Surveyors

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Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries. Provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes.

tasks jobzones knowledge skills abilities work_activities work_context interests work_styles work_values

Tasks

  • Determine specifications for photographic equipment to be used for aerial photography, as well as altitudes from which to photograph terrain.

  • Direct aerial surveys of specified geographical areas.

  • Survey bodies of water to determine navigable channels and to secure data for construction of breakwaters, piers, and other marine structures.

  • Develop criteria for survey methods and procedures.

  • Locate and mark sites selected for geophysical prospecting activities such as efforts to locate petroleum or other mineral products.

  • Conduct research in surveying and mapping methods using knowledge of techniques of photogrammetric map compilation and electronic data processing.

  • Compute geodetic measurements and interpret survey data to determine positions, shapes, and elevations of geomorphic and topographic features.

  • Develop criteria for the design and modification of survey instruments.

  • Analyze survey objectives and specifications to prepare survey proposals or to direct others in survey proposal preparation.

  • Train assistants and helpers, and direct their work in such activities as performing surveys or drafting maps.

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Job Zone

  • Name: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

  • Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

  • Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

  • Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

  • Examples: These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

  • Svp range: (6.0 to < 7.0)

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Knowledge

Browse Knowledge
  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Building and Construction
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

  • Geography
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Design
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Law and Government
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • Customer and Personal Service
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Administration and Management
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

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Skills

Browse Skills
  • Mathematics
    Using mathematics to solve problems.

  • Coordination
    Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Speaking
    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Writing
    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Equipment Selection
    Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • Time Management
    Managing one's own time and the time of others.

  • Active Learning
    Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

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Abilities

Browse Abilities
  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Information Ordering
    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • Number Facility
    The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

  • Far Vision
    The ability to see details at a distance.

  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Written Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

  • Problem Sensitivity
    The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

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Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Telephone
    How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
    How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

  • Structured versus Unstructured Work
    To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
    How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

  • Freedom to Make Decisions
    How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

  • Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
    How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?

  • Frequency of Decision Making
    How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

  • Contact With Others
    How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

  • Time Pressure
    How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

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Interests

Browse Interests
  • Investigative
    Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

  • Enterprising
    Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • Realistic
    Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

  • Conventional
    Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

  • Social
    Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

  • Artistic
    Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

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Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.

  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

  • Independence
    Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility
    Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

  • Stress Tolerance
    Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

  • Persistence
    Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

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Work Values

Browse Work Values
  • Achievement
    Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.

  • Moral Values
    Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • Achievement-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Autonomy
    Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.

  • Ability Utilization
    Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

  • Security
    Workers on this job have steady employment.

  • Responsibility
    Workers on this job make decisions on their own.

  • Activity
    Workers on this job are busy all the time.

  • Compensation
    Workers on this job are paid well in comparison with other workers.

  • Social Status
    Workers on this job are looked up to by others in their company and their community.

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