GEO Ambassador
What kind of preparations do you routinely go through before going out in the field?  These rituals can make or break our day if missed or screwed up.  Do you preload all the data into the dc or gps and shine your machete? Do you scoop the mud out of your waders and gun? What do you do in the process of getting ready to work?  I would love to hear from all countries and states...the similarities and differences will be very interesting i bet...here are some ideas..

do you prepare at the office or on/near the jobsite?
what kind of extreme weather or natural obsticals do you pack for?
what do you take?
do you work at night or during the day?

How do Hawaiian Surveyors prepare for possible volcanic activity?
What kind of gear do surveyors in the mountains carry to the field?

tell us...its amazing how many differences can transform into similarities

You need to be a member of Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community to add thoughts!

Join Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • previous day:

    load maps and cogo points on the gps ,total station & smartphone + print some maps off the area.

    +check battery load

    current day(field survey):

    early awakening, coffee & bathroom visit!

    + visit to the nearest bakery shop for suplies, gear loading and voila!

    • Pray for safety, here in California surveyors are the second most dangerous job after firefighters. I have lost 1 friend who was hit by a truck, and another who now has steel plates in his head, he was also hit while in the street. Not to mention falling off buildings, getting killed in tunnels etc.

  • I check my total station batteries conditions, loading data,check communication radios, check the vehicle condition like tire pressures, engine oil, hydralli etc.

    Taking enough bottles of water, refreshments like chewing gums, lastly confirm my driving licence 

  • Land Surveyor

    coffee - lots of coffee

    • Land Surveyor

      +1 Coffee. 

      Sometimes I also like to sob quietly in the car before starting the engine :-p

  • Everything loaded and packed in the truck. Before we pull away " DID EVERYONE GO ? LONG DRIVE, I AINT STOPPIN' "
  • It all depends on the project. I'm in Florida, so a lot of our surveying is done in swamps. We don't wear waders or snake boots, it takes too long to put them on, so we just walk off into the swamps and get wet when we need to, its just a fact of life down here ... you're going to get wet whether you like it or not on a frequent basis. If I'm going to be in the swamp or woods all day, we don't venture back to the truck even for lunch. I take a backpack with my lunch, my calculator (HP 35), extra pencil and lead, mosquito spray, snake bite kit, an old Marine Corps first aid kit, and a canteen. If we can take a 4 wheeler or Gator, we'll put the water cooler in the back to fill our canteens. For those swamp or deep woods excursions, I usually take my gun too, a Glock . I am licensed to carry and professionally trained in its use and there are plenty of dangerous critters out there to warrant its presence.

    We prepare at the office for whatever the project is. We load the GPS, the gun and the level, the boss brings in a bag of ice for the cooler. All of this is done on our time and not on the clock, while the rodman/instrument man is loading the truck, the party chief is loading the data collector or going over the project with the PSM. If the PC is busy when the truck is loaded, the rodman/instrument man makes sure there is plenty of laths, rods, caps, etc in the truck and sharpens the machetes and maybe cleans the truck if there's enough time. There is a sign on the back door that everyone sees when they leave explaining the duties of a rodman, instrument man, and party chief so that nothing gets forgotten and everyone has a sense of being held accountable.

    Then off to the job. I (as the PC) usually ride and have someone else drive so I can go over the paperwork and prepare the field book or do any calcs I might have. When we get to a new project, I always do a tour of the project with the crew either on foot or driven if possible so we know what we're up against. Then it depends on the project, if boundary work is involved, I send the crew out to set up GPS and find nearby property corners while I go around on foot and draw everything I need in the field book. Depending on the job, I might be drawing all day and the crew will be locating boundary, running bench loops, etc until I'm done.
  • I ask the Lord God to bless the job, my client and my day, keep us safe and profitable.
This reply was deleted.

Answer As your Facebook Page

Global Surveyor Forum

Latest Discussions by Category

Add Your Expertise

How to Utilize Surveyor Forums

How to use Forums
Our forums on Land Surveyors United are here to be used as much for finding help with problems in the field as the are for you to express your opinions on anything that has to do with land surveying in general. Feel free to share anything that is on your mind, as long as it isn't meant to damage another member's reputation. Please keep it clean and help insure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of being part of a community that grows together.

We are committed to allowing freedom of expression for all of our members, and that includes maintaining a safe space for people with opposing views to express themselves. We get posts from all over the country and even the globe, so needless to say, people come with different viewpoints on lad surveying practices and processes. We see this diversity and variety as a real strength-- dialogue and debate are an integral part of the educational process, as well as an important tool in exploring different sides of complex issues.

All Community Hubs inside the community have their own forum for asking specific questions to other surveyors, by location, equipment type, etc.

Global Forums

Blog Topics by Tags

Monthly Archives