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Young Professionals accurate, understandable representations of property boundaries
Corner and land features.” While it is accurately put, it is missing
Corner
Corner
fundamental parts to what I believe the art to possess, experience
and dedication.
Our elder population in surveying has demonstrated this by
still working and practicing. Most of them have learned either by
experience, repetition, research, divine survey ability or because
they were there. Much of what I have learned has come from
Keep the Knowledge Alive talking with many of our local surveyors. They have let me know

By Thomas C. Vona, Young Professionals Committee Member that certain surveyors would set a specific type of monument in
the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s and that would identify if it was originally
Recent events in my life have lead me to reflect on something that our theirs. At one time it was known that a surveyor in the 40’s didn’t
society and industry has been dealing with. The growing age of our correct for temperature with their steel tape and their monuments
workforce. Primarily that the average age for a Licensed Land Surveyor is don’t measure the same as the deed or map. They have the
near 60 years old. This has been a concern for a long time and I know knowledge that most town roads in a particular town were build
much effort has been made to get new blood into surveying. Efforts include on one side of the lot lines or sub-lot lines and not down the
promoting surveying at job fairs to students and young adults, college centerline as some have assumed with retracement. That at the
programs, outreach with veterans, and hiring through advertisements. county clerk’s office in the bottom of the map plat cabinet 3 has
There are even podcasts, online groups and forums that are extending the a pile of non indexed maps or there are hidden doors on the side
reach for new talent and increase land surveying presence. While this of the Liber’s book case that has all the railroad maps in it. These
helps replace our industries foundation of workers, having so many aging, tidbits of knowledge are not getting transferred to the younger
highly skilled people near, at or past retirement means we are losing a generations as they once were. It was easier for these types of
fundamental part of our knowledge base.
things to come up in conversation with multi person crews, or
The advancements in technology since the turn of the century is before the online record availability at the county clerk’s.
undeniable in our industry. This change has also allowed for more efficient Now it takes a concerted effort for both experienced surveyors
surveying practices in the field and office. In turn, as an industry, we have and unripe technicians to transfer this knowledge. It is sometimes
been able to keep surveying with smaller crews or individuals. From a impractical to try and teach someone these things when there is
business perspective this makes sense, cut overhead and increase such a demanding workload. It’s usually faster and easier to just do
efficiency. Most of the focus and procedures that I hear stem around the it yourself, but teaching these skills help retain your employees and
best utilization of new equipment and under- makes them more efficient in producing quality work. Sharing
standing the capabilities of the equipment. with your crew how a difficult survey was concluded or how you
A downfall of this is the deficient transfer found that “missing” deed. It is on
of knowledge that goes into the ‘Art’ technicians to seek out this
of surveying.
information. Not everything is on
As the AI put it for me: “The ‘art’ of land those tablets or online. This
surveying refers to the skill and knowledge can be shared also at
judgment required to interpret regional meetings. Bring or invite
historical and recorded infor- technicians to be involved in the
mation, combine it with surveying community.
modern technology and
meticulous fieldwork,
and then create

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 61 • NO 6 / 2025 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 15