What is a characteristic of Polar Plots in surveying?

Polar plots in surveying are indeed created using a protractor and scale to plot points. This method involves plotting points based on their angular direction from a reference direction (usually north) and their respective distances from the origin. Each point is represented in terms of its angle and distance, making it essential to use both measurements to accurately place the points on the plot.

Using a protractor ensures that the angles are measured accurately, which is crucial for the correct positioning of points on the polar plot. The scale helps in determining the precise distance from the origin to each point, allowing for an accurate representation of the data being surveyed. This combination of angular measurement and distance is what defines the polar plot technique.

Other options touch on related concepts but do not accurately describe the fundamental characteristic of polar plots. For instance, although computer software can assist in creating polar plots, the essence of the technique revolves around manual plotting with tools such as protractors and scales. Additionally, while GPS data can be involved in collecting spatial information, polar plots themselves are not exclusively based on such data, nor do they allow for the exclusion of angle measurements, as both angles and distances are crucial for plotting accurately.