Occupation

Land surveyor

Land surveyors measure and describe the position of boundaries, features, and structures, and produce the plans and legal descriptions that define property. They combine field measurement using GNSS and total stations with legal research into titles, historic plans, and monuments. In many places only a licensed surveyor may certify a boundary.

Also known as: Cadastral surveyor · Geomatics surveyor · Professional surveyor · Legal surveyor

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Occupation content

Part of Architecture, construction and infrastructure

A visual day in the work

What the work involves

  1. Research titles, registered plans, and historic survey records before going into the field.

  2. Set up and operate GNSS receivers, total stations, and levels to capture field measurements.

  3. Locate, verify, or re-establish boundary monuments and record the evidence relied on.

  4. Process and adjust field data and reconcile it with the record dimensions.

  5. Prepare survey plans, subdivision plans, and legal descriptions for registration.

  6. Set out control and building lines for construction and certify as-built positions.

Entry-route stepper

How people commonly enter

  1. A bachelor's degree in surveying, geomatics, or geospatial engineering leading to professional licensure.

  2. A college diploma in survey technology followed by an articling or supervised-experience route to licensure where one exists.

  3. Progression from surveying technician with part-time degree study and the licensing body's examinations.

Typical training: Bachelor's degree

Licensing: Regulated in most jurisdictions. Confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.

Work-context map

Typical work context

  • Outdoors
  • Client sites
  • Involves travel
  • High responsibility
  • Team based

Outdoors · Client sites · Involves travel · High responsibility · Team based

Related interests

  • Realistic (hands-on)
  • Investigative (analytical)
  • Conventional (organizing)

Realistic (hands-on) · Investigative (analytical) · Conventional (organizing)

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Architecture, construction and infrastructure: licensing

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