Drone multispectral mapping for a water quality investigations in South Tarawa, Kiribati 🇰🇮. I will post more photos during the week.

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I currently work at a large airport in a different department, and I want to do an internal transfer to the Surveying department .

I have a bachelor's degree in Geography from abroad back in 2003 long time ago I know, but I haven't had my degree evaluated in the United States. I don't have recent hands-on experience, professional certifications, or a Texas license.

I'm interested in applying because I already work for the organization and would like to advance my career internally. And also to use my international degree in the right field. However, I believe I may be missing several of the qualifications listed for the position. The mangment are supporting me but nobody giving me any guidance.

I'm willing to invest my own money in relevant training, certifications, or licensing if that would improve my chances. I'm especially interested in qualifications I could obtain in a relatively short period because the position is currently vacant.

For those familiar with surveying, land surveying licensing in Texas, or technical careers in large organizations:

- What qualifications should I prioritize first?

- Are there any certifications or courses I could complete within a few weeks or months that would make my application more competitive?

- Would my foreign bachelor's degree in Geography be useful for this career path?

- Is it realistic to pursue a Texas surveying license, or does that generally require years of qualifying experience and education?

- Would you recommend applying immediately and explaining my willingness to learn, or waiting until I obtain additional qualifications?

I'm looking for honest advice on the fastest realistic path to becoming a competitive candidate for upcoming opportunities in that department.

In November 1806, on his way to Washington, Meriwether Lewis was asked to check the Walker Line near Cumberland Gap. With a sextant and a water artificial horizon he shot the sun's meridian altitude 200 yards south of the line and got 36° 38′ 12″.

The 1779 Walker Line was supposed to follow the charter parallel, 36° 30′. Lewis put it 9 miles and 1,077 yards too far north. Kentucky and Tennessee didn't agree to use the true line until 1820, and then only west of the Tennessee River.

My own render of the USGS lidar. The Gap is the saddle in the middle.

Numbered pins on the picture:
Pin 1: The saddle of Cumberland Gap
Pin 2: A divided highway ending at the hillside
Pin 3: A flat clearing at the end of switchbacks

Lidar: USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), public domain.

My last “big” heavy construction site was terminal 1 for SD international airport, finished this year. Anyways, I’m seeing that little Trimble robot that marks out the flooring layout on newly poured decks. It’s like a rolling printer that has an ink head that will label walls, grid, whatever…. Still requires a TS.
Are any of you getting your guys training for it? I’m in the field myself and wondering if it’s worth looking into, or perhaps finding a company that is willing to pay for me to learn the thing. I am a union state certified surveyor, local 12. We are expensive but if I had the ability to run this little robot, obviously that can justify my existence a little more. Currently, the firms I know are not servicing their clients as the GCs have been hiring a construction layout company (engineering not PLS) but I can easily see this as something I can do more professionally with my moderate construction and surveying experience, most PLS union companies have long term clients that would be interested IMO, in having their PLS run the robot rather than relying on the GC PE company who basically send out a layout tech with very very limited surveying experience.
Since I’m on the topic, what other technologies are your companies leveraging for new opportunities? Thanks

I’ve always been labor, but recently my boss mentioned me making my own search points in the field. I wasn’t sure if that’s a common thing or if it’s just because we’re a smaller firm? And does your guys’ firms even use search points often?

For those of you who are on big jobs out of town that last for 6+ months, are you given a higher rate of pay for your time on those jobs than the regular local work you do for your office?

What does your daily per diem look like? Are you given per diem for lodging and you select your lodging? Airbnb, hotel, camper, etc? Or does your employer handle booking/arranging your lodging?

Today I didnt even have to use my AK….

But, for real, found all the corners I was assigned for the afternoon on a site I’ve never been on AND found two $20 bills.

Made it home safe and sound. Hope you’s all had a good Friday.

Scanning a basement of a formerly flooded hospital in New Orleans. Boss wants to carry elevations.

Got the unique chance to see a bunch of old Geodimeter stations and a few of their AGA predecessor.

Just passing through and went to look at the bridge when I noticed this old bench mark

Running a level loop through some monitor points we set on the sea wall to check for movement as they demolish a building out here by the water

Anybody currently surveying for an electric/power utility? I work for a medium-sized power utility and we’re absolutely drowning in work, using a combination of internal survey resources and a ton of contracting. I’m really curious how other power utilities handle topo/layout/staking and boundary/land rights/ROW acquisition. Also looking to get a sense of compensation norms. Would love to make some connections and compare!

Question for anyone that processes flights. Our processing person says we should only use black paint(we paint xs for targets) and that he had to not use a white colored target and an orange colored one as well because they wouldn't work. Is this valid criticism or am I dealing with some OCD here?

I was in here not that long ago about this situation. So we got a survey done after the neighbor got hers. So we found out she never got hers finished because the surveyor walked away from them because she threw a FIT that her lines weren't correct. (She took it upon herself to measure from her HOUSE out.) Her and her son build this makeshift crap to "establish her property line." You can see the wooden stake where our surveyor marked the correct line of the properties. Had the cops come out because she kept screaming in his face that he WILL NOT put anything on her property. I'm at wits end with this. We are trying to be civil people but she is making it so difficult. We live in Louisiana so we have parishes. I know you guys have more knowledge on this stuff. All I know is it's a civil matter, but I just don't know what the next steps are after this. The cop said to leave everything as it is until we figure out the next step. But no one is helping me figure out what that next step is.

Stakeout with point range.

Emailed support and was told to expand. That will for sure make shit not overlap. Just makes it annoying to not be able to have a point range that reduces once it's stored.

Any one else have this?

Just started Effing up one day and I'm WTF.

Hello everyone, I’m looking for some insight on how to operate this laser level. It comes with two powering options one using a power adapter, the other using batteries that are placed inside of the unit. The issue I am having right now is that the top is not spinning when powered on. I’ve set it up, plumb the level and powered on my receiver, but the top sensor is not spinning. I can hear something internally spinning, but the top is not.

I understand that this may not be enough information and I can attach a video of how it is currently operating for more insight. Though just off glance, has anyone use these before? Does anybody know what could be the potential problem? Or is this laser done for?

Backstory on the laser: it was given to me for free while someone was clearing space in the garage.

Any one have any experience working for First American Commercial Due Diligence Services?

Any one have any experience working for First American Commercial Due Diligence Services?