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Celebrating Surveyors Week: A Closer Look at Otak’s Survey Team

Celebrating Surveyors Week: A Closer Look at Otak’s Survey Team

March 20, 2023 | OTAK Team

Otak is happy to introduce a week near and dear to our hearts. Starting today and going through this Saturday the 25th is National Surveyors week!

Surveyors’ week was created to provide a time for everyone in our profession to think about the impact surveyors have on society, to inform the general public about our work, and to share how enjoyable and impactful a land surveying career is.

To celebrate National Surveyor’s Week, we’re shining the spotlight on our beloved survey team and taking a closer look at what makes survey one of our most integral and far-reaching practice areas. Otak’s team is made up of 18 people working from three offices in Oregon and Washington, with a regional presence that includes Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, and South Dakota. With the help of partners, we also work in Alaska and Hawaii.

Our clients range from Federal agencies to national freight and passenger railroads, to local jurisdictions and even a homeowner from time to time. The variety of work Otak Survey does, along with the diversity of places we do it, is unique and very enjoyable.

What is Surveying?

Land Surveying is a profession as old as the concept of land ownership. The earliest known surveying practices date back to 1400 BC, when land was measured for taxation purposes in Egypt. The position of land surveyor has been held in esteem for just as long. In Oregon, the Office of County Surveyor is in the Constitution (Article VI, Section 8) and is still an elected position in several counties.

Surveyors are historians, measurers, mathematicians, mediators, and treasure hunters, using tools that have been around for a thousand years alongside the latest in modern technology and equipment. Our field and office surveyors map, measure, search, find, set, calculate, adjust, draw, compute, stake, read, scan, fly, float, and plat – sometimes all in the same day.

Meet Otak’s Survey Team

Otak’s survey group is a team that works together for everyone’s success. With a strong foundation of legacy staff, our team members range from seasoned experts to growing talent. All have important perspectives and skills to contribute, and that shows up in our work every day. Below are pictures of Otak field surveyors in their natural element.

Surveyor Week graphic showing Bob Hawkes at Coffee Lakes Creek
Surveyor Week graphic showing Kora Autrey on site
Surveyor Week graphic showing Jeff Johnson on site
Surveyor Week graphic showing David Breneman on site
Surveyor Week graphic showing Katelyn Wright on site
Surveyor Week graphic showing Kevin Cullen on site
Surveyor Week graphic showing Chris Wiley on site
Surveyor Week graphic showing Joel Lundeen on site
Survey Week graphic showing David Finley in the field
Survey Week graphic showing Christian Sumner in the field

Of course, most of the pictures are in pleasant conditions and in nice places – but field surveyors work in the elements every day. That may mean it’s wet, muddy, cold, raining, freezing, next to a freeway, or so remote that hiking into it can take hours. The next day that it’s terrible outside, remember, Otak’s field surveyors are probably out in the weather!

Some of Otak Survey’s recent projects include:

  • Trimet’s Division Transit Project and nearly every light rail line in the Portland area
  • Multiple segments of the Willamette Water Supply Pipeline from Wilsonville to Hillsboro, Oregon
  • Community Transit’s Orange Line and several other light rail lines in the Puget Sound region.
  • A new 6-mile industrial spur track in Mesa, AZ, for a national freight railroad.

Otak’s survey team uses satellites, robotic total stations, drones, scanners, unmanned boats, and 360° cameras – and as technology advances, so will our utilization of the latest and greatest surveying equipment available.

The Legacy of Otak’s Survey Practice Area

Otak has been providing land surveying throughout its entire history as a firm, with seasoned professionals who have been with us for 30+ years.

We’ve also had four generations of the Lundeen family that have worked for Otak Survey. The first generation started with Gary Lundeen, who worked at Otak for 30+ years until retirement. Gary’s son Joel Lundeen is currently at 29 years with Otak and counting. Generation three included two of Joel’s sons who have since moved on to other careers. Other long-time survey employees that have built the foundation of Otak’s survey practice include: Chris Wiley (24 years), Jerry Osgood (25 years), Mike Rusch (30 years), David Finley (20+ years), and David Breneman (24 years).

“Bob Hawes marked his 39th anniversary with Otak this year!  Bob works harder and smarter than most.  His tenure gives him a perspective that is nearly unobtainable.”

– Jon Yamashita, Director of Survey

Quality design depends on quality mapping – so early on it was decided that control of the mapping and surveying process was a key to Otak’s overall quality of work. It didn’t take long for word to spread that Otak’s surveying group provided high-quality services – very quickly our client list expanded to work for local and state agencies. We continue to work on on-call contracts with agencies that were initially won decades ago – and some agencies now find that there is more institutional knowledge of their land surveying history at Otak then they have internally.

Celebrating our Staff

Please join us in thanking the Otak Survey Team during International Surveyors’ Week!  We’re grateful to have an expert team that is engaged in their work, quick to laugh, and always working on something fun.

Interested in joining the team? Head to our career page!

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