Introducing Sam Hough from Derbyshire, UK:
Where did you study? Over the years I’ve studied a few courses, my most recent course I’ve completed Is the TSA Surveying Course, in which I achieved a Distinction. I have also carried out short courses as well as completing two courses at Barnsley College relating to Construction Management as well as Surveying.
What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area? As I’m sure you’re aware, there aren’t many requirements! You have to like working outdoors in all weathers, as well as having field based knowledge. There are courses where you are able to become a member of professional bodies and this ultimately leads to a “Chartered Land Surveyor”.
How did you get into surveying? I fell into surveying from leaving Sixth Form College and I haven’t looked back since. Every day at work presents different challenges, as well as different people to meet and greet. Within Surveying, there are great opportunities to network with people in the same professions; we all know one another!
How long have you been in the industry? I have been within the surveying industry for 7 years now and still wake up each morning excited to see what the day will have in store… oh how the years have flown by!
Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention? I am an Associate Member of RICS and a Technical member of CICES.
Why do you want to be a GKiS Brand Ambassador? I have experienced first hand how difficult it is for young people to make an informed decision, as well as know what the best route into their chosen career path is. I have a desire to help assist and provide a good understanding of how wide ranging the surveying profession is to young people, and how there is almost certainly a fit for most people within!
Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry? The geospatial industry is an ever growing sector of work. Whilst new software and hardware make the task in hand more intuitive and easier to understand, there’s still no beating a “boots on the ground” approach. The skill, knowledge and expertise of surveyors is always required, and hopefully by generating a greater awareness of the profession we will develop and locate the surveyors of the future.
What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? I will help to spread the word of the geospatial industry as well as the surveying profession through as many avenues as possible. I have friends who are teachers of ages from primary all the way up to college lecturers; I hope this will assist me to inspire as many young people into joining the industry as possible.
What are your hobbies? Being a surveyor, I naturally enjoy being outdoors! I like hiking, mountain biking, camping, caving and the occasional trip out on a kayak (but not in the winter!).
If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? I’d say most likely some form of transformer… I’d travel the length and breadth of the world transforming into the correct tool for the job upon arrival to site!
What poster or resource would you like to see next from GKiS? I’d love to see a resource or poster which shows not only the wide range of job sites surveyors work on, and the equipment we use, but how the data looks in a field to finish aspect. When I first entered the profession I was in awe with the visual aspects of completed drawings and coloured pointcloud data!
If you are interested about being an Ambassador for GKiS please click here, or if you are a company looking to support the development of Resources please visit here.