| A monumental land survey is a type of land | | | | corners and the boundary between the two |
| survey dealing specifically with the boundaries of | | | | properties so that the fence's position with |
| the property. All monumental land surveys use | | | | regards to the legal property boundary can be |
| physical monuments to mark the boundaries on | | | | evaluated. The monumental land survey is also |
| the land itself. Commonly, the corners of the | | | | useful when in the planning stages of a |
| property are marked with a long iron rod driven | | | | construction project. |
| vertically into the ground, though there are many | | | | Before a land surveyor may place the |
| other types of physical monuments which may | | | | monuments, there are many other steps to take, |
| be used. | | | | many of which are actually done away from the |
| These monuments are designed to be as | | | | property in question. In fact, placing the |
| permanent as possible, though land surveyors | | | | monuments is near the end of the monumental |
| many decades ago used wooden posts or natural | | | | land surveying process. First, the surveyor must |
| features which may be destroyed over time, | | | | clarify exactly where the boundary should be |
| making it difficult to re-trace their work today. | | | | located by looking at the title and legal description |
| Monuments in use today will have a cap on top of | | | | of the property, among other information. Then, |
| the iron rod identifying the surveyor who placed it. | | | | these boundaries must be measured on the land |
| This physical monument allows the easy finding of | | | | itself before they can be marked, and the |
| the boundaries and corners of the property when | | | | surveyor will search for any preexisting corner |
| one is physically on the land, although the | | | | monuments from previous surveys, evaluating |
| monumental land survey itself does have some | | | | their accuracy to determine whether the |
| limitations as far as the other information | | | | boundary was correctly placed by the previous |
| provided. For example, it usually is not concerned | | | | surveyor. Finally, the new monuments are set into |
| with any improvements on the property, such as | | | | place. |
| fences or homes, and will not determine whether | | | | Boundary monuments are placed at every corner |
| these were built to code or conform to zoning | | | | of the property, including any angle or change of |
| regulations. | | | | direction of the boundary line. The survey data is |
| Often, a monumental survey is undertaken in | | | | then recorded in a land survey plat. The official |
| combination with other types of land surveys to | | | | recording of this survey will provide a basis for |
| show additional information about the property. | | | | any future land surveys of the property. If such |
| For example, a monumental survey may be | | | | information is never recorded properly, it will not |
| combined with a title survey, which will examine | | | | be available for future land surveyors if the land is |
| more than the boundaries in determining anything | | | | re-surveyed at any point in time. This information |
| affecting ownership of the land in question. | | | | includes a scale drawing of the land and its |
| In many cases, a monumental land survey may | | | | boundaries, all necessary dimensions to allow a |
| be undertaken when there is a dispute over the | | | | surveyor to establish the property boundaries |
| exact land boundaries. For example, if a fence has | | | | while in the field and a detailed description of all |
| been built or is about to be built on the land, a | | | | monuments found or used on the property. |
| monumental land survey can mark the exact | | | | |