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Survey Terms and Definitions

Acre Area Measurement (square measure) used primarily in the United States. One (1) acre is equal to 43,560 square feet, 4,046.86 square meters, or 0.4047 hectares.
Adjoining In context with Map My Land™, sharing a boundary or part of a boundary.                                                                                  
Area The surface included within a set of lines; specifically: the number of unit squares equal in measure to the surface. Unit square may be acres or netans 
Arpent Unit of area measurement (usually applied to land) equal to approximately 5/6th of an acre.  Used in France, Louisiana and Quebec. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.8448 acres or about 36,800 square feet. 
Azimuth The number of degrees from north (or other reference direction) that a line runs, measured clockwise ranging from 0° to 360°.
Bearing The situation or horizontal direction of one point with respect to another or to the compass.
Benchmark A surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point
Bounds Bounds refers to definite boundary markers such as natural landmarks. Natural landmarks may often consist of physican objects such as a specific tree or stream. Part of an old system of measuring land and establishing boundaries, commonly referred to as Metes and Bounds
Centimeter (cm) A unit of length used in the metric system that is equal to 1/100 (0.01) meters. One (1) centimeter (cm) is equal to 0.3937 inches (in) 
Chain--                                    engineer's or Ramsden's Usually a metal chain used to measure length and distance. Less commonly used in land surveys than a Gunter’s or surveyor’s chain, the engineer’s or Ramsden’s chain is 100 feet in length with 100 1-foot links. The terms “engineer’s chain” and “Ramsden’s chain” apply primarily to the measuring utensil itself and not to any particular unit of length. 
Chain--                             Gunter’s or surveyor’s A common forestry and land survey term that is equivalent to 66 linear feet. Often referred to as simply “chain”, this term is more formally known as the surveyor’s or Gunter’s chain. A chain is broken into 100 equal parts or links. One (1) mile is equal to 80 chains. A one (1) mile square piece of land (one section or 640 acres) is 80 chains on each side. although an engineer’s or Ramsden’s chain is also used to measure length in surveys, the generic term “chain” when used in reference to land measurements refers to the unit of length (66 feet) represented by the Gunter’s or surveyor’s chain. 
Common Point The point from which all other information in the tract is derived.  The X and Y coordinates of the common point will always be 0.0. The X and Y coordinates for any other point in the tract is based on the distance and bearing from the common point to that point
Coordinates Any of a set of two or more numbers used to determine the position of a point, line, curve, or plane in a space of a given dimension with respect to a system of lines or other fixed references.
Distance The degree or amount of separation between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects.
Field notes The official written record of a land survey.
Foot (ft) A foot is a unit of length equal to 12 inches taken from the average length of the human foot. One (1) foot is equal to 0.3048 meters.
Furlong A unit of length equal to 220 yards, 40 poles, rods or perches or ten (10) chains. The term is derived from the phrase “furrow long” or the distance oxen can plow before they are rested. 
GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. It is maintained by the United States government and is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver.
Hectare Common area measurement (square measure) of the metric system. Used in most countries of the world. One (1) hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters, 0.01 square kilometers or 2.471 acres.
Inch (in) A unit of length used in the English system of measurement, equal to 1/12 (0.0833) of one (1) foot or 2.54 centimeters (cm). 
Kilometer (km) A unit of length used in the metric system of measurement. One (1) kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters or 0.6214 miles. 
Landmark A survey mark made on a permanent feature of the land such as a tree, pile of stones, etc
Latitude Angular distance from some specified circle or plane of reference; angular distance north or south from the earth's equator measured through 90 degrees
Link A unit of length used in land surveys named for the links of the chain formerly used by surveyors. There are 100 links in one (1) chain. One (1) link is equal to 0.66 feet, 0.04 rods, 0.01 chains or 0.20 meters. 
Longitude Angular distance measured on a great circle of reference from the intersection of the adopted zero meridian with this reference circle to the similar intersection of the meridian passing through the object; or,  the arc or portion of the earth's equator intersected between the meridian of a given place and the prime meridian and expressed either in degrees or in time.
Meander line An artificial line used by surveyors to measure the natural, uneven, winding property line formed by rivers, streams and other watercourses bordering a property.
Meter (m) Unit of length on which the metric system of length measurement is based. One meter is equal to 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of radiation from an isotope of the element krypton. One (1) meter is equal to 3.281 feet. 
Metes Metes refers to survey lines with specific distance measurements which can be described in varying units such as poles, chains, rods, perches, links, etc. The direction of the line is usually based upon compass readings. 
Metes and Bounds A system of measuring land and establishing boundaries using natural landmarks and compass readings and distance measured in poles, links, rods and chains. A common method of land description that identifies a property by specifying the shape and boundary dimensions of the parcel using points and angles. 
Mile Unit of length used primarily in the united States but still used as an international unit as well. Formally known as a statute mile, a mile is equal to 5,280 feet or 1.6093 kilometers (km).
Monument A permanently placed survey mark such as a stone shaft sunk into the ground or an iron rebar in the ground. 
Perch A unit of length used in land surveys. The terms rod, pole and perch are equivalent and may be used interchangeably although “rod” is the most common. One (1) perch is equal to 25 links, 16.5 feet or 1/4 (0.25) chain. 
Perimeter The boundary length of a closed plane figure such as a tract or parcel.
Pole A unit of length used in land surveys. The terms rod, pole and perch are equivalent and may be used interchangeably although “rod” is the most common. One (1) pole is equal to 25 links, 16.5 feet or 1/4 (0.25) chain. 
Route (as used with GPS) a series of one or more GPS waypoints
Reference Point An indicator that orients you generally such as a benchmark.
Rod A unit of length used in land surveys. The terms rod, pole and perch are equivalent and may be used interchangeably although “rod” is the most common. One (1) rod is equal to 25 links, 16.5 feet or 1/4 (0.25) chain.
Square chain A unit of area measurement (square measure) that is one (1) Gunter’s or surveyor’s chain in length on each side. There are ten (10) square chains in one (1) acre of land. One (1) square chain is equal to 4,356.0 square feet or 404.687 square meters.
Square foot (feet) A unit of area measurement (square measure) that is one (1) foot long on each side. One (1) acre of land contains 43,560 square feet. One (1) square foot is equal to 0.09 square meters. 
Square kilometer  A common unit of metric area measurement that is one (1) kilometer in length on each side. One (1) square kilometer is equal to 1,000,000 square meters, 100 hectares or 0.386 square miles. 
Square measurement 1. A system of area measurement, notably that in which one (1) square foot is equal to 144 square inches or one (1) square meter is equal to 10,000 square centimeters.                                                        2. A system of land surveying, mapping and measurement which uses the Gunter's or surveyor's chain as a base unit.
Square meter A unit of area measurement (square measure) that is one (1) meter long on each side. One (1) hectare of land contains 10,000 square meters. One (1) square meter is equal to 1.196 square yards or 10.764 square feet. 
Square mile A unit of area measurement used in the English measurement and Government Rectangular Survey systems. One (1) square mile is equal to 640 acres.
Square perch A unit of measurement (square measure) that is one (1) perch in length on each side. One (1) square perch is equal to 272.25 square feet, 0.0625 square chains or 0.0625 acres. A square perch is also known as a square rod or square pole. 
Square pole A unit of area measurement (square measure) that is one pole in length on each side. One (1) square pole is equal to 272.25 square feet, 0.0625 square chains or 0.00625 acres. A square pole is also known as a square rod or square perch. 
Square rod A unit of measurement (square measure) that is one rod in length on each side. One (1) square rod is equal to 272.25 square feet, 0.0625 square chains or 0.00625 acres. A square rod is also known as a square pole or square perch. 
Square yard A unit of area measurement (square measure) that is one (1) yard in length on each side. One (1) square yard is equal to 0.836 square meters or 9.0 square feet. 
Survey 1.  The process by which boundaries are measured and the locations or forms of land areas are determined; the on-site measurement of lot line, dimensions and position of structures on a lot including the determination of any existing encroachments or easements.             2.  (n) The result of the survey process.
Track The course along which something moves or progresses
Waypoint (as used with GPS) A waypoint is a reference point for a physical location on Earth. Waypoints are defined by a set of coordinates that typically include longitude, latitude and sometimes altitude.
Yard A unit of length used in the English system of measurement; one (1) yard is equal to three (3) feet, 36 inches or 0.9144 meters (m).