We have hired a newbie with ZERO survey experience. Before he was even offered the job, and again when he received the offer on Monday, he asked for us to recommend very basic land surveying resources so he can learn the very, very basic things about surveying. I think back to my early days where I learned from my time in the military, we had an 8 volume training manual that was pretty good.
What are some books or pdfs or websites that he could start looking at? Or Survey 101 textbook? Thank you for your time!
When I was a technician back in the '60s, I worked for a County highway department and learned a good deal from a surveying manual issued by the State DOT, Minnesota in this case. Other DOTs will likely also have manuals available.
The current Minnesota manual can be found at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/surveying/manuals.html
Of course it contains a certain amount of material about MnDOT's internal administrative procedures and working relationships. But there is also a lot of strictly technical information, presented in a very concise and practical manner. It's written for people who have a job to get done and need to know how to do it.
It would be possible to take a manual of this kind, print it out, and mark it up to show the new hire the paragraphs and pages to read. The markup would probably take an experienced surveyor a couple of hours, but it would only have to be done once.
There is a book named "Land Surveying Simplified" by Paul Gay which looks like it would fill the bill. $10 for the kindle version. I have not read it, myself. Perhaps I will, tonight.
You have a terrific prospect. Anyone that’s asking that question already is already showing they are looking for a career vs a job. I have a few good articles and such tucked away. Once i get back I will try and dig them up and get them to you. I was a big magazine guy back when paper was cool. POB etc. Take the time when you can and just walk a site and educate him. Things to look for things to consider. It will not all sink in at first. But one day that light bulb will come on and he will be top notch.
There area number of DOT manuals available online. That will probably be your best free resource.
Surprisingly, in all of my school work and resource reading, there is a lot missing. A couple of for instances.
How to read a tape accurately. (Viewing position)
How to check for squareness of a foundation
Stakeouts (where and why)
etc
While I agree that many of these DOT manuals contain excellent bits I think that setting one of them on an entry level eager beaver would be a cruel trick. Just don't do it. Better to give them the latest monthly edition of XYHt or American Surveyor. Much better still would be to give of your time.
These are pretty basic videos, but may help a newbie to start to understand concepts and become familiar with terminology. May even spark their interest even further.
https://geodesy.noaa.gov/corbin/class_description/NGS_Video_Library.shtml
This is a pretty good source of information. We have a young buck wanting to learn and I prepare exercises for him every few days for him to work out and then we go over it. It's good for brushing up on the math, especially.
Amazon just delivered my copy of Land Surveying Simplified, 2nd Edition. I've had only a short time to review it but I'd say it looks like a fine resource for an entry level person.
It discusses things like slope distances vs. horizontal, how and why angles are measured, and how bearings are derived from them. Coordinate systems, datums, the PLSS. Just the basics of what and why these things are. Why different instruments are used in different situations. What monuments are, and some rudimentary boundary principles. 6"x 9" and about a half inch thick. Softcover. A tick under $20. Just what the doctor ordered.
