What is a Surveyor?
A surveyor is a professional who is responsible for making precise measurements that determine the boundary of a particular area. Surveyors can create unique contours on the surface of the earth that allow engineers to create maps and construct projects.
How Does a Surveyor Help?
Surveyors provide a range of services that help engineers and architects create maps, design projects, and evaluate land boundaries. Their measurements can be used to determine property lines, elevation levels, and distances between points. They also inspect and assess properties and buildings to ensure they meet local regulations.
What Skills Does a Surveyor Need?
Surveyors need to possess a range of skills and knowledge to be successful in their profession. They must be proficient in mathematics, computer science, and engineering. Surveyors also need to be able to read and understand maps, and possess strong problem-solving skills. Additionally, they must have a good understanding of the laws and regulations that apply to the areas they are surveying.
What are the Duties of a Surveyor?
Measuring Distance and Angles:
A surveyor’s job is to measure the distance and angles between specific points on the Earth’s surface. They use reference points to locate certain important features, and they must travel to the site to do so.
Conducting Research:
Surveyors must conduct detailed research into records related to the land, survey, and titles. This includes searching for past boundary lines at the site.
Recording and Verifying Results:
Surveyors must record the results of their surveying, and then verify them for accuracy and make corrections if necessary.
Preparing Reports and Maps:
Based on the surveyed records, surveyors are responsible for preparing plots, maps, and reports of the surveyed site to present to clients and government agencies.
Establishing Land and Water Boundaries:
Surveyors must establish official land and water boundaries, and these may be established for either leases or deeds.
Work Characteristics of Surveyor
Field Work
A surveyor’s work begins in the field. This involves gathering data and information by surveying the land. This includes surveying the boundaries, contours, elevations, features, and other elements of the land. The surveyor must also determine the location of any existing structures, roads, and other features.
Office Work
Once the surveyor has gathered the necessary data, they must analyze it and transform it into a useful format. This includes creating maps, plans, and other documents that can be used to make decisions. The surveyor must also coordinate with other professionals and stakeholders to ensure accuracy and precision in the data.
Instruments Care and Adjustments
The surveyor must regularly check and maintain their instruments to ensure accuracy and precision. This includes calibrating the instruments, checking for any errors, and adjusting the instruments for any changes in the environment. The surveyor must also make sure that the instruments are in good working order and are regularly updated with the latest software.
Field Work Conducted by Surveyors
Duties of a Surveyor
A surveyor is responsible for a variety of tasks related to the measurement and recording of the terrain. Their duties include determining the points and their respective distances and angles, creating field notes, establishing horizontal and vertical control, measuring angles between survey lines, locating streams, buildings, milestones, streets and other features, setting out and grading construction works, determining heights and elevations, carrying out topographic surveying, establishing parallel and perpendicular lines, measuring inaccessible points, carrying out surveying past obstacles, and determining the meridian, latitude, and longitude.
Establishing Horizontal and Vertical Control
One of the main duties of a surveyor is to create a reference point, known as a benchmark, and use it to establish horizontal and vertical control. This involves measuring the distances and angles between the survey lines and recording the information in the form of field notes. The field notes must be accurate, comprehensive, and concise in order to ensure that all the required information is recorded correctly.
Creating Field Notes
In order to ensure accuracy, surveyors must create field notes that are complete and easy to understand. The notes should be written in clear and plain letters and figures, and the pencil used should be either 2H or 3H. To ensure that the notes are comprehensive, sketches should be included and the daily notes should be signed. Additionally, mistakes should not be erased, but rather crossed out and the corrected values written above them.
Measuring Angles and Distances
The surveyor must also measure the angles and distances between the survey lines and record the values in the field notes. This information is essential for establishing the horizontal and vertical control.
Locating Features
The surveyor must also be able to accurately locate streams, buildings, milestones, streets, and other features. This requires an understanding of the terrain and an ability to accurately measure the distances and angles between the points.
Setting Out and Grading Construction Works
Surveyors are also responsible for setting out and grading construction works, such as buildings, culverts, sewers, bridges, and water supply schemes. This requires accuracy and precision in order to ensure that the works are completed correctly.
Determining Elevations and Heights
Surveyors must also be able to determine the elevation and height of certain points. This involves measuring the distances between points and accurately recording the values in the field notes.
Carrying Out Topographic Surveying
Surveyors must also be able to carry out topographic surveying, which involves mapping the contours of the terrain. This requires both vertical and horizontal control and accurate measurements.
Establishing Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Surveyors must also be able to establish parallel and perpendicular lines between points. This requires an understanding of geometry and trigonometry and the ability to accurately measure the angles and distances between points.
Measuring Inaccessible Points
In some cases, surveyors may need to measure inaccessible points. This is usually done using specialised equipment and requires an experienced surveyor to ensure accuracy.
Carrying Out Surveying Past Obstacles
In some cases, surveyors may need to carry out surveying past obstacles, such as walls or trees. This requires an understanding of the terrain and an ability to accurately measure the angles and distances between points.
Determining Meridian, Latitude, and Longitude
Surveyors may also be required to determine the meridian, latitude, and longitude of certain points. This requires an understanding of celestial navigation and the ability to accurately measure the angles and distances between points.
The filed note consists of three parts:
- Numerical Values: Accurate Measurements for Quality Results
When surveying, it is important to record all measurements accurately. This includes lengths, angles, staff readings, and offsets. All numerical values must be recorded to the nearest 0.01. For example, a value observed as 342.30 should be written as 342.30 and not 343.3. - Sketches: Capturing Topographic Features and Locations
Sketches are used to capture the outlines, topographic features, and locations relative to each other. However, the sketches should not be made to scale. When making sketches, it is important to make them large, open, and clear in order to avoid confusion. Additionally, it is important to place measurements correctly on the sketches in order to ensure accuracy. - Explanatory Notes: Explaining What Cannot Be Conveyed Through Values and Remarks
Explanatory notes are used to explain things that cannot be conveyed through the values and the remarks. These notes are important in order to ensure that later works can proceed correctly. These notes should be detailed enough to give a clear understanding of the subject matter.
Office Works Done By surveyor
Drafting for Surveyors
Surveyors are responsible for performing office works like drafting, computing and designing. In the process of drafting, surveyors are required to prepare plans and sections. These plans must be plotted to the measurements and to scale to prepare the topographic maps.
Computing for Surveyors
The computing process for surveyors is used for two purposes. One is for the plotting of plans and sections and the other is for determining the areas and volumes.
Designing for Surveyors
Designing is also an important part of the surveyor’s job. This involves the development of plans and designs for the construction of buildings, roads, bridges and other structures. The surveyor must also ensure that the plans and designs are accurate and up to date.
Instruments Care and Adjustments by Surveyors
Safety Precautions for Handling Equipment
Proper handling of equipment is essential for ensuring accurate and reliable results. Safety precautions should be taken to ensure that no damage is done to the delicate parts of the equipment. These include avoiding lifting the instrument by the telescope or circular plate, moving the instrument from one place to another by placing it on the shoulder, covering the lens when not in use, and setting up the instrument on a smooth floor without any precautions. Additionally, the instrument should be kept away from dust, dampness, and direct sunlight, and not left without any guard.
Cleaning and Storing Instruments
After use, steel tapes should be cleaned and kept dry. Vehicles should not be driven over the tape while measuring. Additionally, when not in use, the compass should not be allowed to swing and should be lifted off the pivot. To ensure the longevity of the instrument, it should be stored in a safe and secure place. A waterproof cover should be used to cover and protect the instrument from dust and moisture.
Conclusion
Proper handling of equipment is essential for ensuring accurate and reliable results. Safety precautions should be taken to ensure that the instrument is not damaged during use. Steel tapes should be cleaned and kept dry after use and the instrument should be covered and stored in a safe and secure place when not in use. By following these steps, the instrument will be able to last for a long time.