Technological innovation always shakes up an industry, and the surveying industry is no exception. All throughout surveying, machine guidance systems are gaining acceptance. The increased adoption of this technology by the industry is renewing the importance of surveyors. Machine guidance systems require skilled workers to calibrate and operate, and surveyors are in the best position to do this job. In order to capitalize on the opportunity, surveyors will need to learn to use machine guidance and promote their new skill.

Originally developed as a checklist to be used during development and execution of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contracts (EPC’s), Mike McMahon’s EPC Checklist has broad application -- whether you are developing project punch list items, ensuring separate tasks are scheduled by engineers, vendors, contractors and project managers, or providing construction inspectors a list of work items to validate in the field, this comprehensive list of questions will add value to your project.  Sometimes construction project solutions and positive outcomes are all about knowing the right questions to ask -- here are 10,500 of them, organized by 176 subjects of construction work type.

This topic includes information related to asbestos assessment performed prior to construction. Asbestos is natural mineral used in a variety of building materials from the late 19th century and in to the 20th century. Asbestos assessment is a process that evaluates existing conditions of a structure to quantify the existence of this hazardous material.

This topic includes information related to environmental assessment performed prior to construction. Land development decisions impact the natural environment. Environmental assessment is a process that evaluates existing conditions of air, water and land to understand these potential impacts. Understanding what impact a new development may have on existing conditions, allows for solutions that improve existing conditions to be included as part of the land development plan.

This topic includes information related to traffic assessment performed prior to construction. Land development decisions impact transportation. Traffic assessment is a process that evaluates existing conditions to understand these potential impacts. Understanding what impact a new development may have on existing conditions, allows for solutions that improve existing conditions to be included as part of the land development plan.

There are two major categories of Surveying: geodetic and plane surveying. Geodetic surveys consider the surface of the earth as being accurately curved, whereas plane surveys assume the earth is flat, which is functionally accurate for the short distances involved in almost all construction work. There are many categories of plane surveys, which are referenced to an accepted level plane such as mean sea level or the North American Datum.