A chief surveyor manages a team of surveyors and ensures accurate data collection and adherence to company procedures. They must be experienced with surveying techniques and instruments, and may require proficiency in computer software. The job is physically demanding and requires travel. Many positions only require a high school education, but candidates should have on-the-job experience.
A chief surveyor, also called chief of staff or chief of staff, supervises a team or group of surveyors. The boss manages the daily activities of the team in the field. A chief inspector also ensures that survey data is accurately collected and recorded and that all company procedures are followed by crew members.
Surveying is an applied science generally used to determine and map geographic and geological features. A lead inspector may be in charge of many different types of surveys, depending on the purpose of the survey and the medium surveyed. Typical media include the earth’s surface, water bodies and underground features such as caves. Land surveying is the most common type of survey performed.
A surveyor party chief needs to be experienced with the various techniques, methods and instruments used in land surveying. Surveyors use instruments to determine angles and distances between points. This data is used along with trigonometric functions to calculate the positions of searched points relative to specific references. Modern surveying instruments are computerized and combine electronic and optical technology to measure angles and distances and perform the necessary mathematical calculations. Data can be automatically stored in an instrument’s data recorder or manually recorded in field notebooks.
The head should have experience in collecting and recording data and producing drawings and maps. Some top surveyor jobs require proficiency in computer software. Common requirements include experience with data processing and computer-aided design and drafting (CADD).
The chief inspector’s job can be demanding. Surveyors, like all surveyors, work outdoors most of the time and are exposed to the elements. They must also be physically fit and able to lift and carry equipment. The job usually requires a lot of travel too – many employers have trucks or vans in which bosses depart carrying their crews and equipment. As a result, top researchers must have excellent driving records.
A chief inspector is also responsible for ensuring that crew members follow company standards and procedures for operations and safety. The chief ensures, for example, that crew members wear any necessary safety equipment, such as goggles or helmets. A chief inspector can also train new employees in surveying techniques.
In the United States, many surveyor party chief jobs only require a high school education. Some jobs require an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree in research or related fields. Candidates for chief surveyor positions should typically have three to five years of on-the-job survey experience.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
