An Introduction to Accuracy

Standards for Land Surveys

Course No: A03-008

Credit: 3 PDH

J. Paul Guyer, P.E., R.A., Fellow ASCE, Fellow AEI

Continuing Education and Development, Inc.

22 Stonewall Court
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677

P: (877) 322-5800
info@cedengineering.com
An Introduction to
Accuracy
Standards for Land
Surveys

J. Paul Guyer, P.E., R.A.

Editor

Paul Guyer is a registered civil engineer,

mechanical engineer, fire protection
engineer and architect with 35 years of
experience designing buildings and related
infrastructure. For an additional 9 years he
was a principal staff advisor to the California
Legislature on capital outlay and
infrastructure issues. He is a graduate of
Stanford University and has held numerous
national, state and local offices with the
American Society of Civil Engineers,
Architectural Engineering Institute and
National Society of Professional Engineers.
He is a Fellow of ASCE and AEI.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 1

 An Introduction to
Accuracy Standards for Land
Surveys

J. Paul Guyer, P.E., R.A.

Editor

The Clubhouse Press

El Macero, California

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 2

 CONTENTS

1. PURPOSE
2. GENERAL SURVEYING AND MAPPING SPECIFICATIONS
3. ACCURACY STANDARDS FOR ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
4. ACCURACY STANDARDS FOR MAPS AND RELATED GEOSPATIAL
PRODUCTS
5. PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MAPPING STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS
6. CADASTRAL OR REAL PROPERTY SURVEY ACCURACY STANDARDS
7. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING ACCURACY STANDARDS
8. STRUCTURAL DEFORMATION SURVEY STANDARDS
9. GEODETIC CONTROL SURVEY STANDARDS
10. STATE AND LOCAL ACCURACY STANDARDS
11. MANDATORY STANDARDS

(This publication is adapted from the Unified Facilities Criteria of the United States government which are
in the public domain, have been authorized for unlimited distribution, and are not copyrighted.)

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 3

1. PURPOSE. This discussion sets forth accuracy standards and other related criteria
that are recommended for use in large scale site plan topographic surveys for engineering
and construction purposes. These standards relate to surveys performed to locate, align,
and stake out construction for projects, e.g., buildings, utilities, roadways, runways, flood
control and navigation projects, etc. In many cases, these engineering surveys are
performed to provide the base horizontal and vertical control used for area mapping, GIS
development, preliminary planning studies, detailed site plan drawings for construction
plans, construction measurement and payment, preparing as-built drawings, installation
master planning mapping, future maintenance and repair activities, and other products.
Most engineering surveying standards currently used are based on local practice, or may
be contained in state minimum technical standards.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 4

2. GENERAL SURVEYING AND MAPPING SPECIFICATIONS.
Construction plans, maps, facility plans, and CADD/GIS databases are created by a
variety of terrestrial, satellite, acoustic, or aerial mapping techniques that acquire
planimetric, topographic, hydrographic, or feature attribute data. Specifications for
obtaining these data should be "performance-based" and not overly prescriptive or
process oriented. They should be derived from the functional project requirements and
use recognized industry accuracy standards where available.

2.1 INDUSTRY STANDARDS. Maximum use should be made of industry standards and
consensus standards established by private voluntary standards bodies--in lieu of owner-
developed standards. Therefore, industry-developed accuracy standards should be given
preference over owner standards. A number of professional associations have published
surveying and mapping accuracy standards, such as the American Society for
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), the American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE), the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), and the American
Land Title Association (ALTA). When industry standards are non-existent, inappropriate,
or do not meet a project's functional requirement, FGDC, DOD, DA, or other standards
may be specified as criteria sources. Minimum technical standards established by state
boards of registration, especially on projects requiring licensed surveyors, should be
followed when legally applicable. Local surveying and mapping standards should not be
developed where consensus industry standards exist.

2.2 PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS. Performance-oriented (i.e. outcome based)

specifications are recommended in procuring surveying and mapping services.
Performance specifications set forth the end results to be achieved (final map format,
data content, and/or accuracy standard) and not the means, or technical procedures,
used to achieve those results. Performance-oriented specifications typically provide the
most flexibility and use of state-of-the-art instrumentation and techniques. Performance
specifications should succinctly define only the basic mapping requirements that will be
used to verify conformance with the specified criteria, e.g., mapping limits, feature location
and attribute requirements, scale, contour interval, map format, sheet layout, and final

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data transmittal, archiving or storage requirements, required accuracy criteria standards
for topographic and planimetric features that are to be depicted, and quality assurance
procedures. Performance-oriented specifications should be free from unnecessary
equipment, personnel, instrumentation, procedural, or material limitations; except as
needed to establish comparative cost estimates for negotiated services.

2.3 PRESCRIPTIVE (PROCEDURAL) SPECIFICATIONS. Use of prescriptive

specifications should be kept to a minimum, and called for only on highly specialized or
critical projects where only one prescribed technical method is appropriate or practical to
perform the work. Prescriptive specifications typically require specific field
instrumentation, equipment, personnel, office technical production procedures, or rigid
project phasing with on-going design or construction. Prescriptive specifications may,
depending on the expertise of the writer, reduce flexibility, efficiency, and risk, and can
adversely impact project costs if antiquated methods or instrumentation are required.
Prescriptive specifications also tend to shift most liability to the owner. Occasionally,
prescriptive specifications may be applicable to Corps projects involving specialized work
not routinely performed by private surveying and mapping firms, e.g., mapping tactical
operation sites, mapping hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) clean-up sites,
or structural deformation monitoring of locks, dams, and other flood control structures.

2.4 QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. Quality control (QC) of

contracted surveying and mapping work should generally be performed by the contractor.
Therefore, quality assurance (QA) and testing functions should be focused on whether
the contractor meets the required performance specification (e.g., accuracy standard),
and not the intermediate surveying, mapping, and compilation steps performed by the
contractor. The contractor's internal QC will normally include independent tests that may
be periodically reviewed by the Government. Government-performed (or monitored) field
testing of map accuracies is an optional QA requirement, and should be performed when
technically and economically justified, as determined by the ultimate project function.

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2.5 METRICATION. Surveying and mapping performed for design and construction
should be recorded and plotted in the units prescribed for the project by the requesting
owner or project sponsor. During transition to the metric system, inch-pound (IP) units or
soft conversions may be required for some geospatial data.

2.6 SPATIAL COORDINATE REFERENCE SYSTEMS. Where practical, feasible, or

applicable, projects should be adequately referenced to nationwide or worldwide
coordinate systems directly derived from, or indirectly connected to, GPS satellite
observations. In addition, navigation and flood control projects in tidal areas should be
vertically referenced to the latest datum epoch established by the Department of
Commerce.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 7

3. ACCURACY STANDARDS FOR ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION SURVEYING

3.1 ACCURACY STANDARDS. Engineering and construction surveys are normally

specified and classified based on the horizontal (linear) point closure ratio or a vertical
elevation difference closure standard. This type of performance criteria is most commonly
specified in agency, state, and local surveying standards, and should be followed as
specified. These standards are applicable to most types of engineering and construction
survey equipment and practices (e.g., total station traverses, differential GPS, differential
spirit leveling). These accuracy standards are summarized in the following tables.

Table 4-1
Minimum Closure Accuracy Standards for Engineering and Construction Surveys

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 Table 4-2
Min. Elevation Closure Accuracy Standards for Engineering and Construction Surveys

3.2 SURVEY CLOSURE STANDARDS. Survey closure standards listed in Tables 4-1
and 4-2 should be used as a basis for classifying, standardizing, and evaluating survey
work. The point and angular closures (i.e. traverse misclosures) relate to the relative
accuracy derived from a particular survey. This relative accuracy (or, more correctly,
precision) is estimated based on internal closure checks of a traverse survey run through
the local project, map, land tract, or construction site. Relative survey accuracy estimates
are always expressed as ratios of the traverse/loop closure to the total length of the survey
(e.g., 1:10,000).

3.2.1 HORIZONTAL CLOSURE STANDARD. The horizontal point closure ratio is

determined by dividing the linear distance misclosure of the survey into the overall circuit
length of a traverse, loop, or network line/circuit. When independent directions or angles
are observed, as on a conventional traverse or closed loop survey, these angular
misclosures should be distributed (balanced) before assessing positional misclosure. In
cases where differential GPS vectors are measured in three-dimensional geocentric
coordinates, then the horizontal component of position misclosure is assessed relative to
Table 4-1.

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3.2.2 VERTICAL CONTROL STANDARDS. The vertical accuracy of a survey is
determined by the elevation misclosure within a level section or level loop. For
conventional differential or trigonometric leveling, section or loop misclosures (in
millimeters or feet) should not exceed the limits shown in Table 4-2, where the line or
circuit length is measured in the applicable units. Fourth-Order accuracies are intended
for construction layout grading work.

3.3 CONSTRUCTION SURVEY ACCURACY STANDARDS. Construction survey

procedural and accuracy specifications should follow recognized industry and local
practices. General procedural guidance is contained in a number of standard commercial
texts--e.g., Kavanagh 1997. Accuracy standards for construction surveys will vary with
the type of construction, and may range from a minimum of 1:2,500 up to 1:20,000. A
1:2,500 "4th-Order Construction" classification is intended to cover temporary control
used for alignment, grading, and measurement of various types of construction, and some
local site plan topographic mapping or photo mapping control work. Lower accuracies
(1:2,500-1:5,000) are acceptable for earthwork, dredging, embankment, beach fill, and
levee alignment stakeout and grading, and some site plan, curb and gutter, utility building
foundation, sidewalk, and small roadway stakeout. Moderate accuracies (1:5,000) are
used in most pipeline, sewer, culvert, catch basin, and manhole stakeouts, and for
general residential building foundation and footing construction, and highway pavement.
Somewhat higher accuracies (1:10,000-1:20,000) are used for aligning longer bridge
spans, tunnels, and large commercial structures. For extensive bridge or tunnel projects,
1:50,000 or even 1:100,000 relative accuracy alignment work may be required. Grade
elevations are usually observed to the nearest 0.01 ft for most construction work, although
0.1 ft accuracy is sufficient for riprap placement, earthwork grading, and small diameter
pipe placement. Construction control points are usually marked by semi-permanent or
temporary monuments (e.g., plastic hubs, P-K nails, iron pipes, wooden grade stakes).
Construction control is usually set from existing boundary, horizontal, and vertical control
points.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 10

3.4 GEOSPATIAL POSITIONING ACCURACY STANDARDS. Many control surveys are
now being efficiently and accurately performed using radial (spur) techniques--e.g., single
line vectors from electronic total stations or kinematic differential GPS to monumented
control points, topographic feature points, property corners, etc. Since these surveys may
not always result in loop closures (i.e. closed traverse) alternative specifications for these
techniques must be allowed. This is usually done by specifying a radial positional
accuracy requirement. The required positional accuracy may be estimated based on the
accuracy of the fixed reference point, instrument, and techniques used. Ratio closure
standards in Tables 4-1 and 4-2 may slowly decline as more use is made of nation-wide
augmented differential GPS positioning and electronic total station survey methods.

3.4.1 GPS SATELLITE POSITIONING TECHNOLOGY allows development of map

features to varying levels of accuracy, depending on the type of equipment and
procedures employed. Government and commercial augmented GPS systems allows
direct, real-time positioning of static AM/FM type features and dynamic platforms (survey
vessels, aircraft, etc.). Site plan drawings, photogrammetric control, and related GIS
features can be directly constructed from GPS or differential GPS observations, at
accuracies ranging from 1 cm to 20 meters (95%).

3.4.2 ACCURACY CLASSIFICATIONS of maps and related GIS data developed by GPS
methods can be estimated based on the GPS positioning technique employed.
Permanent GPS reference stations (Continuously Operating Reference Stations or
CORS) can provide centimeter-level point positioning accuracies over wide ranges; thus
providing direct map/feature point positioning without need for preliminary control
surveys.

3.5 HIGHER-ORDER SURVEYS. Requirements for relative line accuracies exceeding

1:50,000 are rare for most facility engineering, construction, or mapping applications.
Surveys requiring accuracies of First-Order (1:100,000) or better (e.g., A- or B-Order)
should be performed using FGDC geodetic standards and specifications. These surveys

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 11

must be adjusted and/or evaluated by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) if official
certification relative to the national network is required.

3.6 INSTRUMENTATION AND FIELD OBSERVING CRITERIA. In accordance with the

policy to use performance-based standards, rigid prescriptive requirements for survey
equipment, instruments, or operating procedures are discouraged. Survey alignment,
orientation, and observing criteria should rarely be rigidly specified; however, general
guidance regarding limits on numbers of traverse stations, minimum traverse course
lengths, auxiliary azimuth connections, etc., may be provided for information. For some
highly specialized work, such as dam monitoring surveys, technical specifications may
prescribe that a general type of instrument system be employed, along with any unique
operating, calibration, or recordation requirements. Appendix A contains a number of
technical references that may be used.

3.7 CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING CONTROL. Surveys should normally be connected

to existing local control or project control monuments/benchmarks. These existing points
may be those of any federal, state, local, or private agency. Ties to local installation
project control and boundary monuments are absolutely essential and critical to design,
construction, and real estate. In order to minimize scale or orientation errors, at least two
existing monuments should be connected. It is recommended that Corps surveys be
connected with one or more stations on the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS),
when practicable and feasible. Connections with local project control that have previously
been connected to the NSRS are normally adequate in most cases. Connections with the
NSRS shall be subordinate to the requirements for connections with local/project control.

3.8 SURVEY COMPUTATIONS, ADJUSTMENTS, AND QUALITY CONTROL/

ASSURANCE. Survey computations, adjustments, and quality control should be
performed by the organization responsible for the actual field survey. Contract compliance
assessment of a survey should be based on the prescribed point closure standards of
internal loops, not on closures with external networks of unknown accuracy. In cases
where internal loops are not observed, then assessment must be based on external

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closures. Specifications should not require closure accuracy standards in excess of those
required for the project, regardless of the accuracy capabilities of the survey equipment.
Least-squares adjustment methods should be optional for Second-Order or lower-order
survey work. Professional contractors should not be restricted to rigid computational
methods, software, or recording forms. Use of commercial software adjustment packages
is strongly recommended.

3.9 DATA RECORDING AND ARCHIVING. Field survey data may be recorded and
submitted either manually or electronically. Manual recordation should follow standard
industry practice, using field book formats outlined in various technical manuals.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 13

4. ACCURACY STANDARDS FOR MAPS AND RELATED GEOSPATIAL PRODUCTS.
Map accuracies are defined by the positional accuracy of a particular graphical or spatial
feature depicted. A map accuracy standard classifies a map as statistically meeting a
certain level of accuracy. For most engineering projects, the desired accuracy is stated in
the specifications, usually based on the final development scale of the map--both the
horizontal "target" scale and vertical relief (specified contour interval or digital elevation
model). Often, however, in developing engineering plans, spatial databases may be
developed from a variety of existing source data products, each with differing accuracies-
-e.g., mixing 1 inch = 60 ft topo plans with 1 inch = 400 ft reconnaissance topo mapping.
Defining an "accuracy standard" for such a mixed database is difficult and requires
retention (attribution) of the source of each data feature in the base. In such cases the
developer must estimate the accuracy of the mapped features.

4.1 ASPRS STANDARD. For site mapping of new engineering or planning projects, there
are a number of industry and Federal mapping standards that may be referenced in
contract specifications. The recommended standard for facility engineering is the ASPRS
"Accuracy Standards for Large Scale Maps" (ASPRS 1989). This standard, like most
other mapping standards, defines map accuracy by comparing the mapped location of
selected well-defined points to their "true" location, as determined by a more accurate,
independent field survey. Alternately, when no independent check is feasible or
practicable, a map's accuracy may be estimated based on the accuracy of the technique
used to locate mapped features-- e.g., photogrammetry, GPS, total station, plane table.
The ASPRS standard has application to different types of mapping, ranging from wide-
area, small-scale, GIS mapping to large-scale construction site plans. It is applicable to
all types of horizontal and vertical geospatial mapping derived from conventional
topographic surveying or photogrammetric surveys. This standard may be specified for
detailed construction site plans that are developed using conventional ground topographic
surveying techniques (electronic total stations, plane tables, kinematic GPS). The ASPRS
standard is especially applicable to site plan development work involving mapping scales
larger than 1:20,000 (1 inch = 1,667ft); it therefore applies to the more typical engineering
map scales in the 1:240 (1 inch = 20 ft) to 1:4,800 (1 inch = 400 ft) range. Its primary

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 14

advantage over other standards is that it contains more definitive statistical map testing
criteria, which, from a contract administration standpoint, is desirable. Using the guidance
in Tables 4-3 and 4-4 below, specifications for site plans need only indicate the ASPRS
map class, target scale, and contour interval.

4.2 HORIZONTAL (PLANIMETRIC) ACCURACY CRITERIA. The ASPRS planimetric

standard compares the root mean square error (RMSE) of the average of the squared
discrepancies, or differences in coordinate values between the map and an independent
topographic ground survey of higher accuracy (i.e. a check survey). The "limiting RMSE"
is defined in terms of meters (feet) at the ground scale rather than in millimeters (inches)
at the target map scale. This results in a linear relationship between RMSE and target
map scale--as map scale decreases, the RMSE increases linearly. The RMSE is the
cumulative result of all errors including those introduced by the processes of ground
control surveys, map compilation, and final extraction of ground dimensions from the
target map. The limiting RMSE shown in Table 4-3 is the maximum permissible RMSE
established by the ASPRS standard. These ASPRS limits of accuracy apply to well-
defined map test points only--and only at the specified map scale.

4.3 VERTICAL (TOPOGRAPHIC) ACCURACY CRITERIA. Vertical accuracy has

traditionally been, and currently still is, defined relative to the required contour interval for
a map. In cases where digital elevation models (DEM) or digital terrain models (DTM) are
being generated, an equivalent contour interval can be specified, based on the required
digital point/spot elevation accuracy. The contours themselves may be later generated
from a DEM using computer software routines. The ASPRS vertical standard also uses
the RMSE statistic, but only for well-defined features between contours containing
interpretative elevations, or spot elevation points. The limiting RMSE for Class 1 contours
is one-third of the contour interval. Testing for vertical map compliance is also performed
by independent, equal, or higher accuracy ground survey methods, such as differential
leveling. Table 4-4 summarizes the limiting vertical RMSE for well-defined points, as
checked by independent surveys at the full (ground) scale of the map.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 15

 Table 4-3a
ASPRS Planimetric Feature Coordinate Accuracy Requirement
(Ground X or Y in Meters) for Well-Defined Points

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 Table 4-3b
ASPRS Planimetric Feature Coordinate Accuracy Requirement
(Ground X or Y in Feet) for Well-Defined Points

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 17

 Table 4-4a
ASPRS Topographic Elevation Accuracy Requirement for Well-Defined Points (Meters)

Table 4-4b
ASPRS Topographic Elevation Accuracy Requirement for Well-Defined Points (Feet)

4.4 MAP ACCURACY QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTING AND CERTIFICATION.

Independent map testing is a quality assurance function that is performed independent of
normal quality control during the mapping process. Specifications and/or contract
provisions should indicate the requirement (or option) to perform independent map
testing. Independent map testing is rarely performed for engineering and construction
surveys. If performed, map testing should be completed within a fixed time period after
delivery, and if performed by contract, after proper notification to the contractor. In

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 18

accordance with the ASPRS standard, the horizontal and vertical accuracy of a map is
checked by comparing measured coordinates or elevations from the map (at its intended
target scale) with spatial values determined by a check survey of higher accuracy. The
check survey should be at least twice (preferably three times) as accurate as the map
feature tolerance given in the ASPRS tables, and a minimum of 20 points tested. Maps
and related geospatial databases found to comply with a particular ASPRS standard
should have a statement indicating that standard. The compliance statement should refer
to the data of lowest accuracy depicted on the map, or, in some instances, to specific
data layers or levels. The statement should clearly indicate the target map scale at which
the map or feature layer was developed. When independent testing is not performed, the
compliance statement should clearly indicate that the procedural mapping specifications
were designed and performed to meet a certain ASPRS map classification, but that a rigid
compliance test was not performed. Published maps and geospatial databases whose
errors exceed those given in a standard should indicate in their legends or metadata files
that the map is not controlled and that dimensions are not to scale. This accuracy
statement requirement is especially applicable to GIS databases that may be compiled
from a variety of sources containing known or unknown accuracy reliability.

4.5 NATIONAL STANDARD FOR SPATIAL DATA ACCURACY (NSSDA). The

traditional small-scale "United States National Map Accuracy Standard" (Bureau of the
Budget 1947) has been revised by the FGDC as the NSSDA ("Geospatial Positioning
Accuracy Standards, PART 3: National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy"). This latest
version of the NSSDA indicates it is directly based on the ASPRS standard; however, the
ASPRS coordinate-based standard is converted to a 95% radial error statistic and the
vertical standard is likewise converted from a one-sigma (68%) to 95% standard. The
NSSDA defines positional accuracy of spatial data, in both digital and graphic form, as
derived from sources such as aerial photographs, satellite imagery, or other maps. Its
purpose is to facilitate the identification and application of spatial data by implementing a
well-defined statistic (i.e. the 95% confidence level) and testing methodology. As in the
ASPRS standard, accuracy is assessed by comparing the positions of well-defined data
points with positions determined by higher accuracy methods, such as ground surveys.

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Unlike the above ASPRS tables, the draft NSSDA standard does not define pass-fail
criteria--data and map producers must determine what accuracy exists for their data.
Users of that data determine what constitutes acceptable accuracies for their applications.
Unlike the ASPRS standard that uses the RMSE statistic in the X, Y, and Z planes, the
NSSDA defines horizontal spatial accuracy by circular error of a data set's horizontal (X
& Y) coordinates at the 95% confidence level. Vertical spatial data is defined by linear
error of a data set's vertical (Z) coordinates at the 95% confidence level. ASPRS lineal
horizontal accuracies in X and Y can be converted to NSSDA radial accuracy by
multiplying the limiting RMSE values by 2.447, that is:

In time, it is expected that the NSSDA will be the recognized standard for specifying the
accuracy of all mapping and spatial data products, and the ASPRS standard will be
modified to 95% confidence level specifications.

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5. PHOTOGRAMMETRIC MAPPING STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS. Smallest
scale (e.g., less than 1 inch = 100 ft or 1:1,200) engineering topographic mapping and
GIS data base development is accomplished by aerial mapping techniques. The ASPRS
standards should be used in specifying photogrammetric mapping accuracy
requirements. This discussion contains guidance on specifying flight altitudes,
determining target scales, and photogrammetric mapping cost estimating techniques.

© J. Paul Guyer 2017 21

6. CADASTRAL OR REAL PROPERTY SURVEY ACCURACY STANDARDS.

6.1 GENERAL. Many State codes, rules, statutes, or general professional practices
prescribe minimum technical standards for real property surveys. Corps in-house
surveyors or contractors should follow applicable state technical standards for real
property surveys involving the determination of the perimeters of a parcel or tract of land
by establishing or reestablishing corners, monuments, and boundary lines, for the
purpose of describing, locating fixed improvements, or platting or dividing parcels.
Although some State standards relate primarily to accuracies of land and boundary
surveys, other types of survey work may also be covered in some areas.

6.2 ALTA/ACSM STANDARDS. Real property survey accuracy standards recommended

by ALTA/ACSM are contained in "Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for
ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys”, a portion of which is excerpted below. (Note that these
ALTA standards are periodically updated--the latest version should be obtained). This
standard was developed to provide a consistent national standard for land title surveys
and may be used as a guide in specifying accuracy closure requirements for some real
property surveys. However, it should be noted that the ALTA/ACSM standard itself not
only prescribes closure accuracies for land use classifications but also addresses specific
needs particular to land title insurance matters. The standards contain requirements for
detailed information and certification pertaining to land title insurance, including
information discoverable from the survey and inspection that may not be evidenced by
the public records. The standard also contains a table as to optional survey
responsibilities and specifications that the title insurer may require. USACE cadastral
surveys not involving title insurance should follow State minimum standards, not
ALTA/ACSM standards. On land acquisition surveys which may require title insurance,
the decision to perform an ALTA/ACSM standard survey, including all optional survey
responsibilities and specifications, should come from the project sponsor. Meeting
ALTA/ACSM Urban Class accuracy standards is considered impractical for small tracts
or parcels less than 1 acre in size.

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© J. Paul Guyer 2017 23
© J. Paul Guyer 2017 24
7. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING ACCURACY STANDARDS. Hydrographic surveys
are performed for a variety of engineering, construction, and dredging applications.
Accuracy standards, procedural specifications, and related technical guidance for Corp
of Engineers projects are contained in EM 1110-2-1003 (Hydrographic Surveying). This
manual should be attached to any A-E contract containing hydrographic surveying work,
and must be referenced in construction dredging contracts involving in-place
measurement and payment. Standards in this manual apply to Corps river and harbor
navigation project surveys, such as dredge measurement and payment surveys, channel
condition surveys of inland and coastal Federal navigation projects, beach renourishment
surveys, and surveys of other types of marine structures. Accuracy standards are given
for different project conditions and depths. Standards for nautical charting surveys or
deep-water bathymetric charting surveys should conform to applicable DOD, National
Ocean Survey (NOS), or US Naval Oceanographic Office (USNAVOCEANO) accuracy
and chart symbolization criteria.

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8. STRUCTURAL DEFORMATION SURVEY STANDARDS. Deformation monitoring
surveys of structures require high line vector and/or positional accuracies to monitor the
relative movement of monoliths, walls, embankments, etc. Deformation monitoring survey
accuracy standards vary with the type of construction, structural stability, failure
probability and impact, etc. Since many periodic surveys are intended to measure "long-
term" (e.g., monthly or yearly changes) deformations relative to a stable network, lesser
survey precisions are required than those needed for short-term structural deflection type
measurements. Long-term structural movements measured from points external to the
structure may be tabulated or plotted in either X-Y-Z or by single vector movement normal
to a potential failure plane. Ties to the National Spatial Reference System are not
necessary other than for general reference, and then need only Third-Order connection.

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9. GEODETIC CONTROL SURVEY STANDARDS Geodetic control surveys are usually
performed for the purpose of establishing a basic framework of the National Spatial
Reference System (NSRS). These geodetic network densification survey functions are
clearly distinct from the traditional engineering and construction surveying and mapping
standards covered in this discussion. Geodetic control surveys of permanently
monumented control points that are incorporated in the NSRS must be performed to far
more rigorous standards and specifications than are control surveys used for general
engineering, construction, mapping, or cadastral purposes. When a project requires
NSRS densification, or such densification is a desirable by-product and is economically
justified. Geodetic survey accuracy and procedural specifications published by the FGDC
or NGS include:

• "Standards and Specifications for Geodetic Control Networks" (FGCS 1984)

• "Input Formats and Specifications of the National Geodetic Survey Data Base,"
NOAA, National Geodetic Survey, (NOAA 1994)
• "Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS
Relative Positioning Techniques (Preliminary)" (FGCS 1988)
• “Guidelines for Submitting GPS Relative Positioning Data to the National Geodetic
Survey”
• “Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards--Part 2: Standards for Geodetic
Networks”
• "Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Ellipsoid Heights (Standards: 2 cm and
5 cm)" (NOAA)

These FGCS/NGS standards and specifications should rarely be specified for routine
control surveys in that they prescribe far more demanding criteria than that needed to
establish control for most engineering projects. These FGDC/NGS standards can also
easily add 50% or more time and cost to a control survey project. Part 2 of the FGDC
Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards (Standards for Geodetic Networks)
prescribes a positional accuracy criteria instead of the traditional linear closure
(misclosure) criteria. It is expected that this positional accuracy standard will gradually

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replace the misclosure standards in Tables 4-1 and 4-2. This new standard is excerpted
in Table 4-5 below.

NOTE: The classification standard for geodetic networks is based on accuracy.

Accuracies are categorized separately according to horizontal, ellipsoid height, and
orthometric height. Note: although the largest entry in the table is 10 meters, the accuracy
standards can be expanded to larger numbers if needed.

Table 4-5
FGDC Part 2 Accuracy Standards for Geodetic Networks Horizontal, Ellipsoid Height,
and Orthometric Height

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10. STATE AND LOCAL ACCURACY STANDARDS. Most state and local governments
prescribe survey and map accuracy standards. These are usually similar to those
standards given in the previous tables in this discussion. State surveyor licensing boards
may prescribe “minimum technical standards” for various real property surveys. State
transportation departments may have additional standards unique to their design and
construction requirements.

10.1 GENERAL STATE SURVEYING AND MAPPING STANDARDS. Below is an

excerpt of surveying accuracy standards taken from the Florida Administrative Code.
These standards for general boundary surveys are representative of minimum technical
standards used by many states.

10.2 DOT CONTROL SURVEY STANDARDS. The following Third-Order survey

standards shown in Figures 4-1and 4-2 below are from the CALTRANS Surveys Manual.
The first standard is for establishing permanent Third-Order horizontal control using a
total station. The second is a Third-Order standard for differential leveling--covering
different types of levels.

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 Figure 4-1
CALTRANS Third-Order horizontal control standards (Total Station)

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 Figure 4-2
CALTRANS Third-Order differential leveling standards

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11. MANDATORY STANDARDS. The accuracy standards in the following tables in this
chapter are recommended to be mandatory.
 Table 4-1: Minimum Closure Accuracy Standards for Engineering and
Construction Surveys
 Table 4-2: Minimum Elevation Closure Accuracy Standards for Engineering and
Construction Surveys
 Table 4-3a: ASPRS Planimetric Feature Coordinate Accuracy Requirement
(Ground X or Y in Meters) for Well-Defined Points
 Table 4-3b: ASPRS Planimetric Feature Coordinate Accuracy Requirement
(Ground X or Y in Feet) for Well-Defined Points
 Table 4-4a: ASPRS Topographic Elevation Accuracy Requirement for Well-
Defined Points (Meters)
 Table 4-4b: ASPRS Topographic Elevation Accuracy Requirement for Well-
Defined Points (Feet)

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