The hook
Construction surveying takes design to dirt: plan reading, layout, slope stakes, as-built. The PS exam goes beyond FS 1.F — covering plan-reading skills, complex calculations, horizontal + vertical positioning relative to a plan or datum.
Memorize these
Concepts that show up on the exam
Plan reading
Site plan + civil drawings + utility drawings. Surveyor must understand each layer to stake correctly.
Slope + grade calculations
Cross-slope, longitudinal grade, daylighting points. Computed from the design model and applied per station.
Stake-out tolerances
Construction tolerances are looser than survey tolerances (typically 0.05 ft for grade stakes, 0.01 ft for property corners). Match the work to the spec.
Machine control
GPS or total station mounted on construction equipment, fed a digital model. Surveyor sets up the control network and manages the model file.
As-built survey
Documents what was actually built. Compared to design; deltas reported. Becomes the official record for the owner.
Test yourself
How well did it stick?
A quick 5-question check on Construction Surveys. See where you stand and what to review.