Surveyors — Tasks

Task statements

• Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
• Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
• Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
• Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
• Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
• Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
• Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
• Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.
• Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.
• Plan and conduct ground surveys designed to establish baselines, elevations, and other geodetic measurements.
• Establish fixed points for use in making maps, using geodetic and engineering instruments.
• Determine longitudes and latitudes of important features and boundaries in survey areas, using theodolites, transits, levels, and satellite-based global positioning systems (GPS).
• Train assistants and helpers, and direct their work in such activities as performing surveys or drafting maps.
• Coordinate findings with the work of engineering and architectural personnel, clients, and others concerned with projects.
• Analyze survey objectives and specifications to prepare survey proposals or to direct others in survey proposal preparation.
• Testify as an expert witness in court cases on land survey issues, such as property boundaries.
• Adjust surveying instruments to maintain their accuracy.
• Develop criteria for survey methods and procedures.
• Survey bodies of water to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of breakwaters, piers, and other marine structures.
• Direct aerial surveys of specified geographical areas.
• Conduct research in surveying and mapping methods, using knowledge of photogrammetric map compilation and electronic data processing.
• Locate and mark sites selected for geophysical prospecting activities, such as efforts to locate petroleum or other mineral products.
• Determine specifications for equipment to be used for aerial photography, as well as altitudes from which to photograph terrain.
• Develop criteria for the design and modification of survey instruments.