Pub. 10 2015 Issue 1

5 Issue 1 2015 / UCLS Foresights www.ucls.org look at GPS, LiDAR, and GIS as the technologies that are making the biggest influence … although drones intrigue you. So who are you and what do you do? How often are you confronted with these questions and how do you respond to “Oh you’re the guy who looks through that telescope thingy,” right? I wonder how often this vocational generalization happens to doctors, lawyers, and accountants. Do these professions confuse the public? I believe everyone knows what doctors and accountants do – not sure about attorneys – other than they charge a lot. Nevertheless, members of these distinguished professions are held in high regard and their activities are under - stood. What is the distinction between the professional image of a Land Surveyor and that of an accountant? In my opinion, the unmistakable difference is training and education. There, I said it, EDUCATION.” One needs to be well educated to become a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant. Obviously, there are other reasons these professions are recognized by the public but can a few simple letters after their name make that much difference in the public’s perception? There are many of us “surveyors” who do not call ourselves “surveyors,” at least not formally? Have you ever pondered the question as to how people perceive and address you? Do you care? When a doctor prepares a report or signs a letter, he/she includes the simple notation “M.D.,” to let the world know his/ her qualifications. Television’s fictitious character Marcus Welby, MD advanced the image of medical profession in unprecedented ways just as Perry Mason, Esq. did for the legal profession. Can you name a television character who has been portrayed as a Professional Land Surveyor? Me neither. It is important to promote oneself and their profession; a profession I might add that has no uniform approach to public relations. Most Land Surveyors are content to be known simply as Bill Smith, “the surveyor” or Bob Jones, “the construction guy” as opposed to William Smith, PLS or Bob Jones, PLS. Wait – Bob Jones was a surveyor. The same apathetical approach can be said of attire. At the risk of a well-worn, but proven cliché, im - pressions are important and they count. How can one expect to be treated like a professional if they are unwilling to act or look like a professional? As to our effectiveness in the public relations department, there is simply no question; we control our own destiny and if we are to survive, we must take a series of methodical steps to- gether. We must be better educated if we are to be perceived as a profession. Darn - said it again--education. We need to lift ourselves up and decide if we are a profession or an indus - try. As tough a pill as it is to swallow, if your business model is based upon negotiating the number of stakes you can put in the ground in the course of the workday or your bids are based upon a unit price model, you are offering a commodity and as such, you possess the characteristics of an industry and not a profession. If you believe providing a fee-based, unit cost service con- stitutes offering a professional service, it makes sense that it is akin to negotiating the cost of heart surgery with your doctor. “Hey, Doc, the guy down the street at Urgent Care is going to put in half the number of stitches you’re proposing.” “I want to save a few bucks - can you meet his number?” Years ago, three or four person crews would spend days and weeks preparing topographic maps and establishing control networks. Electronic measurement, photogrammetry, GPS, and LiDAR have replaced that labor-intensive procedure and much to the chagrin of a confused industry; these are all devices that can be operated by a “Google-Guy.” Such a person can sit at their computer and in between checking his/her Facebook page, they can scan a site, upload the display, and provide results. This information can be obtained from various websites on the inter - net and then the datum is stored in some magical cloud in the sky. What datum? I’ll give you datum! Just push that button. So what do we need to do to ensure our successful future? “Adapt,” you said. “We have always been good at it over the years, but need to be better now.” “Keep up with the latest tech - nologies and don’t become complacent,” you said. “Continue to look for new opportunities to expand our business,” you said. As new survey technologies evolve, the demand for expe- rienced technical support and professional guidance increases. The rapid advancement of technology is providing land survey- ors with an opportunity to educate existing and new clients. Think outside of the box to come up with new business opportu- nities, to market and sell our professional advice and expertise. How many times have we, as land surveyors, had to explain the difference between grid and ground? As technologies contin - ue to develop, the demand for expert advice and assistance will also increase. If all the land surveyors I know were lumped into one self-appreciating group, I would stereotype them as a modest bunch. They go about their work methodically but diligent- ly without expecting much recognition from their clients or the public. They take personal pride in knowing that they have done their part to preserve property rights and boundary lines. For many land surveyors, this is the way it has always been and maybe the way it will always be. Surveyors know their work is important, and do not expect others to recognize that impor- tance. However, if people do not realize that what we do is important, then we risk being a profession that is forgotten, ig - nored, or replaced. I challenge all land surveyors to do more to educate people about land surveying. This is not a job for a committee or an as - signment for a task force. Rather, I believe this is something we all need to do; it is our duty and responsibility to society. This role does not need to be daunting; it starts with educating and teaching those whom we associate with on a daily basis. When people ask what you do, take the time and show pride in your profession instead of replying, “yeah, we’re those guys that look through the telescope thingy on the side of the road.”