Surveying and mapping equipment basics today offers opportunities to map the ocean floor, vast land areas of the globe and personal acreage with satellites, hydro-sonars and lidars, and global positioning systems (GPS) equipment. Read about this technology that has replaced the compass, keen eye and land sense. Whether you are interested in aerial mapping equipment, topography or water survey equipment, you can find helpful and informative articles, websites and forum links here.

Compare surveying equipment and chat with fellow surveyors in forums. Find out what you need to know to use GPS mapping equipment. Try new tools, get out doors and enjoy some rugged terrain. Build your surveying and mapping business with the best tools on the market; but first learn the ins, outs and particulars of the field.

1. Learn about surveyor supplies and increase your basic knowledge from engineering and GPS informational websites.

2. Find GPS mapping information to learn from other like-minded professionals.

3. Use state-of-the-art water and aerial surveying equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find tips on land survey supplies, topography equipment and sophisticated GPS gadgets

Surveying and mapping is not just a job to some surveyors; it can be art, skill and passion. Master the basics, then use state-of-the-art GPS survey equipment and supplies to be the best at your business.

I recommend: Learn about survey equipment at the engineering site of Integrated Publishing. Learn about geodetic surveys, plane surveys, topographic surveys, control and construction surveys. Johann-Sandra writes about land surveying and their website. They will discuss some of the skills and attributes of a land surveyor, which they know go beyond scruffy beards and blue jeans.

Use survey and mapping equipment information to learn more about GIS, GPS and CAD interfaces

Forums clear the way for easy learning as you share with those of like mind and interests. Take a look at how-to and go-to websites that explain the basics to new employees or those just starting out in the business.

I recommend: Learn more about GIS and GPS surveying equipment at the GIS Lounge. Interact with like-minded surveyors, cartographers and GPS enthusiasts. Novatel explains on their website that GPS is a collection of satellites officially declared operational in 1995. This system consists of 24 satellites that provide 24-hour-day coverage free of charge. HowStuffWorks has a nice article on mapping, a photograph and some explanation about surveying and GPS.

Navigate an ocean floor or get a wide-eyed view with water and aerial mapping equipment

Advanced technology that uses sonars and lidars will locate significant landmasses in the ocean, while satellite and aerial mapping equipment gives the wide-eyed view necessary for some maps.

I recommend: Hydrographic surveying is a water surveying technique that uses sonars to detect ocean floors and underwater landmasses. Lidar technology is also for surveying and mapping. Read about it all at the Office of Coast Survey. High-resolution aerial and satellite imagery may be just what your company needs. Microsoft’s Virtual Earth software provides this mapping tool.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As well as locating the best mapping supplies and equipment for your job, consider the right CAD software and trained CAD operators to complete the job with the professional touch you need for success.

George Washington was a surveyor before he was the father of our country and his mapmaking and surveyor gifts served him well in his military career. Washington probably would have envied the array of mapping equipment and surveyor supplies available today. Land survey supplies such as the sighting pole and surveyor’s chains have been augmented by laser sights and magnetic locators. Land-based surveying has been given a boost with “eyes in the sky” in the form of aerial mapping equipment and GPS surveying equipment.

Surveying and mapping equipment serves the following purposes, in addition to establishing land boundaries:

1. Laying out buildings and the streets and roads that connect them;

2. Placing trees and shrubbery in an eye-catching manner by landscape architects;

3. Preparing terrestrial, nautical and aerial navigational charts;

4. Substantiating testimony in civil and criminal court cases where distance and location play a role;

5. Supplementing work in geology, forestry, archaeology and other sciences through land surveying tools.

Action Steps
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Canvass the land with mapping supplies and surveying equipment

Surveying demands accurate measurements, and accurate measurements demand quality surveyor supplies. Whether it's the latest in GPS surveying equipment or a low-tech sighting pole, working with equipment from a reputable manufacturer or dealer lends confidence to the surveyor and the survey results.

I recommend: Engineer Supply is a factory-authorized dealer of high-quality mapping equipment and surveyor supplies. Crain manufactures reading rods, leveling rods, tripods and pole-mounting GPS mapping equipment, which it sells through its network of dealers.

Coordinate your surveying efforts with the right software

The broader range of surveying and mapping equipment today means a greater amount of data is collected than ever before. Data collection software collates this information into a manageable format, while computer-aided drafting software applies this information to the design of roads, buildings and landscapes.

I recommend: Microsurvey sells its fully-featured Microsurvey CAD software to surveyors, drafters and engineers, and also offers a program to enhance AutoCAD with its features. It bundles its graphics-based FieldGenius data collection software with Juniper Systems’ data collectors to provide performance and bright graphics in an ergonomically designed package.

Get a bird's eye view with aerial mapping equipment

GPS mapping equipment provides accurate positions, but aerial mapping equipment shows the lay of the land to help envision where that road or building should be placed. Many companies specialize in aerial photography and surveying.

I recommend: Since 1986, GeoData Corp. has used its photogrammetric aerial mapping equipment in hundreds of highway, residential, commercial, utility and environmental survey projects, coupling state-of-the-art computer equipment with experienced employees and timely and professional service.

Learn how to use those land surveying tools

The best land surveying supplies and topography equipment are only as good as the people using them. While most surveyors won't become president, surveying training is a rewarding career path for many men and women.

I recommend: Westwood College offers an associate degree program in surveying, with courses in drafting, mathematics and learning to use GPS surveying equipment.

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• •  Plane surveying, which considers the portion of Earth's surface being surveyed as a plane, uses most surveying and mapping equipment. Unless a precise survey of a large area is called for, surveys do not need to allow for Earth's curvature.
• •  Light-based surveying equipment is available for short-range surveys of 0.3 to 3 miles and for long-range surveys of up to 36 miles. This equipment requires corrections for barometric pressure and temperature, because light travels more slowly through denser air than thin air or a vacuum.

GPS surveying and GPS mapping equipment are replacing traditional surveying and mapping methods due to advances in technology, as well as more economical and accurate GPS devices. In addition to traditional surveying applications, one can find GPS surveying and mapping equipment used in construction, photogrammetry, public safety, public works and remote sensing practices.

Methods of learning about traditional and GPS surveying, mapping applications and equipment include:

1. Completing surveying coursework and obtaining proper licensing

2. Training provided by GPS mapping equipment manufacturers or consultants

3. Earning a GPS certification

4. Reading GPS-related publications such as newsletters and magazines

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain the necessary licensing to enable you to use GPS surveying equipment professionally

Construction projects ranging from residential and commercial construction to public works projects involving road construction and improvements require that a licensed surveyor survey the site. Having the proper credentials is essential for those trained in utilizing GPS surveying and mapping equipment to secure work.

I recommend: Ohio State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a minor in Surveying and Mapping in their curriculum, while the Oregon Institute of Technology offers students a Bachelor of Science in Geomatics with a Surveying Option. Obtain licensing information for your state from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Receive surveying and mapping equipment education and training from product manufacturers

Training provided by manufacturers of GPS survey equipment is an effective way to learn how to operate the features of your GPS mapping equipment properly. When you compare surveying equipment, be sure to inquire as to what support and training resources are available once you purchase the product.

I recommend: Trimble offers a variety of training formats, such as training at a Trimble center, onsite training at your facility lead by a certified trainer or online. System Dividends provides both classroom and onsite training in the use of GPS surveying and mapping equipment and tailors the training to suit the client’s needs (basic or advanced training) and equipment.

Earn a GPS Certificate through accredited surveying and mapping equipment training programs

Trade schools, colleges and universities, in response to the increasing use of GPS as a component of land surveying tools, have introduced GPS courses into their curriculum. In addition to providing instruction on GPS principles, they also provide instruction on GPS applications in various sectors such as surveying, construction, public safety and public works.

I recommend: Pennsylvania State University offers a Geodesy and GPS certificate and the University of California Riverside’s branch of continuing education offers a GPS Technology Certificate upon completion of required courses.

Remain up to date on GPS surveying equipment technology by reading GPS-related publications

The quality of surveying and mapping equipment, as with other technological devices, improves constantly. Reading publications pertaining to GPS, GPS surveying equipment, and GPS mapping equipment is one way to remain current on technological advances and product reviews.

I recommend: Professional Surveyor Magazine and Geospatial Solutions publish magazines and newsletters outlining technological advances, case studies and advertisements pertaining to surveying and mapping supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Trade shows provide excellent opportunities to see product demonstrations of the latest GPS surveying equipment, aerial mapping equipment, topography equipment and water survey equipment. If you are interested in a particular piece of equipment, before making the purchase, ask the vendor if they will provide you a trial period in which you can use the product and determine if in fact it meets your needs. In addition, trade shows allow one to network with vendors some of which offer special prices on their surveyor supplies during the event.