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Career Details

17-1022.01 - Geodetic Surveyors


Measure large areas of the Earth's surface using satellite observations, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), or related sources.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
44,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
43,400
Estimate
Change in Employment
-900.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-2%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Compute horizontal and vertical coordinates of control networks, using direct leveling or other geodetic survey techniques, such as triangulation, trilateration, and traversing, to establish features of the Earth's surface.
  • Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface.
  • Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards.
  • Assess the quality of control data to determine the need for additional survey data for engineering, construction, or other projects.
  • Determine orientation of tracts of land, including position, boundaries, size, and shape, using theodolites, electronic distance-measuring equipment, satellite-based positioning equipment, land information systems, or other geodetic survey equipment.
  • Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mathematics
  • 95%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 86%
    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.
 Geography
  • 78%
    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
  • 75%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 71%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Design
  • 68%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Physics
  • 67%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Telecommunications
  • 63%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Administration and Management
  • 62%
    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.
 Law and Government
  • 61%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Education and Training
  • 59%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 58%
    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.
 Clerical
  • 54%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Production and Processing
  • 50%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Communications and Media
  • 50%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Geophysical and geotechnical instruments
  • Absolute gravimeters
  • Gravitational field indicators
  • Relative gravimeters
  • Surveying gradiometers
 Land surveying instruments
  • Alidades
  • Mechanical theodolites
  • Robotic total stations
  • Survey levels
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Altimeters
  • Hypsometers
  • Laser rangefinders
 Power tools
  • Chain saws
 Soil measuring equipment
  • Cone penetration test probes
  • Wireline samplers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Dual-frequency global positioning system GPS survey units
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
 Radar and sonar systems and components
  • Laser imaging detection and ranging LIDAR systems
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Magnetic locaters
  • Transit levels
 Seismological instruments
  • Seismic activity recorders
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Information exchange software
  • Advanced Graphics Technology ProCogo
  • Email software
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Geo-Plus
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • SiteComp Survey
  • Traverse PC
  • Trimble Terramodel
 Data management and query software
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Object oriented programming software
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Autodesk CAiCE Visual TransportationHOT
  • Bentley MicrostationHOT
  • Carlson CivilHOT
  • Carlson Simplicity "Sight" Survey
  • CMT CogoCAD
  • Geocomp Systems GeoCalc
  • MicroSurvey Software MicroSurvey CADHOT
  • National Geodetic Survey NGS Geodetic Toolkit
  • National Geodetic Survey NGS VERTCON
  • QuickCogo
  • Underhill Geomatics Copan
  • Virtual reality modeling language VRML softwareHOT
 Development software
  • C#HOT
  • C++HOT
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
 Operating environment software
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Mountain Empire Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College