Define "control points" in the context of surveying.

"Control points" in the context of surveying refer to fixed points of known geometric coordinates that serve as reference points for the surveying process. These points are crucial for establishing a reliable framework for all measurements taken in a survey. They are typically determined through precise geodetic surveys and can be used to ensure that all additional points surveyed are accurate and consistent.

Control points provide a basis for both horizontal and vertical control, allowing surveyors to maintain uniformity across a range of measurements and projects. When other surveys are conducted, these established control points help in correlating data, ensuring that any new measurements can be integrated correctly into existing spatial data systems.

While other options refer to different elements of surveying or construction, they do not capture the fundamental essence of what control points represent. Temporary markers primarily serve short-term purposes, planning survey boundaries refers more to administrative aspects, and significant geographic features may have their own relevance but do not serve the same functional role in providing a mathematical basis for surveying work as control points do.