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Job Definition
Calculate mapmaking information from field notes, and draw and verify accuracy of topographical maps.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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.
Skills
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
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.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
Tasks
Analyze aerial photographs in order to detect and interpret significant military, industrial, resource, or topographical data.
Redraw and correct maps, such as revising parcel maps to reflect tax code area changes, using information from official records and surveys.
Train staff members in duties such as tax mapping, the use of computerized mapping equipment, and the interpretation of source documents.
Research and combine existing property information in order to describe property boundaries in relation to adjacent properties, taking into account parcel splits, combinations, and land boundary adjustments.
Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in plotting data and drafting maps; or in producing blueprints, photostats, and photographs.
Create survey description pages and historical records related to the mapping activities and specifications of section plats.
Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, and other information for mapmaking, using survey field notes and reference tables.
Identify, research, and resolve anomalies in legal land descriptions, referring issues to title and survey experts as appropriate.
Complete detailed source and method notes detailing the location of routine and complex land parcels.
Answer questions and provide information to the public and to staff members regarding assessment maps, surveys, boundaries, easements, property ownership, roads, zoning, and similar matters.
Trim, align, and join prints in order to form photographic mosaics, maintaining scaled distances between reference points.
Produce representations of surface and mineral ownership layers, by interpreting legal survey plans.
Form three-dimensional images of aerial photographs taken from different locations, using mathematical techniques and plotting instruments.
Enter GPS data, legal deeds, field notes, and land survey reports into GIS workstations so that information can be transformed into graphic land descriptions, such as maps and drawings.
Compare topographical features and contour lines with images from aerial photographs, old maps, and other reference materials in order to verify the accuracy of their identification.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $56,260.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $34,280.00 and $81,720.00.

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.
Cartography - A program that focuses on the systematic study of map-making and the application of mathematical, computer, and other techniques to the science of mapping geographic information. Includes instruction in cartographic theory and map projections, computer-assisted cartography, map design and layout, photogrammetry, air photo interpretation, remote sensing, cartographic editing, and applications to specific industrial, commercial, research, and governmental mapping problems.
Similar Occupations
Appraisers, Real Estate - Appraise real property to determine its value for purchase, sales, investment, mortgage, or loan purposes.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists - Collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data. Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems.
Surveyors - Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers - Determine the location and plan the extraction of coal, metallic ores, nonmetallic minerals, and building materials, such as stone and gravel. Work involves conducting preliminary surveys of deposits or undeveloped mines and planning their development; examining deposits or mines to determine whether they can be worked at a profit; making geological and topographical surveys; evolving methods of mining best suited to character, type, and size of deposits; and supervising mining operations.
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.
Surveying Technicians - Adjust and operate surveying instruments, such as the theodolite and electronic distance-measuring equipment, and compile notes, make sketches and enter data into computers.
Range Managers - Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.
City and Regional Planning Aides - Compile data from various sources, such as maps, reports, and field and file investigations, for use by city planner in making planning studies.
Notes
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Job Openings
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