(Part 2) Top products from r/Surveying

That book is a great resource. The fs test is a national test so no need for anything state specific. I recommend getting a basic survey textbook like wolf and ghlani or moffit and bouchard. Also get a construction surveying text.



It is a very math heavy test. Make sure you are comfortable slopes and grades, slope staking, hz and vt curves, areas and volumes, levelling, reading maps, and cogo.



Get an HP 33 or 35, and program it. Then practice with it.



Edit- sp and added link

There's no definitive book on the history of land surveying that I know of. Measuring America by Andrew Linklater does a pretty good job and covers a lot of the early history of Land Surveying. I also enjoyed Chaining Oregon by Kay Atwood, it looks at the begining of the Federal Survey system in Washington and Oregon States. It does a good job of showing the day to day workings of a Land Surveyor of the time. Drawing the Line is a history of the Mason-Dixon line, which as you probably know is one of the most well known Survey projects.

I use the TX A&M Forestry Service oftentimes in the field, works ok from a smartphone. We also carry a copy of this guy in the glove box of the truck. There is a pretty decent introduction on there, as well, that kinda outlines the basics of tree ID'ing. The tough thing about starting right now in our neck of the woods is the time of year, most trees around here are barren of leaves so you have to go off dead leaves on the ground, branch patterns, and bark.

Good luck! It sounds like a tough endeavor, but tree surveys are fun times, man.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B073JSX6HF?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Breathable pants, there are better out there but this was the only 32x28 I could find.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07KYMX28Y?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title - Nice sleeves, convert any short sleeve into a long sleeve. Not the best build quality, do not wash with any velcro. They will tear the sleeves up.


Both of those are a magnet for sticker bushes, fair warning.


If you want better sleeves that hold up and don't catch stickers-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KBZT3SY?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

This one is a little hotter being a full shirt, but lasts way longer.

The sleeves may only last a summer or two. The shirts I've had for 3 years without much stitching loss

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0135000378/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499833179&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=surveying

A good book that explains a lot with good examples, I am sure you could find it much much cheaper but I highly recommend it for learning the basics.

http://www.amazon.com/Technical-Communication-13th-Edition-Lannon/dp/0321899970

This is probably a little much for what your wanting it for, but if your going to continue doing reports this book will help out.

Carhartt cargo pants, Dickies button up shirt, and Outdoor Research wide brim hat. My work flow in field involves a vest with pockets. Some folks rather have a tool belt as part of a setup

In the summer I use picaridin to keep ticks off. Plus the stuff doesn't leave a greasy feeling like deet.

My list

Carhartt Cargo Pants

Dickies Work Shirt

Outdoor Research Helios Hat

Vest

Can of Picaridin

I suggest the book: survey drafting by wattles since that tool is basically drafting by hand bu on a screen.




Also take a look at videos or classes on dirt grading, heavy grading, heavy civil engineering, etc...

Corn knife

We deal with a lot of blackberries in the PNW, so these solid blades are good and long for the far to reach, they're also cheap, so if you lose it whatever.

I'd get traffic-flagger certified, and OSHA confined-space, if these things are applicable to your business. Possibly fall-arrest systems.

At a bare minimum, make the boss buy you this: http://www.amazon.com/How-Shit-Woods-Edition-Environmentally/dp/1580083633

I use one of these:
http://www.xpertsurveyequipment.com/trimble-tsc2-field-controller-data-collector.html

Clipped into one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Trimble-TSC2-Pole-Mount-Holder/dp/6185553562

We have been using these for years: Link

The units have since been discontinued, but we have a supplier that sells them for $20CAD. Apparently they still make batteries for them, so this is what we use. Until we run out of the 20 units we bought.

We use this stuff.

Here in the South I've found that DEET on your skin with Permethrin on your clothing keeps virtually all insects away, including ticks!

https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Permethrin-Clothing-Repellent/dp/B01M4KFZME

Co worker has somthing like this
Schroeder Hand Drill 1/4-Inch Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JRDLVY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bHBjzb73XVW55

But his is 25 years older. Don't have to worry about batteries going dead.

1001 Solved Surveying Fundamentals Problems (Engineering Reference Manual Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/091204554X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j1GKyb5CMAMB3

Buy this book. It helped me out a lot. Gives lots of different solutions to various survey problems.