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Dictionary - Survey, Boundary, Mapping, Mining Eliot Surveying -Ellott Land Surveying New Mexico
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Dictionary - Survey, Boundary, Mapping, Mining -
Elliott Surveying
Glossary-Dictionary of terms related to professional
surveying, geomatics.
These terms are defined in accordance with their meaning and usage within
the surveying profession. Many of these terms are defined using slang or
historical definitions. This glossary includes survey words as adapted to
government organizations such as FEMA, BLM, GLO, USGS, PLSS and
others. The terms involve mining, development, boundary, easement,
mapping and construction as survey vocabulary relates to these disciplines.
Elliott Surveying- New Mexico- 505-280-6729
rusty@elliottsurveying.net
A-Survey, Mining, Mapping Terms and Definitions.
Elliott Surveying- New Mexico- 505-280-6729 - rusty@elliottsurveying.net
ABANDONMENT OF EASEMENT- (LEGAL}- Non-use does not constitute abandonment, so the acts,
Claimed to constitute abandonment must be decisive and conclusive to indicate a clear intent to
abandon,
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Dictionary - Survey, Boundary, Mapping, Mining Eliot Surveying -Ellott Land Surveying New Mexico
ABSTRACT OF TITLE - (SURVEY}- A condensed history ofthe tile to land, consisting of a synopsis or
‘summary of the material
‘ABUT - (SURVEY) To reach; to touch. In old law, the ends were said to abut, the sides to adjoin, The
term “abutting” implies a closer proximity than the term “adjacent.
ACCESS — (SURVEY)- The right to enter and leave over the lands of another.
ACCRETION — (SURVEY). Its the gradual and imperceptible addition of soll or other material by the
natural processes of water-borne sedimentation,
ACCURACY (SURVEY). Accuracy relates to the quality of a result, and is distinguished from precision
‘which relates to the quality ofthe operation by which the resultis obtained. The degree
(of perfection obtained in measurements.
ACCURACY RATIO- (SURVEY}- The ratio of error of closure to the distance measured for one or a
‘series of measurements,
‘ACEQUIA~ (SURVEY) ditch through which water, diverted from its natural course, is conducted for
use in irigation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - (SURVEY). In regard to a legal instrument or document, formal declaration
before an authorized official such as a Notary Public, by the person who executed the instrument, that it
is his free act and deed.
ACQUIESCENCE — (SURVEY)- Some act of concurrence by the adjoining owners bearing on the
practical location of their common boundary where the definite or more accurate position ofthe line or
lines has not or cannot be defined by survey.
ACRE — (SURVEY}- A unit of area measurement. An acre equals 10 square chains or 43,560 square
feet. 640 acres equal 1 square mile.
ACRE FOOT- (WATER RIGHTS)- Volume of water required to cover 1 acre of land (43,560
‘square feet) to a depth of 1 foot, equivalent to 325,851 gallons.
ACTUAL CASH VALUE - (FEMA-NFIP) = The replacement cost for a building, minus a depreciation
percentage based on age and condition.
ADD TAPE - (SURVEY). A survey tape on which minor graduations are placed ahead of the zero point
ADIT: (MINE)- a horizontal entry into a mine with one
‘opening to the surface, commonly and erroneously called
a tunnel
ADJACENT — (SURVEY)- Lying near or close to; sometimes
Contiguous; neighboring. The term ‘adjacent’ implies that the
two objects or parcels of land are not widely separated, though
they may not actually touch, while “adjoining” implies that they
are 80 joined or united to each other that no third objector parcel of land intervenes.
‘ADJOINER ~ (SURVEY) An owner of land which touches the land of another, his name being given in
the deed or instrument by which the land is conveyed.
ADJOINING — (SURVEY): Touching or contiguous, as distinguished from lying near to or adjacent.
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Dictionary - Survey, Boundary, Mapping, Mining Eliot Surveying -Ellott Land Surveying New Mexico
Su ADLUDICATION ~ (SURVEY) The pronouncing of a judgment
fr decree in a cause; also the judgment given.
ADJUSTMENT OF DATA- (SURVEY)-A process used to
remove inconsistencies in measured data. It provides @ method
to compensate for random errors which occur in all,
measurements,
ADJUSTMENT OF INSTRUMENTS: (SURVEY)- The method of bringing the principle ines of an
instrument into their true designed geometric relationships.
Eliott Surveying
ADVERSE POSSESSION - (SURVEY}- The possession of land, under such
Circumstances as indicate that sch possession has been commenced and
= Canlinued under an assertion of ghtson the part ofthe possessor against the
‘orginal owners. To be “adverse,” possession must be “@cval, continued
Visible, notorious, cstnet and hostile.
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH - (MAPPING}-A photograph of a part ofthe earth's
,oy ‘surface taken by an aircraft supported camera
New Mexico
AFFIDAVIT ~ (SURVEY}- A written or printed dectaration or statement of facts made voluntary, and
confirmed by oath, without notice to the adverse party and without opportunity to cross-examine.
AGREEMENT LINE — (SURVEY)- A concurrence between adjoining land owners on the location of their
‘common boundaries. The effect on the location is subject to juacial review,
ALIAS: (GIS and CAD) An additional name fora fied
ALIDADE- (SURVEY}- That part ofa transit or theodolite that contains the telescope and plate levels
Old time topographer at
‘work with an alidade and
ALIENATION (SURVEY}-A legal term applied to the process of Plane table
transfer of tile, ora legal conveyance of property to another.
ALINEMENT- (SURVEY). In railway or highway surveying: The
‘ground plan, showing the alinement or direction, and components
‘of the centerline, as distinguished from a profile, which shows the
vertical element.
ALIQUOT - (PLSS}- Contained an exact number of times in
‘another; a part of a measurement that divides the measurement without a remainder.
ALIQUOT PARTS - (PLSS}- Legal subdivisions, except fractional lots, or further subdivision of any
‘smaller legal subdivision.
ALIUNDE ~ (SURVEY}- From another source. Evidence aliunde is evidence from outside or from
‘another source.
ALLUVION (alluvium) ~ (LEGAL) The soll that is deposited along a river or the sea by gradual and
imperceptible action ofthe water.
ALMANAC- (GPS)- A data fle containing a summary of GPS satelite orbits.
ALTNACSN- (Survey) is a form of a Boundary Survey.
‘ADMENDMENT - (FEMA-NFIP) - A change to a FEMA floodplain map that removes an area thal was
inadvertently included in the Special Flood Hazard Area.
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ANALYTICAL AEROTRIANGULATION - (MAPPING}- A process
of interior and absolute orientation of aerial
photographs obtained by computational methods from plate
Coordinates and mathematical analysis.
ANGLE POINT ~ (SURVEY) A pointn a survey where the
alinement or boundary deflects from a straight line.
ANTENNA- (GPS)-A resonant device that collects and amples
a satelite's signals.
ANTISPOOFING (AS) (GPS}- The encryption of the P code to render spoofing ineffective.
APEX — (MINE)- In mining, the outerop of a vein or the highest portion ofa fold in a vein.
APPARENT HORIZON - (SURVEY}- The visible junction of earth and sky viewed from a specific point.
APPROPRIATION- (WATER RIGHTS)- The right to take water from a natural stream or
aquifer for beneficial use at a specified rate of flow, either for immediate use or to store for
later use. Usually confirmed by a water court decree. (See also Prior Appropriation,
Riparian Rights and Water Right.)
APPROVED MINERAL SURVEY — (MINE)- The approval of a mineral survey atthe State level is final
No Washington Office acceptance is required as in the case of public land subdivisional surveys.
APPURTENANCE ~ (SURVEY)- Anything so annexed to the land or used with it that it will pass with the
‘conveyance of the land.
APPURTENANT EASEMENT: (SURVEY)- Ifthe easement was created forthe purpose of
benefiting other land owned by the holder of the easement. Appurtenant easements run with the
land and are a part of a conveyance of land, whether mentioned in the conveyance or not
AQUIFER - (WATER RIGHTS)- A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a
formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant
quantities of water to wells and springs.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY- (SURVEY)- Is a specific survey in conjunction with
archaeologists to search for archaeological sites or to collect measurements about the
location, distribution and organization of an existing site
ARBITRATOR ~ (SURVEY) A private, disinterested person chosen by the parties to a disputed question
{or the purpose of hearing their contention and giving judgment between them. The parties to the