IMPERIAL COUNTY
CLASS TITLE: SURVEYING ASSISTANT I
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under the direction of the Survey Crew Supervisor, operate rods and chains to assist in
surveying elevations and grades of County topography; maintain simple records as
assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Surveying Assistant I classification is the entry-level class in this series. Incumbents
perform basic surveying duties including locating survey markers, placing rods on bench
marks and updating survey records. Surveying Assistant II incumbents perform advanced
surveying duties. Incumbents operate more complex survey equipment and provide work
direction to survey crew members.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
Operate a vehicle to travel to work site in order to observe and locate survey markers;
utilize level rods to assist in calculating land elevations.
Dig holes to find survey markers and determine distances; maintain and update tie cards;
assure accuracy and clarity of tie cards; stamp survey information on monuments and on
brass disks.
Assist in surveying and monitoring solid waste sites to obtain elevation and waste quantity
measurements; measure and mark solid waste sites in preparation for aerial photos.
Assist in surveying County property for marking and establishing boundary lines between
properties.
Assist in appropriate traffic control; place traffic cones, flags and other markers to assist in
safe redirection of traffic; use vests, goggles and other apparel as required.
Assist in the preliminary surveying of roads, bridges, borrow pits, cross sections and other
topography to assist the drafting of County land maps; measure and establish elevation
grades for road construction projects; set stakes and assure for accuracy.
Operate a variety of specialized surveying equipment including rods, chains, measuring
scale, tripod, plumb bob, prisms, levels, jack hammer and a variety of power and hand
tools.
Maintain survey vehicle, instruments and equipment in a safe and proper working
condition.
Perform related duties as assigned.
October 1992
Surveying Assistant I - Continued
Page 2
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Principles of algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
Health and safety regulations.
Proper lifting techniques.
Basic record-keeping techniques.
ABILITY TO:
Assist with and perform surveying and simple drafting duties.
Learn and operate surveying equipment.
Understand and follow oral and written directions.
Work cooperatively with others.
Add, subtract, multiply and divide quickly and accurately.
Maintain and update tie cards and assure their accuracy and clarity.
Learn department and program objectives and goals.
Learn to operate a variety of surveying equipment and hand and power tools.
Perform heavy physical labor.
Observe legal and defensive driving practices.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to: sufficient training and experience to demonstrate the
knowledge and abilities listed above.
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid California driver's license.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Indoor and outdoor work environment; subject to driving a vehicle to conduct work.
Physical abilities required include dexterity of hands and fingers to operate various
specialized surveying equipment, seeing to drive a vehicle and to read survey equipment
and to locate survey markers, climbing and standing at heights while working on high rock
formations, bridges and canal walls, bending at the waist to place traffic control devices, to
set stakes and to lift equipment, climbing, pulling and pushing, standing for long periods of
time, walking on rough uneven surfaces, and speaking to exchange information and make
presentations.
Incumbents may be exposed to snakes, insects, working near heavy vehicle traffic flow,
extreme weather conditions, heat, dust, and fumes.
October 1992