6 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 46, No. 3 Featured Article 2022 SURVEYING TASKFORCE FINAL REPORT TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF LICENSED SURVEYORS IN OREGON Editor’s Note: This is a slightly abridged version of the full report. In the full report you can find names and contact info for the stakeholders who participated in the taskforce. You can also find appendices with notes from the Communications Committee with ideas for the future; brainstorming input from Asha Aiello with AGC; Oregon’s Local Workforce Development Boards and Sector Partnerships; and AGC Externship Information. The full report can be found on the PLSO website: https://www.plso.org/Outreach. 2022 Surveying Taskforce Co-chairs Steve Townsen, PE, FLS, City Engineer of Portland. Pat Gaylord, PLS, David Evans and Associates, Inc., Surveying and Geomatics Market Leader, Oregon Executive Summary: The number of licensed surveyors in Oregon has dropped by 63% in the last twenty years. Of those remaining surveyors, 69% are over the age of 51 and 43% are over the age of 61! Very few students are graduating surveying programs across the state. Surveyors and engineers are both licensed by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) and the requirements for education, testing and training is similar for both. However, engineers make 15–20% more than surveyors with similar education and experience. This must change or even fewer will pursue surveying in the future. In addition, McKinley Advisors recently performed a survey comprised of surveyors, higher education faculty, surveying students and high school counselors. The results of that survey showed that a large portion of surveyors weren’t exposed to the surveying field until after college/technical school and most high school counselors were not aware of Land Surveying colleges, entry requirements, careers, or licensure. Surveying is becoming the critical path on utility, infrastructure, and building projects. A shortage of surveyors affects the ability of landowners, engineers, contractors, and suppliers to complete projects in a timely manner. This includes all levels of our society from individual property owners, businesses (from a small business to Amazon and Intel), and all levels of government agencies. This will ripple across the economy if something is not done. As a result, a broad coalition of groups including surveying, engineering, design, construction, industry associations, licensing boards, community colleges, and universities came together to address and to improve the situation. Many of the recommendations have been implemented but work remains to be done. To get in front of the tsunami of retiring surveyors, we believe that PLSO and ACEC, working with industry, should lead the effort implementing the remaining recommendations and look for other ideas to get more qualified people licensed in surveying, both now and in the future. PLSO should rapidly refocus fundraising and financial investment efforts to support the recommendations that follow. The PLSO Education, Goals and Action Committee would be the logical committee to lead this effort with the support of the board and partnership with other organizations listed in this report. PLSO should also create liaison positions to both AGC and ACEC to partner and communicate with those organizations. Background: The number of licensed surveyors in Oregon and the country has been in decline and the design and construction industry is recognizing that surveying work is becoming a critical path on many projects. Without changes, this will have an impact on engineering firms, contractors, suppliers and ultimately the economy of the region and the country. Steps need to be taken to get more folks licensed in Surveying! The number of licensed surveyors in Oregon and the U.S. has been in decline. The information below was supplied by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS). Year # of Licensed Surveyors in Oregon 2000 2100 2011 1487
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTY1NDIzOQ==