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Career Exploration

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Also called: Engineering Technician, Mapping Technician, Photogrammetric Technician, Survey Technician

What they do:

Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.

On the job, you would:
  • Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations.
  • Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections.
  • Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development

Math and Science

  • geography
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Business

  • customer service

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • read and understand what is written
  • communicate by speaking

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Hand and Finger Use

  • put together small parts with your fingers

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Independence

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Bentley MicroStation

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Analytical or scientific software

  • Coordinate geometry COGO software
  • Triton Elics International Isis

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $47,180