What is the primary outcome of a leveling survey?

The primary outcome of a leveling survey is to identify elevation differences. Leveling surveys are specifically designed to measure vertical distances and establish a relationship between points in terms of their elevation above a reference point or datum. This process is fundamental in various applications such as construction, land surveying, and civil engineering, where knowing precise height differences is crucial for creating accurate designs and ensuring that structures are built correctly relative to the surrounding terrain.

The determination of elevation differences allows surveyors to create contour lines, establish grade levels for drainage, and ensure that construction complies with required specifications. While mapping the topography can be a secondary outcome of a leveling survey, it is not the primary goal. The other options—determining land ownership and finding straight line distance—are not specific objectives of a leveling survey since those aspects are typically addressed by other surveying methods or processes.