A design inspector directs an engineering field survey team, performs complex survey tasks, and coordinates engineering tasks. The job involves both indoor and outdoor work, and requires knowledge of laws and regulations, technical report writing, and the ability to supervise and train team members. Skilled in using engineering calculators, GPS, and CAD programs, design inspectors typically earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and gain work experience to become certified as a Land Surveyor in Training.
A design inspector, sometimes also called a survey team leader, directs the daily work activities of an engineering field survey team. Personnel in this highly trained journey-level classification are primarily responsible for training other project research team members to ensure successful performance and safety. Job assignments and general guidelines are apt to come to project inspectors from assistant inspectors in most workplaces.
In addition to their administrative duties, project surveyors typically perform many of the more technically complex survey tasks involved in a project, such as plane and geodetic surveys for control, right-of-way, topographical, and construction design. On some job sites, project surveyors coordinate various engineering tasks. This often includes directing the layout of the project’s construction works, compiling field survey data, and contributing to the planning and scheduling of meetings with contractor representatives, project managers, and on-site engineers.
Construction and improvement of roads, bridges and flood control areas are some of the common jobs that fall under the purview of a surveyor. The work can be done both indoors and outdoors. Indoor work tends to be office-type and involves performing tasks such as determining boundaries, researching legal descriptions, and studying survey topographical data. Much of a project inspector’s outside work is done on construction sites and landfill sites. Requirements for the job often include the ability to lift and move equipment and other objects up to 75 pounds (34 kg), knowledge of laws and regulations governing subdivision of land, and the ability to write technical reports.
When it comes to supervising a team of workers in the field, a project inspector or party leader has the ability to assign, prioritize and schedule work. Project surveyors are usually involved in evaluating team performance, enforcing safety regulations and procedures, and directly training team members. Also required is the ability to establish and maintain friendly working relationships with the public, co-workers and government officials with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Project researchers and heads of research parties are expected to be skilled in the use of engineering calculators, global positioning systems (GPS) and computer-aided design (CAD) programs. They use these tools to perform many different tasks, including measuring angles, calculating distances, and recording elevations. This data is later compiled into field notes and detailed drawings. To learn all these skills, most design researchers earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a similar academic discipline. After graduation, those pursuing a project surveyor career traditionally pursue jobs as an engineering technician, cartographer, or survey and mapping technician to gain the work experience necessary to apply for certification as a Land Surveyor in Training (LSIT).
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