Accuracy
Degree of conformity with a standard. Accuracy relates
to the quality of a result, and is distinguished from
precision, which relates to the quality of the operation
by which the result is obtained.
ACSM
American Congress on
Surveying and Mapping (ACSM)
Originally named the National Congress on Surveying
and Mapping when it was founded in June 1941, the
society sought to better coordinate the nation's surveying
and mapping activities. Later the name was changed
to the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
to encompass members from Canada and South America.
Today, although the majority continues to come from
the United States, ACSM's members include more than
7,000 surveyors, cartographers, geodesists, and other
spatial data information professionals working in
both public and private sectors throughout the world.
American Land Title
Association (ALTA)
The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907,
is the national trade association and voice of the
abstract and title insurance industry. ALTA members
search, review and insure land titles to protect homebuyers
and mortgage lenders who invest in real estate.
ALTA/ACSM Surveys
ALTA
As-Built Plans
A community may require submission of "as-built"
plans to certify that a project was built in accordance
with the permit. A registered professional architect
or engineer certifies the actual construction.
AST
BMP
Best Management Practice (BMP)
Methods that have been determined to be the most
effective, practical means of preventing or reducing
pollution from non-point sources, such as pollutants
carried by urban runoff.
Boundary Survey
A boundary survey determines the property lines
of a parcel of land described in a deed. It also indicates
the extent of any easements or encroachments and may
show the limitations imposed on the property by state
or local regulations.
Buffer
An area adjacent to a lake or estuarine shoreline,
wetland edge, or streambank, where critically important
ecological processes and water pollution control functions
take place, and development may be restricted or prohibited
for these reasons.
Clean Water Act (CWA)
The Clean Water Act established the basic structure
for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters
of the United States. It gave the EPA authority to
implement pollution control programs such as setting
wastewater standards for industry. The Clean Water
Act also continued requirements to set water quality
standards for all contaminants in surface waters.
The Act made it unlawful for any person to discharge
any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters,
unless a permit was obtained under its provisions.
See the EPA
web site for additional information.
Easement
An area of land owned by the property owner, but
in which other parties, such as utility companies,
may have limited rights granted for a specific purpose.
Effluent
Wastewater—treated or untreated—that flows out of
a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall.
Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface
waters.
Encumbrance
An interest or partial right in real property which
diminishes the value of ownership, but does not prevent
the transfer of ownership. Mortgages, taxes and judgments
are encumbrances known as liens. Restrictions, easements,
and reservations are also encumbrances, although not
liens.
Encroachment
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established
as an independent agency in 1970. The mission of the
Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human
health and to safeguard the natural environment air,
water, and land upon which life depends.
EPA
Error
The difference between a measured value and the true
value. Error in measurement is inherent, but is separate
and distinct from a blunder (a mistake).
Exception
From a title insurance policy, portions of the land
containing encumbrances and in which free and clear
title is subject to certain conditions. From a legal
description, portions of land which are included in
the description of a larger parcel of land but then
excluded from it by a subsequent legal description.
Federal Emergency Management
Association (FEMA)
FEMA is a federal agency that was founded in 1979.
Its mission is to reduce loss of life and property
and to protect our nation's critical infrastructure
from all types of hazards through a comprehensive,
risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation,
preparedness, response and recovery.
FEMA
FEMA Flood Studies
A flood study, also known as a flood elevation study,
is an examination, evaluation and determination of
flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water
surface elevations. The resulting reports are used
to develop national Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Floodplain
A generally flat, low-lying area adjacent to a stream
or river that is subjected to inundation during high
flows. The relative elevation of different floodplains
determines their frequency of flooding, ranging from
rare, severe storm events to flows experienced several
times a year. For example, a "100-year floodplain"
would include the area of inundation that has a frequency
of occurring, on average, once every 100 years.
Impervious Cover
Any surface in the urban landscape that cannot effectively
absorb or infiltrate rainfall; for example, sidewalks,
rooftops, roads, and parking lots.
Imperviousness
The percentage of impervious cover by area within
a development site or watershed, often calculated
by identifying impervious surfaces from aerial photographs
or maps.
Improvement
Usually some sort of manmade structure, although
perhaps not always a literal "improvement".
Measurement
An estimated value that is, by its nature, subject
to error. A person can count (an absolute value) one
hundred beans and get the same quantity as someone
else counting one hundred beans. However, if two people
each measure (an estimated value) a cup of beans,
it is likely that they will have a different quantity
of beans. Two surveyors measuring the same distance
may obtain different values. Both of the values should
be similar, but they will only approach the true theoretical
value through repetition and statistical analysis.
Mitigation
Monument
An object placed to mark the physical location of
a position. A property corner monument is often a
length of iron rod driven vertically into the ground
so that the top is at or below natural grade. A cap
identifying the registration number of the surveyor
responsible for placing the monument may be placed
atop the monument.
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES)
Established by Section 402 of the Clean
Water Act, this federally mandated permit system
is used for regulating point sources, which include
discharges from industrial and municipal facilities
and also stormwater discharges from discrete conveyances
such as pipes or channels.
Nonpoint Sources
Pollution sources that are diffuse and do not have
a single point of origin or are not introduced into
a receiving stream from a specific outlet. The pollutants
are generally carried off the land by storm water
runoff. Sources of NPS pollution include runoff from
agriculture, silviculture, urban development, mining,
construction, dams and channels, inappropriate land
disposal of waste, marinas, and saltwater intrusion.
NPDES
Nutrient Management Plan
A plan for managing the quantity of nutrients applied
to crops to achieve maximum nutrient nutrition and
achieve minimum nutrient waste.
Offset
In Boundary: a point located at the extension
of a line and marking the direction of the line. An
offset monument may be placed on the extension of
a line because the offset position can provide a more
durable monument. A common practice is to place offset
monuments in a sidewalk or curbhead, as these monuments
are less likely to be disturbed than a monument marking
the actual position. In Construction: a short
distance usually measured at a right angle to a line,
to preserve the position of the line when it is anticipated
that points marking the line itself would be disturbed.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment/Disposal System
An onsite wastewater treatment/disposal system is the
means by which an individual home or a cluster of homes
cleans and disposes of their wastewater. Usually this
is known as a septic system. A conventional system is
composed of a septic tank for pretreatment and a drainfield
used for disposal of the wastewater. Each system, however,
must be designed according to specific site conditions
to ensure proper treatment.
Open Space
A portion of a site that is permanently set aside
for public or private use and will not be developed.
The space may be used for passive or active recreation,
or may be reserved to protect or buffer natural areas.
Restoration
Right-of-way
A parcel of land granted by deed or easement for
construction and maintenance according to a designated
use. This may include highways, streets, canals, ditches,
or other uses.
Stormwater Best Management Practice
A structural or non-structural technique designed
to temporarily store or treat stormwater runoff in
order to mitigate flooding, reduce pollution, and
provide other amenities.
Stormwater Runoff
Subdivision Plat
A legal instrument intended to take a large parcel
of land and divide it into smaller parcels of land.
A subdivision plat may also create public rights-of-way
or easements, and is usually filed with the public
real estate records of the county.
Topographic
Survey
A topographic map ('topo')
is a site map showing the topographic features of
a site by way of contour lines. Topographic features
could include drainage patterns, locations of rock
outcroppings, hills and other natural features. The
map may also include artificial features such as buildings,
utility locations, detention ponds and other features
which would affect engineering design on the site.
A topographic map
is often requested by engineers, architects or building
contractors who need to know information about overall
site grade and elevations. This information may be
used to determine placement of site improvements,
estimate the volume of dirt to be moved, or for many
other construction and development purposes.
Wastewater
Water that is generated, usually as a by-product
of some process, which cannot be released into the
environment without some type of treatment.
Wastewater Infrastructure
The pipes and appurtenances for the collection, treatment,
and disposal of sewage in a community. The level of
treatment will depend on the size of the community,
the type of discharge, and/or the designated use of
the receiving water.
Wetlands
Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface
or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient
to support and that, under normal circumstances, do
support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted
for life in saturated-soil conditions. Wetlands generally
include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.
Wetland Delineation
Wetland delineation is the process by which the edge
of a wetland may be located. It is performed when
a planned activity will involve placing fill material
in a potential wetland area.
Zoning
A set of local government regulations and requirements
that govern the use, placement, spacing and size of
buildings and lots (as well as other types of land
uses) within specific areas designated as zones primarily
dedicated to certain land use types or patterns.
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