NICET - Highway Construction Inspection Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a foresight reading in surveying?

1. To calibrate the measuring tape

2. To determine the distance between two points

3. To establish the elevation of a specific point

4. To calculate the slope of a line

The correct answer is: To establish the elevation of a specific point

The purpose of a foresight reading in surveying is to establish the elevation of a specific point. When conducting a survey, foresight readings are taken by looking through the leveling instrument at a point whose elevation is to be determined. This is done after taking a benchmark reading, which serves as a reference point. By measuring the difference in elevation between the benchmark and the point of interest through foresight, surveyors can accurately determine the height of that point relative to the benchmark. In a typical leveling procedure, the surveyor first takes a back sight reading to establish a known elevation. Then, the foresight reading allows them to calculate the elevation of another point using the difference between the two measurements. This is crucial for tasks such as grading, road construction, and ensuring that structures are built to the proper elevation relative to the surrounding area.