Which surveying method would primarily utilize bearings as a directional guide?

The chosen answer highlights land parcel surveying, which fundamentally relies on bearings as a vital component in defining property boundaries and creating legal descriptions. Bearings provide a precise way to express direction in surveying, indicating the angle and orientation to the North or a reference meridian. This method is essential when delineating land parcels to ensure that boundaries are accurately represented and maintained.

In land parcel surveying, surveyors frequently use bearing measurements alongside distances to create a clear and legally acceptable survey of boundaries. This practice not only helps in determining the limits of ownership but also plays a critical role in preventing disputes between neighboring property owners.

While aerial photogrammetry and lidar scanning are advanced techniques used for gathering topographical and spatial data, they do not primarily focus on bearings as a directional guide. Instead, they rely on capturing data points and interpreting them through various technologies and software for mapping and analysis purposes. Topographic mapping, likewise, generates contour and elevation data focused on the representation of the earth's surface rather than utilizing bearings in the same targeted manner as land parcel surveying.