Which process involves taking and using measurements to determine the precise size and shape of a piece of land?

Land surveying is the process that involves taking and using measurements to determine the precise size and shape of a piece of land. This discipline encompasses various tasks, including the determination of land boundaries, the mapping of plots, and the calculation of area. Surveyors utilize specialized equipment and techniques to obtain accurate measurements, which are essential for legal documentation, construction projects, and land development.

Different aspects of surveying can include boundary surveys, which help establish property lines, and topographic surveys, which capture the terrain's features. Land surveying is fundamental in civil engineering and land management, ensuring that developments comply with legal requirements and planning regulations.

This distinct focus on measurement and boundary determination sets land surveying apart from the other processes listed, such as cartography, which is primarily concerned with map-making and representation rather than measurement, geotechnical engineering, which deals with soil and material properties for construction, and topography, which involves the study of the shape and features of land but does not focus on measurement processes.