The student trainee surveyor will be taught to plan and conduct routine surveys and resurveys involving survey situations and projects that are not complex. Most assignments are characterized by requiring basic research to find and interpret land records, historical data and legal decisions that are simple to locate. The trainee is given survey situations that are small and generally uncomplicated. The employee must learn to apply professional survey knowledge and judgment in conducting, applying and modifying field survey methods, techniques and procedures in day-to-day operations. The trainee surveyor is taught how to conduct surveys in the full field-to-finish mode, using electronic data collection and computer based measurement software. The trainee learns to apply professional surveying knowledge to evaluate the results for most computations and display of results. The employee will be taught how examine physical evidence recovered in the field and assesses its acceptability with the support of recorded historical documents for positioning boundaries or resolving disputes. The trainee will learn to prepare and provide information for all necessary administrative documents such as: time and attendance, travel, vehicle maintenance and operational reports, accident reports, and weekly progress reports. The trainee will be taught how to fulfill all safety requirements and to utilize necessary equipment. The trainee will be taught to draft field notes and plats describing in detail the surveys performed using word processing and Computer Automated Drafting (CAD) software.

Physical Demands: A considerable amount of physical activity is required while conducting field survey operations, hiking, or climbing over rugged and steep trails while carrying heavy survey equipment and clearing survey lines of brush with axes, brush hooks, and chain saws.

Work Environment: Outdoor work requires exposure to risk of discomforts of extremes in climate, living conditions, and terrain. Safety precautions are required and the student must wear protective equipment during field survey operations. The student may also be exposed to poisonous snakes, plants, and a variety of wild and dangerous animals common to the outdoors. Other work is performed in an office setting with adequate heat, light, and ventilation.