The most ethical choice for every single situation might not be immediately apparent in a field that is so much both an art and a science as land surveying. There are clear guidelines, however, that ensures that every land surveyor in Pensacola, and across the nation, knows how to behave respectably and honorably.

Etiquette, fairness, and honorability are three virtues that the land surveyor should seek to embody in the business relationships. The land surveyor is expected to maintain a level of neutrality and assess the land as a scientific fact, objective and absolute.

With regards to dealings with clients, surveyors should avoid any professional impropriety in any aspect of their business. They should disclose any potential conflicts of interest, prior affiliations or involvement with any parties involved before the acceptance of any assignment.

If a land surveyor is to be paid by more than one individual source, all sources must be aware of each other and fully aware of the payment terms. Any proprietary or personal information disclosed by the clients in the course of the project should be kept in the strictest of confidence, especially after the work is completed.

The difficulty, time, and technical complexity of any job should dictate the compensation received for any land surveyor seeking to operate honestly. They must personally supervise the preparation and completion of all certificates, reports, and plans, and sign them promptly once the operations are complete. Discussions regarding the exact price of the services rendered should occur before the project is undertaken and any incidental charges explained immediately with solid evidence.

Other people in the business community depend on the land surveyor to avoid alluding to false or misleading statements when promoting the business and services. On a related note, purposefully slandering fellow land surveyors’ reputations and seeking to eliminate them as business rivals is a clear ethical violation.

The competency of the surveyor must also be represented truthfully at all times. If a surveyor believes that they may be incapable of performing all of the duties necessary to complete the assignment, they should either decline or seek the advice and assistance of the correct experts. The proper research and study are necessary when entering into a new area of expertise. A land surveyor must be able to acquire or possess the necessary resources to complete the project. All scheduling and completion dates must be timely and finished with professionalism. When a surveyor is the manager of a team of professionals, they must take responsibility for the actions of any employees or contractors.

An excellent guideline that applies to almost all situations is to ask what would I want to happen to me? A person could go their whole lives without meeting another land surveyor, in Pensacola or Seattle, so the one or two that they do happen to meet may shape how they feel about the entire land surveying profession.

John Parker specializes in creating content to share his knowledge as one of many surveyors in Pensacola. For other related content on life as a Pensacola engineer visit Gulf Coast Engineers today.