Surveyors
Architecture & Construction > Design/Pre-ConstructionProjected Growth: Average
Projected Job Openings
Considerable Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.
Common job titles of 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.
41.94% said they needed a Bachelor's Degree.
32.26% said they needed a Associate's Degree.
Tasks
Train assistants and helpers, and direct their work in such activities as performing surveys or drafting maps.
Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.
Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
Prepare or supervise preparation of all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
Determine longitudes and latitudes of important features and boundaries in survey areas, using theodolites, transits, levels, and satellite-based global positioning systems (GPS).
Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
Record the results of surveys including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
Analyze survey objectives and specifications to prepare survey proposals or to direct others in survey proposal preparation.
Establish fixed points for use in making maps, using geodetic and engineering instruments.
Coordinate findings with the work of engineering and architectural personnel, clients, and others concerned with projects.
Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
Adjust surveying instruments to maintain their accuracy.
Plan and conduct ground surveys designed to establish baselines, elevations, and other geodetic measurements.
Direct aerial surveys of specified geographical areas.
Conduct research in surveying and mapping methods using knowledge of techniques of photogrammetric map compilation and electronic data processing.
Develop criteria for survey methods and procedures.
Testify as an expert witness in court cases on land survey issues, such as property boundaries.
Determine specifications for photographic equipment to be used for aerial photography, as well as altitudes from which to photograph terrain.
Survey bodies of water to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of breakwaters, piers, and other marine structures.
Locate and mark sites selected for geophysical prospecting activities such as efforts to locate petroleum or other mineral products.
Develop criteria for the design and modification of survey instruments.
Tools
Visible beam lasers
Two way radios
Tripods
Tribrachs
Transit levels
Tracking lasers
Total stations
All ToolsTelescopic viewers
Surveyors leveling rods
Stereoscopes
Single-beam transducers
Single-beam echo sounders
Side scan sonars
San Francisco rods
Rotary lasers
Rod levels
Robotic tripods
Robotic total stations
Road measuring wheels
Right-angle prisms
Reflectorless total stations
Prismless total stations
Prism poles
Pocket transits
Pocket personal computers PC
Plumb bobs
Planimeters
Philadelphia rods
Mechanical theodolites
Measuring tapes
Measuring rods
Magnetic locators
Machetes
Long range reflectorless total stations
Line lasers
Laser scanners
Laser plumb bobs
Laptop computers
Invisible beam lasers
Integrated global positioning systems GPS
Handheld measuring lasers
Hand levels
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Geological compasses
Gammon reels
Elevator tripods
Electronic digital theodolites
Electronic digital levels
Double right-angle prisms
Dot lasers
Distance meters
Direct elevation rods
Digital measuring poles
Digital laser rangefinders
Depth gauge tapes
Curvimeters
Clinometers
Barometers
Automatic slope lasers
Automatic levels
Altimeters
Abney levels
Technologies
Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Autodesk AutoCAD Land Desktop
Bentley MicroStation
Carlson SurvCADD
CMT Incorporated CogoCAD
Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
All TechnologiesESRI ArcGIS software
Geographic information system GIS software
Microsoft Excel
MicroSurveyCAD
Trimble Terramodel
Bentley GeoPak Bridge
Bentley Systems InRoads Suite
Cadcorp desktop GIS
Carlson SurvCE
Carlson Survey
CE Surveyor III
CloudWorks
Crones & Associations Project Tracker Pro
Cyclone
Data transfer software
Drafting software
ESRI ArcView
Geocomp Systems GeoNav
Geodetic software
Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
Global positioning system GPS software
HYPACK HYSWEEP
HYPACK MAX
Internet browser software
Latitude software
MicroSurvey FieldGenius
NOAA Shoreline Data Explorer
PC-Mapper software
Project analysis and costing software
Project data integration software
Sharetech Tabs Plus
Sokkia G2
Sokkia Imap
Sokkia Spectrum Survey Suite
Spreadsheet software
Surface modeling software
Survey software
Topographic database software
Trimble HydroPro
Skills
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Abilities
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
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
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Number Facility
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
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
See details at a distance.
Sensory Abilities › Visual Abilities › Far Vision