Soil surveying technician

Description

Soil surveying technicians analyse soil by carrying out technical surveying tasks, using soil surveying techniques. They focus on the process of classifying soil types and other soil properties. Soil surveying technicians operate surveying equipment and utilise programs to retrieve and interpret relevant data, and perform computations as required.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to soil surveying technician:

field survey technician
survey technician
mineral technologist
surveyor
land survey technician
soil scientist
mineral technician
field surveyor
geological technician
geologist
geological technologist
soil technician

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Soil surveying technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Soil surveying technician career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to soil surveying technician.

surveying technician
hydrographic surveying technician
corrosion technician
material testing technician
physics technician

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of soil surveying technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of soil surveying technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

soil scientist
land surveyor
land planner
geological engineer
research engineer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of soil surveying technician.

  • Soil mechanics: Thoroughly understand the characteristics of soil in relation to analysing the deformations of fluids within soil that supports man-made structures.
  • Soil structure: Diversity of soil elements and types of soil in relation to plant growth.
  • Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
  • Laboratory techniques: Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.
  • Geology: Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.
  • Soil science: The field of science that studies soil as a natural resource, its characteristics, formation, and classification. It also examines the physical, biological, and chemical potential of soil.
  • Ecology: The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of soil surveying technician.

  • Perform laboratory tests: Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
  • Prepare surveying report: Write a survey report containing information on property boundaries, the height and depth of the terrain, etc..
  • Ensure compliance with safety legislation: Implement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.
  • Collect samples for analysis: Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  • Apply safety procedures in laboratory: Make sure that laboratory equipment is used in a safe manner and the handling of samples and specimens is correct. Work to ensure the validity of results obtained in research.
  • Gather experimental data: Collect data resulting from the application of scientific methods such as test methods, experimental design or measurements.
  • Write work-related reports: Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.
  • Conduct soil sample tests: Analyse and test soil samples; determine gas chromatography and gather relevant isotope and carbon information; determine viscosity.
  • Operate surveying instruments: Operate and adjust measuring instruments such as theodolites and prisms, and other electronic distance-measuring tools.
  • Adjust surveying equipment: Ensure accuracy of measurement by adjusting surveying equipment.
  • Conduct field work: Conduct field work or research which is the collection of information outside of a laboratory or workplace setting. Visit places in order to collect specific information about the field.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of soil surveying technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Surveying: The technique of determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them.
  • Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
  • Cartography: The study of interpreting the elements depicted in maps, the measures and technical specifications.
  • Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
  • Surveying methods: Have an understanding of surveying methods, remote sensing methods and equipment.
  • Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
  • Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
  • Topography: Graphic representation of the surface features of a place or region on a map indicating their relative positions and elevations.
  • Civil engineering: The engineering discipline that studies the design, construction and maintenance of naturally built works such as roads, buildings, and canals.
  • Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • Agronomy: The study of combining agriculture production and protection and regeneration of natural environment. Includes the principles and methods of critical selection and adequate application methods for sustainability in agriculture.
  • Geography: The scientific discipline that studies the land, phenomena, characteristics and inhabitants of Earth. This field seeks to understand the natural and man-made complexities of Earth.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of soil surveying technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Record survey measurements: Gather and process descriptive data by using documents such as sketches, drawings and notes.
  • Conduct land surveys: Conduct surveys to determine the location and features of natural and man-made structures, on surface level as well as underground and underwater. Operate electronic distance-measuring equipment and digital measuring instruments.
  • Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
  • Advise on nature conservation: Provide information and suggested actions relating to the conservation of nature.

ISCO group and title

3111 – Chemical and physical science technicians


References
  1. Soil surveying technician – ESCO
Last updated on February 12, 2023