Back in college (early ‘80s) we were doing a geophysical study in the neighborhoods of Colorado Springs. Part of it included land surveying. We looked official with the gear and safety vests, but being college kids and it was summer, and hot, we would fill up our water bottles from a household hose once in awhile.
One lady came out and I apologized. “Oh for heavens sake go ahead. But would you all like some ice-cold lemonaide too?” We sat in the shade and chatted and we told her about our school assignment.
Another lady came out and yelled at us for sitting in the shade of her tree down by the street. Of course now I get it, but being in college it seemed a bit much. (Actually even now it seems like a bit much.)
Anyway, we apologize and got off her lawn. But she’s still complaining. “And what are you doing out here anyway - what’s going on!?”
“Oh - you didn’t get the notice ma’am?”
“What notice - I didn’t get any notice!! What’s going on!!??”
“Oh - well everyone in this area was sent a notice. We’re surveying for the new Interstate I-5 bypass. You should have received a notice.”
“Interstate!! Well I never got...so who do I contact about it. An interstate!!”
“Well ma’m we don’t know anything about who to contact, we’re just surveyors. I suppose call the Colorado Department of Transportation and they can point you in the right direction.”
In another class (an actual surveying class) we laid out a campground facility near the campus. Roads, scouted good level spots to park cars and pitch tents, etc. That actually did get constructed based on the kid’s surveying. Well - I suppose our work was just for preliminary design. Although it was just a campground, so maybe they did use our actual maps for construction.