Teralynn Ledger works for Underhill Geomatics Ltd., a surveying company in Kamloops, British Columbia. While Ledger holds a diploma in Architectural and Engineering Technology from Thompson Rivers University, she requires formal training in surveying for her job. In early 2018, one of her supervisors recommended she consider the Introduction to Surveying program.

“The program offered by NLC was an opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of surveying and receive formal training. I was able to take the program while working full time. Another big benefit was that I was able to take the program online and at my own pace,” Ledger comments.

The program provides students with a solid foundation of survey theory and the skills to
perform routine survey tasks. The program is a blend of online learning supported by
instructional videos, online quizzes, assignments, and hands-on field training.

The field-training component engages the students to work as part of a team and to put into practice the concepts learned in Survey Theory, Mathematics, and Graphic Communication. “The hands-on field training taught me how to use different kinds of survey equipment. We also did exercises in topographical surveys and legal searches. I learned about field measurements and methods for measuring distances. The program built perfectly onto those skills and knowledge I had already learned through my job,” Ledger explains.

The program also includes a course in industrial safety, which provides an overview of personal workplace safety. “The program trained me to be aware of potential hazards when working in the field. There are different types of surveying jobs; you could be a construction surveyor or a legal surveyor where you are on a job site where there is a lot of other equipment and people working around you. The field training component taught me to be safe, quick, and efficient when doing field work,” Ledger explained.

“Being a long distance student, I felt that my instructors were great at answering any questions I had through email or phone. The program included a lot of technical math like trigonometry and the use of different calculations depending on what work you are doing in the field. Having that instructor support definitely helped me,” concludes Ledger.