Course 11087 - Foundations of the Public Land Survey System: 2009 BLM Manuel - Free PDF Download

This 12–hour correspondence course provides Florida Professional Surveyors and Mappers with an in-depth
exploration of the foundational principles of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) using Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the
2009 Manual of Surveying Instructions issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Participants will study
the general framework and historical development of the PLSS, examine the statutory and regulatory basis for
federal surveys, and understand the responsibilities and ethical obligations of the federal surveyor. The course also
addresses the intersection of federal authority and state law in boundary retracement and resurvey practices, with
specific attention to Florida's surveying context.
This course builds technical and legal competency in the PLSS system, enabling surveyors to confidently apply
federal standards during retracement and to evaluate their professional role in federal and state boundary
processes. Emphasis is placed on the legal weight of original survey corners, the authority of the Manual, and real-
world applications in Florida land surveying.