Andy Dare, 29, is a senior hydrographic surveyor with Andrews Survey, based in Aberdeen, UK.
So take us through a typical day, Andy
When I'm out on site I can do a twelve-hour shift, which could be 9 in the morning until 9 at night. My day is spent doing a range of things from meetings, monitoring progress of vessels online and data capture and processes. I've just spent three days in our office in Aberdeen. Before that I spent the last four weeks at sea. We went to the North Sea around the Shetlands and over to Bergen in Norway.
Your work sounds really varied, what types of skills do you need to be a good hydrographic surveyor?
You need to have an eye for detail. Much of the work that I do is known as geomatics. Geomatics is essentially where geography meets with the built environment. Our work is completed using Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages. I have become quite an expert in using this type of software. If you like using IT and would like the chance to change the shape of the built environment, surveying could well be for you.
You also need to be able to work in different situations. For example, you need to be able to contribute as part of a team so you need to like people. On the other hand, sometimes you work alone. You become your own boss and you are fully responsible for your own work… you can’t blame anyone if it goes wrong!
So what does your job involve, Andy?I'm responsible for providing positioning for objects, like turbines, that need to be fixed in the right place in the sea. I am given co-ordinates and then produce online navigation. The individuals who place the turbines can then pinpoint on a computer screen, where they need to be. It is a bit like watching a game of battleships.
What’s the best thing about surveying?
Not having a 9 to 5 job and the opportunity to travel. I can jump on a plane at the drop of a hat and that is the unpredictably that keeps things interesting. Working with Andrews Survey over the past six years has involved surveying projects around the world.
Although the majority of our work involves travelling around Europe I've also been to the Caribbean, West Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.
Any highlights?
Singapore. We went there for four weeks to do a pipeline inspection so I spent my time at sea checking for damage. We travelled the length of the pipeline videoing it and doing real time commentary. Singapore as a place was great, very clean and the people were very friendly. I also went to South Korea in preparation for the 2002 Football World Cup. We had to survey a telecommunications cable on the seabed between China and Korea.
What are your career ambitions?
My future ambitions include qualifying as a chartered surveyor. RICS has members in over 120 countries and this is a great aspect of being a chartered surveyor. When I work in different countries, I know my qualification will be recognised in a large number of them.
