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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AC: Alternating Current Alternating current refers to the type of electrical current that reverses direction periodically. In land surveying, it is commonly used to refer to underground electrical cables.
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AGL: Above Ground Level AGL refers to the height of an object or point above the ground level. It is commonly used in aviation and land surveying.
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ASP: Asphalt ASP refers to asphalt, a commonly used material in road construction. It is often used in land surveying to refer to the surface of a road.
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AT: At Grade At Grade refers to a point that is level with the surrounding ground level. It is often used in land surveying to indicate the elevation of a point.
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BLM: Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management is a government agency responsible for managing public lands in the United States. Land surveyors often work with the BLM to establish boundaries and property lines.
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BMT: Bench Mark Bench Mark refers to a permanent point of reference used for land surveying. It is often a metal or concrete post with a known elevation and location.
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CAD: Computer-Aided Design CAD refers to the use of computer software to design and create technical drawings. It is commonly used in land surveying to create accurate and detailed maps.
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CCR: County Clerk and Recorder The County Clerk and Recorder is a government office responsible for maintaining land records and property ownership information.
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COGO: Coordinate Geometry Coordinate Geometry is a mathematical system used in land surveying to calculate the location and position of points on a map.
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CRD: Centerline Reference Datum Centerline Reference Datum refers to a point or line used as a reference for establishing boundaries and property lines. It is often used in road construction and land surveying.
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DATUM: Geodetic Datum Geodetic Datum refers to a reference system used for measuring and mapping the Earth's surface. It is commonly used in land surveying to establish accurate coordinates and elevation levels.
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ELEV: Elevation Elevation refers to the height of a point or object above sea level. It is an important measurement in land surveying, as it is used to establish property boundaries and determine the slope of the land.
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GPS: Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based navigation system used to determine the exact location of objects on the Earth's surface. It is commonly used in land surveying to establish accurate coordinates and measurements.
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LIDAR: Light Detection and Ranging LIDAR refers to a remote sensing technology used to measure distances and create 3D maps of the Earth's surface. It is commonly used in land surveying to create accurate and detailed maps.
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NGS: National Geodetic Survey The National Geodetic Survey is a government agency responsible for maintaining geodetic control points and providing accurate coordinates and elevation data for land surveying.
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PLSS: Public Land Survey System The Public Land Survey System is a method of land division used in the United States. It is used to establish property boundaries and determine ownership of public lands.
Sometimes the abbreviations and acronyms used in Land Surveying can leave you scratching your head.Ā Ā Here are some of the most commonly used Acronyms used in Land Surveying today.Ā Ā If you use different ones in your country feel free to add them below.
| Ā | |||
| @ | AT | ||
| ABUT | ABUTMENT | ||
| ADJ | ADJUSTED | ||
| ANG | ANGLE | ||
| APPROX | APPROXIMATE | ||
| AV | AVERAGE | ||
| AVE | AVENUE | ||
| AZ | AZIMUTH | ||
| AZ MK | AZIMUTH MARK | ||
| & | AND | ||
| BRBD | BARBED | ||
| B C | BEGINNING OF CURVE | ||
| BDRY | BOUNDARY | ||
| BK | BANK | ||
| BLDG | BUILDING | ||
| BLK | BLOCK | ||
| BLVD | BOULEVARD | ||
| B M | BENCH MARK | ||
| B V C | BEGINNING OF VERTICAL CURVE | ||
| BRDG | BRIDGE | ||
| C | CUT | ||
| CB | CURB | ||
| CEM | CEMENT | ||
| CH X | CHISELED CROSS | ||
| CH ā¬ | CHISELED SQUARE | ||
| CHIS SQ | CHISELED SQUARE | ||
| C I P | CORRUGATED IRON PIPE | ||
| C/L | CENTER LINE | ||
| C M P | CORRUGATED METAL PIPE | ||
| CO | COUNTY | ||
| CONC | CONCRETE | ||
| COR | CORNER | ||
| C R | CURB RETURN | ||
| CULV | CULVERT | ||
| DEG | DEGREE | ||
| DEST | DESTROYED | ||
| DIA | DIAMETER | ||
| DIST | DISTANCE | ||
| DR | DRIVE | ||
| E | EAST | ||
| E C | END OF CURVE | ||
| E C R | END OF CURB RETURN | ||
| e.g. | FOR EXAMPLE | ||
| ELEV | ELEVATION | ||
| ENGR | ENGINEERING | ||
| E/O | EAST OF | ||
| E V C | END VERTICAL CURVE | ||
| FD | FOUND | ||
| F H | FIRE HYDRANT | ||
| F L | FLOW LINE | ||
| FN | FENCE | ||
| FNC | FENCE | ||
| FT | FOOT OR FEET | ||
| GR | GRADE | ||
| GND | GROUND | ||
| HWY | HIGHWAY | ||
| HDWL | HEADWALL | ||
| i.e. | THAT IS | ||
| IN | INCH | ||
| INT | INTERSECTION | ||
| INTER | INTERSECTION | ||
| I P | IRON PIPE OR IRON PIN | ||
| JCT | JUNCTION | ||
| JUNC | JUNCTION | ||
| L & T | LEAD AND TACK | ||
| LOC | LOCATION | ||
| L S | LAND SURVEYOR | ||
| L | LEFT | ||
| L/O | LEFT OF | ||
| LT | LEFT | ||
| LDNG | LEADING | ||
| M O C | MIDDLE OF CURVE | ||
| MEAS | MEASURE | ||
| MI | MILE | ||
| MID | MIDWAY OR MIDDLE | ||
| M H | MANHOLE | ||
| M H T | MEAN HIGH TIDE | ||
| MK | MARK | ||
| MON | MONUMENT | ||
| MP | MAP | ||
| M S L | MEAN SEA LEVEL | ||
| N | NORTH | ||
| NE | NORTHEAST | ||
| NGS | NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY | ||
| NO | NUMBER | ||
| N/O | NORTH OF | ||
| NW | NORTHWEST | ||
| OBS | OBSERVED | ||
| O D | OUTSIDE DIAMETER | ||
| OPP | OPPOSITE | ||
| ORIGĀ | ORIGINAL | ||
| PG | PAGE | ||
| PGS | PAGES | ||
| PAR | PARALLEL | ||
| PAV | PAVED, PAVING OR PAVEMENT | ||
| P B M | PRECISE BENCH MARK | ||
| PERPĀ | PERPENDICULAR | ||
| P I | POINT OF INTERSECTION | ||
| P P | POWER POLE | ||
| PT | POINT | ||
| PVT R/W | PRIVATE RIGHT OF WAY | ||
| PVMT | PAVEMENT | ||
| PST | POST | ||
| R C P | REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE | ||
| RD | ROAD | ||
| RDWY | ROADWAY | ||
| REF | REFERENCE | ||
| RES | RESERVOIR | ||
| RET WALL | RETAINING WALL | ||
| RGE | RANGE | ||
| R M | REFERENCE MONUMENT WORK | ||
| RHO | RANCHO | ||
| R P | REFERENCE POINT | ||
| RR | RAILROAD | ||
| R | RIGHT | ||
| R/O | RIGHT OF | ||
| R/W | RIGHT OF WAY | ||
| SS | SIDE SHOT | ||
| S | SOUTH | ||
| S B B & M | SAN BERNARDINO BASE & MERIDIAN | ||
| SE | SOUTHEAST | ||
| SEC | SECTION | ||
| S/O | SOUTH OF | ||
| SPK | SPIKE | ||
| SQ | SQUARE | ||
| S S M | STANDARD SURVEY MONUMENT | ||
| ST | STREET | ||
| STA | STATION | ||
| STD | STANDARD | ||
| ST HWY | STATE HIGHWAY | ||
| STK | STAKE | ||
| STMPD | STAMPED | ||
| STRUCT | STRUCTURE | ||
| SURV | SURVEY | ||
| SW | SOUTHWEST | ||
| T B M | TEMPORARY BENCH MARK | ||
| TEL | TELEPHONE | ||
| TEL PL | TELEPHONE POLE | ||
| TENT | TENTATIVE | ||
| TK | TACK | ||
| T T | TRUCK TRAIL | ||
| TLA | TRILATERATION | ||
| TRI | TRIANGULATION | ||
| TRV | TRAVERSE | ||
| TWP | TOWNSHIP | ||
| U S C E | UNITED STATES CORPS OF ENGINEERS | ||
| U S C & G S | UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY | ||
| U S G S | UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY | ||
| V C | VERTICAL CURVE | ||
| VERT | VERTICAL | ||
| W | WEST | ||
| W C | WITNESS CORNER | ||
| W/O | WEST OF | ||
| W/P | WITNESS POST | ||
| WR | WIRE | ||
| W WL | WINGWALL | ||
| X-SEC | CROSS SECITON | ||
| X-RD | CROSS ROAD | ||
| -Ā | DASH | ||
| + - | PLUS OR MINUS | ||
| /Ā | OF | ||
| ļ | SQUARE OR BOX | ||
| +Ā | PLUS | ||
| #Ā | NUMBER | ||
| Ā | |||
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