The Survey Review Department maintains summaries of reviews to help understand where members are struggling to meet expectations. This information is used to fine tune standards and identify areas where additional training is required.
Based on the summary scores over the last five years, the following areas have been the source of the highest scores for non-conformance:
- Field Procedures (Field Notes) - It is the responsibility of surveyors to make and preserve exact and regular field notes for all surveys. They should convey what work was done, what evidence was used and what decisions were made. Field notes should convey this to an indepedant knowledgeable observer without additional instruction.
- Research - A surveyor is responsible to perform sufficient research to gather evidence of the creation of a boundary. It should be sufficient to understand the origin and location of the boundary. Surveyors are expected to acquire information from other surveyors that surveyed the boundary or related boundaries that could impact its retracement.
- Reports to Clients - The file should contain documentation that will prove compliance with the regulatory requirements related to communication with the client. Obvious problems or contentious issues found to exist during the survey must be drawn to the client's attention in the written communication. Some form of written correspondence to the client is required for each survey.
- Measurement Verification - All measurements shall be verified by mathematical closure and/or independent measurement. Unfortunately too much reliance is place on single observations from technology solutions.
- Best Evidence of the Boundary - Boundaries must be re-established giving priority to evidence in accordance with common and statute law.