National Diploma in Surveying

By JANINE OGIER

The course: The continuing property boom has created demand for surveyors and this Unitec course provides students with a national qualification and the skills to get work as land surveying technicians.

Jobs that graduates can aim for include aerial mapping work, cadastral surveying (determining land boundaries), engineering surveying, exploration surveying, geodetic control surveying (surveying the shape of the land), and roles in Government departments, local government, oil and mineral exploration and private consultancy.

The profession suits those who like being outside but also like computer design.

The full-time two-year course is a NZQA level six qualification.

Students take about five papers in each of two 14-week semesters in the Unitec year. They have an average of 18 hours of lectures a week and need to devote another 18 hours to studying in their own time.

They can begin the course in February or July.

Students cover topics such as cadastral surveying, civil drawing, communication, computer-aided design, computing skills, contract administration, engineering surveying, geodetic surveying, geographical information systems, introductory geology, land administration, remote sensing, resource consents, subdivision design, and survey software.

They are assessed through a combination of assignments and exams.

Applicants need a grade of five or better in Sixth Form Certificate maths and physics, or equivalent; and School Certificate technical drawing, or to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills or be over 20 years of age and have relevant work experience or an undergraduate degree in any discipline.

There are 25 places on the course each year.

Course fees in 2003 were $3260 including GST.

Graduates can pursue a further qualification through the University of Otago Bachelor of Surveying.

What graduates think


Gabriel Hare, 23

Survey technician, Buckton Consultants

Graduated 2003


I was working previously doing the labouring end of the job and I thought it would be quite an interesting career.

The course was the next step. You can do a degree at Otago or a diploma at Unitec and I decided to do the diploma.

There was a good mix of practical and real world stuff and then the theory side of it.

There were also papers on some of the other professions we are associated with and that gave us an understanding of not just what we need for our job, but what our work means to other people.

It was good. There were bits of it we don't use very often and there are probably a few things that could have been in it, that weren't.

There is a difference between the degree and the diploma, as the degree leads to being a registered surveyor while the diploma leads to being a survey technician.

Basically, the survey technician does all the field work and the office calculations and draws the survey plans and that side of it, while the registered surveyors take the responsibility for the job and have a wider job description.

I would recommend being a survey technician to anyone with an interest in surveying.

What employers think

Richard O'Flaherty

Director, Buckton Consultants

Auckland


We think the fact that students have taken the course and taken the time to pass the requirements gives us the assurance that someone has a bit of ability.

The fact that the students have done the training is evidence of better commitment to the job, and that is what employers are looking for.

These technicians are carrying out the field work - quite often on our behalf as registered surveyors - and you need the assurance that they are competent.

The graduates are always learning, but we have found that the course is very good, in conjunction with the practical training they get in the workplace.

We encourage people who are interested in the industry to pursue some sort of course.

These people are in terrific demand in the marketplace and someone with a qualification will have better job opportunities than someone who doesn't have one.

The qualification

National Diploma in Surveying

Unitec

Phone: 0800 109510 ext 7375

Email

Initial salary: $15 to $25 an hour