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Career Details :: Surveyors
Description
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.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Surveys water bodies to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of breakwaters, piers, and other marine structures.
- Analyzes survey objectives and specifications, utilizing knowledge of survey uses.
- Prepares survey proposal or directs one or more phases of survey proposal preparation.
- Drafts or directs others to draft maps of survey data.
- Determines appropriate and economical methods and procedures for establishing survey control.
- Coordinates findings with work of engineering and architectural personnel, clients, and others concerned with project.
- Computes data necessary for driving and connecting underground passages, underground storage, and volume of underground deposits.
- Keeps accurate notes, records, and sketches to describe and certify work performed.
- Takes instrument readings of sun or stars and calculates longitude and latitude to determine specific area location.
- Studies weight, shape, size, and mass of earth, and variations in earth's gravitational field, using astronomic observations and complex computation.
- Estimates cost of survey.
- Locates and marks sites selected for geophysical prospecting activities, such as locating petroleum or mineral products.
- Conducts research in surveying and mapping methods using knowledge of techniques of photogrammetric map compilation, electronic data processing, and flight and control planning.
- Computes geodetic measurements and interprets survey data to determine position, shape, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
- Prepares charts and tables and makes precise determinations of elevations and records other characteristics of terrain.
- Establishes fixed points for use in making maps, using geodetic and engineering instruments.
- Plans ground surveys designed to establish baselines, elevations, and other geodetic measurements.
- Determines photographic equipment to be used, altitude from which to photograph terrain, and directs aerial surveys of specified geographical area.
Related Careers
- Appraisers, Real Estate
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
- Commercial and Industrial Designers
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Electrical Drafters
- Geological Data Technicians
- Landscape Architects
- Mapping Technicians
- Range Managers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Estimating Needed Characteristics
- Processing Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results
- Coordinate or Lead Others
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Apprentice Training/Electrical |  [ add ] |
| Business Administration/Geography | [ add ] |
| Comprehensive Social Studies/Geography | [ add ] |
| Environmental Geography | [ add ] |
| Environmental Studies/Geography | [ add ] |
| Geography | [ add ] |
| Geography/Anthropology | [ add ] |
| Geography/Environmental Planning | [ add ] |
| Geography/Environmental Science | [ add ] |
| Geography/Mapping Technology | [ add ] |
| Geography/Urban Studies | [ add ] |
| Land Surveying | [ add ] |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology | [ add ] |
| Regional Science | [ add ] |
| Surveying | [ add ] |
| Surveying Technology | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.