| Survey Markers are used to mark survey earth | | | | the highest point. The benchmark typically has the |
| surface points in geodetic and land surveying. The | | | | station name and date stamped into it, but rarely |
| markers may be either benchmarks, which are | | | | has the elevation etched on it. The names of |
| vertical elevation markers or trig points, which are | | | | benchmark stations are not unique and can be |
| markers for horizontal surveying. The markers | | | | used over and over again. If you see one, maybe |
| are usually permanent and can be depicted in a | | | | take a picture of it. |
| variety of ways. | | | | Trig points are another type of marker and are |
| The simplest survey markers are chisel marks or | | | | also referred to as triangulation points. These |
| nails to mark the survey points. Traditionally most | | | | survey markers are typically found on buildings |
| professional surveyors use markers that are | | | | and in urban areas. |
| made of stamped metal discs set in rock or | | | | It is against the law to intentionally remove or |
| concrete pillars. As a backup, markers are | | | | destroy survey markers. Anyone who deliberately |
| stacked under the ground, in case the above | | | | destroys or removes a marker will be charged |
| ground marker is disturbed or displaced. The | | | | with a misdemeanor crime in most states. These |
| newest line of survey markers are long metal | | | | markers are intended to be permanent and are |
| rods that are able to be pushed deep (up to 3 ft) | | | | used by surveyors, engineers, contractors and |
| into the ground. After these innovative markers | | | | planners for designing, the construction of a wide |
| are placed, a special tool is used to engage a | | | | variety of residential, commercial and |
| patented "root" system that anchors the survey | | | | governmental projects. While concrete or some |
| marker into place permanently. One of the most | | | | of the newer, lighter and more permanent |
| modern uses for these markers are in setting up | | | | markers are hard to remove, many older or |
| GPS receiver antennas but their versatility, light | | | | cheaper ones are frequently moved or just |
| weight design and speedy installation has them | | | | disappear. This can become quite frustrating for |
| being used in many other applications such as the | | | | workers who need to track exactly where an |
| marker of choice for swampy areas where using | | | | underground pipe system might be leaking or |
| concrete is practically impossible. | | | | where exactly a residential lot might end. |
| Benchmark survey markers are chiseled markers | | | | Survey markers form a network all the way |
| that are placed into stone structures, where an | | | | across the United States, including Hawaii and |
| angle iron can be placed across it to form a | | | | Alaska. It is estimated that there are over one |
| bench. They are placed by government agencies | | | | million markers in place today. They are used for |
| or private survey firms. Records are kept of | | | | many residential applications but also in many |
| registered survey markers in a large computer | | | | major business, research and governmental |
| database. The height is determined by a map of | | | | applications such as the mapping of pipelines, |
| other benchmarks in the area. If you have ever | | | | communications grids or simply manhole covers. |
| been to a mountain summit you have probably | | | | These markers have been being put in place since |
| seen a benchmark type survey marker. It could | | | | 1879 and are responsible for mapping done across |
| be a large boulder at the top of the summit, at | | | | the country. |