Where does the profession go from here?

I don't understand this idea of "one product." A man calls me and says he needs a survey. I ask him what has happened in his life that makes him feel that he needs a survey. I rarely receive the same answer. My product is the solution to my client's unique problem.

Tommy Young, post: 359719, member: 703 wrote: There are some former switchboard operators that would like to have a word with you.

From our friend Wikipedia:

Medieval and early modern tradition recognised only three professions: divinity, medicine and law ‰ÛÒ the so-called "learned professions".

Major milestones which may mark an occupation being identified as a profession include:

1. an occupation becomes a full-time occupation
2. the establishment of a training school
3. the establishment of a university school
4. the establishment of a local association
5. the establishment of a national association
6. the introduction of codes of professional ethics
7. the establishment of state licensing laws

Switchboard operators, not so much.

gschrock, post: 359766, member: 556 wrote: These folks have University, so does it qualify?

Probably did before the rampant grade inflation pretty much ruined their academic reputation. Now it's just another meat based party school.

Murphy, post: 359727, member: 9787 wrote: I don't understand this idea of "one product." A man calls me and says he needs a survey. I ask him what has happened in his life that makes him feel that he needs a survey. I rarely receive the same answer. My product is the solution to my client's unique problem.

The scenario that you have given is of a Professional Surveyor providing professional services to their client. We provide many types of products performing property surveys. The point that I was trying to make earlier is that we need to understand the difference between the unique professional services we provide and the part of our business that is increasingly being turned into a commodity. Technology is decreasing our roles in areas that we once dominated. Many companies are taking a niche, such as topographical surveys and turning it into a commodity.

An Engineer today in certain areas, can take available data sets and create a database. This can be based on county wide digital images, digital mapping, LiDAR, utility as-builts, and the property layer of the GIS. Of course, they could be in serious trouble and negligent if they do not field verify the data. Now if the idea of an Engineer using GIS for property determination for any design beyond Concept does not get your your blood boiling, you should turn in your Surveyor Card. The other items could be used with the appropriate field verification. I do not believe that we will have success trying to dictate to the public that they can only use Surveyor Approved data sets. We should definitely be able to make the case that property information should be provided by a Professional Surveyor.

Kent McMillan, post: 359611, member: 3 wrote: Sorry, no sale. The land surveying profession exists as a profession in the first place because of a societal need. A society that insists upon being able to buy maps of residential properties that purport to be those of a survey of the same and for $350 or less is the force that has created the platoons of registrants willing to sell them that product.

My comment about the lower quality of younger surveyors entering the profession is simply an observation. I'd love to think that intelligent, educated registrants are filling the ranks instead of a bunch of technologists whose attention is apparently elsewhere.

I can only imagine the old timers' comments about your generation when you were green. 'These kids couldn't throw a chain and hit the side of a barn...'

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15 historical complaints about the frivolous youth:
http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=52209

Technology is ruining our profession.
you can really get trapped in that web of beepers and Zenith televisions and Walkmans and Discmans and floppy discs and zip drives, laser discs, answering machines and Nintendo Power Glove...

spledeus, post: 360080, member: 3579 wrote: I can only imagine the old timers' comments about your generation when you were green. 'These kids couldn't throw a chain and hit the side of a barn...'

My comment has to do with the grasp of the fundamentals, not measurement technology. The present generation of licensees seems generally to be so preoccupied with running technology that they overlook the fundamentals. I think that both are mainly reflections of market forces: (a) the proliferation of engineering firms and (b) the transformation of land surveying services into a commodity to be purchased at the lowest price for quickest delivery.