Review of 2006 ALTA Survey Standards

As I mentioned in a post on January 21, new ALTA standards became effective on January 01, 2006. To see all articles written about ALTA, click on ALTA in the Categories area in the left column.

I have had a chance to review the changes in the new standards. There are minor changes throughout the document, but I think the most important change is the elimination of Minimum Angle, Distance and Closure requirement to achieve any class of survey.

Instead, positional uncertainty is used, with the determination made either by an independent survey of higher accuracy or the results of a minimally constrained least squares adjustment of the survey.

Some other changes make the client responsible for furnishing the deeds, easements, any any other documents which are to be examined and included on the survey. The surveyor is no longer liable for items not furnished unless they are visible and should have been seen by the surveyor during the field survey.