I am curious how many licensed professionals still go out in the field. My opinion is that there are not enough LS's in the field training what to look for & where (in my area at least). Just want an idea % wise.
I have always done my own field work, except one precise leveling job and one PLSS job I trusted to others in the last 45 years.
Being solo, I am in the field for all my jobs. Regrettably being solo also means I am not training the next generation. This concerns me that if current trends continue, fewer and fewer new surveyors will benefit from the experience of a mentor.
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I dig my own holes, put my eyes and hands on the stone, write the legals, and prepare the plat. My wonderful wife sees to it that we I am paid, and that we pay the nice tax man...which keeps me out of jail.
I hate to say it...but I do not see how responsible charge can sit in the office.
I must admit that the office was how it used to be for me for several years. I then gave up herding cats.
Tom Healy, post: 442151, member: 1139 wrote: Being solo, I am in the field for all my jobs. Regrettably being solo also means I am not training the next generation.
Same situation here. Though this morning my son, much to my surprise, said that he wants to know more about what I do, both field and office. It only took 19 years!
:gammon:
Jim Frame, post: 442155, member: 10 wrote: Same situation here. Though this morning my son, much to my surprise, said that he wants to know more about what I do, both field and office. It only took 19 years!
Great news!
Best part of my job is getting in the field every day. I was a cube rat for five plus years working for the bureaucracy and it about sucked all the joy out my life. Learned a lot on the office end though, mostly that it wasn't for me full time. Have a sharp PC under my wing and I'm going to kick his butt if he doesn't get licensed eventually.
Absolutely
Webbed feet, post: 442147, member: 10038 wrote: I am curious how many licensed professionals still go out in the field.
If you are polling the people on this board I think you will get skewed results. I'd wager that a far higher percentage of participants on this board do their own field work than do in the general population of licensed surveyors.
When I obtained licensure in the very early '80s it was almost expected for licensed surveyors to remove themselves from the dirty little chores of field work. I tried and failed miserably. And for a number of years I would run into colleagues asking me "are you still out in the field?"
There is no getting around the fact that 'responsible charge' requires a great deal of desk work. But the actual work is still outdoors, not indoors. I can't think of a better example to give subordinate personnel than someone that not only works daily in the field, but also enjoys even the mundane and menial.
I have always made a habit of training new employees myself. The last rodman I hired had the easiest first day of his life. I grabbed the rod and told him "try and keep up with me and pay attention...all I want you to do today is watch me and learn."
It's a system that has worked well for years.
paden cash, post: 442186, member: 20 wrote: I grabbed the rod and told him "try and keep up with me and pay attention...all I want you to do today is watch me and learn."
I've tried that, and soon found out that I was the one thing they didn't watch - never knew a cloudless sky could be so fascinating.
I'll admit that I rarely work in the field. Once a week at most. Most of my crews travel over an hour or stay out of town. I'm 32, and I've been Surveying half of my life. Started at $6.50/hr when I was 16. My least experienced crew chief has been with me for 10+ years. I actually went to high school with every one and have known them longer than that. Plus, I have a supervisor advising them and lining them out with 35+ years experience. I trust them. Communication is key. Take pictures, describe stuff and take notes in detail, write me a book. Call with questions. Etc.
I have been doing my own field work for the past 14 years. Prior to that I rarely did field work, for 18 years. I managed field crews and supervised technicians. I don't see a problem in managing field crews and techs. It does make the project less efficient, in my opinion, but I don't believe that it has to reduce quality.
I feel very efficient because I can make decisions in the field instead of making two field trips, like it used to be 😉
I haven't worked with anyone who was on any possible path to licensure for at least 25 years. Maybe that's partly my fault.
Where I live most kids that have the ambition to get an education don't come back and certainly won't do this much work for so little pay.
Recently a customer said "What are we going to do when you and xxx are gone? No young people are learning this."
In 20 years, when a button pusher uses only a next generation GPS and a GIS, and there's no one to disagree, maybe there will be less controversy and confusion.
I do my own research, work w/ the crew to locate monumentation, help set up the control, basically get the ball rolling, and then let the crew do the measurements which I review in the office. I'm lucky that I have a very good crew w/ a PC that I have known since 1983.
I want to be there when things are being found at the minimum...sometimes by myself.
