I haven't done a Land Court survey in a long time.?ÿ I'm a little surprised that the taped line is still in the Manual of Instructions (2017)
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2.1.3.4.7. Electronic Measurements. When using EDM instruments, suitable checks include the use of calibrated NGS certified baselines or comparison to a standardized, calibrated steel tape. When calibrated baselines are used, copies of the calibration records for the instrument or instruments used, preceding and subsequent to the survey, signed and sealed by the responsible surveyor, must be submitted with the Filed Plan. For comparison to a standardized steel tape, one traverse line over 450 feet must be measured with both EDM and standardized steel tape. This 450-foot line should be a part of the closed field traverse or an extension of one of the traverse lines and notation must be made on the plan to indicate the results of both measurements. When it is not practical to measure a 450-foot line in the closed field traverse, a temporary comparison baseline over 450 feet long can be established using the same equipment and certified by the surveyor.
that sounds like a 1960 spec.
do they address GPS or RTK?
2.1.3.3.4. Alternative Survey Instruments. The Land Court acknowledges that new surveying and positioning instruments are constantly being invented and perfected, global positioning satellite systems (GPS) being one example. In general, these innovative instruments can be used for Land Court surveys when they have been proven sufficiently accurate and reliable to be accepted into the land surveying community at large. Their results should yield positional accuracy results equivalent to, or better than, the methods specified above. Redundant measurements shall be made to confirm the location of all points used for determining boundary lines. The surveyor shall consult with the Surveyor of the Court before using any new techniques or instrumentation for a Land Court survey.
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https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/11/ty/rules-of-the-land-court.pdf
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I haven't done a Land Court survey in a long time.?ÿ I'm a little surprised that the taped line is still in the Manual of Instructions (2017)
?ÿ
2.1.3.4.7. Electronic Measurements. When using EDM instruments, suitable checks include the use of calibrated NGS certified baselines or comparison to a standardized, calibrated steel tape. When calibrated baselines are used, copies of the calibration records for the instrument or instruments used, preceding and subsequent to the survey, signed and sealed by the responsible surveyor, must be submitted with the Filed Plan. For comparison to a standardized steel tape, one traverse line over 450 feet must be measured with both EDM and standardized steel tape. This 450-foot line should be a part of the closed field traverse or an extension of one of the traverse lines and notation must be made on the plan to indicate the results of both measurements. When it is not practical to measure a 450-foot line in the closed field traverse, a temporary comparison baseline over 450 feet long can be established using the same equipment and certified by the surveyor.
JPH
We do quite a bit of Land Court work and haven't measured a line with a tape for comparison in years. I haven't been asked for a comparison in years. We routinely have our instruments serviced and calibrated. The easiest thing to do is just go out to a MassDOT baseline and check your instrument if you want to submit to LC.
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Hack
I check my EDM yearly on the base line and always reference that comparison on the plan to be filed.