Meet Melissa Padilla Cintron from Florida, USA
Where did you study? I studied at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez Campus.
What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area?
From the Florida Surveying and Mapping Asociation:
“To be a professional Surveyor in Florida, USA, you must:
In review of Florida Statute 472.013, if you have a 4 year degree in a course of study other than Surveying and Mapping, then you have to complete 25 semester hours in surveying-related coursework. You can obtain these requirements through online certificate programs at the Florida Atlantic University or the University of Florida. Additional experience requirements include having six years of experience as a subordinate to a Licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper. Finally, five of those years have to show that you were in responsible charge. Responsible charge refers to working as a subordinate to a Licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper and indicates that a degreed student has been responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the surveying and mapping work performed.”
How did you get into surveying? I started university in the Surveying program thinking I would change major. However, by the third year, I realized I could make a career out of Surveying and fell in love with the major.
How long have you been in the industry? I have been over a year and a half as a full-time employee.
Are you part of any associations or organizations you would like us to mention? I am part of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS), Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico (CIAPR), and The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Why do you want to be a GKiS Brand Ambassador? As a new surveyor in the industry, I am enthusiastic about spreading my knowledge and letting everyone know what I do. There is no doubt we need surveyors around the World and Getting Kids Into Survey is a great area to start.
Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry? Kids are the future, and we as professionals need to keep the industry alive and inspire our kids, letting them know there is an industry that needs their help. And it is fun!
What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? As a brand ambassador for GKis I will do as much as I can to inspire children in our community. Show them how a Total Station works, giving them appropriate activities to understand our industry—keeping in touch with schools, boys scouts, etc.
What are your hobbies? My hobbies are painting, exercising, and learning something new every day, such as a fun fact or a new language. I am trying to learn French now and hope to visit France anytime soon.
If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? I would probably be a bird-like a Puerto Rican parrot or a canary. Or myself in superhero attire, haha.
What poster or resource would you like to see next from GKiS? I love the posters and the comic books! I would like to see posters about surveying how we contribute to research and the environment in outer space. T-shirts, surveying gear ( compass, rulers, etc…)
Anything else you want to add that you think our audience (surveyors, teachers, parents) would be interested in? Kids love technology, mini-series about the characters in the comic books.