Description

Before starting construction on any project, surveying the land to determine the exact parameters of the natural environment is of great importance. Surveying is the technique and science of determining the three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them.

In the context of civil engineering, surveying refers to the gathering of various data about the land. Surveying typically involves measurements of horizontal and vertical distances between points, along with descriptions of the exact characteristics of the land structure and surface.

This course covers the types of surveys an individual may encounter, basic staking methods, and what the numbers on a stake mean. It also explains elevations and the types of surveys that use elevations. The terms defined in this course include basic elevation, grade, rise, run, and slope as well as simple calculations one may make related to these concepts. It concludes with an overview of surveying equipment and tools.

Topics covered

• Introduction to Surveying
• Types of Surveys
• Basic Elevation, Slope, Rise, Run, and Grade
• Surveying Equipment

Who Should Take This Course

This course is intended for a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, focusing on those who are performing and involved with different types of land use surveys.

Accessing the Course

This training is offered via the course management system Canvas. Upon completing your online registration, you will receive an email confirmation. To access the course, please visit Canvas and login with your University of Minnesota internet ID and password. Once you have been enrolled, your course will appear on your Canvas dashboard.

If for any reason you do not have access to the course after enrolling, please contact Katherine Stanley at sell0146@umn.edu for assistance.

Technical Requirements

Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer work best for this course.

Credit

• Students will earn 0.5 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit. To earn this credit, students are required to send a copy of the course completion certificate to mnltap@umn.edu.
• To the best of our knowledge, this course meets the continuing education requirements for 3.0 PDHs as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107. More information concerning continuing education for professionals is available on the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID website.

Sponsors

This course is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota LTAP is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Course curriculum was developed and compiled by FHWA Center for Local Aid Support in conjunction with a technical advisory panel of experts including local agencies and state DOTs.