A typical day for a land surveyor often begins as soon as the sun rises. In this blog, our Survey Team will take you through a typical workday, shedding light on the often-underappreciated work that goes into making our cities and infrastructure a reality.
Before most of Sain’s staff arrives at the office, our team is reviewing project plans, gathering equipment, and checking the weather forecast. Precise measurements and data collection are important for our work, so preparation is key to ensuring a successful day in the field.
With equipment and plans in hand, we head out to the day’s project location – which could be a construction site, rural property, city street, or anywhere else that requires accurate land measurements. Each day is unique!
Once at the site, our first task is to establish control points. These points serve as reference markers for all measurements. We carefully set up our equipment to ensure they are level and stable.
We use various tools to collect data, including Total Stations, GPS devices, drones, and other technology. During data collection, we take precise measurements of distances, angles, and elevations. This data is recorded and later used to create detailed maps and drawings. We may use existing documents, such as land deeds and historical records, to determine the exact boundaries of property lines.
Other days, we may be on a construction site ensuring that structures are built according to the plans. On these sites, we perform construction staking, which is the process of marking exact positions where foundations, walls, utilities, and roads should be placed.
Our work doesn’t end when we leave the field. Back in the office, we process the data we collected. This includes using specialized software to analyze measurements and create detailed maps and reports. Sain’s engineers and clients rely on the quality of our data for their projects.
The life of a land surveyor is far from monotonous. Each day brings new challenges as we help shape the future of our communities and infrastructure. So, the next time you drive by a construction site or walk down a city street, take a moment to appreciate the meticulous work of land surveyors. We may be behind the scenes, but we play a critical role in the development and maintenance of our community.