CA PLS Exam Preparation
Comprehensive preparation for the California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam. Based on the January 2025 Test Plan with 6 modules and 57 topics. Content adapted from CalTrans LS/LSIT Video Exam Preparation Course materials.
Progress0/57
Module 1: Business Practices and Project Management
1Explaining Land Surveying to the Public2Proposals and Contracts3Procuring Surveying Services4Directing Personnel5Coordinating with Third Parties6Project Standards7Project Execution Planning8Monument Preservation9Managing a Surveying Business10Subdivision Map Act11Professional Land Surveyors Act12Conflicts of Interest
Module 2: Research, Project Planning and Preparation
Module 3: Field Operations and Investigations
Module 4: Analysis and Evaluation
33Analyzing Field Evidence and Documentation34Evaluating Historic vs. Measured Accuracy35Spatial Relationships of Maps and Data36Boundary Location Conflicts37Title Conflicts38Survey Adjustments (Least Squares, Error Analysis)39Quality Assurance and Control40Reconciling Deeds with Field Evidence41Technology Limitations in Practice
Module 5: Mapping and Document Preparation
Lesson 6
Survey Adjustments (Least Squares, Error Analysis)
Survey Adjustments (Least Squares, Error Analysis)
Overview
Survey adjustments distribute measurement errors systematically and provide measures of precision. Understanding adjustment methods and error analysis is fundamental to professional practice.
Learning Objectives
- Understand least squares adjustment principles
- Apply traverse adjustment methods
- Analyze residuals and statistics
- Interpret adjustment results
Key Concepts
Least Squares Principles
Fundamental concepts:
- Minimizing sum of squared residuals
- Redundant observations
- Weight matrix application
- A priori vs. a posteriori variance
Traverse Adjustments
Common adjustment methods:
- Compass Rule: Proportional to distance
- Transit Rule: Proportional to latitudes/departures
- Crandall Method: Distance adjustment only
- Least Squares: Rigorous statistical adjustment
Error Analysis
Statistical evaluation:
- Standard deviation of unit weight
- Positional uncertainty ellipses
- Relative error ellipses
- Chi-square testing
- Residual analysis
Adjustment Results Interpretation
Understanding output:
- Adjusted coordinates
- Residuals and their meaning
- Statistical quality indicators
- Outlier detection
- Network reliability
Key Terms
- Residual: Difference between observed and adjusted values
- Redundancy: Number of observations minus unknowns
- Error Ellipse: Graphical representation of positional uncertainty
Practice Questions
- What is the fundamental principle of least squares adjustment?
- How should large residuals be interpreted in an adjustment?
Based on CalTrans LS/LSIT Video Exam Preparation Course materials.