Questionable Practices (26)
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The Vanishing â How AI Is Mapping History Out of Existence
It starts subtly. A parcel map is generated with stunning efficiency. A sleek interface displays terrain data, boundary lines, structuresâall perfectly digitized. But somethingâs missing.
A shaded grove that held an unmarked cemetery.
A long-forgotten footpath carved by generations of Indigenous families.
A stone wall no longer visible from the air, but tied to a land dispute a hundred years old.
Gone. Not because they were disproven or deemed irrelevantâbut because the algorithm never knew they existed.
Welcome to the quiet crisis unfolding at the edge of progress: AI is erasing historyânot out of malice, but out of ignorance. And itâs happening at scale.
Modern AI-powered mapping tools are impressive. They can parse satellite imagery, process LiDAR scans, detect surface features, and overlay parcel data in seconds. But they have one critical flaw: they only see whatâs been recordedâand what fits their training set. That mea
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A Profession at a Crossroads â Too Few Recruits, Too Many Barriers
Thereâs a storm quietly brewing in land surveyingâand it has nothing to do with weather. Itâs the professionâs slow-burning crisis: a pipeline thatâs running dry. Across the country, surveying firms are struggling to find new talent. Technical schools are reporting low enrollment in geomatics programs. Licensure numbers are stagnatingâor declining. And the hard truth is this: if we donât lower the drawbridge, the next generation simply wonât cross into the field.
The demand for surveyors is real and rising. Infrastructure is aging. Boundaries are being challenged in growing numbers. Land development is accelerating. Municipalities are digitizing records and modernizing mapping systems. The opportunities are thereâbut the workforce isnât. And itâs not because young people donât want to work. Itâs because surveying has quietly become one of the most expensive and convoluted professions to break intoâwithout the financia
In The Generational Knowledge Gap: Where Are the Next Surveyors?, we addressed knowledge loss; this counterpoint suggests blending mentorship with new technologies to future-proof surveying.
Section 1: Introduction â The Generational Knowledge Gap
One of the most pressing challenges facing the surveying profession today is the growing generational knowledge gap. As experienced surveyors approach retirement, a vast amount of practical, hard-earned knowledge risks being lostâknowledge that is often not captured in textbooks, software, or training videos. This comes at a time when the profession is also facing a rapid influx of emerging technologies like AI, drones, and LiDAR, creating a perfect storm of change that threatens to sever the connection between traditional surveying expertise and modern methods.
The fear is not just that old methods will be forgotten, but that the critical thinking skillsâthe ability to interpret complex land records, navigate challenging field conditions, or
I. Introduction: A Profession at War With Itself
Surveying has always been a profession that demands precision, attention to detail, and a willingness to stand your ground when the data says youâre right. After all, when it comes to boundary lines, inches matter, and thereâs no prize for being close enough. But somewhere along the way, that necessary professional skepticismâthe instinct to double-check, to challenge assumptionsâturned inward. Instead of fighting for the integrity of the craft, surveyors started fighting each other.
Spend a day inside any online surveying groupâwhether on Facebook, LinkedIn, or some crowded forumâand youâll see it firsthand. A young surveyor posts a question. Maybe itâs about GPS drift. Maybe itâs about interpreting a confusing easement. Maybe theyâre new, or maybe theyâre just trying to learn. The first answer is helpful. The second is condescending. By the fifth reply, someoneâs insulting someone elseâs competence, regional knowledge, or accusing them
While What Happens to Surveying If NOAA Loses Funding? explained the dangers of NOAAâs defunding, this counterpoint considers how surveyors can adapt by building local and private data resilience.
Section 1: Introduction â NOAAâs Role and the Risk of Defunding
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has long been a cornerstone of the surveying profession, providing essential geospatial data, tide measurements, and satellite-based observations that surveyors rely on for accuracy and consistency. NOAAâs role in the collection and dissemination of environmental data is fundamental to maintaining high standards in surveying, particularly in areas like boundary mapping, environmental monitoring, and coastal management.
However, the increasing political debates around government spending and funding cuts have led to concerns about the future of NOAAâs operations. As the possibility of defunding or downsizing federal agencies like NOAA becomes a reality, the surveying profe
In our original exploration of How AI Will Change (Not Replace) the Surveying Profession, we highlighted AIâs potential; this counterpoint reminds us that human judgment remains critical no matter how advanced the tools become.
Section 1: Introduction â Embracing Technology, But Keeping Human Expertise
Surveying is undergoing a revolution. With the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, tools like drones, LiDAR, and AI-driven software have been heralded as the future of the profession. These technologies promise increased efficiency, enhanced precision, and the ability to handle tasks that were once labor-intensive and time-consuming. Indeed, automation can improve many aspects of the surveying processâdata collection is faster, analysis is more precise, and error rates are reduced.
But thereâs a critical question that often goes unasked: As AI takes on more responsibilities, what role is left for the human surveyor? The tools that are revolutionizing survey
As we explore this counterpoint perspective, itâs important to revisit the original discussions that shaped the narrative around National Surveyors Week. For insights into the impact of emerging technology, see How AI Will Change (Not Replace) the Surveying Profession and The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Surveying. The critical role of NOAA was explored in Why NOAA Is The Most Important Agency Youâve Never Thought About and What Happens to Surveying If NOAA Loses Funding?. For the conversation around professional standards and licensure, revisit The Push to Kill Surveying Licensure: Whoâs Behind It and Why? and When Licensure Disappears, So Does Accuracy (And Public Trust). Additionally, the importance of knowledge preservation and education was addressed in The Generational Knowledge Gap: Where Are the Next Surveyors? and How to Build the Future of Surveying Through Education. Finally, the professionâs role in defending reality was explored in Surveyors: The Last Defenders of Ground Trut
Introduction:
For centuries, surveying has been a public trustâan essential profession that safeguards property rights, ensures infrastructure stability, and provides the geospatial foundation for entire
 economies. At its core, surveying is about accuracy, integrity, and accessibility. It has long been a profession grounded in public records, open data, and professional oversight.
But in the modern era, the pillars that have upheld surveying for generations are being quietly dismantled.
We are witnessing a rapid shift toward privatizationâwhere corporations, not professional surveyors, are seizing control over geospatial data, land records, and even the tools surveyors use to perform their work. Data that was once publicly accessible is being placed behind corporate paywalls. Automated AI tools are being marketed as replacements for licensed professionals. Regulatory oversight is being weakened under the guise of efficiency.
And the worst part? Itâs happening in plain sight, but too
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