EGR 410: Boundary Law

Course Description

This course will focus on the legal responsibilities of the land surveyor in regard to determining property boundary location. Topics include the role of evidence, the legal principles of boundary creation and retracement, and the understanding and writing of boundary descriptions. The professional and ethical responsibilities of the surveyor and his or her legal liability will be covered. Connecticut specific topics will be covered in the final two weeks. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • 5 years of progressively responsible survey field work.
  • 1 year of responsible office survey experience.
  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Explain the various kinds of property evidence and their order of importance.
  2. Use boundary location principles to create or retrace properties.
  3. Describe and understand the various unwritten transfers of property that can occur and their impact.
  4. Create and interpret property descriptions for deeds.
  5. Research and analyze public land records, incorporating legal principles.
  6. Explain the role of the surveyor in professionalism, ethics, and a surveyor’s liability.
  7. Apply regulations, case law, and mapping standards in their work.
  8. Exercise critical thinking in solving questions of proper boundary placement.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussion Board Questions (Weeks 1-15)

30%

Multiple Choice Quizzes (Weeks 1-15)

20%

Tests (Weeks 5, 12 & 14)

50%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Robillard & Wilson. Evidence & Procedures for Boundary Location. 6th ed. Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2011. ISBN 978-0-470-40478-2

Additional Resources

Located in the Blackboard course shell

  • Reference folder that contains maps and deeds to use for homework and threaded discussions. It will also contain hyperlinks to useful web sites that supplement the lecture and text and articles of interest.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1,7

Topic: Introduction and Evidence

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 1 - Introduction “Evidence & Procedures for Boundary Location”
    • Chapter 2 - Definition, Scope and Nature of Evidence, pages 13-29
  • Read Assigned Chapters
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

2

1,7

Topic: The Burden of Proof in Evidence

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 2 - Definition, Scope and Nature of Evidence, pages 30-47
  • Read Assigned Chapters
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

3

1,7

Topics: Words, Technology, and Other Types of Evidence

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3 - Words as Evidence, pages 48-71
    • Chapter 4 - Evidence and Technology, pages 73-85
    • Chapter 5 - Other Types of Species of Evidence, pages 86-133
  • Read Assigned Chapters
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

4

2

Topics: Measurements and Plats as Evidence

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 6 - Calculations and Measurements as Evidence, pages 134-179
    • Chapter 7 - Plats as Evidence, pages 184-206
  • Read Assigned Chapters
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

5

1,2

Topic: U.S. Surveying History in the Metes and Bounds States

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 9 - Using Historical Knowledge as Evidence, pages 233-274
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz
  • Complete Test 1

6

1,2

Topics: U.S. Surveying History of the General Land Office (GLO)

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 9 - Using Historical Knowledge as Evidence, pages 274-308
    • Chapter 10 - Resording and Preserving Evidence, pages 309-328
  • Read Assigned Chapters
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

7

2,7,8

Topic: Water Boundaries

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 8 - Evidence of Water Boundaries
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

8

2

Topic: Procedures for Retracement of Boundaries Described by Words

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 11 - Procedures for Locating Boundaries Described by Words, pages 329-367
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

9

2,7,8

Topic: Procedures for Original Surveys

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 12 - Original Surveys and Related Platting Laws, Sections 1-4, 6-9
    • Statues and Regulations (located in Course Documents)
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

10

3,7,8

Topic: Unwritten Transfers of Land Ownership

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 13 - Unwritten Transfers of Land Ownership, pages 385-424
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

11

5,8

Topic: Guarantees of Title and Location

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 14 - Guarantees of Title and Location, 427-443
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

12

5,8

Topic: Title Searching Procedures

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 14 - Guarantees of Title and Location, 427-443
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Test 2

13

4

Topic: Understanding Deed Descriptions

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 15 - Using and Understanding Word in Boundary Descriptions, pages 444-459
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

14

4,8

Topic: Writing Deed Descriptions

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 15 - Using and Understanding Word in Boundary Descriptions, pages 459-498
  • Read Assigned Chapter
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Test 3

15

6,7

Topic: Professional Topics for the Land Surveyor

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 16 - Professional Liability, pages 499-515
    • Chapter 17- Professional Stature, pages 517-533
  • Read Assigned Material
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Multiple Choice Quiz

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.