Description
Perform field and office surveying work under the direction of a professional surveyor or engineer to support construction layout, boundary determination, and topographic mapping. Operate total stations, GNSS, and levels to collect and verify measurements; process data and draft maps from field notes and records; set and recover stakes and monuments; and maintain equipment and documentation.
- • Set up, calibrate, and operate total stations, GNSS/GPS receivers, levels, prisms, and data collectors.
- • Position and hold rods, prisms, or targets for angle, distance, and elevation measurements.
- • Collect field measurements, notes, sketches, and photos to document site conditions.
- • Compile information and control data needed to stake projects from engineering plans.
- • Stake out alignments, grades, offsets, and features for construction and as-builts.
- • Search for and recover section corners, property irons, and control monuments.
- • Set, flag, and reference stakes, hubs, and other monumentation; record ties.
- • Enter and manage GPS/GNSS data, deeds, field notes, and survey reports in CAD/GIS systems.
- • Reduce and process field data; compute coordinates, elevations, closures, and adjustments.
- • Perform calculations for traverse closures, level runs, azimuths, and corrections.
- • Compare survey computations and results with standards and tolerances; flag discrepancies.
- • Prepare topographic maps, contour drawings, and site plans from field data.
- • Generate and update base and overlay maps showing boundaries, utilities, water, and topography.
- • Check drawings and map layers for accuracy and completeness; mark and correct errors.
- • Determine plot scales, lineweights, and colors; produce plots and digital deliverables.
- • Research and assemble deeds, plats, records of survey, and easements to describe boundaries.
- • Compare contours and features with aerial imagery, old maps, or LiDAR to verify identification.
- • Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, and volumes from field notes or reference tables.
- • Assist in developing and refining field methods, workflows, and quality-control procedures.
- • Operate survey, CAD, and GIS software to store data, run queries, and produce maps and reports.
- • Review aerial imagery and other remote-sensing data to plan and support field surveys.
- • Answer routine inquiries from staff, clients, or the public regarding maps, surveys, and boundaries.
- • Prepare detailed source and method notes for routine and complex land parcels.
- • Maintain and inventory surveying instruments, batteries, radios, and supplies.
- • Follow safety procedures; set up traffic control and jobsite signage as required.
- • Prepare as-built sketches and redlines; update records after field changes.
- • Assist with cost and time estimates for survey tasks and deliverables.
- • Coordinate with engineers, contractors, and crew chiefs to schedule and prioritize work.
- • Train or direct field helpers or junior technicians as assigned.
- • Ensure deliverables comply with company standards and applicable regulations.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
