Related to the Related to “Trouble finding help post”…
Rant warning….
I started surveying, or was first exposed to surveying, in 2002 after moving from Kentucky to St. Louis. My first job was with an archeology firm digging up dead folks and their stuff. It was a great little gig for about two field seasons and while working there I got to a use a ??total station?. While the second field season was coming to an end I starting looking for another job realizing my days as Indiana Jones were limited. On a Sunday, while looking through the classified adds, I saw that a local surveying company was hiring. I called them up and spoke with the Head Cheese (PLS – had no idea what that was). Conversation went about like this, “Hello, I saw your add about a surveyor helper??I have used a total station, worked in the field for the last year or so and I??d like to learn more about the position.? His response, ??So you??ve worked in the field?? all summer, and winter, and you want to keep doing that?? ??Yes,” I said. ??When can you start? he replied?
I worked at that firm for about three years straight, left for about 3 months and then came back for another two years. My time there was the best surveying years so far. I loved every bit of it, millions of stories. I started on a three man crew, pounded hubs and stakes for at least 100 neighborhoods in the St. Louis during the big boom of the 2000??s. During those years I went from knowing nothing to running a crew to a PLS in 5 States.
How did I do that??from working with an older very well seasoned, (aka Old Salty Dog Asshole) and experienced crew chief that yelled, screamed, cussed, how eloquently taught and explained why I messed up! In fact, I remember him forcing me to drive 3 36? lathes flush to the ground without breaking them (break one, start all over). I’d flag and stack 35 lathes per 5 gallon bucket (that would always fall over) all day long. Man… when that truck went into park??you’d hop out and start getting shit ready. Pull out the legs, get the gun out, grab your tool pouch, machete, hammer?? The last thing you wanted was the nickname ??Pockets? (standing there with your hands in your pockets). Doesn’t matter where we parked, he always told me, “Son we’re surveying, don’t matter where the hell we are. We’re always gonna gonna need the same stuff, do the same stuff, and always gonna need you to flag up some lathes. So get your ass out of the truck and get ready to work.”
Fast forward 20 years, a few different firms and now at S@M all of our field crews are one-man or two man with an I-Man, that can??t spell GPS. Most of our crews don??t carry levels and don??t know how to use them if they did and 80% of the CC can??t use the Total Station. And I??m not taking about an old lock down gun. They can??t use a brand new Trimble S Series Robot! GPS or nothing! I talk to crews all the time explaining to them how to do basic stuff, stuff a 6-month veteran should know. I would bet 100% of our crews could not do a small topo survey with a level and stadia rod.
I learned how to survey land. I went back to school and took classes, earned a second degree and graduate certificate in surveying, I still read every survey related book I can get my hands on. I learned how to read a deed by walking the lines with deed in hand. I learned how much a 36″ lath bag loaded with a 3 lb. hammer in it, banging against your leg, while walking through muck sucked. I learned where all the Quick Trips (gas stations) are. I learned that buying your crew chief a 5-gallon bucket of seeds for Christmas went a long way. I learned not to spray the lathes upwind from your crew chief.
The advancement of technology has killed the surveying profession. I wholeheartedly believe this. One-man crews cannot teach this odd profession. We can’t get help because we don’t grow surveyors. We are demanding highly educated kids that have never worked in surveying to come right out of school and hit the ground running. As a result, they demand a high pay which doesn’t allow us to train them on practical surveying skills. The University doesn’t teach them to get the hell out of the truck, drive a lath without breaking it, flag up 100 lath, drive the lath straight, buy your crew chief lunch, show up early to load the truck, fill the water cooler, punch nails, sweep out the truck…
Many have described the “love” of surveying or “catching the bug” of surveying…well if you don’t experience the survey crew life then it’s tough to fall in love with pushing buttons. If we keep ignoring the important role apprenticeship has in our profession we are doomed.
rant off 0.02
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