Land surveying is certainly a huge task of surveyors, and this type of surveying is crucial for many industries. For example, a surveyor might be asked to identify property boundaries if a dispute arises. Another task might be to ensure that the ground is level for the construction of a home or building. After the ground is level and a foundation has been poured, a surveyor might return to ensure that the foundation has been laid correctly.
A land surveyor also will help engineers create safe roads, highways and bridges. If a road, interstate or highway is not carefully planned and the road is not graded properly, this becomes a serious safety issue. Roads have to be created to offer safe conditions for a variety of vehicles, from cars to large semi trucks. When it comes to bridges, a surveyor makes sure that the land is level and graded properly and that the location of the bridge itself ensures both vertical and horizontal control.
Land surveyors use many different and helpful tools. The theodolite is a commonly seen tool, which typically rests on a sturdy tripod. The theodolite is used for measuring angles on both the horizontal and vertical plane. Surveyors also use tools known as clinometers, which measure the angles of slope of an object. This tool also is known as an inclinometer, a tilt meter or slope gauge.
Theodolites have been around for centuries, and these days, surveyors sometimes opt to use a total station instead of a theodolite. The total station is an electronic theodolite as well as an electronic distance meter. While there are advantages to using a total station, they are more expensive and the theodolite is relatively inexpensive, easy to transport and fairly simple to learn to use.
Land surveyors, because they are often called in to settle legal issues and boundary disputes, must be licensed. In order to earn this license you must pass a written test that is given by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Earning a degree in surveying engineering is your first big step toward passing this exam, and there are many colleges around the country that offer this degree.
If you wish to earn a bachelor's degree is some type of surveying engineering, you will take four years of courses dealing with a variety of subjects. Common classes include physics, linear algebra and, of course, high-level geometry courses. In addition, you also will study surveying computation, photogrammetry, engineering surveying and geodesy, which combines both applied mathematics and earth science.
A land surveyor also will help engineers create safe roads, highways and bridges. If a road, interstate or highway is not carefully planned and the road is not graded properly, this becomes a serious safety issue. Roads have to be created to offer safe conditions for a variety of vehicles, from cars to large semi trucks. When it comes to bridges, a surveyor makes sure that the land is level and graded properly and that the location of the bridge itself ensures both vertical and horizontal control.
Land surveyors use many different and helpful tools. The theodolite is a commonly seen tool, which typically rests on a sturdy tripod. The theodolite is used for measuring angles on both the horizontal and vertical plane. Surveyors also use tools known as clinometers, which measure the angles of slope of an object. This tool also is known as an inclinometer, a tilt meter or slope gauge.
Theodolites have been around for centuries, and these days, surveyors sometimes opt to use a total station instead of a theodolite. The total station is an electronic theodolite as well as an electronic distance meter. While there are advantages to using a total station, they are more expensive and the theodolite is relatively inexpensive, easy to transport and fairly simple to learn to use.
Land surveyors, because they are often called in to settle legal issues and boundary disputes, must be licensed. In order to earn this license you must pass a written test that is given by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Earning a degree in surveying engineering is your first big step toward passing this exam, and there are many colleges around the country that offer this degree.
If you wish to earn a bachelor's degree is some type of surveying engineering, you will take four years of courses dealing with a variety of subjects. Common classes include physics, linear algebra and, of course, high-level geometry courses. In addition, you also will study surveying computation, photogrammetry, engineering surveying and geodesy, which combines both applied mathematics and earth science.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier enjoys blogging about precision scientific instruments. For more info about surveying products such as a surveyor compass, or to discover other alignment instruments, check out the Warren Knight site today.
I only had a vague understanding of what a surveyor's job entrails. My son recently told me he wants to become a surveyor and I wanted to understand more about this career. I didn't know that a surveyor helped to make sure the grading on highways, roads and bridges were safe. Surveying seems like a help and needed field. http://www.sub-arctic.ca/whatWeDo.htm
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