Cheat sheet
FS Surveying Cheat Sheet
Surveying Processes
- 15-22% of exam
- Instrumentation GNSS Control Topographic Construction Records
Mapping Methods
- 13-19% of exam
- Scale CAD GIS TIN Remote Sensing Metadata
Boundary Law
- 17-26% of exam
- Records Monuments Metes PLSS Easements Water
Surveying Principles
- 12-18% of exam
- Bearings Datums Geodesy Heights SPCS Route
Survey Computations
- 15-24% of exam
- COGO Traverse Leveling Curves Volume Grade
Business Concepts
- 10-15% of exam
- Scope Safety Liability Ethics Records Communication
Math + Statistics
- 9-14% of exam
- Trig Statistics Error Units Regression Redundancy
Quick Facts
- Exam FS
- Owner NCEES
- Format CBT
- Questions 110
- Exam time 5 hr 20 min
- Appointment 6 hr
- Break 25 min
- Fee $225
- Reference Electronic
- Units SI + USCS
- Score Pass/fail
CBT Flow ME
- Find formula, check units, flag
- Search handbook Check units Estimate answer Flag slow items
Static GNSS vs RTK ME
Static
- Long sessions
- Control quality
- Postprocess common
RTK
- Real-time positions
- Correction link
- Production shots
- Control vs production
Field Method Picker ME
- Need control network → Static GNSS ( High accuracy )
- Need rapid positions → RTK GNSS ( Corrections required )
- Need precise elevations → Differential level ( Close loop )
- Need terrain model → Topo survey ( Breaklines matter )
- Need building layout → Construction staking ( Design coordinates )
- Need dense surface → Scanner/UAS ( Control required )
Exam Day ME
- CBT Computer-based testing
- NDA Two-minute agreement
- Tutorial Eight-minute orientation
- Exam block 5 hr 20 min
- Scheduled break 25 minutes
- Handbook Onscreen reference
- Standards Searchable exam PDFs
- MyNCEES Registration hub
Field Instruments ME
- GNSS Satellite positioning
- GPS US satellite system
- Level Elevation transfer
- Total station Angles + distances
- Robotic station Single-operator tracking
- Scanner Point-cloud capture
- UAS Drone mapping
- Field book Legal record
Control Work ME
- Horizontal control Position framework
- Vertical control Elevation framework
- Network design Redundant geometry
- Benchmark Known elevation
- Check shot Independent verification
- Accuracy standard Required tolerance
- Raw data Unadjusted observations
CAD vs GIS MA
CAD
- Drafting focus
- Design geometry
- Sheet deliverables
GIS
- Database focus
- Attributes matter
- Spatial analysis
- Draw vs analyze
Map Products MA
- Plan view Horizontal layout
- Profile Alignment elevation
- Cross section Perpendicular slice
- Plat Boundary map
- ALTA Land-title survey
- Topographic Features + relief
- Planimetric Features, no relief
- Contours Equal-elevation lines
Data Systems MA
- CAD Drafting geometry
- BIM Building model
- GIS Spatial database
- Metadata Data about data
- TIN Triangle surface
- DEM Bare-earth grid
- DSM Surface-with-features
- LiDAR Laser scanning
Evidence First BO
- Find ground before math
- Original monuments Record calls Occupation Computations
Record vs Occupation BO
Record
- Deeds/plats
- Written intent
- Title chain
Occupation
- Fences/walls
- Use evidence
- Ground facts
- Paper vs ground
Boundary Picker BO
- Found original monument → Hold evidence ( Strong control )
- Record calls conflict → Weigh evidence ( Legal analysis )
- Water boundary appears → Check law ( Riparian/littoral )
- PLSS description appears → Township grid ( Aliquot parts )
- Easement is listed → Map burden ( Title review )
Boundary Evidence BO
- Deed Written conveyance
- Plat Recorded map
- Monument Physical control
- Occupation Possession evidence
- Senior rights Earlier conveyance
- Junior rights Later conveyance
- Easement Use right
- Encumbrance Title burden
Water Rights BO
- Riparian rivers; littoral lakes
- Rivers/streams Lakes/seas Water marks State law
Easement vs Encumbrance BO
Easement
- Specific use
- Access/utilities
- Nonpossessory right
Encumbrance
- Title burden
- Lien/covenant
- Broader category
- Use vs burden
Land Systems BO
- Metes/bounds Courses + monuments
- PLSS Township-range system
- Aliquot part Fractional section
- Riparian River/stream rights
- Littoral Lake/sea rights
- Water mark Boundary evidence
- Adverse possession Unwritten claim
- Mineral rights Subsurface interests
Azimuth vs Bearing PR
Azimuth
- 0-360 degrees
- Clockwise from north
- No quadrant
Bearing
- Acute angle
- Uses quadrant
- N/S then E/W
- Circle vs quadrant
Geodesy Basics PR
- Azimuth Clockwise from north
- Bearing Quadrant angle
- Declination Magnetic-true angle
- Geoid Gravity surface
- Ellipsoid Mathematical surface
- Datum Reference frame
- SPCS State plane coordinates
- Convergence Grid-true angle
Geoid vs Ellipsoid PR
Geoid
- Gravity surface
- Orthometric heights
- Elevation reference
Ellipsoid
- Math surface
- GNSS heights
- Datum model
- Gravity vs geometry
Traverse Components CO
- Lat north-south; dep east-west
- Lat: N/S Dep: E/W Sum for closure Adjust after checks
Cut vs Fill CO
Cut
- Remove material
- Existing above design
- Excavation volume
Fill
- Add material
- Existing below design
- Embankment volume
- Above vs below
Computation Picker CO
- Course to coordinates → Lat/depart ( Component method )
- Closure residual remains → Traverse adjustment ( Find blunders first )
- Elevation difference needed → Differential leveling ( BS minus FS )
- Curve stakeout appears → Curve elements ( Identify givens )
- Cut/fill requested → Volume method ( Match sections )
- Grid-ground mismatch → Combined factor ( Scale coordinates )
Traverse + COGO CO
- Latitude North-south component
- Departure East-west component
- Misclosure Closure residual
- Compass rule Length-weighted adjustment
- Least squares Redundant adjustment
- Inverse Coordinates to course
- Intersection Lines to point
- Area Ordered coordinates
Curves + Grades CO
- Radius Curve size
- Delta Central angle
- Tangent PI to curve
- Arc length Curve distance
- Chord Straight curve span
- PVI Grade intersection
- PVC Vertical curve start
- PVT Vertical curve end
- Grade Rise/run percent
Business Ops BU
- Scope Defined deliverables
- Specifications Required standards
- Cost estimate Projected resources
- Schedule Planned timing
- E&O Professional insurance
- Negligence Below standard
- Safety plan Hazard controls
- Ethics Professional duty
Error Types MA
- Random scatters; systematic shifts; blunders break
- Scatter Bias Mistake Check residuals
Precision vs Accuracy MA
Precision
- Repeatability
- Small scatter
- May be biased
Accuracy
- Near truth
- Low bias
- Needs control
- Repeat vs true
Error Picker MA
- Repeated scatter → Random error ( Adjust statistically )
- Constant bias → Systematic error ( Correct cause )
- Impossible value → Blunder check ( Reject mistake )
- Extra observations → Least squares ( Use redundancy )
- Mixed units → Conversion check ( Track dimensions )
Math + Error MA
- Mean Average value
- Median Middle value
- Std dev Spread measure
- Random error Scattered variation
- Systematic error Consistent bias
- Blunder Gross mistake
- Unit conversion Dimensional check
- Regression Trend model
Common Traps
FE vs FS
- FE = engineering ≠ FS = surveying
DMS vs decimal
- DMS has parts ≠ Decimal is single
Slope vs horizontal
- Slope is inclined ≠ Horizontal is plan
Grid vs ground
- Grid is projected ≠ Ground is measured
Accuracy vs precision
- Accuracy needs truth ≠ Precision repeats tightly
Backsight vs foresight
- Backsight known ≠ Foresight unknown
Monument vs coordinate
- Monument is evidence ≠ Coordinate is calculation
Standard vs statute
- Standard guides practice ≠ Statute controls law
Last Minute
- 1. 110 questions; 5 hr 20 min
- 2. Use official electronic references
- 3. Boundary 17-26%; compute 15-24%
- 4. Lat = north/south component
- 5. Dep = east/west component
- 6. Azimuth = full circle
- 7. Bearing = quadrant angle
- 8. Geoid height differs from ellipsoid
- 9. Grid distance differs from ground
- 10. Close levels and traverses
- 11. Find blunders before adjustment
- 12. Monuments beat blind math
- 13. Scope defines deliverables
- 14. Results are pass/fail
FS Fundamentals of Surveying
- Practice Questions 222 questions Study Guide 74 topics Cheat Sheet 96 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 1 short Blogs 2 blogs Free CE Podcast