Surveying Articles

Episode 275 - Ted Knaak & TopoDOT Solutions

This episode of The Geoholics takes us deep into the evolution of surveying—where the industry isn’t just changing…it’s being completely flipped “upside down and inside out.” And leading that conversation? None other than Ted Knaak—OG innovator, founder, and one of the sharpest minds in the point cloud game.

Ted walks us through one of the biggest paradigm shifts our profession has ever seen: we didn’t just improve data collection…we changed the nature of the data itself.

This episode challenges the idea that “more data = better outcomes”… and pushes us to rethink what quality really means in a point cloud world.

Ted calls out one of the biggest gaps in our industry today—dysfunctional data governance. Firms adopting scanning tech without a clear strategy...Workflows being dictated by software instead of mission...Multiple sensors, platforms, and tools creating fragmentation...Lack of defensibility when it actually matters.

TopoDOT Solutions: This isn’t just a name change—it’s a mindset shift.

Ted introduces the idea of defining measurable characteristics of point cloud data—bringing structure, accountability, and true quality assessment into the conversation.

The role of the surveyor is evolving—from collector to interpreter, validator, and data governor.

To stay relevant (and lead), surveyors need to: Understand data at a deeper level...Own quality and traceability...Think beyond deliverables...Think lifecycle!

The firms (and people) who figure out data governance, quality, and strategy first…are going to lead the next era of surveying.

Music by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong!

EP228 Todd Horton - Survey Technician Training

It may be April 1 on the calendar but we are not fooling around! Technician training is an important topic and "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" is here for you. This week, your host Tim Burch sits down with Todd Horton, PE, PLS, and lead instructor for survey technician training sessions being hosted around the country. They chatted about the importance of training in the age of one-man crews and exploding technology. Todd has been busy hosting sessions with the Michigan and Indiana societies, but look for him to visit your area soon. A great conversation you don't want to miss.

Week 166: Technician Training Models

EP227 Kennedy Williams - Senior @ Cal Poly Pomona

As we wind down to the end of March and Women's History Month, this week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" features someone who plans on making a name for her own self. While on location at the Western Region Survey Conference in Las Vegas, Tim Burch sat down with Kennedy Williams, a senior at Cal Poly Pomona and budding surveyor/engineer in the making. Kennedy shared her story of making the decision of pursuing a civil engineering degree then "finding" surveying during her sophomore year. They also discussed the importance of the combination of education, experience, and networking to give the surveyor a well rounded career opportunity. A conversation with a dynamic lady so give it a listen today!

Episode 274 - Gordon Perry, PLS

This week, The Geoholics take a deep dive underground—literally and figuratively—with rail and LiDAR expert Gordon Perry, PLS. From the streets of Detroit to the tunnels beneath NY Penn Station, Gordon brings a perspective shaped by grit, precision, and a relentless pursuit of quality.

Gordon shares his journey from Lansing Community College into the world of surveying—where curiosity turned into passion, and passion turned into a career spanning some of the most complex infrastructure projects in the country.

We’re talking 1,200 miles of the Amtrak Northeast Corridor, full transit system mapping across MBTA lines, and working in environments most surveyors will never experience—like fully underground rail systems where GPS is nonexistent and precision is everything.

If you’ve been hearing the LiDAR buzz—this episode breaks it down. Gordon walks us through the full workflow. And here’s the truth bomb: Data collection gets the spotlight… but processing is where careers are made or broken.

He also calls out one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry—thinking LiDAR is “push-button easy.” Spoiler alert: it’s not. Not if you care about quality.

Gordon emphasizes that great partners aren’t just technically sound—they’re communicative, accountable, and aligned on expectations.

This episode is a masterclass in staying relevant, delivering quality, and embracing the complexity of our profession.

If you’re in surveying, LiDAR, rail, or just love hearing how the best in the game think—this one’s a must-listen.

Music by Genesis!!!

EP226 John Allen - Allen Business Advisors

The surveying industry is currently grappling with a massive transition of ownership as aging founders near retirement, a situation that threatens local economic stability and the continuity of essential professional services. This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" features John R. Allen, III, owner of Allen Business Advisors in Brookline, MA. Tim Burch recently sat down with John to discuss the "silver tsunami" within the surveying profession and how it will effect both employers and employees. John provided great insight into succession planning and strategies to insure a smooth transition of business ownership. A serious conversation that provides insight into a brighter future for surveyors. Check it out today!

Week 165: Survey Standards & Specifications, for those taking the FS/PS/CST

EP225 From the Director's Desk - National Surveyors' Week

This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” is the next installment of “From the Director’s Desk” with your host, NSPS Executive Director Tim Burch and features stories about National Surveyors Week. Tim shares the origin story of how the third week of March became a fixture on the surveyor’s calendar as well as current events happening for 2026. A very informational episode you don’t want to miss so check it out today!

Episode 276 - ASPRS Gulf South Region

In this episode of The Geoholics, we go full geospatial nerd mode with several leaders from the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) — a professional organization that’s been shaping the mapping and imaging sciences since 1934. That’s right… these folks were advancing mapping science before lidar was cool and long before anyone thought strapping cameras to drones was a good idea.

Joining the show are Dr. Balaji Ramachandran, Dr. Unal Okyay, Bill Swope, and Scott Dunham, representing the ASPRS Gulf South Region, where they’re working to grow a tight-knit geospatial community across Texas and Louisiana. From certifications to conferences to career-changing connections, this episode dives into why professional organizations still matter in an industry evolving at warp speed.

We kick things off at 30,000 feet discussing what ASPRS actually does and why surveyors, drone pilots, photogrammetrists, lidar specialists, and GIS pros should care. With nearly a century of history behind it, ASPRS has helped establish standards, promote education, and advance technologies that form the backbone of modern geospatial workflows.

The conversation also digs into ASPRS certifications — including Certified Photogrammetrist (CP) and Certified Mapping Scientist (CMS) — and how these credentials can elevate careers, validate expertise, and help professionals stand out in a rapidly growing field. 

We also preview the ASPRS Gulf South Geospatial Conference, happening at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where attendees can expect technical sessions on topics like mobile lidar for railroads, geospatial accuracy standards, photorealistic 3D visualization, and lidar data assessment — plus a panel discussion moderated by your very own Geoholics host....Mr. Kent Groh!

Beyond the tech talk, the episode highlights initiatives like the Jim Gillis Memorial Education Fund, which helps remove financial barriers for students and young professionals pursuing careers in mapping sciences — proving that investing in the next generation is just as important as pushing the technology forward.

Organizations like ASPRS play a critical role in maintaining standards, professional credibility, and ethical practice as geospatial technology becomes more accessible to everyone.

If you care about the future of geospatial technology, professional credibility, and building a stronger community in the mapping sciences, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Music by Pink Floyd!

EP224 Milad Sadegi - Survey Technician & LSAW YSN

It is assumed that most surveyors are either born into the profession or discover it during their formidable years of education. Sometime, however, a career change opens one's eye to finding the passionate role their life may have been missing. This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" does just that. Your host, Tim Burch, caught up with Milad Sadegi, LSIT, and a member of the LSAW Young Surveyors Network, to discuss his transition from the financial field to the road to becoming a professional land surveyor. Milad and Tim discuss the similarities between surveying and Milad's part-time photography career in which both final products capture a specific moment in time. This conversation proves that it is never too late to discover a surveying career!

EP223 GeoWeek 2026 - NSPS Leadership Reflection

This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds us in Denver, Colorado wrapping up a great opportunity of promoting our new state affiliate membership drive at GeoWeek 2026. Your host, Tim Burch, sat down with Linda Foster (NSPS President), Tim Murphy (NSPS President-elect), Jeff Clendenning (NSPS Vice President), and Patti Brook (NSPS Treasurer) to reflect on our first time at GeoWeek and what made it a huge success. Lots of incredible observations on how the surveying profession is not going away, so check it out today.

Episode 273 - Brian Owens

This week, the crew sit down with Brian Owens, VP of Safety & Team Development at Buesing Corp., author, songwriter, and a leader whose philosophy challenges the industry to rethink what safety really means. Drawing from a career spanning combat engineering, mining, oil & gas, and heavy civil construction, Brian introduces listeners to the concept of “inversion” — the idea that true safety culture isn’t built through rules and enforcement, but through perspective, connection, and shared humanity. 

Rather than treating safety as compliance paperwork or a reaction to incidents, Brian explains why behavior only changes when people understand why safety matters to each other — not just to policy. The discussion dives into the tension many organizations face between production and protection, revealing why separating safety from productivity may actually create more risk instead of less.

Throughout the episode, storytelling takes center stage. Brian shares lessons learned from high-risk environments where leadership presence, vulnerability, and trust made the difference between near-misses and tragedies. The conversation explores how leaders can recognize performative safety cultures, shift from reactive investigation cycles, and build what he calls a “zero-incident mindset” — a cultural belief system rather than a metric.

Listeners will walk away with practical insights, including:

-Why compliance alone rarely changes behavior

-How perspective reshapes risk awareness

-The role of humility and leadership vulnerability on jobsites

-Small “inversions” organizations can implement immediately

-Why safety and production must operate as one system, not competing priorities

At its core, Episode 273 reminds us that safety isn’t about preventing failure — it’s about valuing people enough to change how we see one another at work.

Song of the Week from the Phoenix-based High Lonesome Drifters.

Week 164: Leadership Presentation on Changing Roles

EP222 Halff Prep Sessions w/ Amanda Jonas & Jib Ahmad

Studying for your professional surveyor licensing test can be a daunting task, so this week's "surveyor Says! THe NSPS Podcast" is here to bring you much needed information. Your host, Tim Burch, caught up with Amanda Jonas, RPLS, and Jib Ahmad, LSLS, RPLS, PLS, LS, CFM, from Halff who has been leading an online preparatory session for NCEES FS and PS exam takers. This small internal mentoring class has turned into a juggernaut overnight yet the mission to help the exam taker remains the same. Listen today to hear about the history of the class and how growing at a rapid pace will not deter this effort to educate our future professionals!

Episode 272 - Mikel Bowman & Bowman Legacies

This week on The Geoholics, we fire up the mics, and dive head-first into something bigger than business, bigger than titles… bigger than ego.

Legacy.

Our guest, Mikel Bowman — President of Bowman Legacies, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and best-selling author of Lead From the Middle — joins us to talk about the difference between being remembered… and actually making a difference.

Spoiler alert:
-Legends get applause.
-Legacies change lives.

Mikel doesn’t preach leadership from a boardroom. He talks about getting in the dirt with your people — job sites, shop floors, and real-world pressure where culture either shows up… or falls apart. From near-miss moments on projects to coaching CEOs and first-timers alike, he shares why servant leadership, mindset shifts, and culture-first thinking are the real levers that save teams (and sometimes lives).

We unpack:

Why culture beats process every time

The biggest leadership blind spots managers don’t want to admit

What separates managers from leaders from legacy builders

How one tough question can silence a room — and spark real change

And why leadership starts in the messy middle, not the corner office

This episode hits home for anyone leading crews, projects, families, or companies — especially those of us in survey, geospatial, and construction who know leadership isn’t theory… it’s boots-on-the-ground reality.

If you’ve ever thought:

“There’s got to be a better way to lead…”

This one’s for you.

Because at the end of the day…It’s not about building your résumé...It’s about building people...And building something that outlives you!

Music by Metallica!!

Jan Francke - Chief Imagineer Groundradar Inc.

In this episode of Defining Boundaries, Peta sits down with Jan Francke, a geophysicist, inventor and self described explorer who has spent more than 35 years working with ground penetrating radar and near surface geophysics.

Born in Vancouver and raised between Canada and Australia, Jan shares how curiosity, competition with himself, and a desire to explore what others were not looking at shaped his unconventional career path. From mineral exploration in the Arctic and Africa to scanning beneath Mayan temples in Mexico and working inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, Jan explains how he designs custom radar systems for environments where standard tools are simply not enough.

The conversation explores innovation, risk taking and the importance of education in a rapidly evolving industry. Jan reflects on modifying equipment when the market did not yet offer what he needed, the responsibility of communicating science clearly, and the challenge of maintaining rigour in a world often drawn to spectacle.

Together, Peta and Jan unpack the breadth of ground penetrating radar applications, from mining and infrastructure to autonomous vehicles and even lunar exploration. They also discuss curiosity as a driving force, the role of resilience in a global career, and why after three decades in the field, there is still so much beneath the surface waiting to be discovered.

This episode is a fascinating conversation about science, exploration and the power of asking better questions.

You can find Jan on LinkedIn and through his global geophysics work.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-francke-gpr/

EP221 Gary Kent - Land Title Survey Standards 2026 - Section 3

Now we are getting down to serious business! Our review of the changes within the 2026 Edition of the updated ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards continues on "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast." Our resident land title survey expert, Gary Kent, PS., gets deeper into the revisions with Section 3, “Surveying Standards and Standards of Care.“ Your host, Tim Burch, sits down with Gary to discuss the important changes within the Section, so you don’t want to miss it. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to bookmark both the podcast and video version of the updated Standards on the NSPS YouTube channel!

Week 163: 2026 ALTA Standards Overview

Episode 271 - Marc Goldman

Buckle up, Geoholics… this one’s for the builders, the dreamers, and the tech rebels.

This week we sit down with Marc Goldman — part storyteller, part pilot, part GIS evangelist, and 100% believer that location intelligence is the secret sauce behind the future of the built environment.

Marc didn’t follow the “safe” path. He walked away from architecture and engineering school at 21 to start his first AEC-tech company — betting on himself before “startup culture” was even a thing. Thirty years later, after navigating startups, global orgs, and everything in between, he’s still pushing the industry forward… helping architects, engineers, and surveyors finally see how GIS connects all the dots.

And trust us… this isn’t just a “software talk”...this is mindset stuff.

We get into:

• Taking big risks early and why failure is the best professor

• The real difference between startups and enterprise culture

• Bridging the gap between CAD, BIM, and spatial thinking

• Where GIS actually delivers value (not just buzzwords)

• Digital twins, reality capture, and what’s practical vs hype

• Leading teams through change without losing your people

• Inspiring early-career pros to find their lane in AEC tech

• And what’s next… AI, interoperability, and the data-driven future of our industry

Marc’s passion is contagious — especially when he talks about helping the next generation “take flight” (literally and figuratively). His analogies from flying airplanes to flying careers hit home in true Geoholics fashion.

If you’ve ever wondered how survey, GIS, BIM, and reality capture finally come together into one ecosystem, this episode connects the dots.

Big energy. Big perspective. Big future.

So whether you’re in the field, the office, or cruising at 30,000 feet...hit play and let’s map it out.

As always — Add value. Make friends. TITS OUT & CHIN UP!

Music by Pink Floyd!

Week 162: Effective Collaboration Between Attorneys and Surveyors in Civil Litigation

EP220 Gary Kent - Land Title Survey Standards 2026 - Section 2

As we continue to review the changes to the 2026 Edition of the updated ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards, "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" continues with our resident guru, Gary Kent, PS. Your host, Tim Burch, spoke with Gary to discuss despite how little has changed with Section 2 "Request for Survey," our practitioners would be advised to review and make sure what is covered within this important section. A nice refresher on the standard so check out what Gary has to say. Watch this space for more sections of the updated Standards to follow soon!

Episode 270 - Rob Cammack & SmartDrone

This week the Geoholics crew sits down with Rob Cammack — entrepreneur, builder, and CEO/Founder of SmartDrone — a guy who’s basically been innovating since most of us were trading baseball cards. From launching businesses as a kid to founding and selling multiple companies, Rob brings that rare mix of grit, vision, and “there’s gotta be a better way” thinking that our industry desperately needs.

We dive headfirst into the origin story behind Magellan, the first “No Drone Expert Required” LiDAR drone — and why it’s flipping the script on how survey firms adopt technology. No six-figure science projects. No “drone guy risk.” Just practical robotics that turn everyday crews into productivity machines.

But this episode isn’t just about hardware — it’s about mindset.

Rob talks:

-Building companies (and selling them) without losing your soul

-Removing friction so surveyors can focus on surveying

-Why LiDAR is the great unlock for mapping pros stuck in camera-only workflows

-How robotics can upgrade people, not replace them

-What “world-class talent” really looks like in a tech-driven survey company

-And where the surveying industry is headed in the next 5–10 years

It’s equal parts leadership, innovation, and straight-up field practicality — the kind of conversation that makes you rethink how your team operates Monday morning.

If you care about LiDAR, drones, scaling your survey operations, or building a future-proof business…
this one’s a must-listen.

Because sometimes innovation isn’t about flying higher…it’s about making it simple enough that everyone can fly.

Music by The Killers!

Rebecca Formanek ~ Hydrographic Surveyor | Ocean Mapping Specialist

In this episode of Defining Boundaries, Peta Cox sits down with Rebecca Formanek, a Category A Hydrographic Surveyor and offshore professional, to talk honestly about building a career guided by curiosity, resilience, and a deep connection to the ocean.

From growing up on the NSW South Coast to mapping the seafloor on research vessels across Australia, the United States, Europe, and the Pacific, Rebecca shares her unconventional journey into hydrographic surveying. The conversation explores life offshore, the realities of working in high-pressure and remote environments, and the challenges of navigating a non-linear career path in a highly specialised field.

Together, Peta and Rebecca unpack what hydrographic surveyors really do, from multibeam and seafloor mapping to deep-sea and riverine work, while also diving into the human side of the profession. They discuss mental resilience, self-doubt, learning on the job, and the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and staying curious in an industry shaped by rapid technological change.

This episode is an honest and grounded conversation about following what pulls you, backing yourself into unfamiliar spaces, and building a career that doesn’t always follow a straight line.

You can find Rebecca on LinkedIn

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-formanek/⁠

Episode 269 - Jenna Kent

In this episode of The Geoholics Podcast, the crew dives deep—both literally and figuratively—into the world of archaeology, GIS, and cultural resource management with special guest Jenna Kent, Archaeologist at Jacobs Engineering Group.

From growing up across Texas, Mississippi, Utah, and Hawaii as part of a military family, to excavating 7th-century monasteries and 12th-century abbeys in Ireland, Jenna’s journey has been anything but ordinary. That geographic diversity helped shape her appreciation for landscapes, cultures, and the human stories hidden beneath them.

The conversation explores what archaeology really looks like beyond the movies—balancing rugged fieldwork with complex office analysis—and why cultural resource compliance is far more technical, analytical, and geospatially driven than most people realize.

Listeners get an inside look at:

>Prehistoric ceramic replication and how recreating ancient pottery reveals insights no textbook ever could

>Surveying 15 miles of wilderness at Bandelier National Monument, one of Jenna’s career-defining projects

>How archaeologists decode fragmented evidence like a massive puzzle with missing pieces

>The growing role of GIS in archaeology, including site density modeling, probability mapping, and interactive story maps

>Where surveyors, mappers, LiDAR professionals, and archaeologists can collaborate more effectively

>The powerful human moments that remind us archaeology is ultimately about people—not artifacts

Jenna closes the episode with thoughtful advice for young professionals looking to enter archaeology, cultural resources, or GIS—encouraging curiosity, patience, and a willingness to embrace both science and storytelling.

This episode is a reminder that whether you’re mapping terrain, scanning infrastructure, or excavating history—context matters, layers matter, and collaboration across disciplines makes us all better.

Song of the Week: “New Orleans Is Sinking” by The Tragically Hip