Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

In a dependent resurvey in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), an obliterated corner is determined by?

1. Double proportion

2. Single proportion

3. Reliable testimony

4. Secondary methods

The correct answer is: Reliable testimony

In a dependent resurvey within the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), an obliterated corner refers to a surveying point that has lost its physical markers due to various reasons like erosion, construction, or neglect. To re-establish the location of this corner, surveyors often rely on evidence from previous surveys and historical data, along with testimony from individuals who may have knowledge of the original corner location versus physically re-establishing it through other methods. The use of reliable testimony plays a critical role in this context because it provides firsthand accounts and corroborating information regarding the previous location of the corner. This testimony can come from landowners, historical documents, or older survey data, which collectively create a more accurate basis for re-establishing the corner. Other methods such as double or single proportion deal more with mathematical calculations rather than historical evidence, and secondary methods might refer to tools or techniques that are not directly sourced from reliable accounts but rather technical equipment or modern surveying techniques. Thus, the reliance on trustworthy and relevant testimonies greatly enhances the accuracy and validity of establishing obliterated corners in the PLSS.