Colorado Land Surveyor Practice Exam

Where should the top of the monument be placed in a traffic area of a street?

1. At the road surface level

2. One foot below the roadway surface

3. Two feet above the road surface

4. Half a foot below the roadway surface

The correct answer is: Half a foot below the roadway surface

The top of the monument should ideally be placed half a foot below the roadway surface to ensure it is protected from potential damage caused by traffic and road maintenance. By positioning the monument below the surface, it is less likely to be disturbed by vehicles, snowplows, or other activities on the roadway. This depth is often suitable because it can still provide sufficient visibility for surveyors to locate the monument but also secures it from the typical wear and tear present in traffic environments. Selecting an option that places the monument at road surface level would expose it to greater risk of being damaged or destroyed. Meanwhile, positioning it one foot or two feet above road surface significantly increases the likelihood of interference, making these options impractical in a traffic area. Therefore, establishing the top of the monument half a foot below the roadway surface strikes a balance between accessibility for survey purposes and protection from environmental factors.