, deliverable type, schedule constraints, and overhead/profit margins.

How is the estimated cost of a survey crew computed from a billing rate and time?

$$\text{Cost} = R \times H$$ where $R$ is the crew (or personnel) billing rate per hour and $H$ is the estimated number of hours. Total project cost sums labor, equipment, travel, overhead, and profit.

A 2-person crew bills at $\$150$/hr and needs 24 field hours plus 8 office hours at $\$95$/hr. What is the estimated labor cost?

$$ (150 \times 24) + (95 \times 8) = 3600 + 760 = \$4360 $$

What is the critical path in survey project scheduling?

The longest sequence of dependent tasks that determines the minimum project duration. Any delay to a critical-path task delays the entire project; tasks not on the critical path have float/slack.

What principles guide a surveyor giving expert witness testimony?

Testify only within one's expertise, base opinions on facts and accepted methods, remain objective and impartial, disclose assumptions and limitations, avoid advocacy beyond technical findings, and present conclusions honestly regardless of who retains them.

Distinguish a 'fact witness' from an 'expert witness' in a surveying dispute.

A fact witness testifies only about what they directly observed or did. An expert witness, qualified by knowledge and experience, may offer professional opinions and interpretations (e.g., on boundary location or standard of care) to assist the court.

What are the principles of effective professional communication for a surveyor?

Clarity, accuracy, timeliness, appropriate technical level for the audience, written documentation of key decisions and instructions, professional tone, and maintaining records of communications to support accountability.

What is the purpose of professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance for a surveyor?

To provide financial protection against claims arising from alleged negligent acts, errors, or omissions in professional services—covering legal defense costs and damages up to policy limits—thereby managing the surveyor's risk exposure.

Distinguish 'claims-made' from 'occurrence' professional liability policies.

A claims-made policy covers claims reported during the active policy period (and any tail/extended reporting period). An occurrence policy covers incidents that happened during the policy period regardless of when the claim is reported. Most E&O policies are claims-made.

What is a key risk-management practice to limit a surveyor's liability exposure?

Use written contracts with clear scope and limitation-of-liability clauses, follow the standard of care, document work thoroughly, communicate in writing, perform quality reviews, maintain adequate E&O insurance, and decline work outside competence.

What is a statute of limitations versus a statute of repose for surveying claims?

A statute of limitations sets the time to file suit after a claim is discovered or accrues. A statute of repose sets an absolute outer time limit (e.g., from completion of services) after which no claim may be brought regardless of discovery.

What is an indemnification (hold-harmless) clause in a survey contract?

A contractual provision allocating risk by which one party agrees to compensate the other for specified losses, damages, or claims. Surveyors should seek to limit indemnity to losses caused by their own negligence.

What is 'privity of contract' and how does it affect a surveyor's third-party liability?

Privity is the direct contractual relationship between two parties. Traditionally only parties in privity could sue, but modern law often allows foreseeable third parties (e.g., subsequent purchasers relying on a survey) to bring negligence claims against the surveyor.

What is the difference between a junior right and a senior right in boundary determination?

A senior right belongs to the parcel conveyed first; it holds priority and retains its full described dimensions. The junior parcel (conveyed later) receives only the remainder, so any deficiency or overlap is absorbed by the junior right.

What is the proper professional response when a surveyor discovers a significant error in previously sealed/delivered work?

Promptly notify the affected client/parties, correct the error, document the correction, issue revised sealed documents as needed, and where public safety or recorded records are affected, notify the appropriate authority—consistent with the duty of honesty and public protection.