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What's It Like
Technology
Meet a Professional Surveyor
History
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Many people think that surveyors only conduct fieldwork. Surveyors
can choose from many specialties and
get involved at many stages of a project. They are the first
on the job. Sometimes they get involved while the
project is being completed. When the job is done, they make sure
that all the measurements are in line with original plans.
Surveyors are like detectives.
Surveyors use courthouse and computer records to research an
area’s
deed records and previous surveys. In planning the job, surveyors
also decide the best technologies required to complete fieldwork.
Surveyors work outdoors and challenge themselves
intellectually.
Surveyors spend time in the field collecting data about the
land. They search for boundary markers to verify historical
data. In the field, they may have to wear several hats and
have knowledge of history, geology, forestry,
hydrology, or botony.
Their data
is stored on a field laptop and brought back to the office
for
processing
and creating
the
map.
Surveyors map things out.
Surveyors validate and process data that other professionals—engineers,
lawyers, architects—rely on. Analysis is important in
order to verify the data before creating the map. It used to
take days, weeks, and even months
to create a single map. Now, most maps can be created and checked
in a single day with computerized mapping tools. Because most
surveys become legal documents, all states require that licensed
surveyors review and verify the data and resulting maps.
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