how far is far enough · 2020. 1. 10. · how far is far enough? • standards & ethics • ispls...

How Far is Far Enough?Aaron J. Carl, P.E., P.S.

Ryan C. Weber, P.S.

How Far is Far Enough?• Aaron J. Carl, P.E., P.S.

• Licensed in Indiana and Ohio

Professional Engineer, Professional Surveyor

joined the Civil Engineering and Land Surveying

industry in 1999. Licensed in Indiana and Ohio.

Graduated from Purdue University with a

Bachelor of Science in Land Surveying &

Geomatic Engineering and acquired his Indiana

P.S. in July of 2008, Ohio P.S. in February of 2010

and his Indiana P.E. in December of 2014. He

was the Vice President of Northeast ISPLS

chapter in 2013, President of Northeast ISPLS

chapter 2014-2016. Northeast ISPLS chapter

Scholarship Chair 2012-Present. I have a burning

desire to complete all of my projects as if they

are my own.

• Ryan C. Weber, P.S.

• Licensed in Indiana, Pennsylvania, & New York

Professional Surveyor, is a 3rd Generation

Surveyor, preceding him are his Grandfather

Calvin R Weber, his father, Raymond C Weber,

and his uncle, Leslie A Weber. Ryan was

introduced into surveying in 1995, at the age of

16, graduating with an Associate of Science

(School of Engineering, Technology, and

Computer Science) from Purdue University Fort

Wayne in 2006 and acquired his Indiana license

in January of 2008 and his Pennsylvania license

in June of 2018. He has been a member of the

ISPLS since 2008, and is a member of NSPS.

“What we hope ever to do with ease, we must

learn first to do with diligence.” Samuel Johnson

How Far is Far Enough?

• Standards & Ethics

• ISPLS Code of Ethics

• Code

• As Surveying and Mapping Professionals, we recognize that our ethical responsibilities extend

to the public, to our clients and to our peers. Accordingly, we acknowledge the following

elements to identify our basic values: integrity, competence, and social awareness. Surveying

and Mapping Professionals uphold and advance these values by:

• Supporting and participating in the continuing development of the surveying and mapping

professions:

• Serving with honesty, with forthrightness, and within their areas of skill:

• Using their expertise for the enhancement of human welfare and for the stewardship of

resources.




• Creed

• As a Professional Surveyor, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skills to the

advancement and betterment of human welfare. I pledge to give the utmost performance; to

participate in none but honest enterprise; to live and work according to the laws of

humankind and to the highest standards of professional conduct; to place service before

profit, honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public

welfare above all other considerations.




• Canons

In humility and with the need for divine guidance, I make this pledge: A Professional Surveyor should:

• Refrain from conduct that is detrimental to the public;

• Abide by the rules and regulations pertaining to the practice of land surveying within the licensing jurisdiction;

• Accept assignments only in one's area of professional competence;

• Develop and communicate a professional analysis and opinion without bias or personal interest;

• Maintain the confidential nature of the Surveyor-Client relationship;

• Use care to avoid advertising or solicitation that is misleading or otherwise contrary to the public interest;

• Maintain professional integrity when dealing with members of other professions.


• Minimum Standards

• Are the Minimum Standards good enough?

• Sometimes

• Why are we only doing the minimum?

• Do the minimum standards cover everything that we should be doing to establish our boundary?

• Do the minimum standards cover everything that we should be doing to establish our adjoining boundaries?

• Are we even doing the minimum?

• What are we trying to prove?

• Are we only trying to prove our boundary?

• Don’t some of our surveys require us to look for monuments on other people’s properties (eliminate overlaps/gaps in

title work)?

• Who’s job is it to determine and/or resolve gaps and overlaps?

• Do they really exist?

• Can we go too far?

• If you go far enough, you will eventually find the origin of most errors, if there are any.


• Research

• When we find deed gaps or overlaps do we dig deeper to find out who really

owns the title to the property or do we just label the gap and/or overlap and

then move on?

• Do we do enough research to resolve title issues (that can be resolved with

research)?

• Do we ask the current owners (including the adjoiner’s) questions about the

discrepancies and obtain testimonial evidence?

• What holds the deed or what is found on the ground?

• What is the definition of a deed?

How Far is Far Enough?• Section Corners


• Section Corners

• Do we dig for section corners ourselves, when the county surveyor cannot or does not do it for you?

How Far is Far Enough?• Section Corners


• Section Corners

• When the section corner(s) are missing information such as the monument and the witness swing ties what are we using to re-establish them? (Obliterated)

• Do we are collect all of the monuments along the apparent section line?

• Do we are collect all of the possession along the apparent section line?

• Are we using record surveys?

• What is more important?


• Section Lines

• Do they ever bend/deflect at the 16th corner?


• Section Lines

• Example

How Far is Far Enough?• Following the Footsteps

• Take into account equipment accuracy.


• Section Lines

• Do they ever bend/deflect at locations other than the 16th corner?


• Section Lines

• Example


• State Roads & U.S. Highways

• How far are we going to re-establish the Highways?

• How good are the INDOT monuments?

• Centerline Monuments

• How are they installed?

• R/W Monuments

• How are they installed?

• Least Squares Adjustment

• Use field software (calibrate your site)


• Boundaries• See the bigger picture!

• Deed Interpretation• The deed is a written interpretation of what is on the ground.

• Are your checking junior/senior rights? Before you send out your field crews?

• Intent

• What are your field crews instructed to do?• Are they staking coordinates?

• Are they looking for possession?

• Are they conversing with the owner & adjoiner’s (parole evidence)?

• Are they looking for monuments beyond their boundary?

• Do they know the order of importance of property lines/corners?

• Weighted Property Corners/Lines (not monuments)


• Final Analysis• When you are done with your survey, have you satisfied the ISPLS Code of Ethics

• Have we discussed our survey findings with other surveyors who have surveyed in the area, when we find discrepancies?

• Have you verified not only was is pertinent to your boundary, but that it is in agreement with the adjoining boundaries?

• Have you explained your findings in your report as well as shown your findings on your survey?

• Have you placed service and quality above profit, honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations?

how far is far enough · 2020. 1. 10. · how far is far enough? • standards & ethics • ispls...

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