Introduction to Surveying

Workshop Dates and Format 

This hybrid training includes two components: online, self-paced content and an in-person field lab workshop.

The online self-paced content will be available from October 1–26, 2026. It will take approximately 13 hours to complete.

The field lab workshop will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 27–Thursday, October 29, 2026
 Hybrid
MnDOT Shoreview Training and Conference Center

1900 County Road I
Shoreview, MN 55126

A group of MnLTAP studnets using surveying equipment

Register

About the Course

This hybrid course introduces students to surveying and mapping. Students will be introduced to the various methods and applications of land surveying related to the civil engineering design and construction industries. Students will also learn about the tools and methods used for differential leveling, work with an electronic distance measuring device, and practice construction staking.

The online portion of the course includes three subject areas: 

  • Topic 1 introduces surveying, leveling, tripod setup, how to read the level rod, and level notes.
  • Topic 2 describes the equipment, procedures, and note-taking required to conduct both a simple traverse with corrections and collect topographic survey data.
  • Topic 3 covers construction terms and abbreviations, plan reading, pacing, construction staking, and preparing for the construction lab.

The in-person, three-day field lab workshop will cover level loop and measurements, angle measurement with a transit/traversing lab, and construction surveys and stakes.

Registration

Please let us know how we can ensure that this workshop is inclusive to you. What accommodations or access needs can we help facilitate? Contact Natalie Niskanen ([email protected]) when you register to help us provide you with the best access.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the required online coursework prior to the field lab workshop.

All students will need to 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
  • Differential level
  • Level rod

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to complete the following tasks.

Expand all

Angles and Mapping

  • 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

Construction Staking

  • Measure linear distances using their pace and survey tapes
  • Set up a survey tripod
  • Operate a differential level and total station
  • Read a survey rod
  • Read civil plans and scale distances
  • Transfer data from plans to field stakes
  • Set project controlConstruction Staking
  • Measure linear distances using their pace and survey tapes
  • Set up a survey tripod
  • Operate a differential level and total station
  • Read a survey rod
  • Read civil plans and scale distances
  • Transfer data from plans to field stakes
  • Set project control

Surveying and Leveling

  • Set up a survey tripod
  • Operate a differential level
  • Read a survey rod
  • Record and reduce level notes
  • Determine the elevation of unknown points using a differential level

Who Should Attend

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

Course Instructor

John Bean, P.E., GISP, has over 40 years of experience in surveying, civil engineering, and GIS, both in teaching and in practice. He is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and a certified GIS Professional (GISP), and has passed the NCEES FS and PS exams toward professional surveying licensure. His work has taken him to Antarctica, the North Slope of Alaska, and the Mojave Desert, among other places. 

John has taught dozens of surveying and GIS workshops for municipal, regional, state, and national audiences. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Foundation and the Applied Research in Environmental Science Nonprofit (ARIES), and is a member of the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS), the American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He lives in Chassell, Michigan with his wife, Susan, and their two dogs.

Online Coursework Access

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 log in 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 Natalie Niskanen at [email protected] for assistance.

Credit

Questions?

Please contact [email protected].

Sponsors

This workshop is presented by Minnesota LTAP at the Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota. Minnesota LTAP is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This course is subsidized through funding from LRRB and FHWA.