Surveyor

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A surveyor could...

Overview Listen to this section

Did you know three of the four United States presidents on Mount Rushmore had the proud distinction of being surveyors? Surveying is an unusual mix of law and civil (construction) engineering. Surveyors protect the interests and rights of property owners. They create original legal documents describing property boundaries in land and water, and can act as expert witnesses in property or criminal cases.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Surveyor?

1. Mathematics: ? Using mathematics to solve problems.
2. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
3. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
4. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
5. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.

6. Coordination: ? Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
7. 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.
8. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
10. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Surveyor might do:

• Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
• Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
• Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
• Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
• Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
• Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
• Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
• Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.
• Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
• Plan and conduct ground surveys designed to establish baselines, elevations, and other geodetic measurements.
• Establish fixed points for use in making maps, using geodetic and engineering instruments.
• Determine longitudes and latitudes of important features and boundaries in survey areas, using theodolites, transits, levels, and satellite-based global positioning systems (GPS).
• Train assistants and helpers, and direct their work in such activities as performing surveys or drafting maps.
• Coordinate findings with the work of engineering and architectural personnel, clients, and others concerned with projects.
• Analyze survey objectives and specifications to prepare survey proposals or to direct others in survey proposal preparation.
• Testify as an expert witness in court cases on land survey issues, such as property boundaries.
• Adjust surveying instruments to maintain their accuracy.
• Develop criteria for survey methods and procedures.
• Survey bodies of water to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of breakwaters, piers, and other marine structures.
• Direct aerial surveys of specified geographical areas.
• Conduct research in surveying and mapping methods, using knowledge of photogrammetric map compilation and electronic data processing.