Skip to main content
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Hotline Give Now Visit Us Apply
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Tuition/Financial Aid
  • Information For
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Parents/Families
    • Current Students
    • Alumni/Friends
    • Visitors
    • Community
    • Business/Industry
    • Working Professionals
    • Faculty/Staff
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Hotline Give Now Visit Us Apply
  • This is Penn State
    • Chancellor’s Welcome
    • Campus Advisory Board
    • Campus Leadership
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus History
    • Diversity
    • Sustainability
    • Strategic Communications
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Why Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
    • Visit Us
    • First-Year Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Adult Students
    • Veterans and Military Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Academics
    • Associate Degrees
    • Bachelor’s Degrees
    • 2+2 Plan
    • Minors
    • Certificates
  • Academic Services
  • Student Life
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Activities
    • Athletics
    • Food Bank
    • Food Services
    • Housing Options
    • Health and Wellness
    • Personal Counseling
    • Legal Services
    • Police and Public Safety
  • Continuing Education
    • Working Professionals
    • Business and Industry
    • Youth and Teens
    • Personal Enrichment
    • Upcoming Offerings
    • Instructor Opportunities

Find Information For:

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Parents/Families
  • Current Students
  • Alumni/Friends
  • Visitors
  • Community
  • Business/Industry
  • Working Professionals
  • Faculty/Staff

Helpful Links

  • Countdown to Cap and Gown
  • What's Happening
  • Blue Screen
  • Directories
  • Campus Map
  • Directions
  • Course Bulletin
  • Nesbitt Library
  • Inclement Weather
  • PSU Alerts
  • Employment

Connect With Us

  • instagram
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • twitter
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Surveying Engineering
  4. Career Options
montage of professional surveyors in different environments

Construction Surveying

Construction is one of the largest industries in the world. Surveying plays an extremely important role in any construction project. Construction surveying can take many forms. It is used to establish the location and alignment of highways, bridges, buildings, pipes, and other man-made objects. After large-scale projects are completed, an "as-built" survey is performed to locate any modifications that were made to the plans during construction.

Highway surveys involve the location of alignments and computation of volumes materials that must be added, removed, or moved. It initially requires a topographic survey of the site. For large projects, photogrammetric methods will be used to develop the base map. The base map is used by surveyors and other professional to create a base plan for the project. After the alignment has been established, the quantities of earth that must be added or removed are computed. The goal of most projects is to minimize the hauling distances of the earth. This is done using mass diagrams. Eventually surveyors layout the elevation and slope of the various subgrades, base, and top coat materials. The end result is a smooth alignment with smooth transitions from straight to curved sections allowing for safe public transportation.

Traditionally, a highway alignment survey involves the placement of wooden stakes to mark the highway's location. Today, GPS equipment is being used to provide real-time positioning and alignment of construction equipment. This form of stakeless construction has changed the requirements of surveying personnel working in construction. In addition to the computations required for placement of alignments, today's construction surveyor needs a strong background in coordinate systems, map projections, and geodetic principles.

Building construction is another area of construction surveying. In this field, the correct placement of footings, foundations, piers and other items of building construction are essential for a sound structure. A university education can provide you with the knowledge required to practice in the area construction surveying.

Surveying Engineering

  • Baccalaureate Degree in Surveying Engineering
  • Concurrent Major in Surveying Engineering and Civil Engineering
  • Associate Degree in Surveying Engineering Technology
  • 2 + 2.5 Baccalaureate Degree
  • Surveying Transfer Students
  • Engineering Leadership Development Minor
  • Surveying Advising
  • Industrial and Professional Advisory Council
  • Career Options
    • Boundary Surveying
    • Construction Surveying
    • Geodesy
    • Geographical Information Systems
    • Hydrographic Surveying
    • Photogrammetry and Image Analysis
  • Surveying Employment

Surveying Engineering

Program Co-Coordinators:

Dimitrios Bolkas
office: Center for Technology 104
phone: (570) 675-9127
email: [email protected]

Henrique Candido de Oliveira
office: Center for Technology 124
phone: (570) 675-9139
email: [email protected]

Meet the Faculty

Quick Links

Free Tools for Surveying Students
Student Surveying Society
Surveying Job Postings
Apply to Penn State now
Get Started

See Also

  • Program Description for B.S. in Surveying Engineering
  • Program Description for A.EngT. in Surveying Engineering Technology
  • Program Description for B.S. in Civil Engineering
  • Suggested Academic Plan for B.S. in Surveying Engineering
  • Suggested Academic Plan for A.EngT. in Surveying Engineering Technology
  • Suggested Academic Plan for Concurrent Major in Surveying Engineering and Civil…
Map of Pennsylvania showing Penn State’s 24 locations with Penn State Wilkes-Barre highlighted.

Penn State Wilkes‑Barre

Located on a scenic estate just 13 miles from Wilkes-Barre, Penn State Wilkes-Barre offers four-year baccalaureate degree programs, two-year associate degree programs, and a wide range of professional develop­ment oppor­tunities. Our small classes encourage close inter­action with professors who are committed to helping you be successful.
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • twitter
Give Now Visit Us Apply
  • This is Penn State
    • Chancellor’s Welcome
    • Campus Advisory Board
    • Campus Leadership
    • Mission/Vision/Values
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus History
    • Diversity
    • Sustainability
    • Strategic Communications
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Why Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
    • Visit Us
    • First-Year Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Adult Students
    • Veterans and Military Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Academics
    • Associate Degrees
    • Bachelor's Degrees
    • 2+2 Plan
    • Minors
    • Certificates
  • Academic Services
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • Continuing Education
  • Contact Us
    • Administrative Offices
    • Department Directory
    • Faculty & Staff Directory
    • Employment
  • Online Tools
    • Canvas
    • Email (Office365)
    • ePortfolio
    • LionCash+
    • LionPATH
    • LinkedIn Learning
    • Starfish
    • Voicemail
    • WorkLion
    • Zoom
  • Helpful Links
    • PSUAlerts
    • Blue Screen
    • Class Cancellations
    • Calendar of Events
    • Schedule of Courses
    • Nesbitt Library
    • Directions
    • Campus Map
    • Employment
  • COVID-19 Information
Penn State University
44 University Drive, Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612 (570) 675-2171

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2023
  • We Are Penn State