“I was attracted to the direct connection with history that land surveyors experience in the form of plans, field notes, and from surveying monuments from decades or even centuries in the past.” PastFormPlansLandCenturyFieldsDirectConnectionsNotesDecadesMonumentSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“A lot of people don't think much about what land surveyors do. In a nutshell, we are the interpreters and providers of landmarks and records that directly impact real property.” PeopleThinkingRealRecordsLandImpactPropertyProvidersInterpreterLandmarksReal PropertySurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“Land surveyors can spend as much time reading legislation, bylaws, and engineering documents as we spend in front of an instrument in the field or calculating coordinates for a subdivision. We are mathematicians, historians, project managers, advocates, engineers, and even chainsaw operators!” ReadingLandFrontsFieldsProjectsInstrumentsManagersHistorianEngineeringEngineersMathematicianDocumentsLegislationCalculatingOperatorsCoordinatesChainsawSurveyorsLand SurveyorBylaws Author:Mark Mason
“I'm lucky enough to split my time between the field and the office. Some land surveyors in larger outfits can work mostly from behind a desk, managing many field crews at once.” EnoughBehindsLandFieldsLuckyOfficeMy TimeSplitsDesksCrewOutfitsSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“It's important to know that, unlike lawyers, land surveyors put the public interest first. That means we're not biased by our client - this means that the property line will be drawn in the most equitable position, regardless of which neighbor is paying the bill.” KnowsFirstsMeanImportantInterestLinesLandPositionBillsPropertyNeighborLawyerClientsBiasedPublic InterestEquitableSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“When I got my commission, other land surveyors told me to ask for advice from my peers when I was struggling with something.” AsksStruggleLandAdvicePeersSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“There are lots of ways to design a workflow - for instance, some land surveyors book their notes by hand, and some use electronic data collectors. Every firm has its own unique way of arriving at the end product. However, from a licensed land surveyor, the product should always be of the same high quality.” WayShouldBookEndsUseHandsQualityLandDesignProductsUniqueNotesInstanceDataFirmCollectorsArrivingHigh QualitySurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“Some land surveyors delve into land development advocacy, working with local government on behalf of clients in order to facilitate progress on a project. Others stick to strictly surveying. The approach depends on the individual firm and the needs of the local area.” NeedsGovernmentOrderIndividualProgressLandDependsDevelopmentProjectsApproachAreasSticksLocalsFirmClientsBehalfAdvocacyFacilitateLocal GovernmentSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“Professional land surveyors take on a lot of responsibility, and should be compensated appropriately.” ShouldResponsibilityLandSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“In general, salary for land surveyors is often similar to that of a professional engineer or lawyer - surveyors are often "comfortable" but not "wealthy."” LandComfortableLawyerWealthyEngineersSalarySurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“Legal land surveyors are few and far between and can find themselves in demand.” LandDemandSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“Land surveyors start as employees, and move up to partnership in a firm or to ownership of their own enterprise if they wish. Some wind up working for government, private corporations, or public enterprise.” IfsGovernmentMovingWishLandWindFirmCorporationsEnterpriseEmployeePartnershipOwnershipSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“People sometimes are under the impression that finding their property corners should cost as much as changing their oil or blowing out their sprinklers. What they don't realize is that land surveyors are required to stand behind their work for the rest of their lives.” PeopleShouldSometimesRealizingBehindsLandCostFindingsPropertyCornersOilImpressionSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason
“I've met very few professional land surveyors who regret their career path, and even fewer, who are out of work, even during economic slowdowns.” CareersPathEconomicLandRegretMetsFewerCareer PathSurveyorsLand Surveyor Author:Mark Mason