Hydrographic Survey
Hydrography is the science of measuring and describing the physical features of bodies of water and adjacent land areas that are periodically underwater (such as areas that are covered and uncovered by rising and falling tides). The most common use of hydrographic data is as an aid to safe navigation. This educational activity explains the concept and major components of sonar systems used to collect hydrographic data.

Lesson materials for students 9-12
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/classroom/lessons/23_hydrosurvey_see.pdf (12 pages)

Overview Essays and Resources Needed for Student Research
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/topics/navops/hydrosurvey/
http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/hsd/hydrog.htm

Introduction to Geodesy
Geodesy is the science of measuring and monitoring the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points on its surface. NOAA and its predeccesor organizations have been involved in the geodesy since President Thomas Jefferson created the Coast Survey 200 years ago. Today, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey uses geodesy for navigation, communication systems, and mapping. This lesson explains geodesy and why it is important to us today.

Lesson materials for students 9-12
http://www.nos.noaa.gov/education/kits/geodesy/lessons/geodesy_meet.pdf (20 pages)

Cadastral surveys deal with one of the oldest and most fundamental facets of human society-ownership of land.

They are the surveys that create, mark, define, retrace, or reestablish the boundaries and subdivisions of the public lands of the United States.

They are not like scientific surveys of an informative character, which may be amended due to the availability of additional information or because of changes in conditions or standards of accuracy. Although cadastral surveys employ scientific methods and precise measurements, they are based upon law and not upon science.

Cadastral surveys are the foundation upon which rest title to all land that is now, or was once, part of the Public Domain of the United States.

Index to BLM's 1973 Surveying Manual

Committed to making transportation and navigation safer, NGS conducts aerial photography surveys near airports in the United States and its possessions to position obstructions and aids to air travel. NGS also maps the coastal regions of the United States and provides data for navigational charts.

NGS develops Federal standards for geodetic surveys and helps to coordinate surveying methods. NGS State Geodetic Advisors are stationed in several states to work with local communities to expand surveying capabilities.

History of the National Geodetic Survey (NGS)

Land Surveying Associations Listing by State
For more information and availability of presentations by a Professional Land Surveyor, call the State Association office in your state for the local chapter nearest you.

The article below is a good example of how State Surveying Associations can partner with schools and help promote surveying in the schools.
LSAW Joins Forces with Teachers
"How do land surveyors attract students to fill our college programs and into our profession?"
This article appeared in the February 2004 issue of Professional Surveyor.

Education in Surveying: Why Go to College?
In the formal surveying area, it is important to have core mathematical skills such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus.
This article appeared in the November 2004 issue of Professional Surveyor.

Land Surveying Scholarships Available

Colleges and Universities Offering Land Surveying Programs

ABET Accredited Surveying/Geomatics Programs

Land Surveying Careers in their own words...

Land Surveying Careers
Read about the diverse careers of Land Surveyors across the United States.

Click here for a listing of articles about the diverse and successful careers of Professional Land Surveyors.

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Miscellaneous Information

Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2008-09 Edition
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The Handbook is revised every two years.

2007 Surveyors Rendezvous
Celebrating the Most Renowned American Surveyor. His life story simmers in the stew of fable, history, scholarship and legend. At any one point during his life, George Washington was a militarist, diplomat, distiller of spirits, statesman, innovative farmer, legislator, but most importantly to our mutual interests, a surveyor of property. The early part of September found a group of like-minded folks gathered at the birthplace of George Washington in what was, at the time of his birth, the Colony of Virginia, British America. This pastoral setting, now George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was the site of the annual Surveyors Historical Society Rendezvous. For three days, participants were both educated and entertained by some of our country's foremost experts in all things Washington. (This is a large pdf file complete with images.)
This article appeared in the January 2008 issue of The American Surveyor
Click here to view a pdf version of the article without photos.

Vroom!
Surveying instruments provide precise distance measurements in mega-horsepower tractor pulling contest.

Iraqi CORS
Prior to its first mission in 2004, the survey section of the U.S. Army 175th Engineer Company discovered that Iraq's historic control surveys were plagued with problems common to pre-GPS networks - scattered data, historic stations with inaccurate horizontal positions, and many survey markers being destroyed. Today a successful multi-nation CORS system for Iraq serves as a model for nations that face the daunting task of completely rebuilding their infrastructure.
This 12 page story complete with pictures appeared in the November 2005 issue of The American Surveyor Magazine.

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