Ambassador Spotlight ‘Austin Maxwell’

Introducing Austin Maxwell from Tennessee, USA. Here’s a bit about him:

“I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Engineering Technology with a concentration in Land Surveying and Geomatics and a minor in Military Science from the University of Tennessee at Martin in May of 2022. 

Requirements in the State of Tennessee are as follows:

To be licensed as a professional land surveyor, an applicant shall:

  1. Make a complete application to the board;
  2. Be of good character and reputation;
  3. Submit five character references to the board, three of whom are professional land surveyors or individuals acceptable to the board and who have personal knowledge of the applicant’s land surveying experience;
  4. Comply with the requirements of this part; and
  5. Satisfy one (1) of the following requirements:
  1. Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience after the applicant passes the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination, one (1) year of which shall have been in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor. An applicant who passes the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying examination and the Tennessee State Jurisdictional examination shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor;
  2. Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a science, engineering or technology curriculum of four (4) or more years related to the practice of land surveying, approved by the board, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience after the applicant passes the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination, one (1) year of which shall have been in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor. An applicant who passes the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying examination and the Tennessee State Jurisdictional examination shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor;
  3. Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a nonsurveying related curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, plus an additional thirty-six (36) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience after the applicant passes the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination, one (1) year of which shall have been in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor. An applicant who passes the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying examination and the Tennessee State Jurisdictional examination shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor;
  4. Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering or technical field approved by the board with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of four (4) years of progressive practical experience, three (3) years of which shall have been in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor if the applicant passes the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination on or before June 30, 2016, or if the applicant does not pass the Fundamentals of Land Surveying on or before June 30, 2016, a record satisfactory to the board of six (6) years of progressive practical experience after the applicant passes the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination, four (4) years of which shall have been in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor. An applicant who passes the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying examination and the Tennessee State Jurisdictional examination shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor; or
  5. Comply with the requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(F)(v) as approved by the board and pass the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination on or before June 30, 2017, or if the applicant does not pass the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination on or before June 30, 2017, obtain six (6) years of progressive practical experience which shall have been in responsible charge of the duties performed under a professional land surveyor after the applicant passes the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination, plus an additional twelve (12) hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences. An applicant who passes the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying examination and the Tennessee State Jurisdictional examination shall be granted licensure as a professional land surveyor.

I originally started college with the plan of becoming a civil engineer. The summer before I started classes, I began working for an engineering and surveying firm, L.I. Smith & Associates (LIS). Once I began school I worked part-time for LIS, where I did office work pertaining to the engineering industry. I quickly realized that I did not love engineering, but I very much enjoyed land surveying. I recognized the need for surveyors in the state and knew that the job market was strong, so I changed directions in my career path and pursued surveying. I began my career in the surveying industry in July of 2016. 

I am a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard and the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors (TAPS). In March of 2022. I received the TAPS Student of the Year Award. The award is presented to a student who has exceptional leadership roles and involvement in their land surveying programs at their university, local chapter and state organization. To qualify for nomination, a student must be a current member of TAPS and hold the following positive traits and attributes: attitude, cooperation and dedication, projecting a professional image, self-improvement, and enthusiasm.

I want to be a GKiS brand ambassador because I see the generational gap between the average age of surveyors in my area and those looking to join the profession. I believe it is important for children to be exposed to the geospatial industry because it is the science that is often forgotten, which is why the average age of surveyors in our area is near that of retirement. 

It is essential that we promote geospatial sciences to young children. Otherwise, they will grow up knowing nothing about it. As a young surveyor, it is my responsibility to teach children the benefits of surveying and to encourage them to explore the world of geomatics. After all, children are the future!

As a GKiS brand ambassador, I plan to work with the local schools and host “Surveying Days”. These lessons will explore the world of geomatics and geospatial technologies. It is my goal to show kids that they already know more about surveying than they may think, and that the opportunities in this field are endless!

My hobbies include coaching my kids’ sports teams, all outside activities, wood working, and SURVEYING!

Our company is based out of Paris, Tennessee, which is the home of the World’s Biggest Fish Fry. It would only be fitting if our mascot was a catfish!

To the parents, teachers, and surveyors, the children of our great nations are the future, not only of the surveying industry, but of all professions. It is our responsibility to teach. The mind of a young person is the most moldable, as what they learn from a young age is what shapes their desire to aspire! 

I would love to see a GKiS poster with a space theme because so much of our technology revolves around the satellites in the sky. In addition to that, the first means of surveying included measuring the stars and travelling the world following the sun. A space themed poster would give children a glimpse of both the past and the future.”