Civil Engineering Technology Surveying

Course Description

CET1176 — Civil Engineering Technology Surveying is a college-credit lecture-and-laboratory course in Florida's Civil Engineering Technology A.S. degree programs and related construction/engineering tech tracks. The "CET" prefix denotes Civil Engineering Technology; the "1" indicates lower-division (freshman) college credit. The course covers the principles and practice of land surveying as applied to civil engineering, construction, and infrastructure projects: surveying instruments and equipment; field procedures (taping, leveling, traversing, stadia); coordinate systems and geodetic basics; topographic surveys; construction layout; data reduction and basic mapping. The course typically includes substantial supervised field work using modern surveying equipment.

This course is offered at Polk State College, Hillsborough Community College, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and other Florida public colleges with Civil Engineering Technology programs.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of CET1176, students will be able to:

• Operate standard surveying equipment: total stations; automatic levels; theodolites (legacy); GPS/GNSS receivers (RTK introduction); steel tapes; tripods; prisms; stadia rods.
• Apply distance measurement: taping techniques; electronic distance measurement (EDM); error corrections (temperature, tension, sag).
• Apply differential leveling: backsight/foresight readings; turning points; benchmark establishment; loop closure; level circuit adjustment.
• Apply angle measurement: horizontal and vertical angles; total station angle measurement; balance/closure for traverse.
• Conduct traverse surveys: open and closed traverses; angular and linear closure computation; coordinate computation; balancing.
• Conduct topographic surveys: control establishment; data collection (manual and total-station based); contour interpretation; basic plan production.
• Apply construction layout introductory techniques: stakeout for buildings, roadways, utilities; offset stakes; benchmarks for construction.
• Apply basic GPS/GNSS surveying: real-time kinematic (RTK) operation; coordinate system selection; accuracy considerations.
• Apply field safety: PPE for field surveying; traffic safety on roadway projects; awareness of overhead utilities; environmental hazards (snakes, alligators in Florida wetlands).
• Apply survey documentation: field notes; survey reports; coordinate listings; basic CAD output.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply introductory UAS-based survey awareness using LIDAR-equipped drones.
• Apply Florida-specific land surveying conventions: Florida State Plane Coordinate System; Florida geodetic networks.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Surveying Equipment: Total stations (Trimble, Leica, Topcon, Sokkia); automatic levels; tripods; prisms and prism poles; stadia rods; steel tapes; GPS/GNSS receivers; data collectors.
• Distance Measurement: Steel taping (chaining) procedures; horizontal and slope distances; EDM measurement; error sources and corrections (temperature, tension, sag, slope, alignment).
• Differential Leveling: Theory; instrument setup and adjustment; rod reading; backsight/foresight notation; turning points; benchmark establishment; level loop closure; precision standards.
• Angle Measurement: Total station horizontal and vertical angles; angle closure for traverse; direct/reverse measurement; precision standards.
• Traverse Surveys: Open vs. closed traverses; bearings and azimuths; angular closure; linear closure; coordinate computation; Bowditch (compass) and least-squares balancing introduction.
• Topographic Surveys: Control survey establishment; topo data collection methods (radial, grid, cross-section); contour generation; basic plan layout.
• Construction Layout: Stakeout principles; building corners; roadway centerline and offsets; utility alignments; control points and benchmarks for construction.
• GPS/GNSS Surveying: RTK methodology; base/rover setup; cellular vs. radio link; CORS network use (Florida CORS); coordinate system selection (NAD83, WGS84).
• Coordinate Systems: Geodetic (latitude/longitude); UTM; State Plane Coordinates (Florida East/West/North zones); NAVD88 vertical datum; NAD83 horizontal datum.
• Field Safety: PPE (hi-vis vests, safety boots, hard hats); traffic safety on roadway projects (MUTCD work zone standards); overhead utility awareness; weather and Florida environmental hazards.
• Survey Documentation: Field notes (proper notation conventions); coordinate listings; survey reports; introduction to CAD-based survey output.

Resources & Tools

• Charles D. Ghilani and Paul R. Wolf Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics (Pearson) — the standard text
• Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) resources
• National Geodetic Survey (NGS) data and tools
• Florida CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station) network
• Surveying field equipment (total station, level, GPS)
• CAD/survey software (AutoCAD Civil 3D, Carlson Survey)

Career Pathways

CET1176 supports careers in Florida's substantial surveying and civil engineering workforce:

• Survey Technician (SOC 17-3031) at land surveying firms, civil engineering firms, construction companies, and government agencies.
• Construction Layout Specialist at general contractors and heavy/civil contractors.
• CAD Technician with surveying knowledge for civil engineering firms.
• Florida Department of Transportation Survey Technician — FDOT employs many survey technicians for roadway projects.
• Continuation toward A.S. in Civil Engineering Technology and eventual licensure as a Florida Professional Surveyor and Mapper (PSM) requires completion of bachelor's degree, experience, and FDBPR licensing exam.

Special Information

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 60 contact hours with substantial field laboratory time (the lab component is essential for surveying skill development).

Florida Surveying Industry

Florida's substantial construction, infrastructure, and land development activity creates strong demand for survey technicians. Major Florida surveying firms and engineering consultancies employ survey crews throughout the state.

Articulation

CET1176 typically articulates toward A.S. in Civil Engineering Technology at Florida College System institutions, and supports continuing study toward bachelor's programs in Surveying and Mapping (offered at FAU).

Professional Licensure Path

Florida licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper (PSM) requires bachelor's degree, 4 years of experience under a licensed PSM, and passage of the FDBPR Surveyor and Mapper examination. CET1176 is foundational early-career coursework.