Branch Practice III

Field Practice III is a professional placement within the follow-on Master’s programme, focused on the independent and responsible application of in-depth specialist knowledge and skills in tackling complex and, where applicable, non-standard tasks in the field of surveying.
Students undertake a 160-hour placement, i.e. four weeks, at an organisation carrying out comprehensive surveying activities, under the professional supervision of an authorised surveying engineer (AZI). The scope of the placement corresponds to the current curriculum and is worth 8 credits.
The work placement builds on the specialist knowledge and skills acquired during previous university studies and further developed in the subsequent Master’s programme. Emphasis is placed on the integration of knowledge from multiple specialist fields, the independent analysis of technical problems, the design and evaluation of alternative solutions, the professionally justified selection of methods and technologies, the quality control of results, working with legal and technical requirements, and responsible professional decision-making.

Upon successful completion of the module, the student will:

Professional knowledge:

1. explains the interrelationships between the purpose of a comprehensive surveying task, the legal and technical requirements, the required accuracy, the choice of surveying method and technology, the method of data processing, quality control and the form of the final documentation;
2. characterise the possibilities, prerequisites and limitations of current geodetic methods, surveying systems, geoinformation technologies and spatial data processing methods used in professional practice;
3. explain the principles of planning and quality management in surveying activities, measurement control, the assessment of the accuracy, reliability and credibility of results, and the importance of metrological traceability;
4. is familiar with the legal, technical and professional requirements relating to the surveying activities in question and explains the status, professional responsibility and scope of work of an authorised surveying engineer;
5. explains the organisational and documentation links between the individual stages of a comprehensive surveying project, from the acceptance and analysis of the brief, through planning, measurement and data processing, to the verification and handover of results.

Professional skills:

1. on the basis of a broadly defined brief, independently analyses a complex professional problem, identifies the essential requirements and proposes possible solutions;
2. selects and professionally justifies the appropriate surveying method, technology, instrumentation and software, and working procedure, taking into account the purpose of the task, the required accuracy, implementation conditions, available data and other technical constraints;
3. plans the procedure for carrying out a surveying task, establishes the necessary control mechanisms and, to the extent appropriate to their position, participates in its implementation;
4. independently collects, processes, analyses and interprets spatial data, and, where appropriate, integrates data obtained using various surveying and information technologies;
5. assesses the accuracy, reliability and quality of the results obtained, identifies significant sources of error and uncertainty, evaluates the limitations of the procedure used and proposes appropriate control or corrective measures;
6. applies the relevant legislation, technical standards, methodological and internal regulations when carrying out a professional task, and respects the scope of activities reserved for authorised persons;
7. prepares professional and technical documentation appropriate to the nature of the surveying work being carried out and produces outputs of a quality that allows for their subsequent professional review and, where necessary, verification by an authorised person;
8. critically compares possible solutions to a specialist problem, provides a professional justification for the chosen approach, and formulates conclusions and recommendations based on the results achieved;
9. presents clearly and defends professionally the chosen working method, the results achieved and the conclusions drawn from the task undertaken.

General competences:

1. makes independent and responsible decisions when tackling complex professional tasks, even in situations where the context is not fully known or changes during the course of the task;
2. within the scope of the professional activities entrusted to them, plans their own work, sets priorities and takes responsibility for the quality, accuracy and timeliness of their outputs;
3. depending on the nature of the work task, participates in the organisation and coordination of specific professional activities within the work team and cooperates effectively with other professionals;
4. communicates professionally on complex professional issues, the methods used and the results of their work; is able to formulate and defend their own professional opinion and respond to professional comments;
5. when making professional judgements, takes into account the legal, safety, professional and ethical implications of surveying activities and respects the limits of their own professional competence and responsibility;
6. critically evaluates their own professional practice and the feedback received, identifies the need to supplement their knowledge or change their working methods, and responds appropriately;
7. independently acquires and develops further professional knowledge and skills through practical experience, the critical use of professional and technical resources, and by keeping abreast of technological, methodological and legislative developments in the field.