The Crucial Role of Land Surveyors in Shaping Our World

03/21/2024

This week, we celebrate National Land Surveyors Week. We want to highlight the integral role surveyors play in engineering, construction, and urban planning by showcasing the impact they have on communities.

The primary objective of a land surveyor is to gather accurate and reliable data to support land development, construction projects, and establish and maintain boundaries based upon record and practice standards. Their expertise in boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction staking, and land development ensures accurate data and precise measurements for legal, engineering, and construction purposes.

Land surveyors undertake a multifaceted array of tasks crucial to the smooth functioning of land development and legal processes. They meticulously measure angles and distances between points, whether below, on, or above Earth’s surface, utilizing sophisticated tools and techniques to ensure accuracy.

In addition to fieldwork, they delve into the depths of survey records, land titles, and historical data, conducting thorough research to inform their assessments. Often traversing diverse terrains, they travel to different locations to identify key features that shape the landscape, all while keeping an eye out for signs of previous boundaries to ascertain their current placement.

Back in their offices, they dedicate themselves to preparing detailed maps, reports, and plots, each element carefully crafted to convey essential information to engineers, developers, and legal professionals. Their attention to detail extends to recording survey results, verifying data accuracy to uphold the integrity of their findings.

When the time comes to present their conclusions, land surveyors adeptly communicate their findings to government agencies and clients, providing clarity and insight into complex land matters. Furthermore, they play a pivotal role in officially establishing water and land boundaries for leases and deeds, lending authority to legal agreements and property rights. In essence, land surveyors are the backbones of land development and legal processes, their expertise shaping the landscapes we inhabit and the boundaries that define them.

Burian & Associates Announces New CAD Manager

8/31/2022

Burian & Associates welcomed Kevin Gunderson to its Fargo office last week as the company’s new CAD Manager.

Kevin will lead the company’s growing team of drafters and designers as well as the development of CAD templates, standards, and procedures.  He will also play a key role as the organization continues to expand its Land Development Team.  “I’m looking forward to putting my mark on a smaller firm and growing with the company.”

Kevin has been working in the Civil Engineering industry for 13 years, with the majority of that time being spent working on land development projects.  “We couldn’t be more pleased that Kevin has chosen to join Burian & Associates,” says the Director of the Land Development Team, Kyle McCamy, “He brings tremendous value to our organization.”

Kevin grew up in Moorhead, MN and attended North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he earned his AAS Degree in Land Surveying and Civil Engineering Technology. He also currently holds the Minnesota Design of Construction SWPPP Certification.