American Land Title Association (ALTA) Practice Exam 2025 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Success!

When creating a survey, providing the contour interval and datum along with vertical relief is essential because these elements help interpret the survey's topographical data accurately. The contour interval indicates the vertical spacing between contour lines, which is crucial for understanding the slope and changes in elevation across the landscape. Datum refers to the reference point or level from which elevations are measured, ensuring that all height data is consistent and can be related to a common benchmark.

Including elevation above sea level, while valuable, is not sufficient on its own to understand the nuances of the terrain, as it does not convey the detailed changes in elevation across the surveyed area. Details of previous surveys may provide context but do not pertain directly to the current vertical information being represented. The type of soil on the property is important for various assessments but is unrelated to the topographical representation and vertical relief in a survey. Thus, the combination of contour interval and datum creates a more comprehensive understanding of the vertical dimensions within the surveyed land.