What You'll Do

  • Review existing standards, controls, or equipment used, recommending changes or upgrades as needed.
  • Provide training and interpretation in the use of methods or procedures for observing and checking controls for geodetic and plane coordinates.
  • Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.
  • Distribute compiled geodetic data to government agencies or the general public.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in technology, equipment, or systems.
  • Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.
  • Request additional survey data when field collection errors occur or engineering surveying specifications are not maintained.
  • Prepare progress or technical reports.
  • Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data.
  • Compute, retrace, or adjust existing surveys of features such as highway alignments, property boundaries, utilities, control and other surveys to match the ground elevation-dependent grids, geodetic grids, or property boundaries and to ensure accuracy and continuity of data used in engineering, surveying, or construction projects.

Essential Skills

Mathematics 4.12/5
Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Critical Thinking 3.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.75/5
Writing 3.62/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Speaking 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.38/5
Monitoring 3.38/5
Science 3.12/5
Systems Analysis 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Integrity, Analytical Thinking, Dependability, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Information Ordering 4.0/5
Mathematical Reasoning 4.0/5
Flexibility of Closure 4.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Advanced Graphics Technology ProCogo Amazon Web Services AWS software Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk CAiCE Visual Transportation Bentley MicroStation C# C++ Carlson Civil Suite Carlson Simplicity Sight Survey CMT CogoCAD Email software ESRI ArcGIS software ESRI ArcView Geo-Plus Geocomp Systems GeoCalc Geographic information system GIS software Hypertext markup language HTML Linux Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.67/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.48/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.22/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.19/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.85/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aerial Photograph Interpreter Aerotriangulation Specialist Field Surveyor Geodesist Geodetic Advisor Geodetic Computator Geodetic Coordinator Geodetic Engineer Geodetic Information Specialist Geodetic Survey Director Geodetic Surveyor Geodetic Surveyor Technologist Geodetic Technician Geographic Information System Surveyor (GIS Surveyor) Geomatics Technician Geophysical Prospecting Surveyor Geospatial Analyst Land Measurer Land Surveyor Licensed Land Surveyor LIDAR Technician (Light Detection and Ranging Technician) Measurement Advisor Measurement and Sensing Technician Orthophotography Technician Remote Sensing Advisor Remote Sensing Surveyor Survey Technologist Surveyor Technician Topographical Surveyor