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Surveyor Career Guide

Surveyors are responsible for measuring and mapping the earth's surface. They provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, map-making, mining, land evaluation, construction and for other purposes such as the determination of property boundaries.

Surveyor Task

Direct or conduct surveys in order to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds or titles;
Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimension of land and land features;
Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain;
Prepare or supervise preparation of all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and other documents related to survey;
Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents;
Plan and conduct ground surveys designed to establish baseline, elevations, and other geodetic measurements;
Search legal records, survey records, and land titles, in order to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed;
Direct aerial surveys of specified geographical areas;
Survey bodies of water in order to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of break waters, piers and other marine structures;
Locate and mark sites selected for geographical prospecting activities, such as efforts to locate petroleum or other minerals products;
Train assistants and helpers, and direct their work in such activities as performing surveys or drafting maps.

Surveyor Basic Educational Requirement

The basic educational requirement is a diploma in Geodetic Engineering or a related field with subjects in surveying such as Civil Engineering and Forestry. One must pass the examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to become a licensed Surveyor.

Surveyor Skills and Competencies

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications;
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology;
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings and models;
Knowledge of the principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses;
Good office skills to undertake research on old deeds and other legal papers, and prepare reports that document the results of research work;
Written and oral comprehension abilities;
Good communication skills;
Ability to work with precision and accuracy;
Computer literate.

Surveyor Physical Attributes and Characteristics

Good physical condition;
Good eyesight, coordination, and hearing;
Ability to visualize objects, distances, sizes, and abstract forms;
Good interpersonal skills.

Surveyor Salary / Compensation

Entry-level salary for surveyors ranges from P15,000 to P18,000 per month .

Surveyor Prospects for Career Advancement

Surveyors start their career as technicians or assistants if they are not yet licensed. Once licensed and equipped with extensive on-the-job experience, they may advance to senior-level positions. The promotion to higher-level position entails greater responsibilities since the surveyor's tasks now include supervision of survey crews as well as training of new survey team members.

Surveyor Employment Opportunities

Career options for Surveyors include positions in government agencies such as the DENR, Land Management Bureau, Department of Agrarian Reform, Natural Mapping and Resource Information Authority, Coast of Geodetic Surveys, Department of Energy, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Land Registration Authority.

In the private sector, Surveyors may act as consultants in various settings: in consulting firms engaged in infrastructure design; specialist companies marketing computer hardware and software in the fields of surveying, mapping, remote sensing and geographic information systems; realty management; and in technical matters relating to land registration cases.

Surveyor Cost of Education

A BS in Geodetic Engineering is a five-year course with tuition fees of approximately P25,000-P35,000 per semester

* Based on tuition fee rates for school year 2007- 2008