Land Surveyors Dictionary

Land surveying is an essential part of construction and engineering projects. It involves determining the boundaries and features of a piece of land using various tools and techniques. To communicate effectively, land surveyors use various abbreviations and acronyms to refer to different measurements and calculations. In this article, we will explore some of the most common abbreviations and acronyms used in land surveying.

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   1. AC – Alternating Current
   Definition: A type of electrical current that reverses direction periodically.
   Survey Use: Refers to underground electrical utilities when marking utility lines.
   Example: While performing a boundary survey near a subdivision in Phoenix, AZ, you might spot "AC" marked on utility maps to indicate live underground power lines.

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   2. AGL – Above Ground Level
   Definition: The vertical distance between an object and the ground directly beneath it.
   Survey Use: Used in topographic and aerial mapping to indicate object height.
   Example: A LIDAR drone flying 100 ft AGL over a construction site in Wake County, NC captures ground elevation data.

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   3. ASP – Asphalt
   Definition: A paving material used primarily for roads and driveways.
   Survey Use: Noted in surface descriptions or control point settings.
   Example: A control point set in the asphalt parking lot of a retail store in Champaign, IL is labeled “Nail in ASP.”

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   4. AT – At Grade
   Definition: Indicates that a point or surface is level with surrounding ground.
   Survey Use: Commonly used in cross-sections and road designs.
   Example: A sewer manhole cover in Topeka, KS is described as “AT GRADE,” meaning it's flush with the road surface.

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   5. BLM – Bureau of Land Management
   Definition: Federal agency that manages public lands.
   Survey Use: BLM oversees surveys in western states under the PLSS system.
   Example: A cadastral survey in Nevada must adhere to BLM Manual 1973 standards for section breakdowns.

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   6. BMT – Bench Mark
   Definition: A fixed point of known elevation used for vertical control.
   Survey Use: Used as a reference point for elevation surveys.
   Example: You tie into a USGS BMT disk set in a sidewalk in Denver, CO, marked with an elevation of 5,280 ft.

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   7. CAD – Computer-Aided Design
   Definition: Software used for drafting and designing plans.
   Survey Use: Final plats, topographic maps, and boundary surveys are drafted in CAD.
   Example: You import your field data into AutoCAD Civil 3D to prepare an ALTA survey in DuPage County, IL.

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   8. CCR – County Clerk and Recorder
   Definition: Local office responsible for recording deeds, plats, and easements.
   Survey Use: Surveyors often research CCR records for legal descriptions.
   Example: You visit the Travis County, TX CCR Office to find an old subdivision plat from 1974.

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   9. COGO – Coordinate Geometry
   Definition: A mathematical method used to calculate positions using bearings and distances.
   Survey Use: COGO tools are used in total stations and data collectors.
   Example: You enter COGO routines in your collector to calculate a property corner in Clarke County, GA.

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   10. CRD – Centerline Reference Datum
   Definition: A reference line used for alignment in roadway and utility projects.
   Survey Use: Used to stake offsets or define limits of construction.
   Example: During a road widening project in Montgomery County, MD, stakes are placed 10 ft offset from CRD.

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   11. DATUM – Geodetic Datum
   Definition: A reference framework used to define latitude, longitude, and elevation.
   Survey Use: Vital for GPS and mapping accuracy.
   Example: A topographic survey in Salt Lake City, UT is tied to NAVD88 vertical datum.

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   12. ELEV – Elevation
   Definition: Height above a defined vertical datum (usually sea level).
   Survey Use: Used in contour mapping and site grading.
   Example: A flood elevation certificate in Orleans Parish, LA lists the finished floor ELEV as 12.3 ft NAVD88.

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   13. GPS – Global Positioning System
   Definition: Satellite-based system that provides location data.
   Survey Use: Used for boundary, control, and topographic surveys.
   Example: You use a Trimble R12i GPS rover in Fresno County, CA to gather topo points for a subdivision design.

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   14. LIDAR – Light Detection and Ranging
   Definition: Remote sensing method that uses laser light to measure distances.
   Survey Use: Creates highly detailed surface models.
   Example: A drone-mounted LIDAR scan in King County, WA captures millions of ground points in under 30 minutes.

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   15. NGS – National Geodetic Survey
   Definition: Federal agency maintaining geodetic control and benchmark networks.
   Survey Use: Provides coordinate data for control surveys.
   Example: You check the NGS database for control monuments near Mobile, AL.

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   16. PLSS – Public Land Survey System
   Definition: Grid system used to divide and describe lands in the western U.S.
   Survey Use: Used to identify land parcels by township, range, and section.
   Example: A parcel in Larimer County, CO is described as NE¼ of the SW¼ of Section 14, T5N, R69W, 6th PM.

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   20 Additional Surveying Acronyms (Newly Added):

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   17. FND – Found
   Definition: Indicates a previously placed monument was located in the field.
   Example: “FND 5/8” rebar w/ cap” at the northeast corner of the lot in Clark County, NV.

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   18. SET – Set
   Definition: Marks a newly placed survey monument.
   Example: “SET mag nail in curb” during a boundary survey in Miami-Dade County, FL.

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   19. ROW – Right of Way
   Definition: A legal easement allowing passage, usually for roads or utilities.
   Example: A gas line easement within a 30-ft ROW in Harris County, TX.

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   20. TBC – Trimble Business Center
   Definition: Surveying software used to process GNSS, total station, and drone data.
   Example: Field data from Lincoln County, NE is post-processed in TBC for high-precision mapping.

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   21. EDM – Electronic Distance Measurement
   Definition: Device that measures distance using electromagnetic waves.
   Example: A Leica total station uses EDM to measure to a prism 250 ft away in Erie County, PA.

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   22. GIS – Geographic Information System
   Definition: Software used for mapping and analyzing spatial data.
   Example: Parcel data from Maricopa County, AZ GIS Portal is used in preliminary planning.

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   23. GLO – General Land Office
   Definition: Predecessor to the BLM; responsible for early land surveys.
   Example: You use a scanned GLO plat from 1872 to reconstruct a lost section corner in Montana.

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   24. CP – Control Point
   Definition: A known, repeatable location used for referencing surveys.
   Example: “CP1: 5000.00 N, 1000.00 E” used as base for a site topo in Dane County, WI.

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   25. TOPO – Topographic Survey
   Definition: Survey showing natural and man-made features and elevations.
   Example: A TOPO survey of a 5-acre lot in Fulton County, GA includes trees, curbs, and contours.

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   26. BM – Bench Mark
   Definition: See also BMT. Permanent elevation reference point.
   Example: BM located on hydrant base in Cook County, IL, elevation 651.24 ft.

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   27. LS – Licensed Surveyor
   Definition: A professional authorized to practice land surveying.
   Example: Drawings signed and sealed by John Smith, PLS #1012, State of Ohio.

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   28. MSL – Mean Sea Level
   Definition: A reference elevation based on average sea level.
   Example: All elevation data in San Diego County, CA is referenced to MSL (NGVD29).

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   29. TS – Traverse Station
   Definition: A point used in a traverse for positioning.
   Example: “TS3: STN 1003, angle right = 89°13’45” from TS2” in a boundary control network in Franklin County, OH.

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   30. FS – Foresight
   Definition: A leveling shot taken on a point of unknown elevation.
   Example: FS reading taken on stake at proposed culvert in Jackson Parish, LA.

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   31. BS – Backsight
   Definition: A leveling shot taken on a known elevation.
   Example: BS on bench mark BM1 to check instrument height in Boone County, KY.

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   32. HI – Height of Instrument
   Definition: Elevation of the instrument above the benchmark or datum.
   Example: HI = 523.45 ft calculated from BS on BM2 during a level loop in Tarrant County, TX.

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   33. GNSS – Global Navigation Satellite System
   Definition: Broad term for satellite positioning systems (includes GPS, GLONASS, etc.).
   Example: Using a GNSS receiver that supports Galileo in Fairfax County, VA for redundancy.

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   34. LOC – Line of Construction
   Definition: Centerline or edge of a proposed improvement.
   Example: Stakeout of LOC for curb and gutter in site development near Bakersfield, CA.

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   35. PAR – Parcel
   Definition: A defined portion of land for legal or taxation purposes.
   Example: “PAR A” shown on plat recorded in Book 312, Page 44, Shelby County, TN.

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   36. VIF – Verify in Field
   Definition: Indicates that a dimension or feature must be checked on site.
   Example: “Property line VIF due to conflicting deed calls” in an ALTA survey in Union County, NJ.

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   37. POB – Point of Beginning
   Definition: The starting point of a legal land description.
   Example: “Beginning at a point on the west line of Elm Street…” is the POB in a metes and bounds deed from Berkshire County, MA.