Login Now to visit your portfolio or Create An Account if you don't already have one.

Job Definition
View MovieAdjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.
Job Zone

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Interests
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Knowledge
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Skills
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
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.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Tasks
Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, and electronic distance-measuring equipment.
Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans.
Run rods for benches and cross-section elevations.
Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
Record survey measurements and descriptive data using notes, drawings, sketches, and inked tracings.
Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures and adjustments, azimuths, level runs, and placement of markers.
Conduct surveys to ascertain the locations of natural features and man-made structures on the Earth's surface, underground, and underwater using electronic distance-measuring equipment and other surveying instruments.
Search for section corners, property irons, and survey points.
Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports.
Direct and supervise work of subordinate members of surveying parties.
Set out and recover stakes, marks, and other monumentation.
Lay out grids, and determine horizontal and vertical controls.
Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data.
Collect information needed to carry out new surveys using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, and other relevant information.
Prepare topographic and contour maps of land surveyed, including site features and other relevant information such as charts, drawings, and survey notes.
Wages

Data not available

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 4,100 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 4,600 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 50 openings due to growth and about 80 replacement openings for approximately 130 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Surveying Technology/Surveying - A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the delineation, determination, planning and positioning of land tracts, land and water boundaries, land contours and features; and the preparation of related maps, charts and reports. Includes instruction in applied geodesy, computer graphics, photointerpretation, plane and geodetic surveying, mensuration, traversing, survey equipment operation and maintenance, instrument calibration, and basic cartography.
Similar Occupations
Civil Drafters - Prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems.
Electrical Engineering Technicians - Apply electrical theory and related knowledge to test and modify developmental or operational electrical machinery and electrical control equipment and circuitry in industrial or commercial plants and laboratories. Usually work under direction of engineering staff.
Tool and Die Makers - Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.
Prepress Technicians and Workers - Set up and prepare material for printing presses.
Medical Appliance Technicians - Construct, fit, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices, such as braces, artificial limbs, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Molding and Casting Workers - Perform a variety of duties such as mixing materials, assembling mold parts, filling molds, and stacking molds to mold and cast a wide range of products.
Traffic Technicians - Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.
Notes
You must be logged in to take notes, click here to login.
Job Openings
Click here for job openings in California.