Salt Lake City Surveyor is a licensed professional who is required to follow strict regulations and adhere to safety protocols. This career is a rewarding technical challenge with a steep learning curve.
Modern surveyors use global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), robotic total stations that measure distance and angular position, theodolites for determining angular and vertical positions, and CAD software for drawing maps. Other equipment includes a traverse pattern, level rods and chains, and optical distance measurement devices.
A land surveyor uses their knowledge of law, math and engineering to work out and establish property boundaries. They also use specialized equipment to perform their work. Land surveyors may have a career that is primarily office-based or they might choose to spend some of their time on the field. They usually begin in the field as part of a survey crew and learn from more experienced surveyors.
The different types of land surveys include the cadastral or boundary survey, structural survey, topographic survey and others. They help establish the position of points and objects on the land surface, whether natural or man-made, and present it in the form of a map with contour lines. They are often used by civil engineers in deciding the ideal locations to construct roads, railways, dams, retention pools and buildings on land.
Boundary issues are one of the most common reasons for a land survey to be conducted. It helps settle disputes between people who own a property and determines the exact boundaries of the land. They are also useful when someone is buying a property as they can be used to negotiate a price.
Typically, these kinds of land surveys are done before construction starts on a new building or extension to an existing home. They can identify if the land that you want to build on is indeed yours or if it’s already in use by another person. They can also tell you how much space you have and how far your neighbours are.
Other times, a land survey might be carried out to locate underground or overhead utilities that could interfere with your project. Or it might be conducted to find out the height of the surrounding hills so you can plan your construction accordingly.
Some surveys require a lot of research and can be quite expensive, especially if they involve visiting records offices in person to access the land deeds. Some surveying companies have a research assistant to handle these tasks as they can be quite time consuming and costly.
In addition to their job duties, land surveyors must be licensed by the state they operate in. The license is normally obtained after completing a bachelor’s degree in surveying, mapping or geomatics. Most states require a certain number of continuing education hours to maintain their licence. They must also keep up to date with any changes that the licensing board might make.
Building Surveying
Building surveyors inspect and assess the construction and services of buildings, identifying defects, problems, and risks and offering advice on how to rectify these issues. This advice can be in the form of a report or project management of an entire renovation. Depending on the scope of the work, building surveys can be conducted for individual homeowners, home buyers, or investors in property portfolios.
Building Surveyors often use specialist equipment like moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to detect hidden issues that can’t be spotted by the naked eye. The results of these inspections are detailed in reports, which can be invaluable for both property owners and potential buyers alike.
In addition to highlighting existing problems, these reports can also help to anticipate future issues that may occur. This foresight allows property owners to take preventative measures or budget for necessary repairs, which can safeguard their investment over time.
Using their knowledge of construction techniques and regulations, building surveyors provide valuable expertise to architects and developers during the design process of new buildings or renovations. They are also capable of conducting structural surveys on existing buildings, which can identify any damage or deterioration and assist with the planning of future works.
Other responsibilities of a building surveyor include advising clients on technical, financial, legal, environmental/sustainability and building regulation matters. They are also skilled at conducting energy audits and recommending ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, such as through insulation and double glazing.
A career as a building surveyor requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction or architecture and relevant experience working in the property sector. Gaining work experience as a surveyor or in a related role as part of your university degree can be a great way to boost your graduate job application. Many large property companies offer internships and industrial year placements, which can be an excellent opportunity to learn the skills needed for a successful building surveyor career. Alternatively, you can seek out less formal opportunities for work shadowing or temporary holiday work. This is an excellent way to get a taste of the industry and can help you decide whether it is the right career for you.
Hydrographic Surveying
A hydrographic survey is a type of topographic survey that determines data relating to bodies of water. It includes the determination of depth of water and configuration of bottom, directions and force of current, heights and times of water stages, and location of fixed objects for survey and navigation purposes.
The products of a hydrographic survey are most often seen on nautical charts, which display information about waterways and markers that are critical for safe boating. National governments and other entities like coast guards conduct these surveys to maintain nautical charts. Additionally, many specialized survey companies cater to clients like offshore oil and gas producers and environmental groups that want to track the status of marine habitats.
To carry out a hydrographic survey, surveyors use sonar equipment to create a map of underwater features and the shape and depth of the sea floor. They also use GPS units to record the exact location of each point in the survey. Hydrographers can even take advantage of autonomous data collection systems, which are designed to perform hydrographic surveys without requiring any human intervention.
In addition to determining the shape of ocean floors, a hydrographic survey can be used to track changes in river flow patterns and water levels. This information can help researchers predict floods and droughts. Additionally, it can be useful in managing natural resources and planning infrastructure projects.
While conducting a hydrographic survey, a surveyor must account for a variety of factors, including the weather. Rough waters make it difficult for surveyors to work, and they can also affect the accuracy of the results. Despite these challenges, hydrographic surveying is a crucial component of maritime navigation and the maintenance of nautical charts.
In addition to determining the shape of the sea floor, a hydrographic survey can be used by researchers and environmentalists to track natural disasters. For example, a surveyor can use the data from a hydrographic survey to pinpoint the locations of pollution spills. This can help officials determine how severe the contamination is and what steps need to be taken to clean up the area.
Geodetic Surveying
Geodetic surveying is a type of surveying that takes into account the size, shape and gravity of the earth. This type of surveying is best suited for large areas and long lines and is used to establish horizontal and vertical networks that are the basis for other surveys. Geodetic surveying requires a high level of skill and training, as well as an understanding of advanced mathematics, astronomy and physics.
One of the most common uses for a geodetic survey is to measure changes in land elevations over time. This type of survey is commonly called a topographic survey, and it can be used to determine the elevation of roads, buildings and other structures. A topographic survey can also help a construction team design a new building, taking into account the existing surface features and any potential changes to the site.
Another use for a geodetic survey is to monitor movement in bridges, tunnels and other structures. This is done by measuring the distance between two points over a period of time, then comparing the results to the original measurements to determine how much the structure has moved. The surveyor may also use a method known as triangulation to make this measurement. Triangulation involves occupying a number of pre-planned locations, or stations, along the arc to be measured and making all of the necessary measurements simultaneously. Then, by constructing a triangle from the data, it is possible to determine the latitude and longitude of each point.
This technique is also used to determine the position of a monument or marker on the ground, such as a capped iron rod or concrete monument. Surveyors may also use this method to mark boundaries, determining the location of lot corners as they do so. The surveyors’ registration number, usually a four-digit number, is often marked on these markers to identify the surveyors responsible for their establishment.
Most countries have a government agency responsible for setting regulations and standards for the practice of surveying. These standards control accuracy, surveying credentials and the monumentation of property boundaries. The agencies may also maintain geodetic networks. Cadastral surveys tend to be the most regulated, as the lot boundaries established by these surveys can stand for hundreds of years.