Surveying Glossary — Letter F

False Easting is an arbitrary eastward distance value added to all coordinates in a map projection to eliminate negative coordinates and simplify calculations.

False northing is an arbitrary easting value assigned to a coordinate system's origin to ensure all project coordinates remain positive and within manageable numerical ranges.

FARO SCENE is advanced point cloud processing and analysis software that transforms 3D laser scan data into actionable spatial intelligence for surveying, construction, and documentation projects.

FARO WebShare is a cloud-based collaboration platform that enables surveyors and engineers to securely upload, store, manage, and share 3D point cloud data and laser scan projects from FARO measurement devices with distributed teams and stakeholders.

FGDC Geospatial Standards are federally endorsed guidelines established by the Federal Geographic Data Committee to ensure consistency, quality, and interoperability of geospatial data collection and management across U.S. government agencies and surveying organizations.

A systematic process of adjusting and verifying surveying instruments in their operational environment to ensure accurate measurements and eliminate instrumental errors.

A portable electronic device used by surveyors to control, manage, and collect data from surveying instruments such as total stations and GNSS receivers in the field.

Field to Finish is an integrated surveying workflow that combines real-time field data collection with automated office processing to deliver completed survey deliverables efficiently.

A GNSS positioning solution where the integer ambiguities are resolved, providing the highest accuracy and reliability in surveying measurements.

A GNSS positioning mode that provides moderate accuracy by resolving integer ambiguities without a fixed solution, used when baseline lengths exceed float-range capabilities or when rapid initialization is prioritized over centimeter-level precision.

A specialized surveying measurement that assesses the planarity and levelness of floor surfaces to ensure compliance with construction specifications and tolerances.

A surveying technique that mechanically forces an instrument or reflector into precise, repeatable alignment over a survey point, eliminating errors from manual centering.

A foundation survey is a detailed measurement and documentation of a building's structural foundation to establish accurate positioning, elevations, and alignment for construction or quality assurance purposes.

A surveying method that allows positioning and orienting a total station at any convenient location without requiring the instrument to occupy a pre-established survey point.