HEAR FROMOUR MEMBERS
Al Jeraj, OLS
What is your job title and what industry do you work in?
I am the Executive Director for the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS). AOLS is the regulatory body that governs the practice of land surveying in Ontario. We ensure that our members adhere to all statutory and regulatory requirements, the Standards of Practice and our Code of Ethics to maintain our primary mandate of public protection.
What inspired you to pursue a career in land surveying?
I fell into the career accidentally because at the time, the academic program of Survey Engineering offered at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) didn’t require chemistry. It was a fortuitous event because I had no idea what surveying was and ended up loving the profession.
What do you love about your job?
I love my role because it is both challenging and exciting, with a strong focus on problem-solving. I view myself as a quarterback, responsible for calling the plays, rallying the team, and executing the strategy. No two situations are alike, and often, addressing the challenges requires bringing together new teams with unique skill sets. Another aspect of the job I truly enjoy is the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, both within my team and across the organization.
Aside from my current job, surveying is a career that has many attractive features such as working outdoors, working in a fast-paced environment, working with cool tech, but most of all, offering solutions to real world problems.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There is no typical day. There are a lot of meetings, but at those meetings, I am building partnerships and discussing strategies to move initiatives forward. I am always looking to improve how we do business which means, I’m always learning. I have the fortune of attending seminars and conferences to discover new technology and to discover better ways to regulate. I also have the privilege of working with many of our members on committees and task forces to advance initiatives that make us an effective regulator.
What motivates, excites or inspires you in your career?
The idea of bringing value to society motivates me. How can I grow and lift others up in the process? How can I contribute to real world problems? I am fortunate in my career to be able to explore answers to these questions.
What core skills have helped you advance in your career?
Communication is key to having success in any career but especially in surveying. Some of the concepts are highly technical and you must be able to explain them in a way that is easy to understand.
What new skills or technologies do you see shaping the future of land surveying?
Big data, Artificial Intelligence and better measuring technology will impact surveying. The public’s expectations to access accurate products and services faster are growing. Surveyors will need to leverage their knowledge of fundamental principles and apply them to emerging technologies to deliver on these expectations. This means that Regulation will need to keep up which presents an exciting challenge.
What makes land surveying important?
Land Surveyors are professionals, and the public relies on our expertise to help them solve matters related to land. Land is a valuable resource that surveyors are stewards of. Every major infrastructure or development project has a land component to it and surveyors play a critical role in ensuring those projects are realized.
What advice would you give someone exploring a career in land surveying?
Spend time identifying what you love and then find opportunities to support that. If you love working outdoors, try to partner with a surveying firm outside the GTA. If you love working in a fast-paced environment, try to partner with a surveying firm that does a lot of development work. If you like policy development, try working for a government agency. There is currently a shortage of surveyors and support staff and the prospects of finding a job to explore different work environments have never been better.
Aloka Kumaranayake, OLS
Project manager/ Ontario Land Surveyor, Cadastral Surveying (Subdivisions / Condominiums)
What inspired you to pursue a career in land surveying?
My friend’s mother was a surveyor, and I was inspired by her.
What do you love about your job?
I like that every day is a new challenge. I have to think and come up with solutions to a variety of challenges.
What does a typical day look like for you?
In the morning, I brief the field crews and check emails for urgent matters. I tackle quick tasks first, like reviewing plans or certificates, then move on to more complex tasks such as importing data or calculating boundaries. If needed, I consult senior surveyors for advice. Throughout the day, I handle client calls and emails, attend meetings, and check in with the field crews to monitor progress and plan for the next day.
What motivates, excites or inspires you in your career?
I like the challenges that come with each day. Keeps me on my toes and learning something new every day. I like working in a collaborative environment.
What core skills have helped you advance in your career?
Numeracy skills, digital aptitude to work with new technology and creative skills because not only do survey plans need to be accurate, but they must also look good.
What new skills or technologies do you see shaping the future of land surveying?
Digital skills – we are moving onto drones and terrestrial scanners for surveying.
What makes land surveying important?
We are working on strengthening the cadastre. I like to think we help people achieve a basic human need of shelter.
What advice would you give someone exploring a career in land surveying?
If you like working with technology, solving problems, being creative and working outdoors this is the perfect career for you.
Robin Fleguel
I lead the Geomatics practice of a multi-disciplinary AEC firm
What inspired you to pursue a career in land surveying?
I’m a third generation surveyor and was inspired by my Dad’s passion for his profession, his obvious capability and the respect that I could see members of our community had for him.
What do you love about your job?
At this point in my career (30 years) the thing I love most is working with teams and seeing younger less-experienced members of the team learn from their mistakes, learn to succeed and advance in their careers.
What does a typical day look like for you?
As a senior leader it’s a mix of meetings with staff groups, discussion with clients, advancing strategic and tactical pursuits with my peers, monitoring financial metrics, mentoring, recruiting, weighing in on technical matters within my particular sub-discipline and occasional project work.
What motivates, excites or inspires you in your career?
Solving clients’ problems in a useful and efficient way that provides value.
What core skills have helped you advance in your career?
Focus on fundamentals, strategic thinking, attention to detail, the ability to listen, challenging assumptions, thinking outside the box, risk management
What new skills or technologies do you see shaping the future of land surveying?
Advancements in automated modelling from point clouds (the conversion from raster to vector/surfaces), increased precision capability driven by needs in the infrastructure and transportation fields, further integration of geometric elements as part of database development
What makes land surveying important?
For individuals: real estate is likely their most valuable asset. Protection and curation of that asset requires land surveying. For governments: infrastructure, housing and transportation are three top priorities. Design, build, maintenance and operation in these areas requires a geographic reference framework right from conceptual stage through to end of life that is realized and maintained by surveyors.
What advice would you give someone exploring a career in land surveying?
Speak to as many land surveyors as you can – it’s a varied profession that works hand-in-hand with a number of other disciplines. Try it out: entry level jobs can be had before investing in post-secondary education.
Saeid Sedaghat, OLS (He/Him)
Acting City Surveyor/ City of Ottawa
What inspired you to pursue a career in land surveying?
My inspiration to pursue a career in land surveying stems from my family's influence and my personal interests. Growing up, my uncle was a civil engineer, which sparked my interest in engineering. After finishing high school, I applied to civil engineering programs, but I wasn't fully aware of the differences between civil engineering and surveying at the time.
What drew me to surveying was its practical application and the hands-on nature of the work. When I immigrated to Canada, I found a job in the surveying industry, which allowed me to follow my passion. My eagerness to learn and grow in this field ultimately led me to pursue becoming an Ontario Land Surveyor (OLS). I appreciate how surveying combines technical skills with real-world applications, and I'm excited to be part of this profession.
What do you love about your job?
What I love about my job is the unique combination of management and surveying that it encompasses. My background in engineering and urban planning really enhances my ability to perform my duties effectively. I enjoy working on a variety of projects and appreciate the teamwork involved. Collaborating with other departments and providing professional opinions on boundary and property issues is particularly rewarding, as it allows me to contribute to the success of our projects and support my colleagues.
What does a typical day look like for you?
In my role, a typical day involves a mix of administrative management tasks and collaborative work. I start with meetings with both internal and external clients, where I provide guidance and professional opinions on the surveying aspects of capital projects. Working alongside a team of senior surveyors and technologists keeps the environment dynamic, as we share new ideas and insights, making each day productive and an opportunity for learning.
What motivates, excites or inspires you in your career?
What motivates, excites, or inspires me in my career is the opportunity to share my experiences with my team and learn from them every day. I find great fulfillment in having a sense of purpose and being useful to the community, knowing that I contribute, even in a small way, to the success of our projects and the team as a whole.
What core skills have helped you advance in your career?
A surveyor needs a diverse skill set, including strong mathematics, proficiency with relevant software, and a solid understanding of legal studies and planning. Additionally, my background in engineering project management and my ability to manage and lead a team have been crucial in driving successful outcomes in our projects. These skills allow me to navigate complex situations and contribute effectively to my team and the community.
What new skills or technologies do you see shaping the future of land surveying?
More automation and AI tools are enhancing drafting processes, making it easier to analyze and visualize data. Additionally, advancements in laser scanning and LiDAR technology are revolutionizing how we capture and interpret spatial information. These innovations not only improve accuracy but also increase efficiency, allowing us to deliver better results for our clients and the community.
What makes land surveying important?
Land surveying is crucial because it serves as the foundation for any development project. Architects, planners, and engineers rely on accurate surveying data to inform their designs and decisions. Additionally, land surveying protects the public interest by providing professional opinions on boundary locations, ensuring that property rights are respected
What advice would you give someone exploring a career in land surveying?
If you enjoy a dynamic workplace where you can learn something new every day, land surveying could be a great fit for you. It’s important to be open to sharing your knowledge and experiences with others. If you have a background in surveying or related fields and a passion for becoming an Ontario Land Surveyor (OLS), don’t hesitate to pursue this career. Embrace the opportunities in both the field and the office, and stay focused on your goals. Your journey in surveying can be both rewarding and fulfilling!