Land survey question

[ninemm]

I know there is at least one surveyor on this forum (and probably more). Here is my question:

If the distance from point A to point B is measured to be 1000 feet along the ground (smooth and straight but has an elevation change from point A to point B of 80 feet) is the "official" recognized distance from point A to point B the equivalent level distance (996.79 feet) or is it still considered to be 1000 feet?

[Jacob Staff]

1000.00' is the slope distance.
80.00' is the change in elevation.
996.79' is the horizontal distance.

The horizontal distance of 996.79' would be shown on a typical boundary survey map.

[stevie_d_64]

The world is not flat and perfect, thats why when you buy a piece of property in the mountains, the surveys need to be checked pretty carefully...But in this case, you got a thousand feet...Stake to stake...

Your measuring the hypotenuse of the triangle there, if that is your AB (1000'), and the elevation is 80', sure the math works out to be 996 feet and change...

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line...And surveying doesn't deal much with imaginary points where you can't stand on and see the other stake, very often ...If you do, another waypoint is usually established...

I used to input surveyors marks into CAD programs to use for civil engineering firms development of urban and rural properties...And even though we had elevation values given on those surveys, they were mainly for reference for drainage and other topographic features (asthetic purposes)...

Just my opinion...