Unit 5: Land description

Question 1

acre

Answer 1

a measure of land equal to 43,650 sqft, 4,840 sq yds, 4,047 square meter, 160 square rods, or 0.04047 hectares.

Question 2

air lots

Answer 2

designated airspace over a piece of land. An air lot, like surface property, may be transferred.

Question 3

base line

Answer 3

The main imaginary line running east and west and crossing a principal meridian at a definite point; used ;by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the rectangular (government) survey system for legal descriptions.

Question 4

benchmarks

Answer 4

Permanent reference marks or points established for use by surveyors in measuring differences in elevation.

Question 5

datum

Answer 5

A horizontal plane from which heights and depths are measured.

Question 6

legal description

Answer 6

a description of a specific parcel of real estate complete enough for an independent surveyor to locate and identify.

Question 7

lot-and-block (recorded plat) method

Answer 7

a method of describing real property that identifies a parcel of land by reference to lot and block numbers within a subdivision, as specified on a recorded subdivision plat.

Question 8

meridian

Answer 8

One of a set imainary lined running north and south and crossing a base line at a definite point, used in the rectangular (gov) survey system of property descriptions.

Question 9

metes-and-bounds method

Answer 9

a method used to describe a parcel of land that begins at a well-marked point and follows the property’s boundaries using directions and distances around the tract, back to the place of beginning

Question 10

monument

Answer 10

a fixed natural or artificial object used to establish real estate boundaries for a metes and bounds description

Question 11

plat map

Answer 11

a map of a town, section, or subdivision indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties.

Question 12

point of beginning (POB)

Answer 12

In a metes-and-bounds legal description, the starting point of the survey, situated in one corner of the parcel; all metes-and-bounds descriptions must follow the boundaries of the parcel back to the point of beginning.

Question 13

principal meridian

Answer 13

The main imaginary line running north and south and crossing a base line at a definite point; used by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the rectangular (government) survey system of legal description.

Question 14

range

Answer 14

A strip of land six miles wide, extending north and south and numbered east and west according to its distance from the principal meridian in the rectangular (government) survey systems of legal descriptions

Question 15

recorded plat

Answer 15

a map of a subdivision field as a public record showing the location and boundaries of the individual parcels.

Question 16

rectangular (gov) survey system

Answer 16

a system established in 1785 by the federal government, providing for surveying and describing land by reference to principal meridians and have lines.

Question 17

section

Answer 17

a portion of a township under the rectangular (gov) survey system. A township is divided into 36 sections, numbered 1 through 36. a section is a square mile long sides and an area of one square mile, or 640 acres

Question 18

spot survey

Answer 18

a survey that shows the location, size, and shape of buildings on the lot, in addition to the lot’s legal description.

Question 19

survey

Answer 19

The process by which boundaries are measured and land areas are determined; the on site measurement of lot lines, dimensions, and position of a house on a lot, including the determination of any existing encroachments or easements.

Question 20

tiers

Answer 20

strips of land that are six miles wide, extending ease and west and numbered north and south according to the distance from the base line in the rectangular )gov) survey system of legal description

Question 21

township

Answer 21

the principal unit of the rectangular(gov) survey system. A township is a 6-mile square of 36 square miles.

Question 22

township lines

Answer 22

all the lines in a rectangular survey system that run ease and west, parallel to the base line and six miles apart.