"For hundreds of years, cadastral surveyors have tramped across the country, braving the elements, to perform an important public service. They have had an exciting history, and they take great pride in their heritage. They enjoy swapping old surveying stories and sharing their experiences with others. Tales of the challenges surveyors have faced in the past, the accomplishments of the surveying crews, and the influence of outstanding surveyors abound. Such stories are a treasure of information, and lend themselves to helping surveyors better understand the issues that have influenced the way the surveying system is today. These stories of individual dedication, wisdom, and professionalism can be a source of pride, and help surveyors face today's challenges"--Page iii.

Land is important to all aspects of human life and has a key role in the economic well-being of society therefore, land tenure, land ownership, and real property law is a critical part of any developed nation. Together, the processes of how land parcels are held; how they are defined, measured, and described to allow economic transactions; how they are marked to allow their use and defense; and how they are legally protected have allowed for the orderly possession and use of land. In doing so, these processes have also provided the basis for the advanced economy of most developed nations. Very often, these processes—land tenure, boundary surveying, and cadastral systems—are considered separately. They are very much interrelated, and none of these processes may be completely understood without an understanding of the others. Land Tenure, Boundary Surveys, and Cadastral Systems provides an introduction to land tenure, cadastral systems, and boundary surveying, including an understanding of the interrelationship of these areas and their role in land tenure and real property law. This is especially true considering the advent of georeferenced cadastral maps reflecting the location of land parcels relative to many other components of the physical and legal infrastructure. Although intended as a basic text for college-level surveying courses, this book should also be of significant value to cadastral mappers, real property attorneys, land title professionals, and others involved with land transactions.

"Cadastral surveys are performed to create, mark, and define, or to retrace the boundaries between abutting land owners, and, more particularly, between land of the Federal Government and private owners or local governments. As referred to here, cadastral surveys were performed only by the General Land Office during its existence and by the Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau of Land Management is the only agency that is currently authorized to determine the boundaries of the public lands of the United States. Proper understanding of the basis for performance of cadastral surveys includes an understanding of the history of the public land surveys. An understanding of that history requires some consideration of the people who performed these surveys and of the people whose land was affected by them. These chapters were written to be used as an aid in training cadastral surveyors in the application of surveying principles. The learner is expected to gain from the factual material on survey laws and their formation, as well as from a study of the people who performed the surveys. Many of the men who had an important role in the history of cadastral surveying are still living, but only those who have retired are included in the present document."--Foreword.

This Volume Is One Of The Two Which Offer A Comprehensive Course In Those Parts Of Theory And Practice Of Plane And Geodetic Surveying That Are Most Commonly Used By Civil Engineers. The First Volume Covers In 24 Chapters, The Most Common Surveying Operations. Each Topic Introduced Is Thoroughly Described, The Theory Is Rigorously Developed, And A Large Number Of Numerical Examples Are Included To Illustrate Its Application. General Statements Of Important Principles And Methods Are Almost Invariably Given By Practical Illustration. Apart From Illustrations Of Old And Conventional Instruments, Emphasis Has Been Placed On New Or Modern Instruments, Both For Ordinary As Well As Precise Work. A Good Deal Of Space Has Been Given To Instrumental Adjustments With Thorough Discussion Of Geometrical Principles In Each Case. Many New Advanced Problems Have Also Been Added Which Will Prove Useful For Competitive Examinations.