Surveyor

Position Title

Surveyor

Alternate Titles

Surveyor with bathymetric or hydrographic expertise, boundary or land surveyor, and engineering or construction surveyor.

Job Description

Surveyors take precise geographic measurements to determine boundaries as well as land and water-body floor contours for construction projects. Surveyors then display, interpret, and verify their measurements to advise project teams on where to plan their project infrastructure and explain other property surface considerations.

Education and Training Description

Surveyors typically need a bachelor's degree in natural resources, land surveying, engineering, or another related field. In some states, survey technicians can become licensed surveyors after working under a licensed surveyor for up to 10 years.

Surveyors must be licensed to be able to certify legal documents that specify property lines or establish markings for construction projects. The steps to become a licensed surveyor vary by state, but generally, surveyors must first pass the Fundamentals of Surveying exam, then gain work experience under a licensed surveyor, and ultimately, pass the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam.

Hydrographic surveyors, who survey lake and river floors, must complete slightly different education and certification requirements. Entry-level surveyors performing hydrographic surveys (e.g., surveys of the sea floor, lakes, and rivers) typically must have completed either:

• A bachelor's degree in earth science, geography, land surveying
• Select geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and technology coursework from a secondary-education institution.

Entry-level surveyors must work for at least two years, conducting hydrographic fieldwork and surveys under the supervision of a certified surveyor. After gaining this experience, a surveyor can apply to become a National Society of Professional Surveyors/The Hydrographic Society of America-certified surveyor. Those societies offer several levels of certifications that indicate a surveyor’s ability to perform hydrographic surveys independently and manage surveying projects. These certifications are not required by employers but are generally valued and accepted by employers globally. Hydrographic survey technicians, who do not complete any of the coursework and training outlined above can apply for hydrographic surveyor certifications after conducting at least five years of hydrographic fieldwork and surveys under the guidance of a certified surveyor.

Job Profile

There are several different types of surveyors that commonly work in the hydropower energy industry: boundary or land surveyors, engineering or construction surveyors, and hydrographic surveyors. Boundary, or land, surveyors measure, record, and mark the locations of property lines to determine the exact locations and boundaries of land-based construction projects. Engineering, or construction, surveyors establish the precise locations for infrastructure construction, such as roads, building foundations, or building depths. In hydropower, hydrographic surveyors survey bodies of water, such as rivers and lake bottoms, to determine the topography of the ground under the water body, water depth, and other features. Hydrographic surveyors help map these water bodies to inform hydropower infrastructure siting, maintenance, and reservoir dredging. Hydrographic surveyors typically work on boats or vessels equipped with a variety of tools and technologies used to measure the contours of lake or river floors.

In the field, surveyors rely on a variety of tools to perform their work. All surveyors use global positioning system (GPS) devices that allow them to record precise locations of various topographic features and other data points. Hydrographic surveyors typically use different water-body-specific techniques and tools, such as sonar and lidar, to measure the contours of river or lake floors. Surveyors who work on land typically use robotic total stations to measure and record terrain data. Experienced and certified surveyors can work individually or with a crew of trained surveying technicians.

Once surveyors have collected their GPS and terrain data points, they upload that data to GIS software. GIS software allows surveyors to visualize their data overlaid on maps to make sure their data points are accurate. Surveyors also use GIS software to perform deeper analysis by overlaying aerial or satellite images that show where trees grow and water bodies exist, as well as other important land feature considerations. The digital maps and charts that surveyors can make with GIS systems are then used to communicate the surveyor’s findings to advise project developers or government officials on where to plan their project infrastructure construction.

Surveyors typically:

• Measure distances and angles between points on, above, and below the Earth’s surface to record the contours and features of construction sites
• Travel to project sites and determine the exact geographic location of important land or site features
• Research land records, survey records, and land titles to guide field measurements and help determine accurate property boundaries
• Record the results of surveying and verify the accuracy of data using GIS technologies
• Prepare plots, maps, and reports to guide construction decisions using GIS technologies
• Present findings to hydropower developers and government agencies
• Establish official land and water boundaries for deeds, leases, and other legal documents and testify in court regarding survey work.

Job Skills

Surveyors typically need:

• Communication skills. Surveyors must provide clear instructions to team members, clients, and government officials. They also must be able to follow instructions from architects and construction managers and explain the job’s progress to developers, lawyers, financiers, and government authorities.
• To be detail oriented. Surveyors must work with precision and accuracy because they produce legally binding documents.
• Physical stamina. Surveyors traditionally work outdoors, often in rugged terrain. They must be able to walk long distances and for long periods.
• Problem-solving skills. Surveyors must figure out discrepancies between documents showing property lines and current conditions on the land. If there were changes in previous years, they must discover the reason behind them and reestablish property lines.
• Time-management skills. Surveyors must be able to effectively plan their time and their team members’ time on the job. This is critical when pressing deadlines exist or while working outside during winter months when daylight hours are short.
• Visualization skills. Surveyors must be able to envision new buildings and altered terrain.

More Information

For more information on surveyor jobs, see:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surveyors
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Resources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surveyors