Study guides · Stuff Every Surveying Scout Should Know
Practice facts for the Surveying merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Surveying Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
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Short answer: Determining positions of points using distances and angles
Surveying determines terrestrial positions of points from distances and angles between them, often to make maps and boundaries.
Groan of the day: Surveyors have great angles, and they measure them too.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A land surveyor
A professional in land surveying is called a land surveyor, per the source.
Groan of the day: A surveyor's favorite dance is the angle turn.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A theodolite
The theodolite uses circles or alidades to measure angles in both the horizontal and vertical planes.
Groan of the day: The theodolite is a real angle-achiever.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: An electronic distance measurement device
A total station is a theodolite development with an electronic distance measurement device, or EDM.
Groan of the day: A total station is totally station-ary when set on its tripod.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Global Positioning System
GPS is the Global Positioning System, a satellite positioning network launched by the US Air Force.
Groan of the day: GPS helps you find your way, no satellite-ite needed.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Corrections to GPS signals
The static antenna sends corrections by radio so the roving antenna can calculate its position accurately.
Groan of the day: The base station is a real correct-ional speaker.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: To detect and reduce errors
Redundant measurements and independent checks help detect gross errors early and reduce random error.
Groan of the day: Surveyors repeat measurements because practice makes per-fect.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A mistake made by the surveyor
Gross errors or blunders are surveyor mistakes like misaiming a target or writing a wrong measurement.
Groan of the day: A gross error is nothing to blunder-estimate.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: An error that follows a consistent pattern
Systematic errors follow a consistent pattern, such as temperature effects on a chain or a tilted instrument.
Groan of the day: Systematic errors are consistently consistent.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: The elevation of a point
Leveling either finds the elevation of a given point or establishes a point at a given elevation.
Groan of the day: Leveling keeps surveyors on the straight and narrow.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A known elevation reference point
A benchmark provides a known elevation reference so other points can be measured relative to it.
Groan of the day: A benchmark sets the bar, elevation-wise.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: Determining positions using triangles from a baseline
Triangulation uses a known baseline and angles to derive distances and positions of other objects.
Groan of the day: Triangulation is a three-sided success story.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A known horizontal distance between two points
A surveyor first needs the known horizontal distance between two objects, called the baseline.
Groan of the day: The baseline is the foundation of the whole triangle.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Measuring bearings and distances between reference marks
Traversing places reference marks and measures bearings and distances between them and to target features.
Groan of the day: Traversing is a real trail of measurements.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A survey that establishes parcel boundaries
Cadastral or boundary surveying establishes or re-establishes parcel boundaries using a legal description.
Groan of the day: Cadastral surveys really draw the line.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A survey of positions and elevations shown with contours
A topographic survey maps positions and elevations of points and objects, shown with contour lines.
Groan of the day: Topographic maps really know how to contour themselves.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A survey documenting recently constructed elements
As-built surveys document the location of recently constructed elements for record and payment purposes.
Groan of the day: As-built surveys show what was actually built, not just planned.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A survey mapping shorelines and water beds
Hydrographic surveys map the shoreline and bed of a body of water for navigation, engineering, or resources.
Groan of the day: Hydrographic surveys make a big splash in mapping.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A survey that splits a property into smaller properties
A subdivision is a boundary survey that splits a property into two or more smaller properties.
Groan of the day: A subdivision survey divides to conquer.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: An arbitrary starting reference point
A datum is an arbitrary reference point from which a coordinate system measures positions.
Groan of the day: A datum is the data's starting line.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Surveying that assumes the Earth is flat
Plane surveying assumes the Earth is flat and is used for small areas where curvature errors are tiny.
Groan of the day: Plane surveying keeps things on the level.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: For large areas where Earth's curvature matters
Geodetic surveying accounts for Earth's curvature and is used for large survey works.
Groan of the day: Geodetic surveying really bends over backwards for accuracy.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Recording land ownership and boundaries
A deed is a legal document describing property ownership and boundaries that surveyors discuss with counselors.
Groan of the day: A deed is a good deed for property records.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: Aerial imagery and photogrammetry
Drones with photogrammetric image processing are an emerging surveying technology for aerial data.
Groan of the day: Drones give surveys a bird's-eye view.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Measuring distance with laser light
Lidar sensors are used for 3D scanning and topographic surveys by measuring with laser light.
Groan of the day: Lidar sheds light on the landscape, literally.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Capture detailed three-dimensional measurements
3D scanners are listed among surveying instruments for capturing three-dimensional data.
Groan of the day: 3D scanners give surveys some depth.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: To avoid hazards while working outdoors
Recognizing poisonous plants and animals helps surveyors stay safe in the field and know first aid needs.
Groan of the day: Knowing the plants keeps surveyors from getting stung by surprise.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: Snake bite treatment
The requirements list first aid for cuts, scratches, snake bite, insect stings, tick bites, heat and cold reactions, and dehydration.
Groan of the day: First aid knowledge is a real lifesaver in the field.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: Know first aid and seek qualified help
The badge requires knowing first aid for heat and cold reactions and dehydration, and seeking proper help.
Groan of the day: Heat safety keeps surveyors cool under pressure.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: A measuring chain of known link length
Gunter's chain, introduced in 1620, enabled accurate land surveying and plotting for legal and commercial purposes.
Groan of the day: Gunter's chain linked land to the law.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Re-established boundaries after Nile floods
Rope stretchers used simple geometry to re-establish boundaries after the annual Nile floods.
Groan of the day: Rope stretchers really pulled their weight.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A US method dividing land into township grids
The PLSS divided western territories into township grids, sections, and fractions for land sale.
Groan of the day: The PLSS put land on the grid.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A marker set at a boundary corner
Surveyors set monuments like iron rods, pipes, or concrete markers at parcel corners and boundaries.
Groan of the day: Monuments mark the spot, monument-ally.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Showing the relationship between map and ground distance
A survey map includes a scale bar to show the relationship between drawn distances and real distances.
Groan of the day: A scale bar keeps the map on the right scale.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: The direction of north
A north arrow indicates orientation so readers know which way is north on the map.
Groan of the day: A north arrow always points you in the right direction.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: Collecting information from aerial photos and satellite images
Photogrammetry is a method of collecting information using aerial photography and satellite images.
Groan of the day: Photogrammetry gives surveys a whole new perspective.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A temporary point used when moving the level
Turning means moving the level to a new location while keeping the rod in the same spot to continue measurements.
Groan of the day: Turning points keep leveling moving along.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A final observation that checks for angular error
A close compares the first and last bearings to reveal angular misclose and check survey standards.
Groan of the day: A good close keeps the survey from going in circles.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Imprecise features like riverbanks
Offsetting measures features like riverbanks by taking right-angle distances from a baseline.
Groan of the day: Offsetting measures the bends in the riverbank.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: A set of reference points for starting surveys
A control network is a set of previously measured points used to determine positions for new surveys.
Groan of the day: A control network keeps surveys from starting from scratch.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Tenths and hundredths
In the US, a survey foot breaks down into tenths and hundredths, often used in deed descriptions.
Groan of the day: Survey feet are tenths and hundredths all the way.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Sign and seal all plans
A licensed land surveyor is generally required to sign and seal all plans, with name and registration number.
Groan of the day: A seal of approval comes with the license.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Costs and contracts of construction projects
Quantity surveying deals with costs and contracts, estimating materials, labor, and time for construction.
Groan of the day: Quantity surveyors count the cost, not the land.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value; precision is how close repeated measurements are to each other
Accuracy refers to closeness to the true value, while precision refers to how close repeated measurements are to each other. Surveyors must distinguish between them.
Groan of the day: Surveyors aim for accuracy, but they also want precise measurements, so they hit the mark twice.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Set the instrument over a corner and sight a reference corner
The requirement says to set the instrument over a corner, sight another corner for reference, and record angles and distances.
Groan of the day: Setting up over a corner helps the surveyor get a good angle on things.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: North arrow, scale bar, title, and date
The map should include a north arrow, scale bar, title, date, and a diagram of the lot measured.
Groan of the day: A good survey map has all the right elements, so it doesn't leave you lost.
Sources: Scouting America: Surveying
Short answer: Civil engineer
Civil engineering often needs surveyors to help determine placement of roads, bridges, and buildings.
Groan of the day: Civil engineers and surveyors work together to build roads, so they pave the way for each other.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: To keep instruments stable
Tripods provide a stable base so instruments stay steady during precise angle and distance measurements.
Groan of the day: A tripod has three legs because two would be unstable and four would be a crowd.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Returning light pulses to the instrument
Retroreflectors bounce light back to the total station, helping measure distances accurately.
Groan of the day: A retroreflector gives light a round trip ticket.
Sources: Surveying
Short answer: Measure smaller distances
Tape measures are often used for measurement of smaller distances where long-range instruments are not needed.
Groan of the day: A tape measure is a real stretch for small jobs.
Sources: Surveying
The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.
Think of your answer first, then peek.
Determining positions of points using distances and angles. Surveying determines terrestrial positions of points from distances and angles between them, often to make maps and boundaries.
A known elevation reference point. A benchmark provides a known elevation reference so other points can be measured relative to it.
Surveying that assumes the Earth is flat. Plane surveying assumes the Earth is flat and is used for small areas where curvature errors are tiny.
Re-established boundaries after Nile floods. Rope stretchers used simple geometry to re-establish boundaries after the annual Nile floods.
Tenths and hundredths. In the US, a survey foot breaks down into tenths and hundredths, often used in deed descriptions.
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