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TEC-GIS45-11 · Lesson 3 · 28 clock hours · lab

Targeted Content Review — Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate and NSPS CST Levels 1–2

Objective. Learners demonstrate proficiency in ArcGIS Pro workflows and surveying calculations at levels aligned with published Esri Associate and NSPS CST exam objectives by completing software-based exercises and worked-math problem sets.

⚠ Pending professional review

This lesson, its worked examples and its practice questions has not yet been verified by an industry-certified professional or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it as instructions for work on a job site or on live equipment. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.

VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.

Why This Review Block Matters

The Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate exam and the NSPS Certified Survey Technician (CST) Levels 1 and 2 exams test specific, documented competencies. Passing both in this program requires more than general familiarity — you need to execute workflows correctly under timed conditions and solve surveying math problems accurately without a second chance to recalculate. This lesson consolidates the skills most heavily represented on both exams and gives you structured practice before the credentialing attempts.

ArcGIS Pro Exam Domains in Brief

Esri publishes the exam objectives for the ArcGIS Pro Associate certification. The six lab exercises in this block map directly to those published domains. Here is what each domain expects you to be able to do independently:

Project and geodatabase management. You must create a new ArcGIS Pro project, set a default geodatabase, and organize data in a logical folder hierarchy. Examiners expect you to distinguish file geodatabases from enterprise geodatabases and know when each is appropriate.

Data management — import, join, and symbolize. Bringing external tabular data into a project via a table join, verifying field types match, and applying a graduated or categorized symbology scheme are core tasks. A common exam trap is joining on fields that look identical but have mismatched data types (text vs. integer), which silently produces no matching records.

Cartographic output. A publication-quality map requires a coordinate system explicitly assigned and documented in the layout's metadata block, a dynamic legend that updates automatically when layers change, and scale bars that reflect the map's projection units. North arrows must be oriented to true or grid north as appropriate and labeled accordingly.

ModelBuilder and geoprocessing. Site-suitability models chain tools — buffer, clip, raster reclassify, weighted overlay — in a visual workflow. ModelBuilder lets you iterate without retyping parameters. Know how to validate a model before running it and how to expose parameters so end users can adjust inputs.

Spatial joins and field statistics. A spatial join transfers attributes from one feature class to another based on spatial relationship (contains, intersects, within a distance). After the join, field statistics — sum, mean, minimum, maximum — summarize the transferred values. Understand the difference between a one-to-one and a one-to-many join result.

Sharing to ArcGIS Online. Publishing a feature layer requires signing in with an organizational account, choosing the correct sharing level (private, group, organization, public), and verifying the item details page shows the correct title, tags, summary, and coordinate system. Exam questions frequently ask what happens to the service when the source data changes.

NSPS CST Mathematical Competencies

The CST Level 1 exam focuses on basic field measurements, units, instrument operation, and entry-level calculations. Level 2 adds traverse closure, area computation, curve layout, and legal-description interpretation. Both levels require showing work — arithmetic errors that are carried forward still lose points even if a later step is set up correctly.

Traverse closure and Bowditch adjustment. After computing latitudes (north/south components) and departures (east/west components) for each course, you sum them. A perfect closure gives a sum of zero for both. Real traverses do not close perfectly. The linear error of closure (LEC) is the straight-line distance from the computed closing point to the true starting point: LEC = √(ΣLat² + ΣDep²). Precision is expressed as LEC divided by the total traverse perimeter. The Bowditch (compass) rule distributes the closure error to each course in proportion to the course length relative to the total perimeter.

Differential leveling loop closure. A level loop starts and ends at a benchmark of known elevation. The closure error is the difference between the computed closing elevation and the published benchmark elevation. Allowable closure is typically expressed as a function of distance surveyed — always check the project specification for the tolerance formula.

Horizontal and vertical curves. Horizontal curve layout requires knowing the relationship among degree of curve (D), radius (R), tangent length (T), long chord (LC), external distance (E), and arc length (L). Vertical curves use the parabolic formula; the high or low point is found by determining where the grade line has a slope of zero.

Area by DMD. The double meridian distance (DMD) method computes enclosed area from the latitudes and departures of a closed traverse without needing coordinates. The DMD of the first course equals its departure. Each subsequent DMD equals the previous DMD plus the departure of the previous course plus the departure of the current course. Area equals the absolute value of the sum of (DMD × latitude) for all courses, divided by two.

Legal descriptions. Metes-and-bounds descriptions call a series of bearings and distances from a point of beginning (POB) back to itself. Every call must close. Lot-and-block descriptions reference a recorded plat by subdivision name, lot number, block number, and county/state. When sketching metes-and-bounds parcels, always begin at the POB and plot each call in sequence; flag any call where the bearing and the next bearing do not logically connect.

Safety and Professional Notes

The lab environment for ArcGIS Pro exercises does not involve physical hazards, but data integrity is the professional equivalent of safety in GIS work. Always save your project before running a geoprocessing tool that modifies data. Use copies of source datasets so the originals remain unaltered. In the field surveying context that CST exam problems simulate, always wear high-visibility vests when working near traffic, and follow your program's field safety protocols for any outdoor sessions adjacent to this lab block.

How the Dual Threshold Works

To proceed, you must pass at least five of six ArcGIS Pro exercises AND score 70% or higher on the 40-question CST combined practice test. These thresholds mirror the passing standards of the actual credential exams. If you meet only one threshold, you must remediate the deficient area before the credentialing attempt.

Key terms10

Linear Error of Closure (LEC)The straight-line distance between the computed end point of a traverse and its true starting point, calculated as the square root of the sum of squared latitude error and squared departure error; used to express how well a traverse closes.
Bowditch (Compass) RuleA method of distributing traverse closure error among courses in proportion to each course's length relative to the total perimeter; the most common adjustment method for surveys of ordinary precision.
Latitude (traverse)The north or south component of a survey course, computed as the course length multiplied by the cosine of the bearing angle; positive values are northings, negative values are southings.
Departure (traverse)The east or west component of a survey course, computed as the course length multiplied by the sine of the bearing angle; positive values are eastings, negative values are westings.
Double Meridian Distance (DMD)An intermediate value used in computing traverse area; the DMD of each course is the sum of the meridian distances of its two endpoints, derived progressively from the departures of the traverse courses.
Spatial JoinA GIS operation that transfers attribute fields from one feature class to another based on a defined spatial relationship such as containment or intersection, rather than a shared attribute value.
Metes and BoundsA system of describing land parcels using a sequence of directions (bearings) and distances called from a defined point of beginning, returning to that same point to form a closed figure.
ModelBuilderAn ArcGIS Pro visual programming environment that chains geoprocessing tools into a repeatable workflow; tools are connected by data objects and the sequence can be saved, shared, and re-run with different inputs.
Degree of Curve (D)A measure of circular curve sharpness used in highway and route surveying; defined as the central angle subtended by a 100-foot arc (arc definition) or chord (chord definition).
Lot-and-Block DescriptionA method of describing real property by referencing a specific lot number and block number within a subdivision plat recorded in the public land records of the county or jurisdiction.

Worked examples4

1. A four-course closed traverse has the following latitudes and departures already computed: Course 1: Lat = +312.47 ft, Dep = +184.32 ft; Course 2: Lat = −98.61 ft, Dep = +276.55 ft; Course 3: Lat = −284.19 ft, Dep = −183.10 ft; Course 4: Lat = +71.15 ft, Dep = −277.44 ft. Find the linear error of closure (LEC) and the traverse precision ratio. Total perimeter = 1,842.00 ft.
  1. Sum the latitudes: 312.47 + (−98.61) + (−284.19) + 71.15 = 312.47 − 98.61 − 284.19 + 71.15 = 0.82 ft (northing error)
  2. Sum the departures: 184.32 + 276.55 + (−183.10) + (−277.44) = 184.32 + 276.55 − 183.10 − 277.44 = 0.33 ft (easting error)
  3. Compute LEC: LEC = √(ΣLat² + ΣDep²) = √(0.82² + 0.33²) = √(0.6724 + 0.1089) = √0.7813 ≈ 0.88 ft
  4. Compute precision ratio: Precision = LEC ÷ Perimeter = 0.88 ÷ 1,842.00 ≈ 1 ÷ 2,093; express as 1:2,093
Answer: LEC ≈ 0.88 ft; precision ratio ≈ 1:2,093
2. Using the Bowditch rule, compute the latitude correction for Course 1 from the traverse above. Course 1 length = 364.00 ft; total perimeter = 1,842.00 ft; total latitude error (ΣLat) = +0.82 ft.
  1. The Bowditch correction for a course's latitude = −(ΣLat) × (course length ÷ total perimeter); the negative sign reverses the error sign to correct it.
  2. Correction for Course 1 latitude = −(+0.82) × (364.00 ÷ 1,842.00)
  3. 364.00 ÷ 1,842.00 = 0.19762
  4. Correction = −0.82 × 0.19762 = −0.16 ft (round to 0.01 ft)
  5. Adjusted latitude for Course 1 = +312.47 + (−0.16) = +312.31 ft
Answer: Latitude correction for Course 1 = −0.16 ft; adjusted latitude = +312.31 ft
3. Compute the area of a closed traverse by the DMD method. The three-course traverse has the following latitudes and departures: Course A: Lat = +400.00 ft, Dep = +300.00 ft; Course B: Lat = −200.00 ft, Dep = +100.00 ft; Course C: Lat = −200.00 ft, Dep = −400.00 ft. The traverse closes perfectly (ΣLat = 0, ΣDep = 0).
  1. Compute DMDs: DMD of Course A = departure of Course A = +300.00 ft
  2. DMD of Course B = DMD(A) + Dep(A) + Dep(B) = 300.00 + 300.00 + 100.00 = +700.00 ft
  3. DMD of Course C = DMD(B) + Dep(B) + Dep(C) = 700.00 + 100.00 + (−400.00) = +400.00 ft (check: DMD of last course should equal its own departure with opposite sign if the traverse closes; +400 ≠ −(−400) = +400 ✓)
  4. Compute double areas (DMD × Lat) for each course: Course A: 300.00 × 400.00 = +120,000.00; Course B: 700.00 × (−200.00) = −140,000.00; Course C: 400.00 × (−200.00) = −80,000.00
  5. Sum double areas: 120,000 − 140,000 − 80,000 = −100,000.00 sq ft
  6. Area = |−100,000.00| ÷ 2 = 50,000.00 sq ft
  7. Convert to acres: 50,000.00 ÷ 43,560 ≈ 1.148 acres
Answer: Area = 50,000 sq ft ≈ 1.148 acres
4. A simple horizontal curve has a degree of curve D = 4° (arc definition) and an intersection angle (delta, Δ) of 28°00'. Find the radius R and the tangent length T.
  1. For the arc definition, R = 5,729.578 ÷ D = 5,729.578 ÷ 4 = 1,432.39 ft
  2. Tangent length T = R × tan(Δ/2) = 1,432.39 × tan(14°00')
  3. tan(14°) = 0.24933
  4. T = 1,432.39 × 0.24933 = 357.07 ft
Answer: R = 1,432.39 ft; T = 357.07 ft

The math in this lesson2

Learners sum latitudes and departures, compute a 0.88 ft linear error of closure, and the precision ratio.
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Brush up in the math halls at newSchoolWorks.com:
In class: Complete six ArcGIS Pro lab exercises mapped one-to-one to Esri exam objective domains: (1) create and manage a project/geodatabase; (2) import, join, and symbolize feature classes; (3) author a publication-quality map with dynamic legend and coordinate system metadata; (4) run a site-suitability model using ModelBuilder; (5) perform a spatial join and field-statistics summary; (6) share a web layer to ArcGIS Online and verify item details—each exercise graded pass/fail against a rubric tied to Esri objectives. · Solve 40 CST-style math problems spanning traverse closure (Bowditch adjustment), latitude/departure, bearing-bearing intersection, differential leveling loop closure, horizontal and vertical curve layout, and area by DMD; work is shown step-by-step on paper, then checked against instructor answer keys; errors are corrected and annotated. · Participate in a CST Level 2 legal-description interpretation workshop: read five full metes-and-bounds descriptions and two lot-and-block descriptions, sketch each parcel freehand to scale on graph paper, flag ambiguities, and compare sketches against reference solutions; discuss common errors in deed calls and their field implications.
Materials: Computers with ArcGIS Pro (licensed via school site license), Esri ArcGIS Pro certification exam guide, sample ArcGIS Pro datasets (provided by instructor), NSPS CST Level 1 and Level 2 study guides, surveying math problem sets (instructor-prepared), scientific calculator, engineering scale, graph paper, pencils, sample deed excerpts (public-domain land records)
Check: Learner passes at least 5 of 6 ArcGIS Pro exercises using the domain rubric AND scores 70% or higher on a 40-question CST combined practice test (20 Level-1 questions, 20 Level-2 questions) administered at the end of this block; both thresholds must be met to proceed.

Practice check8

Answer each question, then check it. Nothing is recorded; this is your own practice.

Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate
1. In ArcGIS Pro, you perform a table join between a feature class and a CSV file. After the join, none of the records match. The most likely cause is:
Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate
2. When publishing a feature layer to ArcGIS Online from ArcGIS Pro, which item detail must be confirmed on the ArcGIS Online item page to ensure the service is usable by your organization?
Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate
3. In ModelBuilder, what must you do before running a model to confirm that all connections between tools and data objects are valid?
NSPS CST Level 2
4. A five-course traverse has a total perimeter of 2,500.00 ft. The sum of the latitudes is −0.50 ft and the sum of the departures is −1.20 ft. What is the linear error of closure?
NSPS CST Level 2
5. Using the Bowditch rule, which factor determines how much of the total closure error is assigned to a single traverse course?
NSPS CST Level 1
6. A metes-and-bounds deed calls 'N 45°30' E, 200.00 feet' from the point of beginning. What are the approximate latitude and departure of this course?
NSPS CST Level 2
7. A lot-and-block legal description references 'Lot 7, Block 3, Sunset Ridge Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 12, Page 44, of the public records of Jefferson County.' What document must a surveyor examine to determine the exact dimensions of this parcel?
NSPS CST Level 2
8. For a horizontal curve with R = 1,000.00 ft and an intersection angle Δ = 36°00', what is the tangent length T?
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