Information for School Leavers : Survey Spatial New Zealand

Spatial and surveying careers open up opportunities to work in exciting and unique areas. You could end up using the latest technology from drones, digital mapping, smart sensors, 3d printing to artificial intelligence. People in the industry design, build, manage and protect everything you see in the world. (RICS.org)

Careers NZ

Visit the Careers NZ website to get more information about careers in spatial and surveying and what study will get you there.

Surveying

Spatial.

Spatial careers

Spatial Science is about measuring, recording, managing and communicating information about the Earth's surface - land, sea, rivers, lakes, roads and other built structure. (futureintech.org.nz)

Spatial professionals deal with information based on location. This information describes the Earth, its physical features on both land, water and man-made environments.

It is a rapidly developing field and people with spatial science skills can end up applying their expertise in many different areas including land development, surveying, engineering, social and health, biological, medicine and earth sciences.

How to become a spatial professional

Geospatial professionals usually have a degree in surveying, geography, applied or computer science, digital technology, or a related subject. Taking papers in GIS is usually necessary to become a geospatial professional, and options also include postgraduate studies in GIS. For more information see the Futureintech brochure below.

There are several providers of spatial science qualifications in New Zealand including:

Canterbury University – College of Science, Geography
Auckland University – School of Environment
University of Otago – National School of Surveying, Geospatial Science
Victoria University – School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences
Massey University - Geoinformatics Collaboratory.

Surveying careers

If you like variety, challenges and a mixture of outside and inside work, you might enjoy being a surveyor. Land surveyors gather information for land development and work out boundaries. Cadastral surveyors are specially licensed land surveyors who would conduct land title surveys. Hydrographic surveyors measure and map the location of land features under water. futureintech.org.nz

Surveyors generally have an aptitude for maths and enjoy the outdoors and adventure. Many surveying jobs can be physically demanding and require a good level of fitness. Being practical and having a problem-solving approach are valuable assets for any surveyor.

Surveyors work with high-tech instruments such as GPS (global positioning systems) and robotic laser scanners to collect measurements. They use advanced calculation and drawing software to process measurements into spatial information.

To become a tertiary qulalified surveyor you need to have a Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv). This is a professional degree which takes four years.

To become a survey technician or assistant, you need a National Certificate in Surveying (Level 3), National Certificate in Hydrographic Surveying (Level 3), or National Diploma in Surveying (Level 6).

To become a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor you must obtain a Bachelor of Surveying Degree or its equivalent, and pass the Cadastral Survey Licensing Board's examinations. This entitles you to carry out land title surveys and to lodge them into the national land titles system in New Zealand.

Technical surveying qualifications such as the National Diploma of Surveying and the National Certificate in Surveying or Hydrographic Surveying can be gained from providers such as Connexis, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Unitec.

Surveying education providers: