Welcoming Brand Ambassador Fathima Lamya from Kerala, India:

How did you get into surveying? I entered the geospatial field through my Civil Engineering background, where I was first introduced to spatial analysis and mapping concepts. My interest grew during my final year project on dam break analysis using GIS tools, which showed me the real-world impact of geospatial technology. This motivated me to further specialize in the field, and I am currently pursuing an MSc in Geoinformatics while continuing to build my skills in GIS and spatial data analysis.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? As an ambassador, I plan to actively promote geospatial awareness by sharing knowledge, resources, and opportunities within the community. I aim to create simple and engaging content to help beginners understand GIS and its real-world applications. I also plan to participate in discussions, support peers, and build meaningful connections within the geospatial network. Additionally, I want to continuously improve my own skills while contributing consistently to the growth of the community.

Tell us a bit about what you do: I am currently pursuing an Msc in Geoinformatics and building my skills in GIS and spatial data analysis. With a background in Civil Engineering, I have worked on projects like dam break analysis using GIS tools. I actively explore geospatial technologies, participate in community discussions, and focus on improving my knowledge in mapping, data visualization, and real-world applications of GIS.

Anything else you’d like to add? I’m particularly interested in making geospatial concepts simple and relatable for different groups, especially beginners and students. For surveyors, I’d like to highlight how modern GIS tools can complement fieldwork and improve efficiency. For teachers and parents, I aim to share easy-to-understand examples of how geospatial technology is used in everyday life like mapping, disaster management, and urban planning—so they can better guide and inspire students.

Welcoming Brand Ambassador Aisha Namuyanja from Kampala and surrounding areas, Uganda, Africa. Let’s learn some more about her:

How did you get into surveying? Geomatics and Land Surveying was my first choice when joining university, although it was not a childhood dream. During the COVID lockdown, a conversation with my uncle, who worked at the Survey School in Entebbe, introduced me to the profession and its opportunities. When I started university, I realised that even many of my course mates had entered the programme with limited knowledge of what surveying actually involved; some had originally hoped to pursue other engineering fields. This made me appreciate how easily young people can overlook surveying simply because they have not been exposed to it.
Initially, I was attracted by the practical opportunities and stability I associated with the profession. However, internships, fieldwork and experiences across different parts of Uganda gradually changed my perspective. I discovered the breadth of surveying and geomatics, from cadastral and engineering surveying to GIS and spatial analysis.

My final-year research, using GIS and the SWAT modelling framework to investigate sediment yield response to rainfall variability, deepened my interest in the analytical side of geospatial science. I realised that geospatial technology was not simply about measuring and mapping places; it could help us understand complex environmental and societal

challenges and contribute to practical solutions.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? As a Brand Ambassador, I plan to introduce young people to surveying and geospatial careers by sharing my own journey and showing them what the profession looks like beyond traditional field surveying. I would do this by participating in school career events and careers fairs where possible, giving short talks about the different pathways within surveying and geomatics, and using real examples from my experience in GIS, mapping, land management and environmental applications. I would also promote GKiS resources and activities through my professional and social-media networks, and encourage schools, students and other young people I engage with to explore the opportunities available in the profession. Through these activities, I hope to help address the lack of awareness that I experienced myself and encourage more young people, particularly girls, to consider geospatial careers.

Tell us a bit about what you do: I am a Land Surveying and Geomatics graduate with a growing focus on GIS, geospatial data and environmental applications. My experience has included field mapping, spatial data collection and validation, GIS analysis, land information management and supporting community-based land registration and land-use planning activities. I have also worked with geospatial technologies to explore environmental problems, including using GIS and the SWAT modelling framework for my undergraduate research. I enjoy seeing how spatial data can move from field observations and measurements into maps, analysis and information that can support better decisions about land, communities and the environment.

Anything else you’d like to add? I believe early exposure can make a real difference. Simple career talks, demonstrations of surveying equipment, examples of how maps and spatial data are used, and opportunities to meet young professionals can help students connect what they learn in school with real careers. I would especially like to see more girls introduced to the profession early, so that surveying and geospatial science are considered alongside the more familiar STEM career options.

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 Surveyors Supply Company Inc and their character Kaha Loa:

What is your name? Kaha loa. 

This is a Hawaiian phrase which translates to “long place”

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

Which square on the surveying Monopoly board would your character most like to visit and why? Bathymetry Blvd because we love working & playing in the ocean

What is the coolest thing about surveying that kids might not know?  Surveying allows you to travel to places & explore unique places others aren’t able to.

How does your company help surveyors measure, map, or build the world around us? We provide all supplies & products a surveyor would need!  We rent, repair, sell, & service surveying equipment & marking / measurement products.

If you could travel anywhere in the world to survey, where would you go? Antarctica because it would be a challenging place to survey & it would be fun to adapt & figure out how to complete a survey. Plus it would be totally different than working in Hawaii. 

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 ML Tech and their character Percy the Pipe:

Company name and location?

Mike Lloyd Technical Services Ltd. Aberdeen, Scotland.

What is your name and what inspired your design?

Mike Lloyd, mltech is a specialist in pipework survey software, our design Percy the Pipe is a free moving Total Station that measures pipes from any angle.

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

I would never leave the office without a Tape Measure, even with all the technology you will always need a tape for something.

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

I would like to visit Azimuth Alley, cool name, we use the word Azimuth a lot in our software.

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

If you got three people to measure with a tape between two points, they would all get a different answer.

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

We assist many pipework manufacturers to focusing on assembling a 3D model rather than treating pipework as a linear object.

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

Canada; one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

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 JLH Land Surveying and their character Jim:

Company name and location? JLH Land Surveying, Inc. in Shorewood, IL, USA

What is your name and what inspired your design? Jim Harpole, during the summers we have an unofficial tradition called Hawaiian shirt Friday and so our design was based on that. We also added a backwards hat which since our character uses a line-of-sight instrument and you just have to turn that hat around to use the eyepeice.   

What tool would you never leave the office or field without? While we always love to have a drone with us because they can be so helpful throughout the projects, it’s always back to the basics with the “must haves” Field book/notepad, 6 footer, metal detector and a shovel.

Which square on the surveying Monopoly board would your character most like to visit and why? Free Parking, we do a lot of work in Chicago and parking’s always a challenge.

What is the coolest thing about surveying that kids might not know?  That boundaries are forever; we can create new lines and move property lines, but once established, even if no longer used, the boundary lines we set never truly go away. 

How does your company help surveyors measure, map, or build the world around us? The best way we can help other surveyor’s is leaving good evidence of the work we have done. We follow in the surveyor’s footsteps that came before us.

If you could travel anywhere in the world to survey, where would you go? Anywhere without heavy snow and ice

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 GeoTek PR and their character Cotorra:

🦜 Company name and location?

GeoTek PR LLC — San Juan, Puerto Rico. We’re a geospatial technology integrator and infrastructure platform serving Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Think of us as the team that makes sure surveyors, engineers, and mappers across the islands have the best tools, the best network, and the support to use them.

🦜 What is your name and what inspired your design?

My name is Cotorra — named after the Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata), the island’s only native parrot and one of its most beloved symbols. I’m critically endangered in real life, which makes me a symbol of resilience — and that felt right for a company building something new in a market where nothing like it existed before.

I wear a pava — the traditional woven straw hat of Puerto Rico’s jíbaros, the hardworking country folk who shaped the island’s identity. My little friend perched on the brim is a Coquí — Puerto Rico’s tiny tree frog whose two-note call (co-KEE!) is the sound of the island at night. And in my claw? A Falcon X SLAM LiDAR scanner — the most advanced mobile scanning tool available in the Caribbean. I don’t go anywhere without it.

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

The Falcon X. It’s a SLAM LiDAR scanner with a full GNSS receiver built right in — which means it knows exactly where it is on Earth while it’s scanning. Most scanners need an external GPS unit bolted on. Not the Falcon X. One device, centimeter-level accuracy, and it fits in one hand. I carry mine everywhere. As you can see.

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

Remote Sensing Road — because that’s where the Cotorra feels most at home. Remote sensing is how we see the world without touching it: drones mapping coastlines, satellites tracking land changes, LiDAR beams painting invisible surfaces into 3D reality. GeoTek PR brings that technology to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean — and the Falcon X is our weapon of choice. Point it at a building, walk around it, and in minutes you have a complete 3D model accurate to within centimeters. No touching required. No days of setup. Just walk, scan, done. Also, I suspect there would be snacks there.

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

Here’s something most people never think about: when a hurricane hits Puerto Rico, when the ground shakes from an earthquake, when a flood swallows a road — before the engineers can plan, before the builders can rebuild, before anyone knows what was lost or where to start, surveyors show up first.

We’re the ones who go into the damage to measure what changed. Which roads shifted. Which bridges moved. Which hillsides are now somewhere they weren’t before. Without that information, nobody can safely rebuild anything.

After Hurricane Maria, after the 2020 Southcoast earthquakes — surveyors were in the field while the dust was still settling. Mapping. Measuring. Giving engineers the data they needed to start putting Puerto Rico back together.

That’s what we do here. And that’s why GeoTek PR exists — to make sure the people doing that work have the best tools on the island when it matters most.

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

GeoTek PR builds the geospatial infrastructure that Puerto Rico and the Caribbean run on. We distribute cutting-edge GNSS equipment and LiDAR scanners, and we operate GeoNET — our island-wide RTK correction network that gives surveyors centimeter-level GPS accuracy across all of Puerto Rico. When a surveyor in San Juan sets up their rover and gets a precise position in seconds, GeoNET is working in the background making that possible. We also train the people using these tools, so the technology actually gets used to its full potential.

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

Easy — the old city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. El Morro fortress, La Fortaleza, the cobblestone streets laid down 500 years ago. Most of it has never been fully scanned in 3D. Imagine capturing every stone, every wall, every cannon port in a centimeter-accurate point cloud — preserving it digitally for the next 500 years. That’s the kind of work that reminds you why this profession matters. Plus, I’d be home. And the mofongo is better there than anywhere else in the world! 

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 Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors and their character the Bengal Cat:

Company name and location? Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors (ISPLS)
We’re a statewide organization that represents professional land surveyors across Indiana. From the shores of Lake Michigan to the banks of the Ohio River, our members help define property boundaries, create maps, and support the roads, bridges, neighborhoods, and communities Hoosiers use every day.

What is your name and what inspired your design? The Bengal Cat was named in memory of Indiana surveyor Don Bengal. Don spent his career helping people understand the land around them and supporting the profession he loved. The Bengal Cat honors his dedication while adding a little fun and curiosity, which are two things every good surveyor needs.

What tool would you never leave the office or field without? Your brain. Every instrument in the truck — robotic total station, GPS, scanner — is only as reliable as the surveyor interpreting the data and catching when something doesn’t add up. Technology doesn’t replace judgment; it just gives judgment better data to work with.

With that said, if limited to the physical tools in the truck, Bengal Cat would go with a metal detector! One of the coolest parts of surveying is hunting for hidden property markers that might have been placed decades ago. When the detector starts beeping and you uncover an old iron pin, it feels like finding treasure. Those markers help surveyors solve land boundary puzzles and tell the story of the land.

Which square on the surveying Monopoly board would your character most like to visit and why? The Fieldwork Surprise square! Every day in surveying is a little different. You might discover an old property marker, find something that doesn’t match the map, or run into an unexpected challenge that needs a quick solution. Surveyors have to think on their feet, solve problems, and adapt to whatever the day brings. That’s what makes the job an adventure and keeps it interesting.

What is the coolest thing about surveying that kids might not know? Surveyors are real-life explorers and detectives! We search for clues left behind decades or even centuries ago, such as old monuments, iron pins, stone markers, and historic records. Sometimes we use cutting-edge technology like drones, satellites, and 3D laser scanners to help solve the puzzle. Every property has a story, and surveyors help uncover it.

How does your company help surveyors measure, map, or build the world around us? ISPLS supports and represents Indiana’s land surveyors. We provide education, training, networking, and advocacy to help surveyors stay informed and continue growing in their profession. By supporting surveyors, we help ensure that Indiana’s homes, farms, businesses, roads, and public projects are built on accurate and reliable information

If you could travel anywhere in the world to survey, where would you go? I’d love to survey the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Surveyors are still amazed by how accurately they were built thousands of years ago. It would be exciting to use modern technology to study one of the world’s greatest engineering achievements and compare today’s measurements with those made by ancient builders.

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 Surveyors Exchange and their character Wilcox:

What is your name and what inspired your design? Wilcox

With my musk ox 2-layer coat, I stay warm in our cold climate. 

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

Which square on the surveying Monopoly board would your character most like to visit and why?   Surveyors Training Day. We provide training for all of our equipment. It’s fun to learn about the latest technology. 

What is the coolest thing about surveying that kids might not know?   The variety of tasks with the latest technology. One day you might be flying a drone to do a survey, the next day you might be hiking through the forest. 

How does your company help surveyors measure, map, or build the world around us?   We supply surveyors with the tools they need to get the job done. We provide supplies, training and repairs. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world to survey, where would you go?   The South Pacific islands. Any of them- would be a totally different environment than Alaska!