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Engineering committee backs tightening reference manual language on use of public mapping for basis of design
Summary
The Board's Engineering Committee discussed drafting strengthened language for its reference manual advising that publicly available mapping (including LiDAR and online mapping datasets) be verified by field survey before being used as the basis for design; the committee will solicit surveyor feedback and revisit the draft at its April meeting.
The engineering committee of the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners discussed adding draft guidance to the board's reference manual advising licensees to verify publicly available mapping data before using it as the basis for design.
Committee Chair James Collins opened the topic and said the draft language is included in the packet; committee member Jason Carter said the paragraph "was intended to be a draft" and invited input. The committee debated whether the document should "recommend" verification, "endorse" it or use stronger language such as "require," with members and legal staff cautioning that the reference manual is not binding like a statute or rule.
The discussion stressed two recurring concerns: accuracy and unlicensed practice. Committee members cited cases in their experience where mapping-derived elevations differed materially from surveyed data'one participant said elevations had been off by about 2 feet in previous projects. Several speakers noted Tennessee LiDAR can be accurate in places but is not uniformly reliable and that different CAD platforms (for example, MicroStation vs. AutoCAD) interact with mapping and LiDAR data differently.
Legal and program staff told the committee surveyors'through state surveyor associations'are primarily concerned that publicly available mapping could be used by unlicensed parties to perform land surveying. "Their issue with that publicly available mapping data is unlicensed activity," a staff presenter said, noting surveyors object when others use those data to mark boundaries or certify work without appropriate licensure.
The committee agreed to refine the draft language toward stronger advisory phrasing (examples discussed included "strongly recommends" or "endorse") rather than mandatory language that would carry the weight of rule. Members directed staff to solicit feedback from licensed surveyors and from Lance (Ayers), who will meet on Feb. 20, and to return a revised draft for committee and board consideration at the April meeting.
Why it matters: Many licensees increasingly rely on online mapping and LiDAR data during early design. The committee's guidance aims to reduce design errors and to clarify professional responsibility and the limits of publicly available datasets.
Next steps: staff will gather surveyor input and present revised wording at the committee's April meeting.
