Solo Surveyors - How big is too big?

Talk To Kent McMillan About Solo Size Surveys

I would say he has more experience on large solo surveys than anyone else here.

Paul in PA

Beats me...but I have done 50-100 square mile Control Surveys solo, but would balk at some 1 square mile (or less) Boundary Surveys.

Loyal

I partnered with a solo PE on the design of a 250 lot subdivision. I looked at it from the total opposite view: how many 20K jobs would I lose while I was wasting my time on a small lot survey?

There are several ways to look at it. If you are competing against a large firm that is inefficient and flys everything because they don't know how to data collect, you could complete a large shopping center before they get it flown, much less drafted, and your clients will be amazed at your performance.

I often pass sites when my wife and I are going to dinner, and I'll wonder at how I did all that by myself. It isn't that difficult, really, as long as you are methodical and efficient. And on the younger side, and willing and able to work hard.

it is not really size of project that bothers me. it is the time frame to complete it. some clients are just asking for the impossible. you give a time frame to a client, and he will respond saying he needs it done in 1/2 the time.

if i meet this kind of client, i just say it could not be done by me. better to look for a bigger company. fortunately for us, bigger companies also charge double what i ask due to overhead & reputation.

you can't do all survey jobs that comes your way. you will stretch yourself too thin & not be able to meet your client's deadline.

i prefer topographic surveys & GPS work that can be completed in 30 days or so. i find that these works have a larger ROI.

For example, I am looking at putting a cost proposal together for this shopping center. Its approximately 8.2 acres with 17 corners and an hour drive away. It looks like a lot of improvements to locate (especially along the boundary lines) and I wondering how long would it take to do it all by myself with either robotic and/or RTK. Anyone like to ballpark what a project like this would go for in your area?

The Bow Tie Surveyor

> Realistically, How big a job it too big for a solo surveyor?

I think you may want to ask it another way (edit: as I see others have suggested). The real questions are "How long are my clients willing to wait for a survey to be completed?" and "How long am I willing to wait to collect my fee if it's to be paid upon completion?"

for that area, a crew of 4 would take minimum of maybe 3 days to do the topo & boundary another 2 days after you get all the adjoining survey plans.

office work another 3 days.

You need to get rid of two of those guys, they are slowing you down.:-P

It's the time frame that's the main decision point. If the time frame is such that one would have to devote several crews to get it done, then it's too much for the solo operator.

If you have yourself bogged down with other, usually smaller projects that need to get done in the meantime, then you may not be able to meet the timeframes.

Like Bruce said, a motivated and methodical solo guy can cover more ground and collect more quality data in a day than most crews working for the big firms. So as long as it's normally a 1 to 2 crew job and your calendar is sufficiently open, the size of the project should not be a limiting factor.

You can't forget about the research time either. That could potentially take longer.

Its Never too Big!!!

I will not give in to my desire to crack a joke right now. lol

Here is the deal, If you are well qualified as both a field guy and an office guy, then you might as well tackle anything that comes along.

Keep in mind that after a long hard day in the field, there comes a long evening and a night in the office. No overtime for you anymore, its all yours.

I have a problem with taking on too much work, not too big of work.

I am juggling about 10 jobs right now (lot surveys up to a 1500 acre ranch) and its a struggle, but when the pay comes in, its all good.

Randy

Just make sure you quote enough time to fit a few smaller, faster paying jobs in to keep money coming in while your at it and you should be fine. I've only jumped to get a job done in the client's time frame once and I regretted it. Worked crazy hours and got it done but had to push a couple of other jobs back. Your time frame is your time frame. Quote what your comfortable with and if they can't handle it let them go, no hard feelings. You won't regret it.

as a SOLO . . .

I never liked small jobs. There is almost as much work to do on a small job as on a big job.

Most small jobs require the digging of pins in people's yards, constantly asking permission, constantly answering questions and for those using GPS, virtually EVERY corner monument is under a PINE tree. Also, I hated leaving an instrument(GPS, Total-Station, GPS, whathaveyou) . . . for a second.

I liked big surveys. Most pins required no digging, neighbors are far-removed, no traffic, the scenery is nicer(and quiet) and in general . . . they're a lot more fun to do and I can walk away from my equipment for hours . . . if I wanted to.

I used to use 36"-48" 1/8" diameter roads with reflective tape for traverse points. I could easily carry 10-15 or so of these things. I would setup on the rod-point, then kinda "flick it", lightly to put a nail underneath for my TP(to be used later). I would also shoot marked points on posts and large trees for later checks.

It all comes down to what you want to do and how innovative your thinking is.

As a solo surveyor I would jump all over that job, figuring 1/2 day research, 2-3 days in field including staking and 2 days office. I have GPS and robot. FTF would be fun, but good job for my setup.... (not topo just boundary loaction)

as a SOLO . . .

I used to use 36"-48" 1/8" diameter roads with reflective tape for traverse points. I could easily carry 10-15 or so of these things. I would setup on the rod-point, then kinda "flick it", lightly to put a nail underneath for my TP(to be used later).

Um, what?

Worth 15-20k if a penny, and client would happily pay that; if they didn't get a quote of 2k (which they will in this area). How much time is kinda beside the point on this type of project. Client will take the low bid and end up paying 60k (lawyers, financing problems due to delays, managment time, etc.) screwing around with the project. I think Ryan from Netherlands has a better idea of time for the project, but I would never go into one of these on an estimate of time. It would take too much time to come up with reliable estimate and even then there is always something else that crops up.

I did the same thing not to long ago. A realtor begged me to get the job done as soon as possible. I dropped everything else and did it within a week. When I called him to tell him it was done, he said never mind, he did not need it done. Needless to say I was fuming. He even asked if I would reduce the bill. I gave him my mind on that. He did pay up in full but it took a couple of months. Never will I do that again unless I see all the money up front.

I've done several large projects on my own. Some solo, some I'll sub portions to another solo surveyor....

I can have research completed and be on-site surveying and gathering data before many large firms finish processing their project paperwork.... LOL