NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam 2025 - Free FS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The critical function of using GPS in surveying is to provide precise location information. GPS, or Global Positioning System, utilizes a network of satellites to determine exact coordinates on the Earth’s surface. This capability allows surveyors to establish control points with a high degree of accuracy, which is essential for various surveying tasks, such as land surveying, mapping, and geodetic surveys.

The precision of GPS technology is particularly valuable in modern surveying practices, as it enhances the reliability and efficiency of data collection. The ability to pinpoint locations to within a few centimeters or even millimeters significantly improves the quality of survey results compared to traditional methods that might rely on less accurate instrumentation or manual measurements.

In contrast to this, creating artistic representations of landscapes, replacing traditional methods entirely, or conducting surveys without human intervention do not capture the primary functional purpose of GPS in surveying. While technology may assist in these areas, it's the accurate location information that fundamentally underpins the utility and application of GPS in the field.