Surveyor jobs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Before delving into the various fields of work that surveyors cover, it’s important to understand the responsibilities that come with general surveyor positions. They are well-known, for example, for their ability to depict precise boundaries on land, in the air, and in the water. A surveyor will often write the legal description of a piece of land, which will be used in a deed or a lease. A surveyor may also be called upon to provide a detailed airspace report for an airport or information on the shape or elevation of land or a body of water for a company or landowner.
Surveyor jobs can range from routine to thrilling. On the one hand, a surveyor may be responsible for determining the distance between two points, collecting data on the angle between several points, or detailing the contours of a plot of land’s surface. They can, on the other hand, be called as a witness in a case involving a disputed boundary line or as an expert witness to analyze key data points.
Some surveyor jobs necessitate specialized training. A geophysical prospecting surveyor, for example, is used to look for oil and other mineral deposits beneath the earth’s surface. The geophysical prospecting surveyor’s findings are the ones that will be used for underground exploration. Other surveyor jobs, such as geodetic surveyors, use satellites and other high-tech devices to measure vast areas across the earth’s surface. Marine surveyors and hydrographic surveyors, for example, study shorelines, the topography or contours of the ocean floor, the depth of a body of water, and other features using surveying data.
Many surveyors now use a satellite signal and receiver to activate the Global Positioning System as technology advances (GPS). As a result, they can precisely reference points, take measurements, and determine surface changes. Surveyor jobs are becoming more technical and precise, making them ideal for people who enjoy working with their hands. They may also work in a specialized field known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where they collect, analyze, and display data as detailed maps on computers.
Surveying technicians are another type of surveyor job. They assist in the operation of surveying equipment and make necessary adjustments. They can also play instruments, write detailed notes and reports, and draw sketches. A career as a surveyor can be exciting, especially with all of the new technology available.