Description

This class introduces students to angles and direction, (including bearings and azimuth) and coordinate geometry calculations. Prior to the classroom lab workshop, the online portion will describe the equipment, procedure, and note taking required to conduct both a simple traverse with corrections and collect topographic survey data. After the data collection portion of the lab, students will complete a simple exercise to manually transfer mapping notes to paper format.

All students will use their own (agency-supplied) survey equipment, and MUST bring the following to the in-person field lab workshop:

• Total station
• charged batteries
• tripod
• tribrach
• prism
• survey rod

Class Objectives

After completing this class, student will be able to:

• set up a survey tripod
• operate a total station
• manually record and reduce traverse notes
• manually record and reduce mapping notes
• manually transfer mapping notes to paper format

Who should take this class

This class is meant for public agency personnel or anyone interested in learning the  basics  of land surveying and differential leveling.  The techniques covered are applicable for field data collection for roadway or civil design, or for verification in the field during construction.  The class is designed for anyone who performs civil design data collection or uses the information in their job.

Dates & Location

• Online self-paced content: Starting April 1, 2024; the online content will take approximately 5 hours to complete.
• In-person field lab workshop: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 8:00-3:00 pm at Empire Maintenance Facility, 2800 160th St W, Rosemount, MN 55068

Registration

• Register
• Cost: $150
• Registration contact: Jackson Piper at piper129@umn.edu
• Please note: You will need to create an account in the University of Minnesota system to register. Please use your most used or accessible email and physical address when setting up your account.

Please let us know how we can ensure that this course is inclusive to you. What accommodations or access needs can we help facilitate? Contact piper129@umn.edu when you register to help us provide you with the best access.

class Instructors

Eric Johnson is a 1993 graduate of the University of Wisconsin−Eau Claire with a BA in secondary English education. Eric has most recently worked as a construction inspector for Professional Engineering Services. Over the last 20 years, Eric has served as an inspector on many local municipal projects, including the Guthrie Theater, Target Field, Highway 212, the Central Corridor and SW Corridor Light Rail projects, the 35E MnPASS project, Highway 610, various METC sewer rehab projects, and Saint Paul Metro Waste Water Treatment Plant renovation. He carries multiple MnDOT inspection certifications as well as the national CIPP inspection certification through NASSCO.

Ted Johnson spent the first part of his career as a high school teacher, teaching art and industrial education. He has a degree in secondary education. Ted has taught classes for MnDOT as part of ADA training and in the MnDOT Technical Certification Program. He’s worked extensively for MnDOT for the last 15 years and is currently a grading inspector on the Highway 14 Expansion Design Build.

Accessing the  class

A portion of this training is offered via the course management system Canvas. Upon completing your online registration, you will receive an email confirmation. To access the course, please visit Canvas and login with your University of Minnesota internet ID and password. Once you have been enrolled, your course will appear on your Canvas dashboard.

If for any reason you do not have access to the course after enrolling, please contact Katherine Stanley at sell0146@umn.edu for assistance.

Technical Requirements

Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer work best for this course.

Credit

• 1.0 Roads Scholar Program Civil Tech Level I Certificate credit.
• To the best of our knowledge, this course meets the continuing education requirements for 13.0 PDHs as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107. More information concerning continuing education for professionals is available on the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID website.

Sponsors

This course is offered by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota LTAP is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).