I just read the POB article from Angle Points by Michael Pallamary. I think he posts on here regularly (that article last month about the surveyor showing a .01' difference on a trash pile killed me) and I thought it was a very interesting article. It is especially poignant now due to an experience I had last week. Follow me on this and I promise there is a point.
Yesterday I took my kids to the Gwinnett County Regional Airport for flying lessons/rides. The Experimental Aircraft Association puts on what they call 'Young Eagles' where they have a pilots with planes take kids ages from 8 to 18 up in the air for free. They let the kids take over at the wheel for a while, they give them log books, educational materials, etc. After seeing all the kids with HUGE smiles on their faces, the pilots (mostly retired engineers from Georgia Tech) and the program curriculum it occurred to me that many professions are self propagating. They (the retirees) promote the profession due to love, interest, willingness to teach and a slew of other reasons. I know many passionate surveyors out there and that makes me wonder Are we a dying profession? or are we bringing in new blood?
I am asking this as an open question, not a criticism. I know I have read on here some discussion (some, really lengthy discussions) about this very subject. Is anyone doing anything similar to the EAA? Have they found other avenues of reaching out to the community such as Boy Scouts? 4H? FFA?
There's no Apprenticeship, C.T.
Did I spell that right?
No matter.
Anyway, when you have a one-man crew, you ain't teaching anybody but yourself.
That's technology
Sucks.
Yeah, it's dying from what I've seen of the young guys
Don
I was just reading this before coming here. So I think it's happening everywhere. It's a major concern and sign of the times.
http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/515926/how-technology-is-destroying-jobs/
There's no Apprenticeship, C.T.
Hi Don,
There is an apprenticeship in California. (Southern California Joint Apprenticeship Committee) I spent about 6 years in their chainman and party chief classes.
Jeff
Yes, and no. I think its just changing. I am fortunate to have some of the tail end of the "old school" but was techie and immersed myself in the technology. I think some of the fundamentals are shifting. Its human nature to feel out of place in a rapidly changing profession. That said, I think there is a tremendous opportunity to pass the torch. I am in no way an old dog at 40. When I say old dog, I mean "the seasoned surveyor". The ink is almost dry but I have so much to learn still from the "old dogs". I glean it by listening, asking, and peer reviews. I try to pass on what I have learned to less experienced surveyors but I also am open to learning from them as well. I think if we can shift our thinking, we can see this as an opportunity to perpetuate old values and the "artistic" side of our profession. Many can learn the science but its the art of our craft which is learned through the lessons of old school mentors and hard knocks. We are wounded but it mostly our fault.
B
The parts of our profession requiring making judgement calls based on experience and knowledge of law will always be needed. Those in the future involved with construction staking and acquiring data will probably be certified, not licensed as professionals. The transition is going to be feisty, the shift has began with the development of computing ability, supporting software combined with Real Time GPS receivers providing control of equipment, structure locations and point clouds.
jud
I have had the opportunity to speak or teach about five or six times in the last two years.
I have spoken to the summer day camp at our history center. The teachers do a class on the history of our state and I come in and do a presentation on the history of mapping the state. I am talking to seven to ten year olds so I try and keep the presentation fun and interesting. I describe what it was like running boundary lines through the woods (treasure hunting). I bring in some old equipment like a staff compass, an old transit, and a sextant. I let them play with that and then I give them the rod with my 360 prism on it and tell them to run around while my robotic instrument tracks them. I explain the new equipment. It is a hit. I am never able to leave and the class on time and the presentation always runs over.
I have also been asked to speak at a collage to explain the applications of trigonometry to college students. I was a little more afraid of keeping those kids attention, but I did a presentation on "How to beat a speeding ticket using trigonometry". I must have been interrupted a hundred times with questions and no one blinked. I loved it.
These things fell in my lap. I was asked to do them. I can promise that if you or your professional group called a few summer camps, high schools or colleges you would be welcomed with open arms. As far as the curriculum, come up with two or three based on your audience and you are a traveling survey promotion team brainwashing kids along the way.
Good Luck!
Josh Lewis 4
Atlanta, GA
I am the State Coordinator for the TrigStar in MA. I've given the exam at our local HS for the past 6 years and have also spent one class each year demonstrating the profession through a powerpoint presentation I developed.
I also have sponsored, in association with MALSCE, a Surveyors Rendezvous at the Boston Common to coincide with National Surveyors Week. Since that falls in March I'm going to postpone the Rendezvous next year to April to hopefully get some better weather 🙂
As Teddy Roosevelt (the other guy) said, "Every man owes some time to the upbuilding of the Profession to which he belongs."
Surveying has been very very good to me.......
There's an Apprenticeship, D.B.
"...our clients may not be as nostalgic as we are."
Wow, a tip of the old sombrero to you, gschrock.
That is an excellent observation and a heck of a line.
Thanks,
Don
Thanks all for the responses. Many good quotes on hear and thought. I personally have been and am involved with BSA and have a presentation and also am the one in charge of getting the young men the Surveying Merit Badge.
My classes are full, and some have a waiting list. Ain't dead here.
Don't be modest, Professor, it's your personality, not surveying, that attracts them to your classes.;-)
Don
