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CE Land Surveying Standards

The course teaches licensed land surveyors how to apply ALTA/NSPS standards, determine boundaries, draft legal descriptions, and integrate GPS/GNSS and GIS technologies into compliant survey deliverables.

Who Should Take This

Professional land surveyors who hold a state license and regularly produce boundary and legal description reports will benefit. They seek to stay current with national standards, improve accuracy using GPS/GNSS, and streamline GIS integration for client‑ready deliverables. The training reinforces regulatory compliance and offers practical exercises that translate directly into higher‑quality, defensible survey documentation.

What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI

Adaptive Knowledge Graph

Practice Questions

Lesson Modules

Console Simulator Labs

Exam Tips & Strategy

20 Activity Formats

Course Outline

62 learning goals

1 ALTA/NSPS Standards

1 topic

Minimum standard requirements

Identify the purpose and applicability of ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards including the types of transactions and title insurance that require compliance.
Describe the minimum standard detail requirements including fieldwork, evidence of utilities, evidence of possession, and relationship to record information.
Explain the Table A optional survey items including zoning classification, flood zone determination, contours, setback lines, and gross land area calculation.
Describe the surveyor's certification requirements including the form of certification, liability implications, and the distinction from title insurance commitment.
Analyze a survey assignment to determine which ALTA/NSPS requirements and Table A items are applicable based on the client's intended use and title insurer requirements.

2 Boundary Determination

1 topic

Boundary principles and evidence

Identify the hierarchy of boundary evidence including natural monuments, artificial monuments, adjoiners, courses and distances, and area in order of priority.
Describe the principles of original survey recovery including following in the footsteps of the original surveyor and the distinction between retracement and original surveys.
Explain the methods for resolving conflicting calls in deeds including the priority of calls doctrine, intent of the parties, and the role of extrinsic evidence.
Describe boundary agreement doctrines including acquiescence, practical location, and estoppel as they affect surveyed boundary positions.
Analyze boundary disputes to determine the most probable boundary location using monument evidence, deed interpretation, occupation evidence, and legal principles.
Synthesize a boundary opinion report presenting the evidence analyzed, principles applied, and rationale for the determined boundary position.

3 Legal Descriptions

1 topic

Description systems and drafting

Identify the legal description systems used in the United States including metes and bounds, Public Land Survey System, lot and block, and coordinate-based descriptions.
Describe the components of a metes and bounds legal description including the point of beginning, courses, distances, monuments, and closure requirements.
Explain the Public Land Survey System including principal meridians, baselines, townships, ranges, sections, and fractional descriptions for irregular parcels.
Describe coordinate-based legal descriptions including State Plane Coordinate Systems, datum references, and the advantages for GIS-integrated descriptions.
Analyze existing legal descriptions to identify errors, ambiguities, and conflicts that may affect boundary determination and title clarity.
Synthesize a corrective legal description that resolves identified errors or ambiguities while maintaining chain of title consistency.

4 GPS/GNSS Surveying

1 topic

GNSS techniques and accuracy

Identify the GNSS positioning techniques used in surveying including static, rapid static, RTK, PPK, and network RTK with their accuracy expectations.
Describe RTK surveying procedures including base station setup, rover operation, initialization requirements, and quality assurance checks for boundary surveys.
Explain the National Spatial Reference System including the NSRS datum, CORS network, OPUS processing, and the relationship to local coordinate systems.
Analyze GNSS observation data to evaluate solution quality, identify error sources, and determine whether accuracy requirements have been met for the survey purpose.

5 GIS Integration

1 topic

Spatial data and GIS standards

Identify the role of GIS in modern surveying practice including parcel mapping, utility location, environmental analysis, and public records integration.
Describe coordinate transformation methods including datum conversions, map projections, and the procedures for integrating survey data into GIS databases.
Explain spatial data quality assessment including positional accuracy, attribute accuracy, completeness, logical consistency, and temporal accuracy standards.
Analyze GIS data integration challenges to determine appropriate coordinate systems, transformation methods, and accuracy standards for survey-grade spatial data.

6 Easement Surveys

1 topic

Easement identification and description

Identify the types of easements encountered in surveying including access, utility, drainage, conservation, and prescriptive easements.
Describe the surveyor's role in locating and depicting easements including record research, field identification, and plat representation requirements.
Explain the legal distinction between appurtenant and in gross easements and their impact on survey depiction and property transfer.
Analyze easement documentation to determine the location, width, and extent of easement rights and identify potential conflicts with proposed improvements.

7 Subdivision Platting

1 topic

Plat preparation and approval

Identify the components of a subdivision plat including lot layout, street dedications, easements, monuments, certifications, and required signatures.
Describe the subdivision platting process including preliminary plat, final plat, regulatory review, public hearing, and recording requirements.
Explain monument requirements for subdivisions including monument types, placement requirements, and the surveyor's responsibility for monument setting and preservation.
Analyze subdivision design requirements to ensure compliance with local ordinances including minimum lot sizes, frontage requirements, and access standards.
Synthesize a final plat package incorporating survey data, legal descriptions, regulatory compliance documentation, and required certifications for recording.

8 Expert Testimony

1 topic

Survey expert qualifications and testimony

Identify the qualifications required for a surveyor to serve as an expert witness including education, experience, licensure, and specialized knowledge relevant to the dispute.
Describe the expert report preparation process including methodology documentation, evidence analysis, opinion formulation, and compliance with court requirements.
Explain deposition and trial testimony procedures for surveyor experts including direct examination, cross-examination, and the presentation of demonstrative exhibits.
Analyze a boundary dispute scenario to formulate an expert opinion supported by survey evidence, legal principles, and professional standards.

9 Water Boundaries

1 topic

Riparian and littoral boundary principles

Identify the doctrines governing water boundaries including accretion, erosion, avulsion, reliction, and the meander line as a guide to the water boundary.
Describe the distinction between navigable and non-navigable waters and the impact on boundary determination and public versus private ownership of the bed.
Explain the surveyor's methodology for determining water boundaries including ordinary high water mark identification, historical evidence, and physical indicators.
Analyze a riparian boundary scenario to determine the current boundary position considering accretion, erosion, and the applicable legal doctrine.

10 Professional Ethics for Surveyors

1 topic

Ethical standards and obligations

Identify the ethical obligations of professional land surveyors including competency, client confidentiality, public welfare, and the obligation to report violations.
Describe the surveyor's duty to the public including accurate boundary determination, monument preservation, and the responsibility to not create false boundaries.
Explain the distinction between the surveyor's role as an objective measurer of boundaries versus an advocate for a client's desired boundary position.
Analyze ethical dilemmas in surveying practice including pressure from clients to relocate boundaries, conflicts between record and occupation, and monument disturbance.
Synthesize an ethics policy for a surveying firm addressing client communication, boundary dispute neutrality, monument preservation, and professional development.

11 Construction Surveying

1 topic

Construction staking and layout

Identify the types of construction surveys including building layout, grade staking, utility staking, and as-built surveys with their accuracy requirements.
Describe the construction staking process including plan interpretation, control establishment, offset procedures, and cut/fill calculations.
Explain as-built survey requirements including the documentation of constructed improvements, comparison to design plans, and certification standards.
Analyze construction survey field conditions to determine appropriate methods, accuracy requirements, and quality control procedures for the project.

12 Topographic Surveying

1 topic

Topographic data collection and mapping

Identify the components of a topographic survey including contour intervals, spot elevations, planimetric features, and utility locations.
Describe topographic data collection methods including total station, GNSS, terrestrial scanning, and UAV photogrammetry with their accuracy characteristics.
Explain digital terrain model creation from survey data including surface modeling, contour generation, volume calculation, and data quality assessment.
Synthesize a topographic survey plan addressing data collection methods, accuracy specifications, deliverable formats, and quality control procedures for a development project.

13 UAS and Emerging Technology

1 topic

Drone surveying and modern methods

Identify the applications of UAS technology in surveying including aerial mapping, volumetric calculations, corridor surveys, and site monitoring.
Describe the FAA regulatory requirements for UAS operations in surveying including Part 107 certification, airspace authorization, and waiver procedures.
Explain the workflow for UAS photogrammetric surveying including flight planning, ground control placement, image processing, and accuracy assessment.
Analyze UAS survey data quality to determine whether accuracy standards have been met for the intended survey purpose including positional accuracy and surface fidelity.

14 Adverse Possession and Prescriptive Rights

1 topic

Prescriptive boundary issues

Identify the elements of adverse possession claims including actual possession, hostile, open and notorious, exclusive, continuous, and the statutory period.
Describe the surveyor's role in adverse possession situations including evidence documentation, occupation mapping, and the distinction between survey boundaries and legal determination.
Analyze property occupation evidence to determine whether adverse possession elements may be present and document the physical evidence relevant to a legal claim.

Scope

Included Topics

ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards including minimum standard detail requirements, Table A optional items, and surveyor certifications.
Boundary determination principles including original survey recovery, monument hierarchy, deed interpretation, and the resolution of conflicting calls.
Legal descriptions including metes and bounds, Public Land Survey System, lot and block, and coordinate-based descriptions with drafting standards.
GPS and GNSS surveying techniques including static positioning, RTK, network RTK, and the National Spatial Reference System for geodetic control.
Geographic Information Systems integration including spatial data standards, coordinate transformations, metadata requirements, and data quality assessment.
Easement surveys including identification, location, description, and the distinction between appurtenant and in gross easements in survey practice.
Subdivision platting including design standards, regulatory requirements, monument requirements, and the platting approval process.
Expert testimony by surveyors including qualifications, report preparation, deposition procedures, and courtroom testimony standards.
Riparian and littoral boundary issues including accretion, erosion, avulsion, reliction, and the meander line doctrine for water boundary determination.
Professional ethics for land surveyors including competency requirements, client confidentiality, conflict of interest, and obligations to the public.

Not Covered

Advanced photogrammetry, LiDAR processing, or remote sensing analysis beyond survey-grade data collection.
Detailed civil engineering design, grading calculations, or construction staking beyond survey boundary and topographic work.
Real estate transaction law, title examination, or title insurance beyond survey-related boundary and title matters.
Advanced geodesy, orbit determination, or satellite systems engineering beyond practical GNSS surveying applications.
Environmental permitting, wetland delineation, or natural resource management beyond survey-related boundary impacts.

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