Surveys and Mapping
Surveys and Mapping consists of two sections. Land Titles which does Title research and creates the Right-of-way layout plans used for acquisitions and the survey section.
Land Titles
The Land Titles section is responsible for conducting title searches on all properties impacted by highway projects. All title work is done to the NH BAR ASSOCIATION TITLE EXAMINATION STANDARDS to ensure the proper notification for public hearing of all owners of record, tenants for life, remaindermen, reversioners, mortgagees, easement and lien holders. There are currently 3 full time title abstractors who provide statewide coverage, and a Land Titles Supervisor.
The Land Titles section also researches past highway projects to determine the existing limits and types of right-of-way for use in current highway projects so that the original right-of-way alignment can be used for setting the limits of the state’s ownership and easements for new state projects. The Land Titles section also provides highway location and ownership information to the public. Right-of-Way research, title review and plan development are done by a 5-person team including a Licensed Land Surveyor, a Land Titles Supervisor, 2 Land Surveying Technicians, and an Engineering Technician.
Survey Section
The Survey Section collects spatial data and provides the basic framework used to map, build, and maintain New Hampshire's transportation systems. The geodetic component of the Survey Section makes extensive use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to establish a highly accurate control network and supplies geodetic coordinates for all projects undertaken by the Department. The Survey Section operates a full-time GPS base station for the benefit of mapping activities within the Department as well as for outside governmental and private sector mapping and surveying groups.