Why Become a Land Surveyor?

What does a land surveyor do?

The primary role of a land surveyor is to measure and map land to determine its boundaries, size and characteristics. Land surveys can be used to support a range of projects, including building or improving a property, establishing boundaries, obtaining planning permission, aid with valuations and identifying potential liability issues.

The area of land being surveyed can differ between projects. For example, surveying a landfill site, quarry or mine will cover more land than surveying a property. The equipment used for surveying any piece of land range from more traditional methods, like a theodolite, to more modern tools including a total station and drone surveys. Land surveyors can also work across several other industries, not just construction, and these include the rail, highway, architectural, civil and geo-environmental industries. Different surveying projects use varied equipment; for example, the rise of drone technology in archaeology has changed the approach to surveying architecture projects, with drones allowing surveyors to visit and record locations safely and without endangering the physical integrity of the structure or the land.

On a daily basis, land surveyors have a whole variety of typical duties, including:

• Carrying out surveys
• Working in diverse sectors
• Assessing land due for redevelopment
• Managing and monitoring projects from start to finish
• Producing maps using GPS, surveying instruments, digital images and satellite photographs
• Analysing data using geographic information systems (GIS)
• Drawing charts using computer-aided design (CAD)
• Monitoring changes in the land during the construction process
• Writing reports

Types of Land Surveys

Land surveyors conduct a range of land surveys, all of which have different aims:

• Topographic Surveys, which capture the physical features of a particular area of land, including elevation, slopes, vegetation and other natural or man made features.
• Setting Out Surveys, which involve marking out exact positions of planned structures, utilities and roads ahead of construction commencing.
• Measured Building Surveys, which take exact measurements of existing structures and mapping them ahead of repair, refurbishment or extension projects.
• 3D Laser Scanning Survey, which captures millions of data points to create an extremely precise 3D representation of complex sites and structures.
• Bathymetric Surveys, which are carried out in bodies of water to determine their depth, contours and composition, used in marine surveying or coastal development projects.
• Monitoring Surveys, which involve the continuous or periodic measurement and analysis of structures, like buildings, bridges and dams to assess movement or subsidence It can also be applied to establish the severity of ground movement as a result of earthworks or construction.
• Drone Surveys, which acquire high-resolution aerial imagery and data by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and collects data rapidly across wide areas of space.
• Elevation Surveys, which collect elevation data for a building or structure, like door and window openings, and can be used for condition surveys for a building and planning requirements.
• Underground Utility Surveys, which map and locate underground water pipelines, gas lines, electrical cables and telecommunications equipment to improve safety, reduce disturbance and improve project planning.
• BIM Model Surveys, which create a digital representation of a building or infrastructure project to create a comprehensive and accurate 3D model encompassing physical and functional aspects of the project.

Top Reasons to Become a Land Surveyor

Land surveyors work across a variety of projects and these can impact several industries, shaping everything from building projects to infrastructure. A career in land surveying has many benefits:

• Working with top technology: since qualified surveyors are responsible for collecting precise and accurate measurements of a piece of land to support the work of architects, designers and engineers, they must use modern equipment and programmes, including GPS devices, 3D laser scanning technology and drones.
• Hands-on work: regardless of industry, surveying projects involve both fieldwork and deskwork, meaning land surveyors work with a variety of tools to measure land on-site, but also use computerised programmes, like Computer-Aided Design (CAD), when creating plans of land or structures ahead of construction projects.
• Rewarding career: through the data they collect, land surveyors play a crucial role in the running of the UK, from supporting construction projects to ensuring boundaries of houses are suitably noted for legal reasons. Also, the salary for land surveyors can increase depending on your level of skill and expertise.

What qualifications do I need to become a land surveyor?

It is possible to begin your career as a land surveyor through the apprenticeship or university route. Traditionally, land surveyors required a university degree to secure a job, studying on a university course like Civil Engineering, Surveying, Geographical Information Sciences or Geography, but the apprenticeship pathway has become more common in recent years.

Choosing the right land surveyor is crucial for any project, regardless of the industry, size or complexity, so it is important to have the correct qualifications or experience to be a land surveyor. Qualified surveyors can climb the ladder to become a senior surveyor, with duties and responsibilities increasing as they gain more experience during their career.

To become a chartered land surveyor, it is crucial to complete training with either the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to receive chartered status.

At Lucion, our specialist building and land surveyors work across several industries to produce accurate data and precise measurements to support a range of construction projects.