What is “Metes” in Surveying?
Surveying plays a vital role in defining property boundaries, ensuring legal clarity, and supporting land development projects. One of the most important concepts in surveying, in every state the Public Land Survey System never reached, is “metes,” a term used in the metes and bounds system of land description. Understanding metes helps surveyors, legal professionals, and real estate stakeholders accurately interpret metes and bounds property descriptions and create boundary maps.
Defining “Metes” in Surveying
The term metes refers to the measurement of distances and directions that outline a parcel of land. In the metes and bounds system, these measurements specify the length and bearing of each boundary line using units like feet, rods, or meters. Bearings describe the direction of the boundary relative to a compass point, such as North or South, combined with a degree measurement toward East or West.
Metes work in conjunction with bounds, which refer to natural or artificial landmarks, to establish property lines. Together, they form a complete description that traces the perimeter of a property, ensuring legal and spatial accuracy. Understanding metes helps surveyors, legal professionals, and real estate stakeholders accurately interpret metes and bounds property descriptions and create boundary maps.
Surveying professionals also use the term “calls” in metes and bounds descriptions. A call is any single instruction in the description, and most calls are courses: a bearing and a distance, such as “thence North 35° East, a distance of 300 feet.” A call can also name what sits at the end of that course, for example “to a marked stone” or “thence to the large oak tree,” which is known as a call for a monument. Boundary calls are usually numbered in order around the perimeter, so counting the calls you expected against the calls you got is the quickest check that a description was read in full.
Example of a Legal Description Using Metes
Here is a sample metes and bounds description:
Beginning at the intersection of Oak Street and River Lane;
Thence North 35° East, a distance of 300 feet to a marked stone;
Thence South 55° East, a distance of 200 feet to a large oak tree;
Thence South 35° West, a distance of 300 feet to a stake at the edge of Oak Street;
Thence North 55° West, along the northern boundary of Oak Street, a distance of 200 feet to the point of beginning.
In this description:
- Metes define the distances (e.g., 300 feet, 200 feet) and the directions (e.g., North 35° East).
- Bounds include physical landmarks like a marked stone, an oak tree, and the edge of Oak Street.
The Role of “Metes” in Modern Surveying
While “metes” is a traditional term with historical significance, it remains relevant in modern surveying for defining irregularly shaped plots and aligning legal descriptions with physical boundaries. Surveyors use specialized tools like total stations, GPS systems, and software to measure distances and bearings accurately.
One modern advancement in handling metes is the use of BoundaryLogic Trace, which converts textual legal descriptions into vectorized boundary plots. This not only saves time but also eliminates the potential for human error in interpreting distances and directions.
How Trace Simplifies Metes in Surveying
Trace is designed to transform complex textual descriptions into accurate, visual boundary maps. Here’s how it streamlines the process for surveyors and legal professionals:
- Automated Conversion: It digitizes metes and bounds descriptions into usable CAD-ready files.
- Error Reduction: Reduces misread bearings and distances.
- Workflow Efficiency: Saves time by bypassing manual drafting.
Why “Metes” Matter
“Metes” are the backbone of detailed land descriptions, offering precision and clarity in defining boundaries. Whether you’re surveying for land development, resolving disputes, or conducting due diligence for a real estate transaction, understanding metes is essential for accurate land management.
Take the Next Step
Simplify your metes and bounds plotting with the power of AI. Try Trace today and turn legal descriptions into actionable boundary maps with ease.