Level 4 Chapter 3: Elevation and Vertical Land Description

Question 1

Vertical Land Description

Answer 1

Most commonly used when air rights and subsurface rights need specific explication.

Vertical land descriptions can help when determining air rights, water rights, and subsurface rights. This is also the method for expressing condominium ownership boundaries.

Question 2

Datum

Answer 2

In order to describe the height of a property, a surveyor will use a datum, which is the designated base reference point from which elevation is measured. From a datum, a measurement moves upward or downward on a horizontal plane, creating standard heights of depths. A datum base point is established by sea level.

Just think of a datum like a very large ruler (a ruler for giants, perhaps) that extends upward and downward. The heights or depths are referenced to denote locations in space.

Question 3

Contour Map

Answer 3

Also called a topographic map, is a map in which curved lines (contour lines) connect contiguous parts of equal elevation to define the contours of the land. A contour map shows hills, valleys, plateaus, and other patterns that may affect water drainage, runoff, or other development issues.