SRV 120 - US Public Lands Survey System

1. Examine the various concepts involved in determining the length of a line.
   1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of various units such as chains, feet and meters
   2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various measuring tools such as the chain, steel tape and stadia
   3. Demonstrate various measuring methods such as direct chaining, traversing and triangulation
   4. Discuss how the advent of GPS has affected the measurement of distance
2. Examine the various concepts involved in determining the direction of a line
   1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the magnetic needle and the solar compass
   2. Illustrate the difference between bearings and azimuths
   3. Discuss the effect of time when making solar or astronomic observations
   4. Demonstrate the use of the Ephemeris
   5. Demonstrate a Polaris observation
   6. Demonstrate a solar observation
   7. Discuss how the advent of GPS has affected the determination of direction
3. Illustrate the effects of curvature of the earth and convergency of meridians
4. Interpret the general scheme of the rectangular system of public land surveys
   1. Define components of the rectangular survey system such as initial point, base line, principal meridan, standard parallels and guide meridians
   2. Explain the process of laying out township exteriors
   3. Demonstrate subdivision of townships and sections
   4. Explain subdivision by protraction
   5. Differentiate between lotted sections and fractional sections
   6. Describe the purpose of closing corners
   7. Examine the effects of navigability of streams and lakes and how navigability is determined
   8. Demonstrate the process for determining limits of closure
5. Illustrate the importance of monumentation in the public land system.
   1. Demonstrate the system of marking monuments
   2. Explain the legal significance of monuments
   3. Discuss bearing trees, accessories and memorials
   4. Distinguish between a monument and a corner
6. Compare lost and obliterated corners
   1. Differentiate between lost and obliterated corners
   2. Demonstrate the procedure for restoration of lost corners.
   3. Explain single and double proportion
7. Interpret the information found in the original government field notes
   1. Assess the significance of original field notes
   2. Demonstrate how information from the original field notes can be used to analyze existing field evidence
   3. Identify potential sources from which original field notes may be obtained
8. Interpret the information found on the original government subdivision plat
   1. Assess the significance of original subdivision plat
   2. Demonstrate how information from the original subdivision plat can be used to analyze existing field evidence
   3. Identify potential sources from which original subdivision plats may be obtained
   4. Explain the concept of “protecting the plat”.
9. Analyze the process of performing Resurveys
   1. Explain the purpose of a resurvey
   2. Identify the entities exercising jurisdiction over public land and private land
   3. Differentiate between dependent and independent resurveys
   4. Differentiate between a resurvey and a retracement
   5. Explain the concept of “following in the footsteps”.
10. Evaluate the effects of conditions such as bad weather, rugged terrain, hostile native inhabitants and low pay on the quality of the original government surveys
    1. Analyze the original instructions governing Public Land Surveys of Iowa
    2. Outline the changes in each successive update of the original instructions
11. Analyze the special instructions to Deputy Surveyors
    1. Describe the types of information to be found in the letters of instruction of deputy surveyors
    2. Explain how the information in the various letter books relates to specific subdivision surveys within the State of Iowa
12. Analyze the process of establishing Iowa’s state boundaries
    1. Discuss the establishment of the Iowa-Minnesota boundary
    2. Discuss the establishment of the Iowa-Missouri boundary and how Sullivan’s line affected the location
    3. Explain how the Mississippi and Missouri rivers affected the location of the east and west boundaries of Iowa
13. Evaluate the effect that Indian Treaty Boundaries had on the original surveys