Colorado Land Surveyor Practice Exam

A geodetic survey is specifically designed to account for the Earth's curvature, allowing for greater accuracy when measuring over long distances. This type of survey employs principles of geometry and geophysics to determine precise locations and distances, acknowledging that the Earth is not a perfect sphere but rather an ellipsoid. By incorporating its curvature into calculations, geodetic surveys can achieve a higher level of precision, which is crucial for activities such as mapping large areas, determining land boundaries, and constructing infrastructure.

This approach distinguishes geodetic surveys from others. Surveys that measure local property lines typically focus on flat, smaller areas where the Earth's curvature has minimal impact, while surveys centered on geological features do not inherently consider curvature; instead, they may map the features without regard to their broader geodetic context. Similarly, satellite imagery is a tool that can aid in surveying but does not define the methodology of a geodetic survey, which fundamentally relies on terrestrial measurements that account for the Earth’s spherical shape. Thus, option B correctly identifies the essence of a geodetic survey.