Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

An error in elevation is an example of which of the following?

1. Positional error

2. Attribute error

3. Qualitative value error

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Attribute error

An error in elevation is classified as an attribute error because it relates to the inaccuracies in a specific measurement or characteristic of an object, which in this case is the elevation. Attribute errors occur when there is a difference between the observed value and the true value of a measurement related to a particular property. For instance, if you survey a point and determine its elevation to be 100 meters when its actual elevation is 98 meters, the error in reporting the elevation is an error of its attribute—namely, its height above a reference point. This type of error is distinct from positional errors, which refer to inaccuracies in the location of the point itself, be it horizontal or vertical. In the context of surveying, understanding the difference between attribute errors and positional errors is crucial for ensuring accurate data collection and representation.