NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

In the context of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), metes and bounds is not an element of this system. The PLSS is a method used primarily in the United States to survey and divide land and is characterized by a systematic approach using principal meridians and base lines.

The principal meridians are the north-south lines that serve as a reference for land surveys, and base lines are the east-west lines from which distances are measured in the survey system. Sections represent individual units of land that are typically one square mile each, further breaking down the township in the PLSS framework.

Metes and bounds, on the other hand, is an older method of land description that relies on physical landmarks and distances rather than a structured grid system. It predates the PLSS and can lead to variability in land descriptions, as it does not conform to the geometric precision and systematic layout that the PLSS provides. This distinction is crucial in understanding why metes and bounds would not be considered part of the PLSS elements.