Public Land Survey System
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is a method used in the United States to survey and identify land parcels, particularly for titles and deeds of rural, wild or undeveloped land. Its basic units of area are the township and section. It is sometimes referred to as the rectangular survey system, although non rectangular methods such as meandering can also be used. The survey was “the first mathematically designed system and nationally conducted cadastral survey in any modern country” and is “an object of study by public officials of foreign countries as a basis for land reform.” [1] The detailed survey methods to be applied for the PLSS are described in a series of Instructions and Manuals issued by the General Land Office, the latest edition being the “The Manual of Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands Of The United States, 1973” available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. The BLM announced in 2000 an updated Manual is currently under preparation.
