Questions

1. Name four famous people who were surveyors.
2. Name four different divisions in surveying?
3. Is surveying a field of applied mathematics or a field of applied science?
4. What does LIDAR mean?
5. What does GPS mean?
6. How was the moon mapped?
7. How do I become licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

Answers

1. Possible reponses include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Mason, Jeremiah Dixon, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark.
2. Possible answers include boundary surveying, construction surveying, photogrammetry, remote sensing, geodesy, geographic information systems, hydrographic surveying, and forensic surveying.
3. While surveyors have to be knowledgeable in the sciences, it is a field of applied mathematics.
4. LIDAR is an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging. This tool determines the range (distance) and angles to objects that reflect laser light. These values are used to generate dense "clouds" of coordinates, and are used by many other engineering professions.
5. GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System. This space-based system designed by surveyors provides real-time positioning in many walks of life.
6. Surveyors used images of the moon obtained from previous missions to map the moon using photogrammetric methods.
7. Licensure in Pennsylvania involves passing two examinations. The first step is take and pass the fundamentals in land surveying exam. The Penn State Surveying curriculum prepares you for this exam. Following your passing the fundamentals exam, you must gather appropriate experience under a licensed land surveyor. After four years of experience, you can apply for the Principles and Practice examination.