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The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying

The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying: Why Tech Companies Keep Getting It Wrong

Read the next article in this series: How AI Will Change (Not Replace) the Surveying Profession

"Can AI replace you? No. But can an uninformed client think it can? Also no—if we educate them first."

Picture this: a glossy Silicon Valley conference room, where tech visionaries, flush with venture capital and visions of disruption, unveil their latest world-changing innovation: "Fully Autonomous AI Land Surveying." The presentation is seamless, the jargon dense, and the confidence intoxicating. A few PowerPoint slides later, the investors are sold. They see efficiency, cost savings, and the elimination of that one unpredictable factor—human beings. Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, in a real-world construction site, a land surveyor carefully reviews historical deed records, cross-checks field measurements, and adjusts for terrain variations that no AI model can yet comprehend. Somewhere, the champagne pop

National Surveyors Week 2025 - Articles Series

National Surveyors Week is here, and the future of surveying has never been more important. From AI overreach to deregulation and public misconceptions, surveyors are facing challenges that will define the profession for generations. This five-day, 15-article series dives deep into these critical issues, offering clear strategies to protect licensure, advocate for the profession, and reclaim control of geospatial data. Now is the time to engage, educate, and lead—explore the full series and be part of the movement to secure the future of surveying.

Monday: AI, Automation, and the Delusion of Effortless Accuracy

AI and automation promise to revolutionize surveying, but are they delivering accuracy—or just hype? This three-part series explores the truth behind AI in surveying, its limitations, and the growing battle over who controls geospatial data.

🔹 The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying: Why Tech Companies Keep Getting It Wrong
AI is often marketed as a game-changer for surveying,

Why National Surveyors Week 2025 May Be the Most Important NSW Ever

National Surveyors Week 2025 is not just a celebration—it is a critical opportunity to secure the profession’s future. With increasing threats of deregulation, declining public awareness, and rapid technological transformation, land surveyors must take action to educate, advocate, and engage. In this post we share a new Land Surveying Deregulation Dashboard, Ideas for boosting public awareness and detailed information about which states need the most immediate attention.

Ceaser Fieldnotes

Summary of CEASER Fieldnotes (November 2024)

Introduction

The document discusses the evolution of surveying technology and the development of the CEASER software, a tool designed to enhance fieldwork efficiency for surveyors. It highlights how ancient surveying techniques have evolved into modern digital solutions, making tasks more efficient and mobile.

Technological Progress in Surveying

Surveying has evolved from traditional tools like theodolites and steel tapes to sophisticated digital solutions.
The introduction of Psion’s Organizer in the 1990s enabled mobile computing for surveyors.
The shift from Windows Mobile to Android for CEASER enhanced performance and responsiveness.

Key Features of CEASER

Multi-Instrument Compatibility
- CEASER allows seamless switching between different survey instruments (Digital Level, Total Station, GPS) without data loss.
- The software automatically remembers setup parameters for each instrument.
Unified Data Management
- Uses a single Design

Navigating the Changes: What the Trump Administration Could Mean for Land Surveyors

Explore how potential policy shifts under the Trump administration could impact land surveyors, focusing on licensing, union dynamics, and regulatory adjustments. This detailed guide offers actionable insights, charts, and strategies to help surveyors stay informed, adapt to changes, and seize emerging opportunities in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Questionable Practices in Land Surveying: Observations from 18 Years of Surveyor Community Management

As experienced land surveyors, we've observed outdated practices that persist in the industry despite advancements in technology. This article explores these questionable methods, offering historical insights and real-world examples to illustrate why modernization is crucial.

How Land Surveyors Can Use Emulation Tools to Bring Back Classic Surveying Software

Rediscover the golden age of land surveying with a thrilling look at how emulation technology is bringing beloved classic surveying software back to life! For seasoned surveyors, this is a nostalgic journey through time—a chance to revisit iconic tools like Softdesk Civil Survey, TDS Survey Pro, and AutoCAD R12. Emulation offers more than just memories; it's a practical solution for reviving unique features, recovering lost data, and training new generations in the roots of surveying. Imagine re-running those green-and-black screens from the 90s on your modern device, complete with the tools that shaped the profession. This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a bridge between eras, allowing surveyors to leverage the best of both worlds. Dive in to explore the magic of legacy software and the future of survey emulation!

Topographic Mapping Defining Topographic Maps and Their Purpose

As an experienced land surveyor, I've spent years mastering the art and science of topographic mapping. It's a crucial skill that allows us to capture detailed terrain data and create maps that serve as indispensable tools across numerous fields. For those new to the profession, understanding the fundamentals of topographic mapping is vital.

Writing a Legal Description as a Professional Land Surveyor (Including Checklist)

Accurate and concise legal descriptions are the lifeblood of land surveying, providing the legal framework for property boundaries. In our article, we emphasize the paramount importance of getting these descriptions right and introduce a valuable resource, "Writing a Legal Description as a Professional Land Surveyor." This comprehensive checklist guides surveyors through the intricacies of crafting impeccable legal descriptions, from choosing the right land description system to reconciling overlaps and gaps. By mastering this critical skill, surveyors not only ensure legal certainty but also safeguard property rights and facilitate smooth real estate transactions. Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your expertise with our indispensable guide.

A Comprehensive Guide to Land Surveys: Uncovering the Different Types and Their Real-World Applications

Land surveys are vital tools utilized by professional land surveyors to accurately measure and map various aspects of a property. These surveys serve distinct purposes, tailored to the specific requirements of different projects and scenarios. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different types of land surveys, shedding light on their unique characteristics and real-world applications.

Land Surveyors' Vital Role in Construction Layout: Expert Insights and Guidance

Unlock the secrets to successful construction layout with the invaluable expertise of land surveyors. Discover their vital role in ensuring precise placement and alignment of structures in this insightful article. Explore the significance of land surveyors in construction projects, from interpreting design plans to establishing control points and providing quality control, for flawless execution.

The Crucial Role of Land Surveyors in Land Development Projects

From assessing feasibility to boundary determination, site planning, construction layout, and documentation, land surveyors provide invaluable expertise and data that are vital to the success of such projects. In this post, we will delve into the various responsibilities and contributions of land surveyors, highlighting their essential role in ensuring accurate measurements, compliance with regulations, and the overall success of land development endeavors.

Building Connections in the Land Surveying Industry: Encouraging Active Participation in Events

Are you ready to take your participation in the land surveying industry to the next level? Building connections and actively engaging in events can open up a world of opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. In this article, we will explore how you can contribute to the Land Surveyors United community by sharing your upcoming local events, encourage state board representatives to list their events, and discover the exciting virtual streaming component available on the platform. Get ready to connect, learn, and thrive in the land surveying industry like never before!

How accurate are land survey measurements?

I get the same question a lot. "Why can't I just survey my land with my phone? It has GPS in it." The truth is while smartphones are convenient and useful for many tasks, they are not suitable for professional land surveying. To ensure accurate and reliable results, it is important to use specialized equipment and software designed for accuracy and precision, and to follow established standards and procedures.

Importance of Point Cloud to BIM Modeling Services

Point Cloud to BIM modeling services make it possible for AEC surveying companies to base their designs on actual as-built dimensions and conditions of a site or structure, as contained in 3D models which have been digitally reconstructed from laser scan data. This ensures a high rate of success in designing for renovation or retrofit projects.

AEC surveying companies often struggle in renovation or retrofit projects lacking proper documentation. In culturally sensitive projects, quite often, missing or damaged structures need to be reconstructed and their signature architecture restored, without detailed plans to go by. Point cloud data obtained from laser scans and photogrammetry go a long way in bridging the information gap when the data is properly converted to 3D BIM models.

Survey firms employ technically proficient service providers to convert point cloud to Revit models. They help surveying companies detect the actual measurements of hard to reach or concealed structural elements

What is "Double Rodding" in Land Surveying?

Double rodding is a technique used in land surveying to ensure the accuracy of measurements taken with a leveling instrument, such as a level or transit. The process involves using two rods, one placed in the location where the measurement is being taken and another at a predetermined distance away.

What is a Zenith and how is a Zenith used in Land Surveying?

Exploring the term Zenith and how it is used in Land Surveying

Land Mentor Software License Registration is Now FREE! Thanks Neighborhood Innovations!

Get to know Land Mentor Software and their incredible history of building software.. Also, Land Surveyors United Members can now register for their free license for Land Mentor Software...

National Surveyors Week, Surveying Jobs and Resources - oh my!

National Surveyors Week is a time to not only celebrate the Land Surveying Profession, it is a time to gain exposure for your company and strengthen the surveying community! In our community, we feel it is also perhaps the best time of year to educate the public regarding the importance of land surveyors to society and civilization. Please Add One Surveying Photo or Video to your Local Hub inside Land Surveyors United! Here are a few quick things you can do today to support the community and promote your surveying legacy: List Your US Land Surveying Company inside Our Directory for United States Land Surveying Companies. Add Your Available Surveying Jobs to the Jobs Board for Land Surveyors. Add the USA Land Surveyors App to your phone and stay connected with your Local Chapter Hub. Check out the entire collection of current Member Apps and add those that you like to your phone

Why is Land Surveying Beneficial?

Land surveyors use special instruments and techniques to measure the boundaries of a piece of land. They use this information to create a detailed map of the property, which is used to plan out developments or create legal documents. It is also used to make sure the boundaries of a property are clearly identified.

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Do you have an article about Land Surveying that you would like to share?

Land Surveying is a timeless art and science and it is therefore, evergreen! You may also know that a lot of older publications have gone away, unfortunately. If you have written or published land surveying articles in the past, we would be honored for you to share them here with us. If it is an older article, you can even republish it here with updates and reflections.

class="block"Tip: If you published an article in the past on one of the older sites which no longer exist, you can use the Wayback Machine to find it. Then just copy/paste the old article inside a new post here. Just be sure to tell us where it was previously posted.

Want to embed a PDF Document?

If you have a PDF document or article related to land surveying that you would like to embed inside an article post, simply copy/paste the following code block into the HTML view of the post editor and replace the BOLD part of the code with the URL of the PDF you'd like to embed.

Code to use:

TIP: You can also upload your PDF using the file upload button and then copy/paste the URL of the document you uploaded with the BOLD part of the code above to get a flippable PDF like so:

Differences between Forums, Blogs and Article posts

Forum Posts are great for asking questions which have a definate answer. Forum posts are best for a quick exchange of information between Land Surveyors United members. Please note that All Community Hubs have their own dedicated Forums so if your post is related to a specific hub, it is best to ask your question or share your tip inside the hub in which it belongs for targeted answers. For example, if your question relates to Leica equipment, ask your question inside the Leica Hub forum for best results as all members inside that hub uses the equipment in question. Likewise if your question pertains to a Location, you should consider making your post inside the appropriate hub.

Add Discussion

Blog Postsdiffer from Forum posts because you can embed and upload different kinds of information. Blog posts are best for presenting information and updates for feedback and sharing. When posting a Blog Post, you can also publish a short excerpt at the bottom which is what most members will see before reading the blog post. Blog posts are also great for posting new surveying projects and digests of links to multiple surveying topics or your own website. Things that can be embedded into Blog Posts are videos, images, slideshows, powerpoints, spreadsheets, PDFs, documents and more.

Add Blog Post

Articles are similar to Blog Posts in all ways except one. Articles allow for you to post an Author Block at the bottom with links to your contact info, website information, credentials, etc. Similar to Blog Posts, things that can be embedded into Blog Posts are videos, images, slideshows, powerpoints, spreadsheets, PDFs, documents and more. Similar to both types above, Hub Owners can add article sections and features to any hub they control on the community.

Add Article

The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying: Why Tech Companies Keep Getting It Wrong

Monday: AI, Automation, and the Delusion of Effortless Accuracy

AI and automation promise to revolutionize surveying, but are they delivering accuracy—or just hype? This three-part series explores the truth behind AI in surveying, its limitations, and the growing battle over who controls geospatial data.

🔹 The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying: Why Tech Companies Keep Getting It Wrong AI is often marketed as a game-changer for surveying,

Summary of CEASER Fieldnotes (November 2024)

Introduction

Technological Progress in Surveying

Key Features of CEASER

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

Note: this page is for Futurist members who support the community and help us sustain financially.Please subscribe to unlock this page an almost 100 surveyor tools.

🔹 The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying: Why Tech Companies Keep Getting It Wrong
AI is often marketed as a game-changer for surveying,