The profession of land surveyor

Land surveying is a high technology field, UAVs, laser mapping, cloud computing and other advancements have drastically reduced the amount of time needed to perform a survey. much of the process has become automated or streamlined, requiring fewer man-hours and fewer surveyors to complete. this begs the question: are surveyors being replaced?

The answer is a resounding no – their roles are simply changing. as efficient and helpful as the latest technology is, there is still a strong need for a land surveyor to be involved with the process to assess data accuracy and certify to positions so that other parties utilizing the data are not designing and building on incorrect data.

For example, while drones are great at collecting surveying data, they can only do so effectively when their parameters are well-defined and their progress closely monitored. technical issues may crop up with the uav as well, requiring an on-site fix. also, if a specific location needs a much more detailed survey, a traditional land survey is often preferable.

Also, certain tasks simply can’t be done with a machine. staking, for example, still requires a human being to perform the week.

Certain types of data analysis can only be done by a land surveyor as well. for instance, comparing historical maps to modern ones may require an actual human being to review both documents.

In addition, having an influx of survey data means that construction project managers need a partner that can help them turn that data into actionable insights. a surveying firm can act as a consultant, partnering with project managers to help them understand the data, what potential issues may come up in a project, and how to most effectively make deadlines. in other words, surveyors aren’t just providing useful information – they can provide analysis as well.