Surveying is a science without which it is impossible to imagine the modern world with all its buildings, structures, maps. Any construction begins with the work of a surveyor. And this work is not as simple as it seems initially. A specialist in this area should know many disciplines, have a number of skills and personal characteristics in order to successfully work in this area. This article discusses what is geodesy and remote sensing, where to study this specialty, what it will take and how to get a job later.
The essence of the work of a surveyor and a description of the specialty
Where does the construction of buildings begin? From measurements of the territory, determining the terrain, objects on it, the composition of the soil, the presence of groundwater and many other nuances that are often completely incomprehensible to the average person. Most surveyors work in this area. Cities are growing, buildings are being built, demand for specialists is growing.
In fact, surveying is a much wider niche than it seems at first glance. Geodetic works are divided into three levels:
- The first level is shooting a certain area, finding points of the earth's surface relative to the relief, compiling topographic maps. It is these measurements that allow you to build bridges, roads, dams, various buildings and structures.
- The second level of geodesy is measurement on a national scale. Reference points at this level are plotted relative to the curvature of the earth's surface.
- The third level is the highest surveying. We study the entire earth's surface, the position of the planet in space, its gravitational field and much more.
Common Entry Requirements
Surveying and remote sensing are among the exact sciences. Learning in this direction requires a student to have a mathematical mindset, the ability to calculate the most diverse formulas and indicators, and knowledge of chemical and physical processes. In addition, it is necessary to have appropriate health, since you will have to be “on your feet” for a long time, be able to accurately record the measurement results, make conclusions based on the data obtained. A surveyor in construction spends half of his working time at the site of the proposed facility with bulky and inconvenient equipment, takes measurements from different points, constantly moves. His work is almost independent of weather events. Whether it is rain, snow, sunshine or cold, the surveyor must take his measurements on time, draw up calculations and provide the result of the work to the customer. Construction in modern cities does not stop with the advent of an unfavorable season, which means that the specialist in this profession must be ready for any tests.
Duration of study and basic skills
In most universities offering training under the program "Geodesy and Remote Sensing", its duration is about four years. During this period, the student receives a lot of useful skills and knowledge necessary for him in further work. Among them are the following:
- the ability to organize and conduct field office topographic and geodetic works, aerial photography;
- the ability to create a map or plan based on data obtained from aerial surveys;
- the ability to understand and decode information from video and photo materials obtained in the process of ground and aerial photography, as well as satellite imagery;
- the ability to supplement and update existing maps and plans of the area, taking into account the identified changes;
- construction of 3D-models of the earth's surface, engineering complexes, taking into account all the features of the landscape;
- performance of measuring work necessary for the construction, design and use of engineering complexes;
- exploration of nature and resources using sounding;
- the study of various fields of the earth and other planets;
- creation of topographic and cadastral maps;
- study of land changes, surface sensing in order to develop infrastructure;
- control over the country's ecology.
Surveying and Remote Sensing: Russian Universities
The work of a surveyor is quite specific. Not any university can offer high-quality educational activities in this direction due to the lack of material resources and trained personnel. On the territory of the Russian Federation, the direction "Geodesy and Remote Sensing" was proposed in 16 higher educational institutions. They are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Rostov-on-Don, Ulan-Ude, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Michurinsk, Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod. Among these 16 universities, the most promising and famous are the following:
- Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography.
- State University of Land Management.
- Don State Technical University.
- Ural Federal University named after B. N. Yeltsin.
- National Open Institute of Russia in St. Petersburg.
All these educational institutions are located in developed cities, equipped with all the necessary material and information resources, and are widely known for their educational activities not only in Russia but also in foreign countries.
Ural Federal University
Special attention should be paid to Ural Federal University named after B. N. Yeltsin. This university is located in the Sverdlovsk region, in the city of Yekaterinburg. It has been operating in the field of educational services since 1920. This university guarantees its students a deferment from military service and a state diploma. The university includes 14 branches in different cities, a business school and the Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship. The educational institution regularly participates in ratings. Of the more than two thousand-plus universities in the country, it occupies 107th place. In it, students can study not only the specialty "Geodesy and Remote Sensing", but also many other no less popular and prestigious professions from the general array of technical, economic, humanitarian and natural sciences.
Minimum passing scores and exams
In Ural Federal University "Geodesy and Remote Sensing" - a specialty known, prestigious and in demand among applicants. To enter this specialty, you must complete 11 classes of the school and pass the unified state exam in mathematics (profile), computer science and ICT, as well as the Russian language. The minimum passing score for the first two exams is 55 points. The Russian language must be passed by at least 36. Among the applicants last year, the passing score was 191. Moreover, 18 budget places for this specialty were allocated for applicants. For some categories of students, a discount of up to 20% for tuition is available for a fee.
Alumni reviews
Opinion - an indicator of purely individual and subjective. Some people may like the atmosphere in the school, while others will surely find the slightest flaws. On sites with reviews about educational institutions, it is noted that the Ural Federal University focuses on international relations, invites foreign students, many lectures are conducted entirely in English. This approach in educational activities was appreciated by many graduates. It is noted that after such preparation it is much easier to get comfortable in foreign companies.
Surveying and remote sensing: who to work in the future
Future employment, career prospects and market demand largely determine the choice of applicants in favor of a particular specialty. So, the student graduated from the university in the field of "Surveying and Remote Sensing", who should work next? The following professions are most likely with this set of knowledge: geophysicist, surveyor, surveyor-engineer, cartographer, seismologist, astronomer-geodesist, topographer, and airborne geodesist. Since the profession is closely connected with the construction industry, construction companies constantly need specialists in this field.
Salary expectations and demand in the labor market
In large cities, the construction of new structures does not stop, which means that surveyors will always find a job. In a construction organization, a good specialist can receive from 40 to 60 thousand rubles a month. This is the average for Russia. Seismologists are most in demand in areas with unstable activity on the earth's surface. Topographers and cartographers also go to people who have received education in the specialty "Geodesy and Remote Sensing". Their average salary in Russia is 60 thousand rubles a month. There are offers on the labor market and with a salary of 120 thousand for surveyors. The salary in this niche is quite high, the main thing is to be a good specialist.