Month: July 2016

Archaeological Land Surveying

Archaeological surveying is a specialized type of land surveying conducted to report the finds made in an archeological site or to show the relationship of the archaeological site to the landscape. This survey is generally undertaken at the request of archeologists or government agencies and utilizes GIS, GPS, aerial photography, and other tools for surveying.

Bouquet and Hutchins: The Origins of the Rectangular Land Survey System

Without the introduction of a rectangular surveying system, land surveying in the United States might have taken a completely different form. Before the Revolutionary War, surveys used physical features like streams, lakes or large trees to identify property. The problem with this “metes and bounds” system was that it was greatly affected by simple changes

American Congress On Surveying And Mapping

The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, or ACSM, dates back to 1941. It was founded as a non-profit organization to advance education in surveying, mapping, and related fields, and it encourages educational programs and publications to serve the professional and technical interests of these professions. ACSM essentially provides a way for those in the

Courthouse Deed Research

Courthouse deed research involves going to the courthouse to look up the deed to a property. This can be a notoriously frustrating process because old records can be hard to locate, which often means it can take several hours to find some deeds. The older the records are, the more difficult they will usually be

Adverse Possession Law

Adverse possession is a concept in real estate law in which someone may be able possess all or part another’s titled real estate property by occupying the land for an extended period of time. Unlike traditional real estate transactions in which compensation is offered for the land, adverse possession involves gaining the land by using

Eminent Domain

Eminent domain, also known as compulsory purchase expropriation, is the power of the state to seize a citizen’s land for public use. Monetary compensation is required in this situation, but the owner’s consent is not. In some jurisdictions, the government must offer to purchase the property at the owner’s price before resorting to eminent domain.

History and Functions of USGS

The USGS, or United States Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The role of the USGS is to study the landscape and natural resources of the United States. There are four major disciplines contained within the United States Geological Survey: biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The purpose of USGS findings

Setting and Surveying the Canada-US Border

The Canada-US border is one of the most peaceful international borders in the world today, and in fact it is the longest un-militarized border in the world. Despite this, it has actually been the subject of quite a few controversies over the past few hundred years. The location of the present Canada-US border was set

Professional Land Surveyor Qualifications

The requirements for licensing as a professional land surveyor vary from state to state. To find out the requirements for the state in which you intend to practice, you’ll need to contact your state licensing board through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Generally, a professional land surveyor must complete the

Minimal Standards in Land Surveying

Land surveyors are hired to make accurate measurements of your land. You may have a land survey done before you purchase the property or as you decide to build on it. To ensure your survey is accurate and correct, it is important to have it conducted by a qualified land surveyor conduct the survey who