Approved by the Committee on Licensure on December 18, 2023 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on January 24, 2024
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 18, 2024

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) defines engineering surveying as those surveying activities associated with the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of engineered projects. This excludes the surveying of real property for the establishment of land boundaries, rights of way, easements, and the dependent or independent surveys or resurveys of the public land survey system should be adopted by all licensing jurisdictions that regulate engineering and surveying. Additionally, licensing jurisdictions should not require engineers to obtain a separate license as a professional surveyor to practice engineering surveying in accordance with the definition and exclusions described above.

Issue

Some engineering and surveying licensing jurisdictions disagree about the right of civil engineers to practice engineering surveying since separate licensure for the practice of surveying exists and that there is some overlap between the definitions of engineering surveying and the licensed practice of surveying. Some licensed engineers have faced disciplinary actions due to disagreements over this overlap of jurisdiction. Licensed engineers must review provisions in each jurisdiction where they practice ensuring that they do not violate the practice acts for both engineering and surveying in that jurisdiction. 

The definition of engineering surveying above, with the stated exclusions, is consistent with the Model Law promulgated by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). If all licensing jurisdictions adopted this definition, there would be no confusion about the overlap between engineering surveying and that performed by licensed surveyors, and licensed engineers would have clear and understandable boundaries concerning the survey work that they perform incidental to their engineering services. 

Rationale

Engineering surveying as defined herein is a skill of civil engineers who are competent to perform it as part of their engineering practice as a licensed professional engineer. Licensing jurisdictions should accept and adopt this definition in their licensing statutes.  

ASCE Policy Statement 333
First Approved in 1987