What Does A Land Surveyor Do?
Land surveyors wear many hats and have an important role in the development of the land. Land surveying has been around for centuries, from surveying land plots along the Nile River in Ancient Egypt or building the aqueducts in Ancient Rome to the current structures and boundaries of today.
Land surveyors are expert measurers and take precise and accurate measurements to determine property boundaries using technology like Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Robotic Total Stations and 3D LiDAR Scanners. Surveyors provide essential information for things like civil design, land development, construction and building a fence.
Surveyors work outside in the field and in the office. Tasks for surveyors may include researching the history of a property and then going into the field to conduct the survey.
These are some skills that would be helpful to become a surveyor:
- You like working outdoors
- You enjoy math and taking measurements
- You’re capable of using equipment and technology
- You’re interested in the history of the land and properties
- You have a strong attention to detail
- Construction Staking: Mapping out plans for a site before construction
- Boundary: Establishes property lines for a site
- Platting: Mapping the divisions of a piece of land
- ALTA / NSPS Land Title Survey: Assists in commercial land transactions
- Topographic Survey: Locates three-dimensional surface features of a property
At Kaw Valley Engineering, surveyors can expect to work on a variety of projects doing a lot of different things:
There are different levels of surveyors in the industry, depending on education level and experience:
- Survey Technician: This is an entry-level position where you would work with a team to collect data for boundary, ALTA and topographic surveys; right-of-way acquisition; construction staking; and more.
- Survey Crew Chief: This position requires more experience. A candidate would lead survey crews, calculate and record field data on various types of surveys, and utilize GPS and robotic equipment to conduct surveys.
- Licensed Professional Surveyor: Professional Surveyors are licensed and registered by the state in which they work. Professional Surveyors sign and seal all documents prepared by them or have been completed under their direct supervision. Each state has their own requirements to be eligible to test for licensure.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of surveyors is expected to grow 2% from 2019 to 2029, which is slower than average. Currently, Professional Surveyors are retiring faster than they are being replaced by newly licensed Professional Surveyors. Surveyors are essential to community growth and will continue to be needed in the architecture, engineering and construction industry to certify boundary lines, conduct construction staking and more.
Since 1982, Kaw Valley Engineering has been the team of experts needed to help take a project from inception to completion, providing a full range of civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, surveying, construction observation and materials testing services throughout the Midwest. Our firm has offices in Junction City, Lenexa, Salina, Emporia, and Wichita, Kansas; and Kansas City, Missouri.
We have immediate openings for surveyors in multiple offices. To learn more or apply, please click here.