GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the lab and live systems unsupervised.

• Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
• Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
• Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
• Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
• Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel

Competency course in QGIS/ArcGIS for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in QGIS/ArcGIS and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern QGIS/ArcGIS
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for QGIS/ArcGIS
• Perform the core tasks of QGIS/ArcGIS to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in QGIS/ArcGIS work and correct them
• Document QGIS/ArcGIS work in the lab notebook to industry format

Competency course in GNSS for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in GNSS and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern GNSS
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for GNSS
• Perform the core tasks of GNSS to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in GNSS work and correct them
• Document GNSS work in the lab notebook to industry format

Competency course in total station for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in total station and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern total station
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for total station
• Perform the core tasks of total station to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in total station work and correct them
• Document total station work in the lab notebook to industry format

Competency course in construction layout for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in construction layout and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern construction layout
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for construction layout
• Perform the core tasks of construction layout to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in construction layout work and correct them
• Document construction layout work in the lab notebook to industry format

Competency course in photogrammetry for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in photogrammetry and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern photogrammetry
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for photogrammetry
• Perform the core tasks of photogrammetry to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in photogrammetry work and correct them
• Document photogrammetry work in the lab notebook to industry format

Competency course in hydrography intro for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in hydrography intro and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern hydrography intro
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for hydrography intro
• Perform the core tasks of hydrography intro to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in hydrography intro work and correct them
• Document hydrography intro work in the lab notebook to industry format

Competency course in cartography for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in cartography and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern cartography
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for cartography
• Perform the core tasks of cartography to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in cartography work and correct them
• Document cartography work in the lab notebook to industry format

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

• Plan and estimate a complete job from a specification
• Execute the job to standard within the estimate
• Present the finished work and its documentation to an employer panel

Supervised placement with an employer partner in GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations work. Hours are logged against the certifying body's task list; the employer evaluates against the same rubric used in the shop.

• Perform the trade's tasks in a real workplace under supervision
• Meet employer expectations for attendance, safety and conduct
• Log hours and tasks in the format the certifying body accepts

Structured preparation for Esri ArcGIS Pro; FAA Part 107; NSPS CST L1-2: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

• Score ≥ 80% on two timed mock exams
• Complete the eligibility application and hours verification
• Rehearse the practical exam format to time

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.