Character Spotlight ‘Riegl’

Surveying Monopoly has been created with one big vision: to bring the world of geospatial surveying into a household game that families around the world can play, enjoy and learn from together. Across the board, real surveying and geospatial organisations are represented by their own unique characters, places and technology, showcasing just how varied and exciting the profession can be.

But who are the characters taking their places on the board, and what do they tell us about the real world of surveying? It’s time to meet them! Through a quick-fire Q&A, we’ll discover the inspiration behind each character, their favourite surveying tools, what their organisation does, and even where in the world they’d most like to survey.

Let’s learn some more about Riegl’s Bernhard the Bear:

Company Name and Location

RIEGL‘s headquarters, or “main bear camp”, is located in Austria, and our North American headquarters is in the USA. With offices around the world, RIEGL supports customers wherever their adventures take them. Even more exciting, RIEGL scanners are helping customers tackle projects in amazing places near and far. Now we just need to put one on the moon!

What is your name and what inspired your design?

My name is Bernhard the Bear! One summer, while I was catching fish in a mountain stream by the Austrian Alps, I discovered a team of RIEGL engineers testing a LiDAR scanner on a drone. They showed me how LiDAR could create detailed 3D maps and digital twins, or virtual models of real-world places. Since I was such a curious bear, they decided to scan me, too! That scan became the inspiration for Bernhard the Bear, combining my love of adventure, the outdoors, and technology into one character.

What tool would you never leave the office or field without?

A RIEGL terrestrial laser scanner! I can pack it up, grab my backpack and a tripod, and head off to explore somewhere new. Whether I’m exploring a forest, a mountain, a bridge, or a city, I can help create detailed 3D digital twins, or virtual models of real-world places. And of course, I always bring a snack, because every bear knows adventures are better with food! 

Which square on the Surveying Monopoly board would your character most like to visit and why?

The Fieldwork Surprise Square! It’s the perfect fit for an adventurous bear like me. One of the best things about being part of the RIEGL team is seeing the amazing projects our technology helps make possible. Every surveying project is different! You never know what exciting place you’ll explore, what challenge you’ll solve, or what new discovery might be waiting just around the corner.

What is the coolest thing about surveying that kids might not know?

Surveyors are like real-world explorers! They use advanced technology, like the innovative LiDAR systems developed by RIEGL, to capture incredibly detailed information about the world around us. This helps create maps and 3D views of places that can be studied, measured, and explored in new ways.

How does your company help surveyors measure, map, or build the world around us?

At RIEGL, we help surveyors become real-world explorers! Our LiDAR technology enables them to create detailed 3D views of forests, mountains, cities, bridges, and more. By capturing accurate information about the world around us, surveyors can help people build, protect, and better understand the places we live, work, and play. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world to survey, where would you go?

I’d love to survey the moon someday! I know it’s not exactly in this world, but an explorer bear can dream. After learning about the incredible places that RIEGL technology helps document here on Earth, mapping the lunar surface would be the ultimate adventure. And who knows? Maybe I’d even leave the first bear footprint on the moon!