Geodetic Surveyors
Architecture & Construction > Design/Pre-ConstructionProjected Growth: Average
Projected Job Openings
Considerable Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Measure large areas of the Earth’s surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), or related sources.
Common job titles of Geodetic Surveyors include:
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Experience and Education
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for this occupation. For example, a person in this occupation must complete four years of college and work for several years in industry to be considered qualified.
50% said they needed a Bachelor's Degree.
25% said they needed a Master's Degree.
Tasks
Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.
Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.
Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data.
Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards.
Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface.
Compute horizontal and vertical coordinates of control networks, using direct leveling or other geodetic survey techniques, such as triangulation, trilateration, and traversing, to establish features of the Earth's surface.
Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces.
Determine orientation of tracts of land, including position, boundaries, size, and shape, using theodolites, electronic distance-measuring equipment, satellite-based positioning equipment, land information systems, or other geodetic survey equipment.
Assess the quality of control data to determine the need for additional survey data for engineering, construction, or other projects.
Prepare progress or technical reports.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in technology, equipment, or systems.
Distribute compiled geodetic data to government agencies or the general public.
Request additional survey data when field collection errors occur or engineering surveying specifications are not maintained.
Provide training and interpretation in the use of methods or procedures for observing and checking controls for geodetic and plane coordinates.
Review existing standards, controls, or equipment used, recommending changes or upgrades as needed.
Compute, retrace, or adjust existing surveys of features such as highway alignments, property boundaries, utilities, control and other surveys to match the ground elevation-dependent grids, geodetic grids, or property boundaries and to ensure accuracy and continuity of data used in engineering, surveying, or construction projects.
Tools
Wireline samplers
Transit levels
Surveying gradiometers
Survey levels
Shovels
Seismic activity recorders
Robotic total stations
All ToolsRelative gravimeters
Picks
Personal computers
Mechanical theodolites
Magnetic locaters
Machetes
Laser rangefinders
Laser levels
Laser imaging detection and ranging LIDAR systems
Laptop computers
Hypsometers
Gravitational field indicators
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Dual-frequency global positioning system GPS survey units
Desktop computers
Cone penetration test probes
Clinometers
Chain saws
Altimeters
Alidades
Absolute gravimeters
Technologies
Autodesk CAiCE Visual Transportation
Bentley MicroStation
Carlson Civil
ESRI ArcGIS software
Geographic information system GIS software
Hypertext markup language HTML
MicroSurvey Software MicroSurvey CAD
All TechnologiesTrimble Terramodel
Virtual reality modeling language VRML software
Advanced Graphics Technology ProCogo
Carlson Simplicity “Sight” Survey
CMT CogoCAD
ESRI ArcView
Geo-Plus
Geocomp Systems GeoCalc
National Geodetic Survey NGS Geodetic Toolkit
National Geodetic Survey NGS VERTCON
QuickCogo
SiteComp Survey
Traverse PC
Underhill Geomatics Copan
Skills
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Operation Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Abilities
Choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Mathematical Reasoning
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Information Ordering
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Number Facility
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Cognitive Abilities › Perceptual Abilities › Flexibility of Closure
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Sensory Abilities › Visual Abilities › Near Vision