National Surveyors Week (March 20-26, 2022) was created by the National Society of Professional Surveyors to celebrate the surveying profession, which often goes unrecognized. This week, Dawood is shining a spotlight on some of our surveyors to highlight the breadth of knowledge and experience among our staff. Today, we speak with Survey Project Manager Josh Stice.
Hi Josh! Please tell us a little bit about how you got into the surveying field and what your current position at Dawood is like.
I’ve been surveying for 29 years and completed my Surveying certificate from Middle Georgia State University (formerly, Middle Georgia College) in Cochran, Georgia. I’m now enrolled online at the University of Maine to advance my studies in surveying and mapping. I was raised in Alaska, spent time with the U.S. Coast Guard, and moved to the Atlanta area around 22 years ago (my wife is from Georgia). I’ve been with Dawood for one year, where I work closely with Jody Carter, PLS, and our surveying and engineering utility team in the energy sector
What’s so special about surveying and how does it motivate you?
I enjoy working in the field and staying current with new technologies–they’re constantly changing in our industry. I’m most passionate about giving back to the profession in any way possible, and I enjoy teaching and mentoring those in the surveying profession. For instance, I’m active with the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia, where I serve as committee chair for the Certified Survey Technician (CST) Program and Associate Editor of our newsletter. I’m also on the Drone Committee for the Georgia Geospatial Association (formerly, the Georgia Chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association).
Tells us about one or two of your favorite Dawood projects and what makes them stand out to you.
My most memorable project was at a liquid natural gas (LNG) facility, where we were responsible for laser scanning the entire site and modeling data. Included in the scope were subsurface utility engineering (SUE) investigations, a bathymetric survey, aerial LiDAR, and drone work. This project will provide the client with an accurate rendering of their facility in a 3D setting, enabling them to repair and model new equipment to see how it will affect existing facilities. This assignment also gave us the opportunity to showcase Dawood’s strengths by teaming with our Polish counterparts.
What’s something that people might not know about you?
I worked with the National Geodetic Service to re-establish calibrated baselines across the state of Georgia in the mid-2000s. Today, I teach field personnel classes throughout the state and participate in a mentoring program for surveying that meets weekly. We have participants from all over the US, Canada, and even Australia.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I enjoy spending time with my grandkids and my dogs – an Aussie-doodle, a Pomeranian, and a miniature pincher.