What is ranging rods?

Ranging rods are used in land surveying to mark the boundaries or markers of a property and determine the distances between them. They are typically made of wood, metal, or fiberglass and are usually about 8-10 feet long. The rods have alternating colors (usually red and white or black and white) in 1-foot increments to aid in measuring. The surveyor holds one rod at the beginning of a measurement and another at the end, then views them through a surveying instrument, such as a transit, to calculate the distance between them. Ranging rods are an important tool for accurate land surveying and mapping.