A Surveyor’s Bookshelf
One of the most common questions we get from those starting out in Surveying or those pursuing licensure are what books we recommend. The following books and publications are all ones we have on our bookshelf and the ones we feel every surveyor should have. There are a lot of new books out there which are great, but these are the “classics” and most important ones in our opinion:
2009 Manual of Surveying Instructions for the Survey of Public Lands
Published by: Bureau of Land Management
Free PDF download: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/Manual_Of_Surveying_Instructions_2009.pdf
Hard Copies are available online. The manual is one of the most important to have for reference and is one that every Surveyor needs to read at least once. Ours is full of highlights, notes and small post-it page tabs. One of the most important books we would recommend to bring for PLS examinations.
1973 Manual of Surveying Instructions for the Survey of Public Lands
Published by: Bureau of Land Management
Free PDF download: https://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/uploads/538/Manual_of_instructions_1973.pdf
Hard Copies are available online. Older versions are available as well and typically available at Surveyor Association auctions. It’s not imperative to have older versions if you have the 2009, but I have had situations where it was handy to see the manual that was in place when looking at older surveys.
Restoration of Lost or Obliterated Corners and Subdivision of Sections
Pamphlet published by: Bureau of Land Management
Free PDF download: https://www.blm.gov/or/gis/geoscience/files/lost_oblit.pdf
A handy supplement to the Manual of Surveying Instructions.
Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location
By: Brown, Robillard and Wilson
7th addition available on Amazon and Wiley
Any version is good to have so keep your eyes open at Surveyor’s Association auctions or similar. One of the books that we would recommend to bring for PLS examinations.
Boundaries and Adjacent Properties
By: Skelton
Doesn’t appear to be in print any longer so search online for used or keep your eyes open at Surveyor’s Association auctions or similar.
Clark on Surveying and Boundaries
By: John S Grimes
8th addition available on Amazon or Barns and Noble
Any version is good to have so keep your eyes open at Surveyor’s Association auctions or similar. One of the books that we would recommend to bring for PLS examinations.
Land Survey Systems
By: John G McEntyre
Available on Amazon and other online stores. Often available at Surveyor’s Association auctions or similar.
Surveying
By: Francis H Moffett
No longer in print but available used online. The tenth edition is the one we have on our shelf but older versions still worth having. Often available at Surveyor’s Association auctions or similar.
Writing Legal Descriptions
By: Gurdon Wattles
Available on Amazon and other online stores. Often available at Surveyor’s Association auctions or similar. One of the most accepted books on legal description writing and is a must have.
Survey Drafting
By: Gurdon Wattles
Available on Amazon and other online stores. Not as important as Writing Legal Descriptions but is still a great read to have an understanding of the original drafting principals.
Glossaries of BLM Surveying and Mapping Terms
Published by: Bureau of Land Management
Free PDF: https://www.blm.gov/or/gis/geoscience/files/BLMglossary.pdf
We recommend to print off and put in a 3 ring binder as a must have for reference on PLS examinations. You will find yourself referring to the glossary quite often if you have it easily available.
Black’s Law Dictionary
By: Thomson Reuters
Available on Amazon and other online stores. Very handy to have a copy of this on your bookshelf. I find myself looking up definitions in Blacks Law very often, especially if you work as an expert witness or if you often do boundary / retracement surveys in tough areas.
2023 Washington State Laws and Regulations for Land Surveyors
Published by: Washington Surveyor
PDF available on Washington Surveyor directly: https://www.washingtonsurveyor.com/products
The official code is available online, however having a handy searchable reference to the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) regulations and Revised Code of Washington (RCW) laws pertaining to Land Surveying is very useful.
ALTA Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
By: ALTA & NSPS
Free PDF download: https://www.nsps.us.com/page/2021ALTA
Required for anyone performing American Land Title Association (ALTA) Surveys. It is recommended to keep a copy for easy reference.