ASCE Surveying Competition

IMPORTANT: There's an update made to RFI#8 - 20 at the bottom of this RFI. This update is made to provide more clarity to the previous response.

 

1. Rules Section 8.4 - States that at the student symposia, each team will bring and use its own surveying equipment to complete the field tasks. Teams using equipment outside of the list shown in Appendix D will be disqualified for the specific task. Digital levels and Robotic total stations will be permitted to be used in manual mode only. 

 

For teams using a robotic total station in "Survey Basic" mode or an equivalent, what specific features need to be turned off prior to judge checks?

 

Any robotic Total Stations should be conventional surveying mode (standard round prism) with survey basic manual (measuring only angles and distances)

 

2. Appendix D - States that levels must be used for the differential leveling and proposed sewer depth and cut tasks, are teams allowed to use their robotic total station in "Survey Basic" mode or an equivalent for these tasks will they need a different instrument to perform such tasks? If a different instrument is needed, can you give an example of what types of levels are permitted for this task?

 

For leveling and sewer calculation, any type of total station will NOT be allowed. Team should use a surveying level to conduct differential leveling, and surveying level and tape to conduct sewer calculations and task measurements.

 

Any automatic level and rod will be acceptable.

 

3. Rules 9.3 - Given the description of the field tasks and the provided judging form, on competition day, can we expect to each field task to have the same number of corresponding parts as shown on the judging form or will it vary based on the Symposium?

 

All regions are recommended to follow the rubric as much as they can. However, due regional specific location and terrain availability, each symposia will be different in the course set up. Please check with your local host and judging team for more information.

 

4. In the legal description there are 2 properties described. One much larger than the other. The smaller property has very little data in or near it. Why is this included, there is insufficient data for a proper presentation of this parcel. Is this also supposed to be included in our sheets and presentation?

 

The second description is an exception to the parcel and is, therefore, not part of the subject property.

 

5. Rules Section 9.1 - "Teams may include up to five (5) sheets, including a cover sheet, in the PDF file to present their mapping project. ". Responses in RFI #8 seem to contradict this rule. Clarify the total number of pages expected in the PDF.

 

Only the first 3 pages of the sheet set will be considered for the competition submission. Section 9.1 of the rules has been updated through the RFIs to match the scoring rubric. Your sheet set should include no more than 3 sheets. Your submittal should include the 3 page pdf file of the sheet set and the LandXML file from your drawing file. You will also need to bring a printed copy of the same sheet set with you to competition to submit at check-in.

 

6. Rules Section 9.1 - Is there a recommended or required engineering scale (i.e. 1"=50')?

 

The team will decide what an appropriate engineering scale is the best for the presentation of the map. 

 

7. Rules Section 9.2 - Are teams expected to submit a set of presentation materials (i.e. PowerPoint Slides) ahead of the regional symposium? 

 

Symposiums may request teams' presentations prior to competition to save time between presentations. Please check with your symposia host to see if they would like presentations sent early.

 

8. Rules section 9.1: Please define what "SO" in SO PROP CORNER stands for in the point description?

 

Stakeout Property Corner. It is used by the surveyor to aid in searching for existing monumentation on the site. It does not indicate that anything was found in that location. These points should not be included on your final drawings.

 

9. RFI #8 - 20 Update

 

Rules Section 9.1 - The rules state "Each team will be expected to comply with all required items listed in the specifications."

 

What are these specifications? Will these be found on the Judging Form or should we expect to find the scope of the project somewhere else? Are there specific pages that we should have within our allotted five pages besides the 1-foot contour map?

 

Added: These specifications can be found on the Judging Form found on Collaborate and in the rules released in September. The following includes a change to the rules released in September. This change has been made to correct an error that was found when the Judging Form was released.

 

9.1 Topographic Mapping Project Plans

 

Plans shall be submitted by 5:00 pm EST, Monday, February 23, 2026. A point file in a

comma-delimited text format of PNEZD and a legal description of the map boundary will

be provided by ASCE UESI on the ASCE UESI Surveying Competition Collaborate Site

by (5:00 pm EST, Monday, January 5, 2026) replace with actual date.

 

Each team will prepare a 1-foot contour interval topographic map with details specified by

the competition rules committee. The final submittal will consist of a single PDF file and

a landXML. Each team will be expected to comply with all required items listed in the specifications. 

 

Specifications are listed in the judging form. Teams will be evaluated on

the map accuracy, aesthetics, and completion of required items. Teams may include up

to five (5) (change to three(3)) sheets, including a cover sheet, in the PDF file to present their mapping project.

The required PDF sheet size for each sheet is architectural D-size, 24 inches by 36

inches. In the event that more than five (5) (replace with three (3))pages are submitted, only the first five (5) (replace with three (3)) pages of the set will be reviewed.

Revised: Specifications are listed in the judging forms. Teams will be evaluated on the map accuracy, aesthetics, and completion of required items. Teams may include up to three (3) sheets, including a cover sheet, in the PDF file to present their mapping project. The required PDF sheet size for each sheet is architectural D-size, 24 inches by 36 inches. In the event that more than three (3) pages are submitted, only the first three(3) pages of the set will be reviewed.

This revision to the original rules released in September has been made to correct a discrepancy between the Judging Form and 2026 ASCE UESI Symposium Rules. The only change to the rules is that only three (3) sheets should be submitted. Anything more than three (3) sheets will not be reviewed.

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Christopher Chiu M.ASCE
Civil Engineer (Hydraulics)
Fort Worth TX
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