Also called: UAV Survey Specialist, Drone Surveyor
Flies drones over land and buildings to make precise 3D maps and measurements.
You plan an automated flight grid over a construction site, launch the drone, and process thousands of photos into a 3D model engineers use to measure dirt piles to the inch.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate in surveying or GIS plus FAA Part 107 certificate.
Ways in: 2-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Surveying Technology, GIS, Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Drones fly survey grids by themselves and software builds maps automatically; fewer specialists per job, with field checks remaining.
Classes: Geometry, Earth science, Computer science, Geography.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-3031.
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