Surveying in Georgia

[tyccea]

Hey guys. I'm new to surveying, been with a great company for two weeks now - I've almost finished my training on running the instrument. I've only done 3 topo's, 1 wetland boundary, and the rest is cell tower work in metro Atlanta. I had no idea there were so many things to learn in land surveying alone! I found a book called Surveying Theory and Practice (7th ed.); seems like a great book, but I don't know where I should start. After I've been with the company for only 12 months, the owner will help me go to school, to study for the PLS if I want to take that route. I looked at the pre-requisites for the course (Math 1101, etc.). To say the least, I suck at math. ;-) Never paid attention to it in school.
Any suggestions on material that can spell out all the principles a beginner like me will need to master? Thanks a lot.

 

[tyccea]

PS - I've browsed the topics in this forum, and want to say thanks for posting the information already here. I've been browsing the web for almost 4 hours now :-D So...
Thanks.

 

[mikejoe]

Having spent 16 years in the surveying field, and after experiencing all sorts of conditions that Georgia has to offer, I personally recommend that you concentrate your tenacity on a more diverse route, such as civil surveying. This field will allow you to work on such projects as large site layout and construction supervision, instead of being stuck doing repetative topographic and boundary surveys that have very little personal satisfaction reward. At least with the construction end of the field you can ride by the site for years to come and say " I helped build that" . Don't get me wrong,I enjoyed every job I did , whether it be the swamps of south Georgia, to the campuses of the University of Georgia in spring time( honeys in shorts with a total station spy scope). I recommend you get every bit of education that you can, but I've never seen a surveyor working for someone else that has a six figure w-2 form. Construction surveying has many diverse elements such as the horizontal/vertical layout of all structures above and below the ground, and can be challenging due to the "truck-hood engineering " that almost always has to be done to complete the job.Good luck on your blossoming career, don't forget the tick spray , watch that neighbor's dog, and raise for red.

 

[tyccea]

Thanks for the info; good to hear from a vet. I'm gonna look into "large site layout" and the construction end of the field in a few minutes - just came home 15 minutes ago from doing an as-built. The company I work for wants to help their employees to go to college for PLS and the like, so lucky me for now. I'll learn what I can, thanks.

 

[drhenne]

As a PLS from Pennsylvania with my own practice, my advice is if you enjoy surveying and don't mind a lot of independent study - go for it. I've been in this profession for 24 years and have always found it challenging and rewarding - physically, mentally, spiritually and yes, even financially. Anyone who enters a profession with a dollar sign as his goal will never be a true professional. There are few professions that require the diversity that surveying does. You will need to be a jack of all trades and a master of many. I have been fortunate to work for small firms and a government agency during my intern years. Many students working for larger companies get stuck in the field doing the same old stuff everyday. Let your employer know your willing to learn and want to diversify your experience. Concerning math, if you like surveying you'll learn to love math. Its the tool by which you will survive. I did poorly in school math also. Surveying showed me the application of otherwise useless formulas. For starters I recomend any courses and books by John E. Keen of Land Surveyors Workshops.

 

[KRSServices]

It sounds to me as though you are on the right track, and should be commended for your efforts. You are going to re-hash all those seemingly useless trig problems you learned in high school and begin to apply them as a career. You are also going to find yourself wondering what you are doing when up to your armpits in snow/swamp water and the mosquitoes are circling overhead moving in for the kill. In the end, you will love it and the experience will provide you with a huge opportunity to diverse yourself into other arenas of growth. If you were a little more northerly, I could suggest some courses here that would be perfect for your studies (as evening work) and some daytime.

I hope you retain your enthusiasm, but in case it begins to wain a little, I agree with investing your time in the civil aspects (construction, highway, pre-lim's, underground, earthwork) because you will always be learning and in demand.

KRS Services

http://www.krs-services.com