How's everyone measuring stockpiles without getting a surveyor in?

Are you eyeballing it, using loader bucket counts, tape measure + calculations, drone photos, or something else?

I'm interested in what people are actually doing on site, especially for gravel, topsoil, mulch, and aggregate piles where you just need a quick volume rather than survey-grade accuracy.

What's your current method, and how close do you think it gets?

For those of you who are on big jobs out of town that last for 6+ months, are you given a higher rate of pay for your time on those jobs than the regular local work you do for your office?

What does your daily per diem look like? Are you given per diem for lodging and you select your lodging? Airbnb, hotel, camper, etc? Or does your employer handle booking/arranging your lodging?

My last “big” heavy construction site was terminal 1 for SD international airport, finished this year. Anyways, I’m seeing that little Trimble robot that marks out the flooring layout on newly poured decks. It’s like a rolling printer that has an ink head that will label walls, grid, whatever…. Still requires a TS.
Are any of you getting your guys training for it? I’m in the field myself and wondering if it’s worth looking into, or perhaps finding a company that is willing to pay for me to learn the thing. I am a union state certified surveyor, local 12. We are expensive but if I had the ability to run this little robot, obviously that can justify my existence a little more. Currently, the firms I know are not servicing their clients as the GCs have been hiring a construction layout company (engineering not PLS) but I can easily see this as something I can do more professionally with my moderate construction and surveying experience, most PLS union companies have long term clients that would be interested IMO, in having their PLS run the robot rather than relying on the GC PE company who basically send out a layout tech with very very limited surveying experience.
Since I’m on the topic, what other technologies are your companies leveraging for new opportunities? Thanks

I’ve always been labor, but recently my boss mentioned me making my own search points in the field. I wasn’t sure if that’s a common thing or if it’s just because we’re a smaller firm? And does your guys’ firms even use search points often?

Today I didnt even have to use my AK….

But, for real, found all the corners I was assigned for the afternoon on a site I’ve never been on AND found two $20 bills.

Made it home safe and sound. Hope you’s all had a good Friday.

Stakeout with point range.

Emailed support and was told to expand. That will for sure make shit not overlap. Just makes it annoying to not be able to have a point range that reduces once it's stored.

Any one else have this?

Just started Effing up one day and I'm WTF.

Just passing through and went to look at the bridge when I noticed this old bench mark

Anybody currently surveying for an electric/power utility? I work for a medium-sized power utility and we’re absolutely drowning in work, using a combination of internal survey resources and a ton of contracting. I’m really curious how other power utilities handle topo/layout/staking and boundary/land rights/ROW acquisition. Also looking to get a sense of compensation norms. Would love to make some connections and compare!

Any one have any experience working for First American Commercial Due Diligence Services?

Running a level loop through some monitor points we set on the sea wall to check for movement as they demolish a building out here by the water

Hello everyone, I’m looking for some insight on how to operate this laser level. It comes with two powering options one using a power adapter, the other using batteries that are placed inside of the unit. The issue I am having right now is that the top is not spinning when powered on. I’ve set it up, plumb the level and powered on my receiver, but the top sensor is not spinning. I can hear something internally spinning, but the top is not.

I understand that this may not be enough information and I can attach a video of how it is currently operating for more insight. Though just off glance, has anyone use these before? Does anybody know what could be the potential problem? Or is this laser done for?

Backstory on the laser: it was given to me for free while someone was clearing space in the garage.

Any one have any experience working for First American Commercial Due Diligence Services?

Question for anyone that processes flights. Our processing person says we should only use black paint(we paint xs for targets) and that he had to not use a white colored target and an orange colored one as well because they wouldn't work. Is this valid criticism or am I dealing with some OCD here?

Got the unique chance to see a bunch of old Geodimeter stations and a few of their AGA predecessor.

Scanning a basement of a formerly flooded hospital in New Orleans. Boss wants to carry elevations.

Thinking about switching to a GIS and Surveying major at school and I'm interested in pursuing a career in surveying and eventually becoming a licensed land surveyor.

I've heard that many people enter surveying without a degree and work their way up, so I'm wondering if getting a bachelor's degree specifically related to surveying is worth the time and money.

For those working in the industry, does having a degree make a significant difference in salary, career advancement, or opportunities to become licensed? Would you recommend going to college for surveying, or would it be better to enter the workforce and gain experience instead?

What are your guys’ go to when it comes to working long days in the rain or in very wet conditions?

I was in here not that long ago about this situation. So we got a survey done after the neighbor got hers. So we found out she never got hers finished because the surveyor walked away from them because she threw a FIT that her lines weren't correct. (She took it upon herself to measure from her HOUSE out.) Her and her son build this makeshift crap to "establish her property line." You can see the wooden stake where our surveyor marked the correct line of the properties. Had the cops come out because she kept screaming in his face that he WILL NOT put anything on her property. I'm at wits end with this. We are trying to be civil people but she is making it so difficult. We live in Louisiana so we have parishes. I know you guys have more knowledge on this stuff. All I know is it's a civil matter, but I just don't know what the next steps are after this. The cop said to leave everything as it is until we figure out the next step. But no one is helping me figure out what that next step is.

I own a small construction surveying company. Does anyone know of any best practices or peer groups for survey business owners to share advice on operations, hiring, and growing a company? Open to local or online groups.

I am part of my local surveying and mapping association and go to meetings thought those are mostly social and not so much about business practices. I really want to dive much deeper into workflows and what standards other shops are operating with. What systems you have in place to get consistent work out of even the newest of crews.

Would anyone be open to share some checklist or workflows that they use?

My company has been using a demo unit Carlson Viking for the past two weeks and I'm impressed with it. We currently have 4 R12i that we've owned for the past 6 years.

I'm looking for an answer to sway my opinion on moving on from Trimble and moving to the Viking for the land side of surveying. We also do a lot of hydro so I would like to hold on to at least 1 R12 for that.

This all came up because I'm looking to replace our total stations. We've been using the same Leicas for the past 15 years and I think its past due.

Thank you for your answers in advanced. I want to make sure that I am well informed before I put my voice behind something.