Application of the Law in Fractional Sections

The principal focus of this course, Tutorial II, is on the federal law on fractional sections and how to apply it mathematically, not ignoring the practical aspects of the fieldwork. The practical application of such computations and the results are discussed. Also discussed: the concept of “protect the plat.”

Objectives:

• Learn to apply the mathematical concepts that are implied in the application of federal law to solving corner locations, as it requires a deeper understanding, not mere arithmetic.
• Understand how the practical aspects of discovering and locating evidence in the field balance the mathematical concepts required by federal law. There is often a need for judgment on the part of the surveyor, not just being a slave to the mathematics.
• Learn the concept of protecting the plat so that the surveyor, upon completing the analysis and determination of corner locations can then review the findings to make sure that the plat has been properly consulted in the process. Many times surveyors lose all touch with the plat in their urgent need to complete the survey.