How to become a Land Surveyor
Land surveyors are involved in the assembling and assessing of land and geographical information. This is then used for the planning and the regulation of land, sea and related structures. The end product is the making of maps and the determination of boundaries. Surveyors play a critical role in the planning, development and construction of many projects in the economy .Surveying involves accurately determining positions, distance and angles within a specified space.
If one wants to become a land surveyor the foundation must be set at high school. A prospective surveyor must study algebra, trigonometry, geometry, drafting and computers. One must also obtain good marks to study for a degree in surveying. Before studying for the degree it is essential to evaluate yourself. There are qualities that are a surveyor must possess. These include being good in mathematics, having good organizational skills, neat presentations and good eyesight.
After the completion of high school the next stage would be to look for a university that offers a degree in surveying mapping or surveying technology. There are also numerous colleges that offer a variety of courses in surveying. Typically however a surveyor would require a degree. Alternatively there are also some other companies that can offer on the job training and one could opt to follow that route.
At University one is expected to study a mix of courses which include satellite surveying, remote sensing, survey research and statistical methods among others. In most countries after graduating with a degree in surveying one requires to be registered with the surveying board before working. In America theNational Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveyingrequires every surveyor to register with them. To be given a license one needs to pass national exams which are written in stages.
To make the daily job of a surveyor easy one should have thorough knowledge in trigonometry, geometry, industrial mathematics and all the surveying methodologies. This job requires a lot of field studies, a lot of traveling on foot for long hours and also under different weather conditions. One therefore has to be strong and dedicated to the work.
All types of employers are looking to hire surveyors. Most surveyors work for the Federal Government or a local Government. These surveyors can work in different departments which include coastal surveys and transportation agencies that are involved in the construction of rails and roads. There are also opportunities in urban planning. There are opportunities available in the private sector. Land surveyors can find work in land surveying establishments, architectural firms, landscaping consulting firms and geom-antic firms.
The average salary of a land surveyor differs according to the level of experience, an entry level surveyor will earn an average of $22,260 per year, while the average surveyor will earn about $39,970 per year. There are also some other benefits to being a surveyor because working outdoors affords one the chance to experience the beauty of the natural world. The job also has a great feeling of accomplishment because one is given a strict timeline and schedule to complete a job. If one is to achieve the goal it is a rewarding experience.
