Surveyors and GIS

[J. Pastrana]

I'm curious to know if, and how, California Surveyors are leading or participating in GIS efforts at all levels of government and within the private sector?

Are California Surveyors performing data capture and location services? data processing and quality control? spatial data management and geodatabase development/design? parcel basemapping? land records archiving and cataloging?

Are California Surveyors using GIS software as a part of their project workflow? as a collaboration tool? is it a deliverable to their clients?

How is the proliferation of GPS and the availability of high resolution orthophotography and satellite imagery changing the business model and client base? Are California Surveyors increasing or decreasing services because of this?

[kenwood]

Curiously enough Surveyors aren't leading the way in GIS in California. As a mater of fact most surveyors (at least in my area of northern CA) aren't even participating at any level. There are a few of us who are trying to developed a client base in the viticulture business but are having difficulty selling the service to vineyard owners or wineries.

What has developed is small one or two person, non-licensed, companies that specialize in GIS using GPS technology for their data collection. People with either a GIS education or background usually started these companies. We surveyors have mostly given in the attitude that " the horse is out of the barn, so why bother". The problem is exacerbated by the fact that our state licensing board does not support the surveying profession when these companies are reported as practicing land surveying with out a license.

Most City and County governments are developing their own GIS databases using internal personnel. By and large surveyors aren't an integral part of the process. The rational is the parcel base maps don't have be of "survey accuracy". These GIS departments are usually a part of the Planning department.