Thank you for bringing these articles back and please keep up the good work. A good reminder to our profession about the value we provide to the Public and to ourselves.
I’ve been in the Profession for 52 years now and retiring at the end of this year. A long and winding road, but I’ve loved every minute of it and would choose the same path if I had a chance to relive it.
I am currently the President of the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS), a responsibility that I take very seriously and find every opportunity I can to talk about and promote to the younger generations, be they Geomatics students or just someone looking for a job with a future. The most important part of my career now is to give back to the profession that has been my life and my continuous education in my strive for knowledge for over five decades.
We have such a unique profession that no one knows about because we are the worst marketers out there. And yet, we probably use more technology, and utilize some of the coolest tools and software, than most businesses use today. We are always one step ahead in the being able to use some of latest in technological breakthroughs (robotics, UAV’s, remote sensing, LiDAR, and of course GIS) to be able to solve problems, create artistic canvases of our work, and compete in business. We are deeply steeped in historical data, research, and trying and sometimes failing in our goals to follow in the footsteps of those that came before us. We love, respect, and pay honor to our heritage and point to some of those Surveyors that have reached the pinnacle of their career in other areas but started out in our humble profession, like those on Mount Rushmore that were once Surveyors.
Your magazine “The American Surveyor” says it all in your displays, the articles, your in-depth coverage of our lives and our unique projects. I know that we (Surveyors) may be just a small part in the overall Cheves media now, but I am glad that you continue to produce and promote us as a proud part of the American heritage that was able to prosper and grow because of our profession.
—Richard D. Pryce, RLS/PSM
To which the editor responds:
We’re dealing with two cohorts, those our age—I started in 1963—and the young folks. Vastly different viewpoints! Unfortunately, and as you know, the world cannot be encapsulated in a 140-character tweet.
To which Richard responds:
How true on the youngsters, but how do we break through that is the question.
It’s really all up to us, and finding those amongst the younger generation that can help us bridge the gap or at least shorten it. I am encouraged by some of the students I have spoken to that are coming into the fold through Geomatics programs out there that seem very interested and are participating in the student chapters of the Society. I have four graduates I am working with now, and I have helped train at least a dozen more that have moved on to other companies.
And there are definitely many out there that will take a much longer time to “get it”, but we as a profession need to provide the mentorship we got early in our careers, and that is what I think is the key that is missing.
My two cents.
I’ve been registered in Florida since 1985. Prior to that, I took College classes at Palm Beach Junior Class there were taught by practicing surveyors and not professors. I was mentor and taught at the same time.
I worked at the South Florida Water Management District for 47 years and have retired from the District but I’m still working.
I was Rick’s predecessor at FSMS and I serviced on the Borad of Land Surveyors for the State of Florida.
I’ve taught seminars, however in Florida you cannot teach in the Universities unless you have a 4-year degree. This eliminates teaching/mentor by practicing surveyors.
Nothing against academia but learning to write legal descriptions and solving boundary issues only come with experience. When you no longer regurgitate what you’ve learn but start processing it, combine it with other idea and come up with a solution, then you’re a surveyor.
We used to call it the “ART of SURVEYING.”
If you really want to mentor the current crop of surveyors, I think you should use the college setting with seasoned practicing surveyors, not professors.
—Howard Ehmke, PSM
Editor: In Closing
As the “keepers of the flame” it is incumbent on us older surveyors to do everything in our power to inform, educate and encourage the younger generation and pass along that which we were fortunate to have received.