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A
Job To Love
Imagine flying low to the ground in
an airplane on a beautiful, sunny day.
You’re flying over the area where
a new road will be built. The road is
being built to give your community year-round
access. You see the rocks and creeks
that the road will be built around.
You reach for your camera and take pictures
of geological formations and animal
habitats. You’ll use these aerial
photographs to plan the location of
the new road. Next month you’ll
spend your time in the great outdoors,
working on the ground, measuring the
terrain, and placing stakes along the
route of the new road.
Survey
technicians measure the earth.
They perform surveys to determine
the exact locations of natural features
and other structures on the earth’s
surface, underground and underwater.
They work in offices but mostly outdoors
(either by themselves or as part of
a team) in wetlands and forests and
on mining, construction, and subdivision
sites. Aboriginal survey technicians
may conduct surveys to establish and
mark the legal boundaries of Aboriginal
land claims.
It’s
great to have an outdoor job, but
as a survey technician, you’ll
work outside in the worst weather.
You’ll travel to remote locations
and set up camp on-site for weeks
at a time. This can be a real drain
on your family and your social life.
Then again, if you enjoy the outdoors,
you’ll really enjoy the challenges
of the job.
Job
Description
Survey technicians operate survey instruments
and computer equipment to measure distance,
angles, elevations, and contours. They
use this information to establish geographical
locations and boundaries. For example,
a survey technician might survey and
lay out sub-divisions for rural development.
Survey techs work for construction companies,
aerial photographers, natural resource
firms, and the government. Some survey
technicians are self-employed.
Job
Duties
- Confirm
exact locations
- Collect
and record geographic information
(like location) with electronic
tools like a GPS (Geographic Positioning
System)
- Mark
boundaries and routes with stakes
and rods
- Calculate
angles to plot slope and other features
- Prepare
drawings, charts, maps, plans, records,
and documents
- Organize
records, measurements, and other
survey information
- Research
existing information about various
pieces of land
- Clear
brush and debris from line of survey
- Transport
surveying tools
Fact
Canada’s land mass is 9,093,507
km2. In Canada, in 2001, 2,366 First
Nation reserves encompassed 270,000
km2 of land. Nunavut, Canada’s
largest land claims agreement, encompasses
1,994,000 km2 of land. Métis
settlements in Alberta encompass 1,280,000
acres.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include geometry, physics,
math, and English. Aboriginal studies,
history, and languages will prepare
you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as visual
arts, environmental studies, computer
science, technological design, and data
management.
Survey
technicians require a one- to two-year
college diploma in geomatics or survey
technology. Advanced studies in geomatics
or survey technology will allow you
to become a survey technologist or
Canada Land Surveyor. The more education
you have, the more competitive you’ll
be in the job market and the easier
you’ll find it to get a job and
negotiate your salary.
Before entering the workforce, some
survey technicians require training
in:
- Standard
and Wilderness First Aid
- Outdoor
Survival
- Orienteering
- Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) use
- All-terrain
vehicle and snowmobile handlin
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
To become a Canada Land Surveyor,
you’ll need a federal or provincial
land surveyor licence. After completing
your education, you’ll write
a professional land surveyor exam
through your provincial or territorial
association of technicians and technologists.
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Survey
helpers with a high school diploma
make an average of $26,000.00 per
year.
Survey technicians with a college
diploma make an average of $35,000.00
per year.
Survey technicians with several years
experience and education make an average
of $45,000.00 per year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to survey techs:
The Geomatics Canada Scholarship
Program
The Hans Klinkenberg Memorial Fund
and Awards for student submissions
to Geomatica.
Contact: The Canadian Institute
of Geomatics
1930 Prince of Wales Drive, Suite
400
Ottawa, ON
K2C 3N6
Telephone: (613) 224-9851
Fax: (613) 224-9577
email: admincig@magma.ca
website: www.cig-acsg.ca
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders to explain
the history, status, and importance
of Aboriginal land claims. Join your
family on camping and snowmobile trips.
In the city, practice measuring your
backyard or a nearby park and then
map it with some friends. The time
you spend outdoors will make your
studies easier and your experience
with the natural world will appeal
to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Geologist
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
analyst
Land use planner
Remediation scientist
Relate
and interact with survey techs. Ask
them what they like about their jobs,
and how you should get started.
Association of Canada Lands Surveyors
1390 Prince of Wales Drive, Suite
400
Ottawa, ON
K2C 3N6
Telephone: (613) 723-9200
email: admin@acls-aatc.ca
website: www.acls-aatc.ca
Geomatics Industry Association
of Canada (GIAC)
Suite 1204, 170 Laurier Avenue W
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5V5
Telephone: (613) 232-8770
email: giac@giac.ca
website: www.giac.ca
Contact the Aboriginal Mapping
Network for information about their
annual conferences, publications,
and aboriginal groups who are using
GIS technology:
Aboriginal Mapping Network
202- 1226 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 2S8
Telephone: (604) 682-4141
Fax: (604) 682-1944
email: info@nativemaps.org
website: www.nativemaps.org
Relate with other students. There
are Aboriginal student associations
and resource centers at most colleges
and universities. Visit these centres
to find out what they have to offer.
Also, look into community, friendship,
and multi-cultural centres.
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