re: Best Way to Mark Property LInes

quote:

---

A level is used for elevations.

But the vertical crosshair on a level if stationed above a legitimate corner marker and shot to a plumb rod on another legitimate corner marker will provide a sightline that can provide a virtually perfect line if shot to any other plumb rod in between.

---

This is correct in theory. Actually fairly difficult in practice, especially for someone completely green.

quote:

---

I would venture to say that, done properly (and it's not too difficult) it is every bit as accurate as a GPS mark done by a surveyor, if not more so.. The accuracy tolerances of GPS is not at all perfect. I used to know this, but I think the accuracy tolerances of your GPS is a much as a foot either way?

---

This is not even remotely accurate. Survey grade GPS will produce sub centimeter all day everyday with short epochs. Trimble R12 RTK is advertised with 8mm accuracy.

quote:

---

This is not even remotely accurate. Survey grade GPS will produce sub centimeter all day everyday with short epochs. Trimble R12 RTK is advertised with 8mm accuracy.

---

I stand corrected.

We both know it hasn't always been this accurate, however.

If you're worried about someone contesting the line, hire a surveyor. It's the best possible route.

Get them to come stake it if it's open field like you say. Do not rely on your own estimations if you are building/developing near your line. They can stake it at whatever interval you want, eg., 25 ft, 50 ft, etc., then build inside the boundary line, never on it, because what's the width of a boundary line?

By default a surveyor is going to shoot in the corners and make sure the marked corners are actually the corners. Once they put monumentation, whether it be temporary or permanent, in the ground along those boundary lines, it's their license and their arse. They're not usually going to take your word for it that those are the legal corners. They're going to make sure of it.

That's the only answer you need: have a licensed surveyor stake out the line to your specified intervals.

As the survey guys have said, it’s unbelievable the accuracy and ease that the gps units bring. As gar as construction side goes, layouts of large sites and parking lots is so easy now.

For your situation, I would no doubt have a surveyor lay it out. Fencing isn’t cheap and I know you only want to do it once.

quote:

---

but I think the accuracy tolerances of your GPS is a much as a foot either way?

---

quote:

---

This is 100% false and goes to show you a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

---

I never said such a thing.

The corners are marked, baws.

Doesn't matter. Most surveyors, especially knowing improvements will be made based on their staked out line done under their license will double check to make sure those corner monuments are where they're supposed to be, and are what they are supposed to be (i.e., the legal corners matching the legal description/ plats). If they are correct, good to go, stake the line. If not, adjustments need to be made. It's not some arduous drawn out process, plus they're going to be setting up on them anyway to lay out the line.

Think of it like an orthopedic surgeon walking into an OR and a nurse telling him that this patient he's never met, treated or taken in any information on needs a knee surgery, and him doing it, but come to find out they needed elbow surgery, and what the ramifications would be for their licensure.

It's not uncommon for someone to tell a surveyor "there's the corner monuments," and they shoot them in and come to find out one has been disturbed or settled, etc., and moved 4" to the east: Now extrapolate that error down a 3 acre north property line coming off that east corner and boom: the land owner just encroached with his fence on another landowner and said surveyor gets sued.

It's just common practice to make sure existing corners match the current land description and drawings and all is well with the corner monuments. Me personally, I'm not building along a boundary if a surveyor didn't double check my corners before he stakes it out. I've seen absolutely catastrophic situations where people were financially ruined because they thought something was a corner and pulled a string and built half their living room across the line. Never guess when you are doing improvements near your boundary. Do that well off the line.

As far as someone saying GPS is only accurate to +/- foot, there's a big (to say the least) difference between a surveyor's RTK GNSS GPS and a consumer grade WAAS/EGNOS handheld unit. Being in an open field, odds are they'll shoot the corners and layout the line with nothing but a GPS.

quote:

---

If you do hire a surveyor, check to see if your proposed building site has a base flood elevation requirement. If you do, at the same time they can verify the ground elevation and set an elevation monument. This is fantastic advice. When in Rome.

---

or OP baw could consult a gov FEMA flood map

quote:

---

You're clueless brother. Give it up....

---

I can figure shite out without having to call a “professional”.

OP, lesson here is never seek independent consult from the service provider.