GNSS, GIS and data0 answersAI answer
Clients send us GIS parcel lines and expect our survey to match them.
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
Be clear and friendly about it. GIS data is usually compiled for planning, not boundary location [1].
What to tell clients:
- GIS parcel layers are often digitized from tax maps and aerials, sometimes with errors of many feet.
- Your survey locates lines from records and field evidence, under your license.
- Differences between GIS lines and your survey are normal and expected.
Helpful habits:
- Show a GIS overlay on a separate exhibit when useful, clearly labeled as GIS.
- Note on proposals that GIS lines aren't relied on for boundaries.
- When GIS errors cause confusion, consider sharing corrected data with the county.
Good explanation up front prevents a lot of "your survey is wrong" calls later.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.