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Saving Surveying: What Does It Take To Get

People Involved? An abstract of a Mentoring Monday’s

Prepared by Trent J. Keenan, PLS & Kristina Poulter presentation from March 1, 2021

In almost every state, the number of licensed surveyors is dwindling in
comparison to the number of surveyors who are projected to retire in the
coming decade.

In Alaska alone, over 12% of surveyors will disappear from the ranks in the
coming years. While a short-term viewpoint might celebrate more work and
higher wages for the surveyors who remain, from a long-term standpoint, the
situation looks grim.

Surveyors are a passionate bunch. Many surveyors who “retire” can’t seem to
stay entirely out of commission for long. It’s the type of passion that results in
a thirst to pass down knowledge and wisdom to future generations. So how
can we ensure that enough hands will be ready to take up the reins?

During a recent Mentoring Mondays, surveyors in attendance brainstormed the challenges and hurdles facing the profession.

Balancing academics and experience

Michael Schoder, PLS and retired BLM Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Alaska is concerned about filling the surveying ranks.

He thinks that the solution to the dilemma likely lies in creating a system of mentoring.

While the University of Alaska has a strong geomatics program for surveyors, including a dedicated cadastral track, Michael doesn’t
know if education alone can inspire and prepare the next generation of surveyors.

“The problem is that in my view is that you can’t do this all with academia. And I think once
we said, hey, well, it’s a four-year degree. Great. We can train them. Now I can back off. I
don’t have to mentor them. I know when I get somebody out of one of those programs,
they’re going to have some basic knowledge,” Michael said.

While programs these days are sophisticated, a thorough career like surveying requires a
delicate balance of hands-on experience.

“Working experience is huge. And it’s really hard to get the people that want the right desire
to be in the field or deal with that,” said Michael.

He raised the point that many young potential surveyors are also considering careers like engineering, which can have a much faster
return on investment than a surveying degree. When it comes down to weighing finances against passion, passion doesn’t always win
when higher education degrees clock in at up to $40k per year.

“I really think the best surveyors are the ones that get the passion. You know here we are, some of us in retirement that we - I thought
when I walked out, hey, I’ve done it for 45 years. I’m going to do something else,” Michael said. “I don’t think we can take the surveying
out of a real surveyor. You can’t.”

A new House Bill in Florida

Other states are grappling with this same question and experimenting with ways to find the answer.

Florida just introduced House Bill 821, which will allow the education path to open back up in Florida. The concept is that surveyors will
need six years of experience, but the balance between academic and work experience can vary.

If the bill passes, it means students can choose to pursue a four-year degree followed by two years of experience, or a two-year degree
followed by four years of work experience, or even elect to do six years of experience only.

6 The Nevada Traverse Vol.48, No.2, 2021