Veldwerker

Veldwerker is a professional who conducts fieldwork to collect data and carry out measurements for scientific, environmental, agricultural, or heritage-related projects. The work is primarily outdoor and often involves collaboration within multidisciplinary teams to observe, sample, and document natural or cultural sites.

Typical tasks include planning field campaigns, designing sampling plans, and collecting samples such as soil, water, vegetation, or animal material. Veldwerkers perform measurements (for example GPS coordinates, weather conditions, soil moisture or pH), carry out ecological surveys, record observations, and help with tagging or tracking wildlife. They may also photograph sites, maintain equipment, and ensure proper labeling and transport of specimens. Data collection is followed by data entry and communication with researchers or project managers to ensure quality and reproducibility.

Tools and methods commonly used are sampling protocols, transects and quadrats for vegetation studies, GPS and GIS tools for spatial data, and various field instruments. Safety, permits, and ethical considerations are integral to the role, especially when working with protected species, hazardous environments, or archaeological sites.

Veldwerkers work in settings such as universities, research institutes, government agencies, environmental consultancies, NGOs, or museums. Related fields include ecology, botany, zoology, geology, archaeology, and agronomy. Typical requirements are a combination of vocational training or a university degree and practical field experience. The role emphasizes observational skills, problem-solving, physical endurance, and data management, all performed with a careful, methodical approach.