According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations. | 85% |
| Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections. | 85% |
| Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data. | 83% |
| Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations. | 83% |
| Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales. | 81% |
| Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters. | 81% |
| Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans. | 80% |
| Identify and compile database information to create requested maps. | 80% |
| Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports. | 80% |
| Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data. | 79% |
| Analyze aerial photographs to detect and interpret significant military, industrial, resource, or topographical data. | 77% |
| Answer questions and provide information to the public or to staff members regarding assessment maps, surveys, boundaries, easements, property ownership, roads, zoning, or similar matters. | 76% |
| Research and combine existing property information to describe property boundaries in relation to adjacent properties, taking into account parcel splits, combinations, or land boundary adjustments. | 75% |
| Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, or other information for mapmaking, using survey field notes or reference tables. | 73% |
| Compare topographical features or contour lines with images from aerial photographs, old maps, or other reference materials to verify the accuracy of their identification. | 73% |
| Trace contours or topographic details to generate maps that denote specific land or property locations or geographic attributes. | 73% |
| Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys. | 70% |
| Trim, align, and join prints to form photographic mosaics, maintaining scaled distances between reference points. | 69% |
| Complete detailed source and method notes describing the location of routine or complex land parcels. | 68% |
