CST Level 1 Land Surveyor Certification Practice

Which tool is considered the "Most Useful" for locating established survey monuments?

1. Plumb bob

2. Hand trowel

3. Compass

4. Measuring tape

The correct answer is: Hand trowel

The tool identified as the "Most Useful" for locating established survey monuments is the hand trowel. This is because a hand trowel is typically used to dig around the soil or surface layer where monuments may be buried or obscured. When survey monuments are covered by grass, debris, or other materials, a hand trowel can effectively assist surveyors in uncovering these features without causing damage to the monument itself. Using this tool allows surveyors to reveal the location of markers that are crucial for establishing property boundaries and maintaining accurate land measurements. While other tools like a plumb bob, compass, and measuring tape are valuable in surveying activities—such as vertical alignment, orientation, and distance measurement—none are specifically designed for the excavation or uncovering of such physical markers, thus limiting their utility in this context.