What Surveying and Mapping Technicians Do

Surveying and mapping technicians assist surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists. Together, they collect data and make maps of the earth’s surface. Surveying technicians visit sites to take measurements of the land. Mapping technicians use geographic data to create maps.

Duties

Surveying technicians typically do the following:

• Operate surveying instruments, such as electronic distance-measuring equipment, to collect data on a location
• Visit sites to record survey measurements and other descriptive data
• Search for previous survey points, such as old stone markers
• Set out stakes and marks to conduct the survey, and then retrieve them
• Enter the data from surveying instruments into computers, either in the field or in an office

Surveying technicians assist surveyors in the field on teams, known as survey parties. Then, in the office, they help to process the data collected in the field. A typical survey party consists of a party chief and one or more surveying technicians and helpers. The party chief, either a surveyor or a senior surveying technician, leads day-to-day work activities.

Mapping technicians typically do the following:

• Select needed information from relevant databases to create maps
• Produce maps showing boundaries, water locations, elevation, and other features of the terrain
• Update maps to ensure accuracy
• Assist photogrammetrists by laying out aerial photographs in sequence to identify areas not captured by aerial photography

Mapping technicians help cartographers and photogrammetrists produce and upgrade maps. They do this work on computers, combining data from different sources.

Geographic information specialists are mapping specialists who use geographic information system (GIS) technology to assemble, integrate, and display data about a particular location in a digital format. They also use GIS technology to compile information from a variety of sources.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition