Any Alaska surveyors on here?
I may have the opportunity to do a few years of layout work in SE Alaska for an engineer I know.?ÿ
I am full of questions! Is an Alaska state license required for non-boundary related work? State exam study material resources? Do any of the tribes in Alaska require CfedS licensure? How is GPS that far north? It was problematic in the late 90??s, in Northern BC/Yukon ?ÿbut there are way more satellites up there now, so I am hoping it is an option. Availability of recorded maps online? Availability of finding a helper? Survey equipment sales/service/expendables in Juneau??ÿ
thanks in advance!
Justin
Begin with a visit here:
https://www.alaskapls.org/
Layout likely would fall under construction surveying which would not have a license requirement, but also would not count towards licensure.
Good luck! Don??t forget your Grundens rain bibs and xtratoughs.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
I'm not a GPS aficionado, but in Juneau lack of satellites was not the real issue, once you get not too far from civilization there's a lot of thick tree cover.
As far as helpers, it may be just because it's DOT, but to the best of my knowledge, they still have not filled the Locations Surveyor position (license required) and my old position as a ROW determinerer and mapper (license not required).
Just curios, what engineer, if you can say, I may know them.
As far as a license, that's hard to determine without knowing all the details, but if the layout doesn't require knowing where the boundaries are (or if a PLS will be locating the boundaries) , but there can be a fine line, so you will have to use your judgment (is your layout in the middle of a large parcel?). The fact that you are asking about plats may mean you will need some boundary work.
99.99% of recorded plats/surveys are available online from the Alaska Recorders Office.?ÿ
It's been a long time, but the Alaska exam was open book, and the only reference I felt was usefull was the applicable statutes and and administrative code. If you are licensed in another PLSS state you shoukd be able to handle the rest.?ÿ
Juneau is way south by Alaska standards, but there is heavy canopy and terrain that can make a backup total station a requirement, depending on what you are doing.?ÿ
Expect to pay a lot for a helper, especially since working with you won't help anyone get licensed. You will be competing with union shops that pay at least $40- 50/hr all in.?ÿ?ÿ
Here is the GNSS sky on a T1 NETR9 with a Z3G antenna based in Bartlett Cove, a few miles north of Gustavus, SE AK.?ÿ I'm not a surveyor, but have alot of experience in Skagway, Gustavus with high end mapping grade GNSS systems.?ÿ Spruce overstory with DBH's at 2 - 4' and shrub understories can easily prevent lock on 6 satellites.?ÿ Long rods make a difference if you gotta go with satellites.
Please post some pictures if you can.?ÿ Very interested in learning about Alaska and how you survey in a such a dense and remote environment.?ÿ