Survey Marks and Datasheets

Finding Survey Marks and Datasheets

NGS provides Information about survey marks (including bench marks) in text datasheets or in GIS shapefiles. Note some survey markers installed by other organizations may not be available through NGS. To learn more about survey marks, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Visit here for updates to the Datasheet format.

Select a data format:

	Datasheets can be viewed in word processors or as text files. View an example datasheet online.
	Shapefiles can be used in GIS software.

Select a retrieval method:

	Interactive Map: Zoom to your location of interest and search for geodetic control: Use NGS Data Explorer or DS World.
	Archived Control: Download data for an entire state at once (generated once a month). Read more about archived datasheets and archived shapefiles. Archived control by state is recommended for large downloads (>20).
	Search By: Submit queries based on location (e.g. county) or mark information (e.g. station name).

Mark Recovery

You may find or "recover" a survey mark and review information about it online. Sometimes, you may want to update the information about a mark you find by reporting its current condition or submitting a photograph. This can be very helpful if you find physical evidence that the mark is destroyed. Learn more about submitting a recovery note online.

Tidal Bench Marks

Tidal bench mark also refers to a stable object containing a marked point of known elevation with respect to a datum. Some tidal bench marks have known elevations referenced to both geodetic datums (e.g. North American Vertical Datum of 1988 or NAVD 88) and tidal datums (e.g. Mean Sea Level or MSL). You can retrieve this tidal elevation information online.