Todd Horton, PLS presents a conversation about Survey Boot Camps. Technician
| Meeting summary for Mentoring Mondays for the Land Surveying Profession (10/14/2024) Quick recap Todd and Trent discussed the potential for collaboration on live training sessions for the Learn CSD program and the challenges faced by the surveying industry in workforce development. They also discussed the importance of background knowledge and fundamental skills for technicians, the success of a boot camp program in Michigan, and the evolving nature of mentoring in the industry. Lastly, they discussed the challenges of managing a growing workforce, the potential of a national licensing system for surveyors, and the importance of learning and education in their professional lives. Next steps • Todd to partner with state associations and companies to develop and deliver technician training programs. • Trent to work on organizing a multi-state surveyor technician training event in the central US for 2024. • Todd and Trent to collaborate on integrating CST certification into the technician training programs. • Trent to share his 42-page document on building a sustainable land surveying profession with interested parties. • Todd to prepare a seminar on the history of surveying for February. • Todd to speak at the California-Nevada Conference from March 29th to April 1st, 2024. • Trent to follow up with interested parties about supporting and sending people to technician training in 2024. • Todd and Martina to assist in developing future technician training initiatives. • Interested parties to reach out to Todd or Trent for involvement in technician training programs. Summary Exploring Collaboration and Technical Issues Todd and Trent discussed their meeting setup and technical issues, with Trent expressing interest in potentially collaborating with Todd for live training sessions, possibly quarterly, for the Learn CSD program. Todd agreed to this idea and mentioned that he needed to update his bio, which Trent had used from his website. They also discussed the history of Urbana, Illinois, and its connection to Urbana, Ohio. Todd shared his past experience teaching land surveying and construction management courses at Parkland College until his retirement a year and a half ago. Todd struggled to share a document with Trent through the video conferencing platform, but eventually succeeded in sharing his screen with three monitors visible. Event Progress, Technician Training, and Surveying Evolution Trent and Todd discussed the progress of their event, which was expected to attract around 21 to 25 attendees. They also talked about the challenges of scheduling events on Mondays and the importance of technician training in the surveying industry. Todd shared his experience in teaching and his recent transition back to the surveying industry, emphasizing his focus on technician training. They also discussed the evolution of surveying technology, with Todd reminiscing about his first instrument, the T2. Workforce Development Challenges in Surveying Industry Todd discussed the challenges faced by the surveying industry in workforce development. He noted that as companies have become more efficient, crew sizes have decreased, reducing the opportunity for traditional mentoring approaches. Todd emphasized the need for new ways to develop employees, with a focus on training for professional surveyors and technicians. He expressed concern about the lack of training opportunities for technicians and the potential impact on the industry. Todd also highlighted the importance of investing in the foundation of the profession and prioritizing training for technicians, who have higher turnover rates. He suggested that generalists would outperform specialists in the long term and advocated for being a generalist in the construction management and land surveying fields. Training Options and Field Experience Importance Todd emphasized the importance of background knowledge and fundamental skills for technicians, stating that one size does not fit all when it comes to training. He discussed various training options, including on-the-job training, college courses, online non-credit training, and self-guided study. Todd also highlighted the value of in-person, hands-on field training, sharing his experience with the Surveyor Boot Camp, a 4.5-day training program designed for those with less than 18 months of field experience. He noted the outcomes of a recent training session, where the team lacked significant experience with automatic leveling and had limited exposure to leveling notes. Comprehensive Training Program for Inspectors and Engineers Todd discussed a comprehensive training program for inspectors and engineers, focusing on the use of levels and note-taking. The program includes a series of exercises, such as a circuit with benchmarks, a topographic survey, and the use of note keepers to enhance understanding of station and offset information. Todd emphasized the importance of hands-on learning, including the use of total stations and GPS equipment to compare elevation differences and establish a straight line. He also highlighted the need for participants to understand angular addition and subtraction, bearings, azimuths, and sexagesimal adjustable math in the context of surveying. The program was initially planned for 4 days but was extended to 5 due to weather and the need for more time to complete certain tasks. Boot Camp Program Success and Technician Training Plans Todd discussed the success of a boot camp program in Michigan, initially co-instructed by Steve Clifford, and expressed pride in Steve’s progress. He mentioned that Chris Beeland, another leader in Michigan, has been a strong advocate for technician training. Todd also outlined plans for upcoming sessions for technicians in the East Lansing area, focusing on plan reading, computations, and problem-solving skills. He emphasized the importance of equipping technicians to be competent problem solvers and to understand their plans better. Todd also mentioned the continuation of Survey Pro, a software used for Cogo and alignment tasks, and its potential for use in the upcoming sessions. He highlighted the importance of field strategies, effective field notes, and accuracy and precision in land surveying. Todd also mentioned the possibility of conducting a 2-day session on control surveys and data for technicians, and the potential for boundary survey fundamentals sessions. Evolving Mentoring and Training in the Industry Todd discussed the evolving nature of mentoring in the industry, emphasizing the need for training beyond internal skill levels. He expressed his interest in helping those who lack the necessary skills for training and suggested the potential for associations to act as a clearinghouse for training resources. Trent then shared his work on a document outlining a 36-month plan for mentorship and certification, and discussed the need for more training in the field. He also highlighted the issue of companies not realizing the need for training and the lack of willingness to invest time and expense in it. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the importance of spending more time in the field with technicians for on-the-job training. Early Experiences and Promoting CST Program Trent discussed his early experiences as a technician, emphasizing the importance of locating reference monuments in the field. He also mentioned his ongoing efforts to promote the Certified Survey Technician (CST) program among graduates. Todd agreed on the value of CST, but also highlighted the need for fundamental field skills. He suggested that CST could be a requirement for consultants in survey work. The team also discussed the benefits of CST in proving one’s investment in the profession and its potential to aid in career progression. Exam Requirements and License Discussions Trent, Todd, Martina, and Rodney discussed taking CST level exams as precursors to the FS and PS exams. They talked about the potential of requiring years of experience and passing an exam to obtain a license. Martina highlighted the importance of basic skills like reading and writing, while Trent noted the necessity of examination, education, and experience. The conversation also covered varying license requirements across states, with a focus on Indiana’s process where Trent could apply to the Board of Registration. Managing Workforce Growth and Training Opportunities The team discussed the challenges of managing a growing workforce, particularly in the context of surveying and engineering. Rodney shared his experience of managing multiple crews and the need for training and mentorship for new hires. Trent suggested the idea of a national licensing system for surveyors, which could potentially be implemented in the future. The team also discussed the possibility of organizing training sessions for technicians and surveyors, with Todd expressing his willingness to collaborate with other companies or associations. Todd and Trent also discussed the importance of learning and education in their professional lives, with Trent mentioning his involvement with the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors and the upcoming California Survey Conference. The conversation ended with Trent encouraging others to reach out for support and training opportunities. AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. |
