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OaSIS 2022 Version 1.0
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21203.00 – Land surveyors

Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to establish the location of real property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features, and prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records and documents pertaining to these surveys.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Cadastral surveyor
  • Canada lands surveyor
  • City surveyor
  • Land surveyor
  • Property surveyor

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Develop survey plans, methods and procedures for conducting legal surveys
  • Plan, direct and supervise or conduct surveys to establish and mark legal boundaries of properties, parcels of lands, provincial and Canada Lands, Aboriginal land claims, wellsites, mining claims, utility rights-of-way, roadways and highways
  • Survey and lay out subdivisions for rural and urban development
  • Determine precise locations using electronic distance measuring equipment, global positioning systems (GPS), and unmanned aerial vehicules (UAV)/drones
  • Analyze, manage and display data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design and drafting (CAD)
  • Record all measurements and other information obtained during survey activities
  • Prepare or supervise the preparation and compilation of all data, plans, charts, records and documents related to surveys of real property boundaries
  • Certify and assume liability for surveys made to establish real property boundaries
  • Advise, provide consultation and testify as an expert witness on matters related to legal surveys
  • May supervise other land surveyors, and land survey technologists and technicians.

Additional information

  • Federal statutes require a separate licence from the Association of Canada Land Surveyors to survey areas such as national parks, Aboriginal lands, offshore areas and northern territories.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300)
  • Civil engineers (21300)
  • Engineering managers (20010)
  • Geoscientists and oceanographers (21102)
  • Land survey technologists and technicians (22213)
  • Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology (22214)
  • Urban and land use planners (21202)
  • Geomatics engineer; Survey engineer (in 21300.00 Civil engineers)
  • Hydrographic surveyor - geology (in 21102.01 Geoscientists)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

21 – Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

212 – Professional occupations in applied sciences (except engineering)

Minor group

2120 – Architects, urban planners and land surveyors

Unit group

21203 – Land surveyors

Occupational profile

21203.00 – Land surveyors

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.