The Best Ways to Pass the Time Driving Between Survey Sites
A lot of solar surveyors’ day is spent on the road.
Even with great tools to make surveying efficient (like drones), you still have to get from site to site. And while co-locating jobs is ideal, it doesn’t always happen in reality.
To get a better idea of how surveyors can pass the time between drive sites, Scanifly spoke to Devin Clark at Digital Mapping Consultants and Josh Abrams at Titan Solar Power. Here’s what they said were their go-to ways to pass the time.
2-15 Minute Drives: Enjoy the Time
Co-located sites make for short drives. Both Devin and Josh said that when the drive is fairly short, you can focus on enjoying the time.
Here’s how to pass the time:
Listen to music.
Turn on a short podcast episode.
Sit quietly and enjoy the drive (particularly on days when you have to talk with a lot of homeowners).
“It’s nice to be productive,” said Devin. “But on days where you have steady work doing surveys, the drive can be your quiet time.”
15-45 Minute Drives: Learn Something
A mid-length drive - around 15-45 minutes - is not only common but can feel like a waste of time. When you’re driving that long between sites, it’s easy to spend multiple hours on the road per day when you consider the Scanifly user averages around 5-8 surveys per day, with a record of 26.
Here’s how to pass the time:
Talk shows and comedy shows: Josh likes XM satellite radio a lot since it gives him a wide variety of shows to listen to (for instance, he likes the ‘raw dog’ comedy channel). Depending on what channels you want, a subscription ranges from around $10-$25 per month.
Podcasts: Whether downloaded or through satellite radio, longer podcasts can easily pass the time. Devin mentioned in the early days of his business, he listened to a lot of entrepreneurship podcasts so that he could use the time productively like How I Built This and Masters of Scale.
Audiobooks: A mid-length drive can get you through a couple of chapters of a book, making it ideal for learning something without feeling overwhelmed. It’s also an affordable option, with subscriptions to platforms like Audible ranging between $10-$25 per month.
“XM Satellite Radio is invaluable to me and worth every penny of the subscription,” said Josh. “The variety allows me to listen to all types of things.”
45 Minute-2+ Hour Drives: Hunker Down
Both Devin and Josh said these ultra-long drives are rare but do happen. When it comes to passing the time, both recommend some form of educational content so the time doesn’t feel wasted.
Here’s what you can do:
Learn about solar: Long drives are a great opportunity to learn more about solar, whether through podcasts such as Suncast or The Energy Gang courses from SEI or Scanifly, or the audio of webinars from NABCEP.
Professional development: Whether about solar or overall development, you can learn a new skill by listening to lectures or education-focused content.
On days with very long drives, Josh also recommends packing some comfort basics: good sunglasses, chargers, phone holders, and an electric cooler.
Don’t Forget About Food and Your Best Friend
When talking about passing the time, both Devin and Josh also brought up additional considerations: food and loneliness.
For food, you have to plan around not only drive time but bathroom access. This means holding a bit of time in the morning to pack your lunch and thinking strategically about what kind of foods and liquids you’re going to bring with you that day.
On the note of loneliness, both Devin and Josh bring their best (four-legged) friend along. Josh calls his dog his ‘co-pilot’ and Devin sees his pup as a friendly companion. Of course, you’ll need to make sure there’s plenty of food, water, and treats for them too!
“One critical part of my happiness in the car is my dog,” said Devin. “She loves car rides and that companionship helps, especially on long drive days.”