Book Description

Updated throughout, this highly readable best-seller presents basic concepts and practical material in each of the areas fundamental to modern surveying (geomatics) practice. Its depth and breadth are ideal for self-study. Includes a new Chapter 16 on Kinematic GPS. Features several new sections on machine control, localization of GPS surveys, and construction staking using GPS added to Chapters 16, 19, and 23. Moves Astronomical observations chapter to Appendix C to reflect that in recent years, kinematic GPS has replaced astronomical observations for position and azimuth.Emphasizes total stations as the instruments for making angle and distance observations. A useful reference for civil engineers.

Customer Reviews (10)

Lacking at an Elementary Level
This book is sorely lacking at two levels: 1) There are too many errors 2) many concepts are not clearly explained. I have two degrees in electrical engineering and decided to go back and get my Masters in Civil Engineering. The graduate coordinator required me to take the elementary surveying course and this was the required book. I got an A in the course, but please believe me it wasn't a result of this 11th edition.
It is both inexcusable and shocking that there are so many errors within the book. You would think that by the 11th edition they would have corrected the many errors. Someone needs to sit down with the editor and have a long talk.
One thing I've noticed by looking at my father's engineering books of the 40's, my EE books of the early 80s and the new books this era, overall the books have vastly improved in the ability to explain concepts to the students. This book reminds me of my EE books of the 80s.
Normally I would be so gruff and negative, but I was surprised by the amount of good reviews and thought I should put in my $0.02.

This book confuses more than it educates
I am shocked that there are ANY positive reviews, and am highly suspect of the five star ones.

This book needs massive amounts of editing.There are few examples of equations and concepts; of the few that are, about a third of them are incorrect in one form or another (either they refer back to the wrong data, they skip steps, simply get the math wrong...).This is infuriating.I would like to see many more logically worked out examples, if they can manage to get it straight themselves before printing.On chapter review questions, only a very few have answers in the appendix; these are simple answers, not worked out, and not surprisingly, often incorrect.

Also, this book seems to go out of it's way to explain concepts in the most complex manner possible.If it could choose between a ten word sentance an entry level engineering student or even layman could understand, or two paragraphs of engineering-ese, it'll choose the latter.

This book has potential to be very good, with development and editing.Just amazing that it's in it's eleventh printing, reads like a diassembled beta copy.AWFUL.

Pretty good for California Civil PE Surveying test
I bought this book for the Civil PE Surveying test.I would recommend its use for this test.I found several answers directly from this book, answers that weren't in the typical test prep book that most people buy.

I'd recommend buying this book and also one old, outdated text book (pre 1980's at least).The exam seems to have some questions that are more of historical note than they are relavent to modern surveying - I had a couple of answers that weren't in this version of the book but were in the 6th edition, because the topic covered has become outdated.

Way too many errata for a recommendation
I have been using this book for six months in two different courses, and have nearly completed it.

While the content is fine, the number of errata in this book should not be tolerated.

On the book's web page, numerous errata are listed, but there are many more that have not been reported or compiled.While trying to study this book, the errata keep getting in the way of understanding the material, as there are wrong equations, bad tables, etc.

This book is in its tenth printing, and it is simply inexcusable that this many errata are allowed to remain in the book after so many printings.

Another reviewer (an educator who has the edition with answers in the back) mentioned the number of incorrect answers in the educators edition as well.

So, if you have a choice, look elsewhere for an elementary surveying text. The authors and/or publishers of this one obviously do not care enough to correct the numerous errors which confuse the student.

how to survive the use of this book
this book is terrible!There are very few helpful illustrations, some simply don't exist ie in the defining of angles and their relationships!for some problems/projects that are fairly involved, several completely different data sets are used, so if you were confused about something on one step you cannot derive understanding from the completion of the problem.So, you are forced to rely on the horrible text written partially in crat -things are explained in the longest possible way!The author and our instructor use different terms, it is awful.

My tip: rely on lectures and labs and don't miss a single one, get a study budy or work with your lab partner immediately after class.AVOID USING THIS BOOK IF IT CONFUSES YOU like it does me.I came to this class with a fair understanding most of this already but the book muddles it up so bad I was forced to abandon use of it. ... Read more

Book Description
With 375 problems fully solved step by step, and clear, well-illustrated coverage of the practices and applications of surveying, this powerful study guide can help you master your course with less study time. Perfect for independent study, it gives you full coverage of the entire subject, from trigonometry for surveyors through drawing maps. With Schaum's, you know you're getting a quality product, and this study guide for beginning courses in surveying is the best there is. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not what I thought it was...
If you are looking for reference materials to take the California Engineering Surveying Exam as part of the Civil Engineer's PE exam, this is not the book you want. It doesn't cover the general concepts that an engineer is looking for. Seems to directed more at a person working on a surveying crew instead.

Good introduction to basic surveying terminology and methods
Requires a connecting book to enable reader to work with modern day total stations and the softwares available with them.Typically,advanced topics such as developing set-collection of survey points, their imporanceand criteria for selection etc. ... Read more

Book Description
Designed to prepare you for the NCEES PS exam, the Principles and Practice of Surveying Sample Examination simulates the actual exam with realistic problems. This sample exam closely mirrors the complete exam experience by covering the 5 primary topics tested, plus the level of difficulty, length, and question format. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good example examination for PLS
Good sample exam for PLS examinees.Gives you a good feel of what to expect on the PLS exam itself.It is setup in very much the same way the actual NCEES exam is setup.

The negative is that the cost is rather high for a 25 question sample exam that I was able to run through in less than an hour.

Recommendation: If you are in a cost crunch in purchasing a number books to study from, I would purchase this book last.I would start by purchasing the 1001 Fundamentals of Surveying book.Much more information is provided in that book for about the same cost.If cost is not an concern, I found it somewhat useful just for the comfort level of what to expect on the exam itself.

Good Book, alittle expensive
I found this review item to be very usefull and well laid out.It covers a variety of subjects and to date it's the best practice exam book I have seen.The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the price. Stand alone it's 5 stars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not allowed in the CA Surveying Exam
Because this book is bound with staples, it is NOT allowed at the Surveying portion of the California State specific Civil PE exam, a fact I discovered today. If you try to take it in, it will be confiscated. While the book itself helped me understand the surveying concepts, it was very disappointing to have it taken away moments before the big test.

Deficient
Please see my review of the 3-book series in which this book is typically purchased in the reviews of "Surveying Principles for Civil Engineers."

Okay
There are many other sources were we can get problems and solutions for surveying.I thought for just 120 problems the price was a bit high. ... Read more

Book Description
The practice of modern surveying is undergoing rapid change dueto the availability of electronically controlled instruments, thewidespread adoption of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and theproliferation of various geographic Land Information Systems (GIS/LIS).Nevertheless, the principles underlying these new technologies remainconstant. In the tenth edition of this benchmark text, Frank Moffittand John Bossler strike the appropriate balance between teachingstudents the fundamental principles of surveying and bringing them upto date on the technological advances that are changing the field.The tenth edition of this classic work completely modernizes much ofthe notation, form, and substance of the original. By removing much ofthe dated information, the authors have been able to add entire newchapters on GPS and GIS. Throughout the text, emphasis is placed on NAD83 over NAD 27 as the new datum is being utilized more frequently.

Readers familiar with previous editions of this textbook will stillrecognize its clear, yet rigorous explanation of topics. No shortcutsare taken in the presentation of material from the time a concept isintroduced through its exploration in worked examples. The book'stradition of covering both plane and geodetic surveying has beenpreserved, which makes it the most comprehensive introductory text onsurveying in the market. ... Read more

Book Description
Known for its state-of-the-art coverage, "Surveying with Construction Applications, Sixth Edition" covers the principles of surveying, the latest advances in instrumentation technology, field data capture, and data-processing techniques and the applications of surveying to the construction and engineering fields. Filled with problems, illustrations and field projects, the text skillfully blends theory and practice and balances coverage of traditional and contemporary surveying techniques. This new edition uses both English and metric units, contains a new chapter on modern construction surveying practices, and includes the most recent advances in electronic surveying measurement, global positioning systems, and geomatics. State-of-the-art coverage of surveying principles, instrumentation and techniques provides readers with the latest advances in instrumentation technology, field data capture, and data-processing techniquesto make them more effective in the field. Comprehensive coverage of modern construction surveying practices, highway curves, highway construction surveys, municipal street construction surveys AND MORE! All state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the U.S. and the provincial Transportation/Highways Departments in Canada conduct extensive training sessions for their large staffs. This text covers topics that are taught in these training sessions, in addition to all of the introductory topics needed for survey training. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Surveying with construction applications
This book provides good informations, with many examples, but i noticed that many of them have typos, and even the soulutions are incorrect. Because of this I rate the book as average. ... Read more

Book Description
This book provides a comprehensive coverage of the essential skills necessary in surveying and civil engineering. It covers measurements, distance corrections, leveling, angles, area computation, computer calculations, topographic surveying, electronic distance measuring instruments, and construction surveying.
* Includes photos and diagrams, lists of useful addresses and degree programs, surveying tables and formulas.
* Updated to include more coverage of GPS and GIS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Maybe the 6th edition will be better.
It is amazing to believe that this is a fifth edition book.The subjects chosen are potentially good choices but the author slices and dices the text to the point of confusion.In order to make a smaller, more manageable book, he has excised discussions which would help in explaining many of these advanced topics.I would like to say he was creating a "Surveying for Dummies" book but that would discredit the concise and well-written texts of this nature and give him too much credit.At close to $100 for a flimsy, ill-written, badly or never edited text, I would be ashamed to put my name on the cover no less be the printing house associated with this book.If you are an instructor looking for a book, run quickly away from this title; you'd be better off sending your students out onto the internet for information that would be more legible and definitely much cheaper.

Terrible Book
This was a horrible text book, contradictory in information, difficult to understand and pontificatingly lengthy!One of the only textbooks I have ever sold back! ... Read more

Book Description
This up-to-the-minute edition provides the latest in Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Digital Mapping, Spatial Information Systems, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as comprehensive coverage of the surveying techniques, operations, and information professionals of every stripe need on the job. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Top of the line
By far the best surveying text available.It covers both basic concepts and more in-depth topics with equal clarity.This text is a must for surveying students, and practicing surveyors alike.

The Bible
Good book and reference.Lots of examples and exercises with lilustrations and up to date theory. A great buy for the surveying student. ... Read more

Book Description
This unique DVD is the only text available which teaches the fundamentals of construction surveying layout through over 2 1/2 hours of instructional video. Developed for the "Surveyor's Boot Camp" at Auburn University, this text has been used in numerous classes with overwhelming responses from the students and instructors, wowed by the strength of the content, the sophistication of the presentation, and the ease of learning enabled by this new approach. Presenting content impossible to replicate in a printed book format, this text allows the user to see the techniques actually applied in-field, see the equipment used and adjusted in real time, experience the survey and layout as though the user was on site, watch the author work through exam exercises before trying the problems themselves, and test themselves with free, self-grading online exams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Software to learn the art of surveying
I'm a spec house contractor and have wanted to learn more about surveying and layout so I can save money and layout my homes.In my area there is not any professional training so I've been using books and software to learn.This is a great tool. ... Read more

Book Description

Mustin's part-by-part look at hull, deck, rig, and machinery is both a minicourse for transforming used-boat shopping from a game of craps to a science, and the first step in a holistic boat maintenance program. His discussion of the significance of cracks found in aging hulls and decks is the most thorough in print. He is not shy in assessing the lack of regulation of professional surveyors, nor does he shrink from pointing a finger at shoddy building practices.

Having a used boat surveyed is a critical prelude to buying it. Yet a professional survey is expensive--several hundred dollars. Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats will enable you to conduct your own surveys while narrowing the field, then monitor a professional surveyor's performance when selecting your target boat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Must have Book for those looking to buy a boat
Read this book and you can evaluate boats and surveyors.This in turn will make you feel more comfortable when you hire a surveyor to meet aninsurance requirement or to evaluate things you don't feel competent to doyourself.

This book does a great job explaining how glass is laid up, thedifferent types of glass, mat, roving, etc, and where they should be used. Common problems found in fiberglass boats such as blistering are discussedwith lots of surprising information.

I've found that my personalexperiences confirmed many of the points made by the author.Like the myththat fresh water boats are better than salt water.Contrasted with freshwater boats are more likely to have blister problems than saltwater.

Today, many people come to me with questions about boats.As I writethis review, I realize that many of the answers I give out come out ofinformation I found in this book.

I don't believe you have to have asurvey on a boat to make an intelligent purchase decision.In part,because some of the surveyors are only interested in your money, and do notlook boats over thoroughly.A properly educated individual can do most orall of his, or her, own survey.

Some surveyors are very good, and someare very bad.How can you tell if someone is good or not?

To become asurveyor some certifying organizations only require a couple of samplecopies of surveys done and that you have a few books on your bookshelf. What a joke!

I personally know of a real case, which happened in 1999,where an old survey was pulled up, the date changed and it was reusedwithout any a new survey being actually done.This is a good reason tochoose your own surveyor and not the one recommended by the seller.

Going aloft and checking the rigging on a boat is not easy.Is it notsurprising that important steps like these get skipped.

Some surveyor'shaven't read this book--so how good can they be? Contrast this withsomeone who has taken a 8 week course on surveying, holds a USCG license,and grew up on boats.This is the kind of person you want for asurveyor.

It is up to you to be knowledgeable enough to make your owndecisions-including choosing a surveyor if you feel you need one.Thisbook will help you do that.

Educate yourself.Being able to look a boatover to evaluate it for purchase is an important skill.This book is agood starting point.It is cheap insurance and worth the price.

Do it yourself or learning the ropes
I used this and another, more detailed book, to complete my own survey on an inexpensive boat with a measure of confidence.I felt that I could gauge the safety and useability of all the major systems of the boat within reason..is it safe, does it work properly, etc.

I didn't alwaysunderstand the why behind some analyses, but the average person can easilyuse the book to a) perform a basic survey on an inexpensive boat, or b)winnow the acceptable from the unaccptable before paying a professional tocomplete a thorough survey.

I feel prepared
Henry does it in one 3 1/2 hour setting - completely. I now feel confident in my search for 'Das Boot'. I drove a 27 foot Tartan for years, decided it was time for a 40 and didn't know how to proceed in mynext move.Now I do. Well written, factual and even mentions,not-unfavorably, some names. I do not believe you could go wrong withthis purchase, if, you are on the same quest as I. Retirement, with divecharters in the Caribbe... Buenas Suertes, y'all.

BASIC FIBERGLASS BOAT SURVEYING
Mr. Mustin explains fiberglass boat construction in very detailed laymans terms. His real world experience dealing with the problems of fiberglass boats and his discuss of what is a real problem and what is something youcan live with/expect was informative. The last chapters on the trade ofsurveying boats for a living were excellent.

Essential Information
Mustin gives a lot of good information in doing your own survey for that boat you have your eye on. I would never recommend not having a professional survey, but this book guides you through a lot of informationwith good pictures and sketches. Read this book before you go boatsearching to eliminate the dogs. Then use this book to hire a really goodsurveyor and be able to talk intelligently to him. Good luck. Would I buyagain. Yes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Must Have PLS/SIT Study Book
A must have for future PLS or LSIT examinees. An excellent source of study material needed for NCEES exams including, but not limited to, the history of surveying, calculations, State Plane systems, GPS, and Photogrametry.

Great Study Aid
I used this book as a study aid and as one of the books I had while taking my test. I found several answers to the test worked out or answered in this book.

1001 Solved Surveying Problems
The book is as advertised.It has a very large variety of solved surveying problems.The problems and their solutions are very thorough and clear.It's a well done book.The biggest downside is there is no index or listing of the types of problems in the book.If you are using this as a reference dring a surveying or professional engineers exam you will have a hard time finding the example problem you are looking for unless you have spent a great deal of time getting familiar with the book or developed your own listing of the problems.It was very helpful in preparing for the 2.5 hour California surveying exam, it was useless during the exam.

1001 Solved Surveying Problems
I bought this book to help review for the LSIT exam.After going through some problems I found the book to be very helpful in refreshing my memory on some of the things I forgot.Def. a good book for any surveyor or surveying student.

1001 Solved Surveying Fundamentals Problems
Super fast shipping. I will always order from the seller. ... Read more

Book Description
The primary aim of this book is to provide a guide to current practice and equipment for non-specialist surveyors in the various professions involved in the construction industry and the environment.It is suitable for students preparing for degrees and diplomas in architecture, building, building surveying, quantity surveying, estate management and town planning and environmental studies.It is also of value to engineers who are not specialising in engineering surveying.

This book has been thoroughly revised to include new topics such as OS digital mapping, standard deviation and standard error, global positioning systems, transition and vertical curves.

Walter Whyte was born in New Zealand of Scottish parents and educated in Scotland.He worked on site and building surveys in Scotland.He worked on site and building surveys in Scotland, then on road survey and setting out in the North Nyanza and Uasin Gishu Provinces of Kenya, and as a road engineer in British Southern Cameroons and Northern Nigeria, De Montford University in the UK and latterly at City University, Hong Kong.

Raymond E Paul has been professionally involved in surveying for over 40 years as a land and cartographical surveyor, senior lecturer and author.He has a wealth of practical experience and an awareness of the needs of the intended users of this book from all corners of the globe.

*Thoroughly revised, up to date and completely reset in an easily readable style.

*Virtually all chapters have been rewritten and the contents rearranged to allow easy reference to individual topics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great overview of surveying fundamentals
Even though it refers to laws outside the US, this book provides an excellent overview of the surveying process under various situations. Different types of surveys are outlined. The reader comes away with a good understanding of the complexities involved as well as some helpful procedures for measurinf terrain. ... Read more

Book Description
Construction Surveying and Layout - A unique, practical, and complete book for the surveyor, field engineer, or student learning construction surveying and layout.This highly illustrated book contains over 1200 graphics of construction surveying field and office activities, calculations, and tables that are presented in a step-by- step easy to read format.The reader can see "how-to" perform many of the common measurement and calculation activities of field engineering and construction surveying.This book contains material not found in other surveying books.It is a must for training individuals just getting into construction surveying or as a reference for anyone on a construction site involved with measurement and layout. "Everyone who sees it, wants it." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Construction Surveying
Great information, thought it helped me identify areas I needed improvement and refreshed areas I already knew. A must for any body in Construction Management, not just field engineers.

Basic construction surveying examples
The book has a lot of basic info and formulas and gives examples of field techniques, but unfortunately like most texts I've seen, it doesn't go into enough depth.I was looking for detailed explanations on slope staking but this has only 6 pages on the subject and the only method shown is the use of tape and hand level.No examples of how a total station or GPS can be used to slope stake are given, and no mention of how the stakes themselves should be marked is included.
Probably an ok text for the beginner but it lacks depth.

The Perfect Surveying Guide
I have enjoyed each edition of this book.I have successfully trained well over 100 upstart employees successfully using this book.The latest edition, and I feel the best, has more examples with real life solutions to day to day survey operations.If your starting out or a seasoned party chief you'll find this reference very valuable.

The techniques are solid and have been proven in the field.This is not a book like maybe some of the others you've looked at.This book will make you a better construction surveyor and also assist you in making the next step into the office side of construction operations.

It's a great teaching tool to keep in the truck and conduct training with your subordinates, weather its raining or not.

Get this book today!You won't regret it!

Newcomers
I have been working in the field as a chief engineer for 5 years, and have read this book from cover to cover.I would advise any new layout man/woman who plans on starting a career in the field to obtain a copy, andby all means issue these to your rodmen.You will find a drasticimprovement on work skills and habbits, and less rework. C.J. Finn

An Excellent Text for Construction Students
I have used this text to teach surveying to Construction Management students who need to only know the basics of construction surveying and layout on the jobsite.I have found this book to be easy for constructionstudents to use and take with them to industry.I look forward to the nextedition. ... Read more

Book Description
"Customer Surveying: A Guidebook for Service Managers" is written to assist the services manager to effectively plan and manage a survey project. It is not an encyclopedia on the subject of surveying or a textbook on survey theory. Rather, its 256 pages aim to provide the tools the survey novice needs to collect real and useful information about customers' perceptions of service quality. The Survey Guidebook introduces theories and concepts, but always with a focus on practical application.

The term "guide" is used very explicitly here. A guide in the classic sense helps show the path through unknown territory, helping the journeyer to avoid pitfalls, but also answering questions along the way and pointing out features that enhance the value of the trek. The Survey Guidebook plots a path for the surveyor from planning the project, designing the questionnaire, administering the survey, to analyzing and reporting the results using standard desktop software. Tasks for each stage are described and the pros and cons of various options are outlined. The Survey Guidebook pays particular attention to options for questionnaire design and techniques for survey administration, including web and email surveying techniques. 67 charts and figures are included in the book to help explain the concepts, and four exercises help readers practice their new-found skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Jam packed with practical tips, yet easy to read!
I couldn't put the book down.Seriously.I started it yesterday and finished reading it at 12:30 am.Powerful info, yet easy to understand and actually fun to read.Great practical tips that I could immediately apply.While I'm familiar with much of what was in the book through my MBA statistics and market research courses, and from conducting many surveys for employers and clients, this book provided me with new insights and a highly useful framework for methodically approaching survey analysis to ensure thorough and accurate results.

Great overview of Surveying
It's rare to find a book that provides such depth yet is at the same time highly readable and even humorous.A must-read for anyone looking to conduct customer service surveys!

Excellent Content and In "Layfolk's" Terms
This is an excellent resource on the Customer Surveying process and how to (and not to) structure customer surveys, questionnaires, etc.Author has passion for the topic and terrific credentials.Must read if you need to learn the true pulse of your internal and external clients through the vehicle of customer surveys.Thanks Dr.Frederick C. Van Bennekom!

Valuable Resource for Support Managers
A detailed, extremely informative (yet easy to understand) resource on the all-important topic of effectively understanding customers' needs and gauging customer satisfaction.I would recommend it to anyone dedicated to providing top-level customer support across all sectors and industries.

Great tool
We at The Gasparovic Group, Inc. have been doing surveys for 14 years. As we developed our on line survey tool this book was a great tool to check our experiences and confirm the methodology we were building into the software.It is unusual to find a book with such depth at is easy to read and understand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not allowed at the test, false sense of hope
The problems in this book are not as difficult as those presented on the exam. The exam's problems are much more tedious.

Also, because this book is bound with staples, it is NOT allowed at the Surveying portion of the California State specific Civil PE exam, a fact I discovered today. If you try to take it in, it will be confiscated. While it may not have actually helped me since the test is actually much harder than this, it was very disappointing to have it taken away moments before the big test.

Not a good reference (Pathetic!)
I just tooke the Engineering Survey section of the PE Exam two days ago and used this book as a reference.I DEFINITELY would NOT RECOMMEND this book as a reference.It will not help you prepare for the exam and will give you a false impression of how the exam is going to be like.The practice problems that are on the PE are a thousand times harder then what is in this book.If you want to pass the Engineering Survey section this book will not help you at all!The only use I have for this book now is for toilet paper.If Amazon did not require a minimum star rating of 1 star I would have give it zero. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Decent Review Text
Having recently taken the PE, I found this to be quite a useful reference for the principles of surveying (together with the surveying textbook by Kavanagh).The major topics are covered in this text, and as long as the test taker using other reference materials to go more in depth, there should be no problem.However, I could have been lucky this time around and your mileage may vary (most of my colleagues have had problems with the surveying portion of the PE).

Word of warning for future PE exam takers:NCEES and the state board do not allow loose or stapled sheets during the exam, and during the October 2007 exam, this book (and other similar reference materials) was disallowed as it is stapled.People who had inserted it into 3-ring binders didn't have a problem.

Very Deficient
This book and the accompanying "120 Solved Surveying Problems" and "Civil Surveying Sample Exams," did not cover all topics on the CA survey exam, and did not even cross reference each other well.It was poorly written, very poorly organized, and this book and practice problems and sample exams were all were full of mathematical errors.

About the only good thing about the book was its chapters on angle measurements and traverses.Though it didn't explain how to set up the computations, you could figure it out from the figures.The one main deficiency in the traverse chapter what that it corrected a traverse in an example problem without saying how, then explained in detail in a following sections how to do it.A little backwards.

This book needs serious clarification of the photogrammetry and public lands system chapters, and should include information on vertical datums, earth curvature, refraction and other tape corrections, and survey equipment.The California Coordinate chapter was very unclear, you can download better information off the CalTrans website, along with standard survey staking guidelines.I was never sure of the purpose of the astronomical observations chapter.

I felt like I was able to pass the exam, but it was more from my work experience than these books.The sample exams did reflect the test, but the number of errors in the answers were astounding.I recommend getting a basic survey book, and using Lindburg's Civil Engineer's Reference Manual for horizontal and vertical geometries, as well as the other survey and earthwork information it contains.

Gets the job done
I felt obliged to write a review on this book due to the many negative reviews I read.I almost didn't buy the book because of them.I thought this book did a good job of covering all of the basic principles covered on the California Special Civil Engineering Exam.I did find some mistakes, and I would recommend using an additional "real" surveying book that has a good index, but it did get right to the point on the topics it covered.The problem with my "real" surveying book is there is just too much material to cover.If you are a real surveyor, I imagine this book would be completely worthless.However, to those of us who just need a general understanding of surveying to pass the test, I would recommend this book.It worked for me.

Okay, but not enough
This is a REVIEW book; it does not cover all the topics in enough depth to educate someone who is not familiar with surveying.I agree with most of the other reviewers that state it will not adequately prepare you for the exam.I was most disappointed with the overall quality of the book.I found numerous minor errors and a few things that are just plain wrong.Likewise the companion "Practice Exam" is a joke.The questions are too easy and too many are focused on definitions and regulations, not calculations and problem solving.That said there isn't anything else currently on the market for a similar price.So if you want to save the money of a review course and try studying on your own, go for it.

Good Book
I have been using this book to study for the CA Civil Engineering PE Survey exam.I have discovered it to be helpful.I felt as though the example problems clearly show one how to work each the problem step-by-step. In my 'two cent' opinion--I think it is well worth the money and helpful. ... Read more