Survey assistants help surveyors measure and analyse the position, shape and elevation of the Earth's natural features (such as hills, valleys and waterways), and to determine land boundaries for housing estates, building sites, reservoirs, roads and drainage systems.

Survey assistants may perform the following tasks:

clear vegetation and debris so that measurements may be taken

transport, assemble, dismantle and maintain surveying equipment

peg out boundaries under supervision and set out construction works

assist surveyors or survey technicians in measuring angles, distances and elevations using tape, steel bands, or more sophisticated equipment that use radio and light waves

record measurements manually or in an electronic field-data recorder.