CST Level 1 Land Surveyor Certification 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Differential leveling is primarily used to establish vertical control by determining the difference in elevation between points. This technique involves measuring the distance between a benchmark with a known elevation and another point whose elevation is unknown. By using leveling instruments, a surveyor can accurately ascertain how much higher or lower the second point is compared to the benchmark.

This method is crucial in various civil engineering and construction projects, ensuring that structures are built to the correct specifications and maintain proper drainage and other functional requirements. Establishing vertical control is essential for maintaining accuracy in construction, land development, and other surveying applications.

The other options do not align with the primary purpose of differential leveling; measuring horizontal distances pertains more to horizontal control surveying techniques, calculating land area involves planimetric measurements rather than vertical ones, and GPS verification focuses on determining location and elevation through satellite data, which is not specifically tied to the leveling process.