experience
David Anderson is president of Alliance Engineering, Planning + Surveying in Buford, Georgia. He is the recent past president of the National Young Surveyors Network and currently serves as the delegate to the National Society of Professional Surveyors. He received a bachelor’s in Geomatics and Land Surveying Sciences from Troy University. In addition, he also has a master’s in Business Administration from Mississippi State University and a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Anderson is a licensed surveyor in 16 states spanning the southeast United States. Anderson and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in Buford, Georgia, with their two children. He spends his free time with family and racing.
How did you become involved in the field of surveying?
I really lucked into surveying. I had never heard of surveying or thought of it as a career opportunity until I was in college and met a guy that was in the geomatics program at Troy University. I asked him what geomatics was, and he started telling me. I thought it was something I would enjoy and could be good at. I would say surveying became a passion for me a few years out of college after being able to work with and for surveyors that cared about the profession and wanted to do things the right way.
What are the parts of your job that you enjoy the most? What are the biggest challenges?
I love the variety and the problem solving. We constantly have clients calling with issues or needs, and we are tasked with being able to figure out the best way to help them. That can also be one of the biggest challenges, especially in today’s market where there is so much work.
What are your overall thoughts on the future of surveying and where the occupation is headed? Biggest opportunities? Biggest challenges?
I have had the opportunity to serve at a state and national level as a young surveyor and was able to participate in several different meetings to discuss these very questions. I have a much more positive outlook than some of my peers. I think that technology allows us to do more with less and if that wasn’t the case then we would be in desperate times. However, I do believe the biggest challenge is getting our profession out in front of more people, so that more people will consider it an opportunity. I think our biggest opportunity is positioning ourselves as the leaders in some of the emerging technologies because our background and experiences as professional land surveyors equips us to be the leaders in developing standards and processes on how the technology is used and ensuring that the data is correct and accurate.
What are a couple of examples of projects you have worked on?
I have been fortunate to work on a wide variety of projects in my career. I have worked on levee projects in New Orleans and huge windfarms in West Virginia. Since establishing Alliance Surveying, I wanted to make sure that we were a one-stop shop for any surveying needs that our clients may have. We oversee a lot of our projects from initial design survey through final Certificate of Occupancy and any needs they have in-between. When I think of some of my most memorable projects, I think of several of the solar farm sites I first did just because they were so large. Being able to help oversee and be a part of a 25,000-acre survey for a windfarm was quite a challenge. I have also had the opportunity to survey with archeological sites in Israel.
How has being professionally licensed helped you in your career?
Being a licensed surveyor took my career way farther than I would have ever expected and has provided more opportunities than I could have imagined. Becoming licensed has allowed me to travel all over the country and internationally. It has also allowed me to meet amazing people from all over and those connections are completely invaluable, especially in regard to growing your career.
What advice would you give those who think they may be interested in surveying as a career?
A career in surveying can provide a solid living along with providing the opportunity to go as far as a person wants to go. I recommend finding a surveyor that is willing to take some extra time to invest in mentoring and find a shop with a good reputation.