Linear closure is defined in that state’s standards as: “a measure of the horizontal linear error without regard to direction, between the computed location of the first and last points of a traverse...” Closure ratio is defined as: “the ratio between the [horizontal] linear error of closure to the total [horizontal] distance traversed...” Positional error is defined as: “the linear [horizontal] distance without regard to direction by which a [measured] position of a monumented survey marker differs from its computed location.”

The minimum accuracy standards as required in that state are arranged according to location of the survey, whether in urban, suburban or rural locations, and according to property type in each location. What captured many attendees’ attention (including mine) in this seminar was the table of minimum allowable error. Closure error as an expression of accuracy is allowed only where parcels of land have all sides 100 ft or longer or those having a perimeter of 500 ft or more. In the case of small lots where buildings may be erected along property lines or where land values warrant high accuracy, positional error (positional accuracy) must be used as an expression of accuracy.