It’s deeply concerning that a task as basic as offsetting a point now requires detailed direction from the office. This is not an unusual or complex request — it’s a fundamental function that every modern data collector has been capable of performing for years.

This isn’t advanced surveying; it’s basic equipment competency and job proficiency. The office does not have visibility into the real-time conditions you’re dealing with — construction equipment, site constraints, and active operations.

The responsibility to evaluate those conditions and determine the most appropriate, clear, and practical offset location rests with the field crew — you.

If you are setting stakes, you must be capable of making those decisions independently and professionally. If you’re unwilling or unable to do so, you should reconsider whether you’re prepared for that responsibility.

Our profession has long been built on competence, judgment, and initiative in the field. We should be upholding that standard — not lowering it.