Mid Green occupationConstruction and the built environment
Geospatial survey technician
Gathering and processing geographic data from sources, creating 2D or 3D drawings, models for architecture, construction and engineering industries.
Summary
A career contributing to the environment in which you live.
Geospatial technicians play a critical role in all the world’s most exciting and complex construction projects, applying geospatial expertise to solve real world engineering and environmental challenges. They can work on world-class projects, building hospitals, skyscrapers, renewable energy power plants, chemical plants, infrastructure, residential buildings or boring huge underground tunnels. Surveying is also used in industries such as film, TV and theatre, computer gaming and the Metaverse.
This occupation is found in the public or private sector and employers include specialist land, air and offshore mapping companies, civil engineering contractors and consultancies, construction companies, rail operators, local authorities, central government, the military, multinational corporations, cartographic publishers, suppliers of computer-based mapping technology and utilities companies and a range of others.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to capture geospatial data by carrying out a site survey to produce accurate digital 2D or 3D drawings, 3D models and data reports. These surveys help clients to de-risk their projects by providing essential geospatial data on the features and contours of the land or a building or helping contractors by giving them utility services data to avoid services strikes, which could be costly and dangerous. Geospatial technicians exist so that our environment is full of well-built, safe and precisely measured projects. They provide support in disaster relief situations by assisting with search and rescue efforts, helping to locate utilities and provide mapping assistance for retracing where people may be trapped. Geospatial data also assists in reducing flooding caused by climate change when transformed into engineering solutions.
In their daily work geospatial technicians will travel to and from site, working in indoor and outdoor environments across a wide range of locations. They will work alongside geophysical and geotechnical consultants, environmental and ecology consultants, flood risk consultants, ground investigators, ground engineers and other land related professionals to provide multi-disciplinary and collaborative products for engineering and design.
Geospatial technicians will use a wide range of technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) plus electronic data capture tools such as Total Stations as well as cutting-edge 3D laser scanners, 360° camera systems, robotics and drones. Site data is transformed into outputs such as 2D plans or elevation drawings and 3D digital models or augmented reality models for a variety of uses including Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Digital Twins, master planning and architectural or landscape designs.
An employee in this occupation will work with internal and external stakeholders under general direction from a supervisor. They will assist in identifying and responding to complex issues and assignments, capturing key data and interpreting specific instructions, working within quality assurance guidelines to support the development of tasks.
Being a Geospatial Survey Technician is an in-demand occupation, with pathways into global opportunities and the opportunity for travel. The geospatial profession is a fast moving and exciting digital profession that contributes to a better world.
Typical job titles include
- Digital technician | Drone operator | Geographical information systems (gis) analyst/remote sensing analyst | Geographical information systems (gis) consultant | Hydrographic surveyor | Land surveyor | Measured building surveyor | Site engineer | Underground utilities detection surveyor
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Awareness of health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices relevant to surveying and the construction sector, including Health and Safety at Work Act. Awareness of permits and site inductions. Ability to identify the correct safety control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE)
K2:
Risk Assessment and Method Statements (RAMS), site hazards, lines of reporting and required control measures
K3:
Industry legislation and regulations that apply to working in the geospatial profession
K4:
Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant design information from clients' drawings and specifications: 2D and 3D drawings, PDF plans, paper plots
K5:
Methods to locate sites and plan route
K6:
Principles and use of surveying processing software packages
K7:
Handling, adjustment checks, calibration and security of survey equipment on and off site
K8:
Site visits: site reconnaissance, planning and liaison and constraints
K9:
Principles of mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
K10:
Methods of control on site: static positioning, closed traverses, networks and levelling (manual and digital)
K11:
Principles of Geodesy, GIS, trigonometry, mathematics, error theory, photogrammetry and remote sensing
K12:
Co-ordinate systems: projections, transformations and datums
K13:
Traditional and modern equipment and techniques of setting out engineering: measuring tapes and string, distances and bearings, total station using co-ordinates to peg out, grid lines and off set
K14:
Methods of capturing site survey data: topographic, river sections, drainage invert surveys, volumetric calculations, as built surveys and measured building surveys
K15:
Survey types: underground utilities, hydrographic, flood risk, settlement monitoring and rights of light surveys
K16:
Survey equipment used to capture data: total stations, levels, laser scanners, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
K17:
Associated survey equipment: Cat and Genny, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), drone (or unmanned aerial vehicle) and mobile mapping systems. electronic distance measurement (EDM) devices.
K18:
Contents of geospatial survey: data, information and drawings
K19:
Quality assurance procedures of work and drawings: importance of accuracy, precision, types of errors, outliers and standard deviation
K20:
Verbal communication techniques: giving and receiving information and matching style to audience
K21:
Written communication techniques: report writing, email
K22:
Geospatial project lifecycle: recording information, client time, timesheets, meeting deadlines and completing work
K23:
The Four Pillars of Sustainability: Environmental, Social, Human and Economic
K24:
Principles of ethics and regulatory compliance: land ownership and boundaries, permissions to undertake geospatial survey work
K25:
Requirements for continual personal development within the industry and the opportunities for career progression
K26:
Signs of wellbeing and mental health within the workplace, and signposting to available support
K27:
Inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace
Technical Educational Products
- ST0491: Geospatial survey technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0491
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £31,079 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3114/03 Surveying technicians
S1:
Comply with health and safety regulations
S2:
Plan and prepare Risk Assessment and Method Statements (RAMS) and report any additional controls required
S3:
Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE)
S4:
Carry out adjustment checks on survey equipment
S5:
Interpret information from client drawings and specifications
S6:
Gather and interpret information from a range of sources
S7:
Communicate with others verbally, for example colleagues and stakeholders
S8:
Plan surveys selecting survey equipment for a project according to the client's specification
S9:
Planning routes to existing and new sites
S10:
Establish a survey control on site for example using total station, GNSS or levels
S11:
Use setting out engineering equipment and techniques, for example measuring tapes and string, distances and bearings, total station using co-ordinates to peg out co-ordinates, grid lines and off sets
S12:
Use survey equipment, for example total stations, levels, laser scanners, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) using geodetic parameters
S13:
Capture and record geospatial survey data, for example topographic, river sections, drainage invert surveys, volumetric calculations, as-built surveys and measured building surveys
S14:
Select and use surveying processing software for processing data into either 2D or 3D drawing's or 3D models
S15:
Produce geospatial survey reports using computer software
S16:
Apply quality assurance procedures: site work, drawing, model or report
S17:
Manage time and tasks to meet project deadlines
S18:
Comply with relevant industry legislation and regulations when undertaking geospatial work
S19:
Communicate in writing with others, for example internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers
S20:
Comply with environmental, social, human and economic sustainability regulations and requirements, for example safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, efficient use of resources, contributing to the community, volunteering within the geospatial industry
Technical Educational Products
- ST0491: Geospatial survey technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0491
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £31,079 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3114/03 Surveying technicians
B1:
Collaborate within teams, across disciplines and external stakeholders in a professional manner
B2:
Respond and adapt to work demands and situations
B3:
Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in own area of practice
B4:
Support equity, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace
B5:
Take personal responsibility for their own health and safety
Technical Educational Products
- ST0491: Geospatial survey technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC0491
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £31,079 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3114/03 Surveying technicians