Land survey technologists and technicians
Career Overview
Land survey technologists and technicians:
- Carry out or participate in surveys to determine the exact locations and relative positions of natural features and other structures on the earth's surface, underground and underwater
- Work for all levels of government, architectural and engineering firms and by private sector surveying establishments
Job Titles
Duties
Land survey technologists:
- Help survey engineers or professional surveyors to develop methods and procedures for carrying out field surveys
- Carry out field surveys and operate survey instruments and computer equipment to measure distance, angles, elevations and contours
- Record measurements and other information obtained during field survey activities
- Determine exact geographic locations using global positioning systems (GPS) equipment
- Analyze latitude, longitude and angles, and use trigonometric and other calculations to plot features, contours and areas to a specific scale
- Prepare detailed drawings, charts, plans, survey notes and survey reports
- Oversee and co-ordinate field survey activities
Land survey technicians:
- Participate in field surveys and operate survey equipment
- Keep records, measurements and other survey information in an organized manner
- Help in the calculation, analysis and computation of measurements obtained during field surveys
- Help in the preparation of detailed drawings, charts and plans
Special duties
Land survey technologists and technicians may specialize in one of the following types of surveys: geodetic survey, topographic survey, legal (cadastral) survey or engineering survey.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
405% Employed Full Time
62%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office, or an outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to various weather conditions.
Career Pathways
Mobility is possible between the various occupations in this unit group. Also, promotion to supervisory positions is possible with experience, and to land surveyor positions with the completion of professional surveyor examinations and certification.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is usually required
- Completion of a two- to three-year college program in geomatics or land survey technology is usually required for land survey technologists
- Completion of a one- to two-year college program in geomatics or land survey technology is usually required for land survey technicians
- Certification by provincial associations of technicians and technologists may be required by some employers
- In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists is required to use the title "Professional Technologist"
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Surveying and Mapping
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
405Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 15 | 3.8% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 215 | 53.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 35 | 8.8% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 55 | 13.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 85 | 21.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
210Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 100 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 20 | 2.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 3.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 1.9% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 180 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Construction | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
