Celebrating National Surveyors Week

Aaron: I enjoy transportation and construction staking. There’s something incredibly rewarding about being out onsite, helping lay out the precise points that guide a project from plans to reality. When the construction is finished, there’s a real sense of pride in being able to look at the completed roadway or structure and know you played a direct role in bringing it to life. It’s one of those parts of surveying where you can truly see the impact of your work.

Steven: Boundary, I enjoy following the footsteps of previous surveyors and getting to know the history of the land.

Jona: ALTA Surveys – It is my favorite because it’s a mix of boundary surveying and title analysis.

Tim: Topographic Surveys and ALTA Surveys.

Luke: I have been mainly doing Right of Way Engineering so that would be my favorite. Typically, it’s a big puzzle of establishing property lines, easements, right of way taking etc. and it is very satisfying when everything comes together.

Sterling: Boundary surveys, because they were typically out in the country away from people and traffic.

Jacob: Either ALTA or Topographical survey.

Steven: Lakeland has a deep history of talented surveyors who performed a lot of the foundational work that encompasses the boundaries of the land here. It has spoiled me in a sense, knowing that I have reliable work and experience at my beck and call.

Jona: One aspect of surveying in Indiana that is unique to me is learning about land records in our state as it corresponds to history.

Tim: I like the fact that we are surveying at sea level on the Gulf side of Texas.

Luke: Indiana has established its own Public Land Survey System, its own state coordinate system, and maintains original monumentation.

Jacob: One thing that we deal with as surveyors in our region that others may not is how low we are to sea level. Other places are not surrounded by the ocean so that’s one thing we deal with that others may not.

Aaron: There was a car in the creek on the project site where the bridge had been removed the week before our field work.

Steven: The most unexpected thing that I have seen on a job site has been some the strange things I find on a person’s property.

Tim: Wildlife, snakes, bob cats, and bees.

Sterling: While we were working in Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River, a runaway barge broke loose and ran aground right where our project location was.

Jacob: The wildlife we come across. Venomous snakes as well as deer, hogs, and other wildlife animals.

Aaron: The suspension bridge on SR 46 going into Columbus, Indiana. It was the first project that I did as a Crew Chief.

Steven: Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC), getting to work on a part of survey history that will last the test of time is always my favorite part of the career.

Jona: Working on the 70 Connect 3 (Lauth) modern industrial warehouse in Greenfield, Indiana offered the opportunity to ensure the project was based on accurate data and planning for long-term success.

Tim: Subdivision development. It’s cool to see the project from start to finish.

Luke: I spent some time working on the I69 project from Martinsville to Indianapolis, which is the largest project I’ve been involved in so far. It gave me exposure to a wide range of surveying challenges and complexities, and it was exciting to contribute to something with such a significant impact on the region.

Sterling: I have no favorite; my main focus is to take pride in any project and deliver a quality product. That’s what makes me proud.

Jacob: The job we did for the port of Corpus Christi a couple years back. Reason being was how big the area was and how much walking and effort went into completing this job. It was a team effort.

Aaron: A pocketknife and a spoon.

Steven: I usually carry a mini DIY survival kit inside of an old altoids can. It carries a little bit of anything, helps out a bunch!

Tim: Hydration and snacks.

Sterling: Snacks and bug spray. It’s not surveying gear but can save the day on certain sites.

Jacob: We do have some wasp and bee spray (raid) which has nothing to do with surveying but does come in handy when we come across them in the field.

Aaron: Understanding how demanding and difficult the field work truly is. It often requires long hours, physical effort, and adapting quickly to unpredictable conditions.

Steven: We are not just tradesmen that overcharge for putting stakes in the ground. We are a profession that holds an extremely high standard and should be treated as such.

Tim: Just how critical survey accuracy truly is. Each point collected directly affects design, construction, and the final quality of the project.

Luke: Surveyors are truly your allies. We genuinely care about establishing property boundaries correctly and accurately so landowners can feel confident that their rights are protected. Our goal is to make sure landowners aren’t being taken advantage of and every piece of land is documented with honesty, clarity, and precision.

Jacob: Just doing the little things right goes a long way. Some people take short cuts or don’t do certain things correctly which can mess up a survey. It is crucial for the survey to be done right.