California Surveyors Forums

There is a controversy regarding the evidentiary content of maps. The controversy results in inconsistent boundary mapping products. More importantly, the controversy results in obscured boundary evidence and ultimately the disruption of repose in boundary locations and unnecessary travails to society at large. The controversy, in part, arises from a disagreement over fundamentals. What are the fundamentals? How are the fundamentals applied? How do the fundamentals shape the content of boundary mapping? The answer to these questions and the tamping down of the controversy can be had by an examination of the following:
• the minimum standard of practice as expressed in state law
• the state board that governs the profession and how it interprets the minimum standard and how that is expressed in disciplinary actions
• the opinion of professional organizations who have expressed an opinion on the evidentiary content of maps
• the opinions expressed in professional journals and commentary of surveyor educators
• the opinions expressed in well known textbooks used to educate land surveyors
The result of this investigation is to introduce new surveyors to the fundamentals and provide a frame work upon which to base a professional opinion and to refresh the memory of long time practitioners and bring these concepts to the front of mind.