Who is a surveyor’s assistant and what do they do? The surveyor’s assistant (sometimes known in the past as a “chain boy”) is a worker who assists a surveyor, particularly a land surveyor in mapping the terrain.
What are the activities of the job? Carries and holds the surveyor’s pole level at the right points to determine heights and mark out stakes for mapmaking, building, mining and other surveys; records the results of these measurements, carries out simple calculations, sometimes operates and takes care of some geodetic instruments.
Where is it done and under what conditions? In the open air where changing weather conditions must be expected.
What tools/equipment do they use? The surveyor’s pole and other surveying equipment and instruments. May also use other hand tools, e.g. for clearing bushes or trees from the line of survey.
What do you need to succeed? You need training on the job.