What is a method of land surveying that uses specific measurements and directions?

The method of land surveying that uses specific measurements and directions is metes and bounds. This system is one of the oldest forms of land description and relies on a detailed description of the boundaries of a property using physical landmarks, distances (metes), and angles or directions (bounds). It establishes the outline of a parcel of land by referencing its neighboring properties and other identifiable features, providing a distinct and precise way to define property lines.

In contrast, the other surveying methods serve different purposes. Topographic surveying focuses on the representation of the terrain's characteristics, including elevation changes and landscape features but does not primarily establish property boundaries with specific measurements and directions. The rectangular survey system, also known as the Public Land Survey System, divides land into a grid pattern using principal meridians and base lines, which can offer more general property locations but lacks the detailed boundary description that metes and bounds provides. Geodetic surveying incorporates the Earth's curvature to measure large areas accurately and is often used in national and international contexts, rather than for specific property delineation with precise measurements and directions.