The core issue for land surveyors, the only reason surveying is a regulated profession, is the protection of private property rights.

The virgin coastline where theory can be put into practice is quickly evaporating, and conflict and litigation are taking its place.

What are riparian boundary lines? As the name implies, they are boundary lines associated with riparian properties.

As a whole, the profession has done little to project a positive image.

Finding where a property boundary line has become established on the ground requires gathering the best available evidence that the reasonably prudent surveyor would find, evaluating that evidence, and then rendering a well-reasoned opinion on the factual question of location.

Other than the deed, the two most important documents relative to the conveyance of real property are the title insurance policy and the survey map of the property.

Back in October of last year, we discussed the disturbing case of Vizaline, a company founded in 2014 that uses public information, draws the deed lines with a software program that plots the bearings and distances, then Vizaline places that plot on an aerial image and produces a "Viza-Plat."

Interpreting the words used is the first – and most critical – of many steps that must be taken in the process of performing a retracement survey of property.

No doubt many of you have already heard about the recent article that appeared on Bloomberg.com entitled "Land Surveyors Are Paying the Price of Progress" ("Paying the Price").