CST Level 1 Land Surveyor Certification Practice

What does the term "calls for courses and distances" signify in the hierarchy of monumentation?

1. Level 1

2. Level 2

3. Level 4

4. Level 5

The correct answer is: Level 4

The term "calls for courses and distances" refers to the explicit instructions in a land description that detail the direction (course) and the length (distance) of boundary lines between points, typically used in legal descriptions of parcels of land. This terminology holds importance in the hierarchy of monumentation because it is fundamental for establishing the location of property boundaries. In the context of surveying, the hierarchy of monumentation often ranks the types of evidence or markers that define land boundaries. Generally, natural or fixed monuments (like trees, rocks, or structures) are considered more reliable than distance measurements. However, when a survey relies on calls for courses and distances, it represents a lower level of certainty than physical monuments but provides vital information for delineating a property. Thus, identifying "calls for courses and distances" as level 4 illustrates its role in the hierarchy, where it is less authoritative than established physical markers but more definitive than assumptions or general descriptions about property lines. This position reflects the importance of clear and measurable boundaries in land surveying practices.