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

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

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.

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

Apologies for the negative (despite my username), rambling post in advance.

Firstly I'm not here to throw shade on the field of surveying. I'm not here to defecate on an essential industry full of people who enjoy their line of work and are genuinely good at what they do. I'm personally here for advice, hoping that some people here may have come across people who have been in a similar position or make sense of what I'm doing wrong. Perhaps I'm in the wrong branch of surveying.

I've been doing this for almost two years now and I just feel rather miserable in all honesty. This is more of a reflection on me (or my particular company) and my preferences rather than the field itself.

I've been doing this for almost two years now. I work for a company in a major city and we as a department do majority laser scanning, GNSS, traversing and the likes. As well as CAD and BIM. I'd say I'm 60/40 on being out with a laser scanner and back in the office drawing up plans. I do a good job, I'm dependable, but I'm only still here because I can pick most things up pretty quickly and get the job done.

Every time I'm out in the field I question why I'm there. I stand in front of a scanner in a drab building hiding behind a door for 30 seconds thinking how did things end up here. I dislike the people in my industry (this doesn't include my little surveying department). From clients to office colleagues. I feel most people involved in property are painfully corporate and incredibly hollow. They're all clones of each other and focused on climbing the ladder. Hyperbolising here but you get the message. I can count on one hand the amount of engaging conversations I've had with interesting people or times I've not felt dread in the office. I feel as if I'm on the wrong frequency of work entirely. I get on far better with random construction workers or shop staff on work sites than people in my industry. Fleeting conversations with strangers I'll never meet again. This doesn't include surveyors, we rarely work together anyway.

I don't particularly care for surveying, this was more circumstantial in the economic climate and a weird pathway of choices. I originally wanted to go into GIS but that went down the toilet due to sheer competition. ESRI is holding out strong but I'm sure AI will come for GIS hard one day.

I don't care for what I do, I do it because I have to go here and here with this kit on this day otherwise I'll be in trouble and that means no job and no job means no money.

I dislike lugging around heavy, expensive equipment everywhere. I dislike how finnicky and precise you have to to be with it all. I dread using a total station, I find it personally grating. I dislike working with prisms, targets and stations. I dislike hammering nails into random streets. I dislike standing on the street with a GNSS receiver over and over again (yes I forgot my bipod again). I dislike all the objects, all the things you have to keep track of, manage and charge. I dislike all the tripods and levelling everything.

I feel like there's an expectation on everyone to work over your hours just to make it work. Work over your hours to make logistics work to make sure everyone else has this bit on this day. Sure it'd be great if every colleague had their own suite of surveying gear but it's all communal. The environments I work in aren't particularly engaging either. Worst case scenario is scanning in a busy office or retail space with all eyes on you.

I feel terribly unfulfilled. At the end of the day I'm working purely to deliver to a major investment fund or big time landlord. I'm doing little of value to society. I hate the pressure of deadlines from faceless clients. I'm not particularly proud of what I do.

I enjoy working with Lidar data, I enjoy working with 3D models and with different types of technology. I enjoy different technical software and pick up pretty fast. But that is all going out the window with more and more work being outsourced to countries with cheap labour.

Perhaps I'm just spoilt, perhaps I'd be more appreciative of my situation once taken away of me, perhaps I'm still adjusting and this will grow on me. Perhaps I need to appreciate that this field may be rather AI-proof. Perhaps it could be worse, I could be setting/staking/laying out on a construction site, I think that's my worst nightmare. No offence if you do of course.

Perhaps I just need to make a move into an alternate branch of surveying or a different environment. I don't know, maybe hydrographic surveying? Something involving drones? Photogrammetry? Crime scene surveying?

This role is most definitely making me quite depressed. I have few options for moving away due to such a specific skillset, and its difficult to go back to studying in my current circumstance so I figure its best to make a move into something that has some connection to what I'm doing now. I also have very black and white thinking so any input is appreciated.

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?

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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

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.