PEMEX Gurgaon : Career Info for a Degree in General Surveying Engineering

Career Options

There are a variety of career options to choose from in the field of general surveying engineering, including surveying technican, surveyor and mapping technician. These career options have varied job duties and educational requirements.

Surveying Technician

A major element in general surveying engineering is the collection of data from the field. This task is commonly performed by surveying technicians, who collect land data like distances, angles and elevations. They use specialized equipment, including prisms, transits, theodolites, field computers, global positioning systems and vertical-rod targets, to collect and record data. They also use various reference points in the field, including property corners and surveying monuments. Additionally, surveying technicians perform calculations to determine the effects of surface curvature and atmospheric conditions on their measurements. They document their findings in reports and drawings.

Surveyor

Surveyors play a lead role in the process of measuring and mapping the Earth's surface. They verify all data collected from the field by comparing it with information gathered from other sources, like legal records, older surveying records, land titles and deeds. They then analyze this body of data and use it to prepare maps and reports, which in turn are used for such purposes as establishing legal property lines and right-of-way boundaries. Surveyors may be summoned to provide expert testimony in court, such as in cases involving property boundary disputes.

Mapping Technician

Mapping technicians support surveyors by creating and updating maps. They may help interpret field and research data and convert the data into map form. They verify calculations and determine conversion scales to ensure maps are accurate and easy to read. Verification may involve the use of aerial photographs to confirm that all features are depicted on corresponding maps. Mapping technicians update existing maps by adding overlays that represent changes to boundaries or that reflect other changes, such as construction and development, the addition of roads or new water features.

Job Outlook and Salary Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of surveyors was expected to increase 10% from 2012-2022 . Surveying and mapping technicians, on the other hand, were expected to see an employment increase of 14% in the same time frame. Increased interest in mapping applications, such as their use in marketing, urban planning and construction, was expected to drive this faster-than-average job growth. In May 2014, surveyors earned a median salary of $57,050, while surveying and mapping technicians earned a median salary of $40,770.