After almost four years of working as a surveyor, it still surprises me that there remains a shortage of (upcoming) surveyors. Why can we not find more people who want to do this great job? This job that can take us all around the world, it's a job in which techniques and equipment are getting ever cooler, that on average pays okay, in which work is almost guaranteed and that has so many, many different applications. Applications from treasure hunting to business development!

I think one of the problems is that the profession is too unfamiliar. Nobody knows what it is or comprises. It took me a week to explain at home what it was, what I was going to study. Why not simply place a page-large advertisement in the country's best-selling newspaper every month? Too expensive? In this business? Where an average GPS set already costs about EUR10,000 to 20,000?

The advertisement should say two words: ‘STUDY
HYDROGRAPHY!' Then at the bottom lead people first to YouTube, then to websites where the reader can apply for schooling. YouTube is a powerful new medium that can show people (in high school) so much more about the job than a folder they can get at a stand at some exhibition. Show facets of the job in proper short movies in a current style. Show funny stories of life with the job from around the world, show colourful 3D environments, towfish equipment, submarine-like AUVs, impressive ROVs and what not. There are just too many things with which to grab people's attention and interest for being a surveyor! I stay surprised that we cannot find more people.

Anyhow, at least more people are signing up this year to study hydrography - so maybe its on the rise again.

Peace out.

E-mail: ebr@vanoord.com

Young hydrographic surveyors can be involved in exciting jobs, please watch the movie below this story.