What measurement system is used to describe land parcels in a structured manner?

The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is a method used in the United States to describe land parcels in a structured and organized way. It divides land into a series of rectangular grids, utilizing a system based on baseline and meridian lines. This allows for a clear delineation of parcels of land by referencing specific sections, townships, and ranges.

The PLSS was created to facilitate land sales and settlement, ensuring that land could be easily identified and referenced for ownership, taxation, and land use planning. This systematic approach aids in mapping and managing land resources, making it fundamental for various legal, political, and planning purposes.

While the other options—coordinate systems, GIS, and map grid systems—are tools and technologies used to represent or analyze geographic space, they do not specificallyl focus on the structured description of land parcels in the same comprehensive way that the PLSS does. Each alternative serves distinct functions within geographic studies, but none provides the original structured framework for land parcel description as the Public Land Survey System does.