Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador Denis Hains who is covering the area of Ontario, Canada! Let’s learn some more about him:

How did you get into surveying? I have a B.Sc. in Geodesy. I am now a retired Quebec Land Surveyor in Canada, still professionally very active.

Introducing Dustin Shropshire our latest Brand Ambassador from Omaha Nebraska, USA:

Where did you study?
Most of my experience came from on-the-job training and my degree is from Metropolitan Community College

What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area?

In Nebraska you must demonstrate you have the experience and time requirements under the supervision of a PLS. 

How did you get into surveying?

I started in surveying when I was 13 years old while working for my family’s surveying company in the summers. 

*If you are not a surveyor, what do you do? 

I work in surveying, but also have done Civil Engineering design work, CAD drafting, UAS (Drone) pilot and data processing. I currently teach civil engineering and land surveying at my local college. 

How long have you been in the industry?

25+ years

Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention?

NSPS, SENLSA, PSAN, ASPRS

Why are you volunteering as a GKiS Brand Ambassador?

I attend career fairs, exploration days, conferences and many more event often and believe the best way to get the word out about this great profession is to meet with as many people as possible.

Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry?

Surveying has been around for so long, and is so important for so many projects we encounter every day we need to invest in the next generation to ensure we have qualified people in the future. 

What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS?

Meet with hundreds of students per year and get the word out about all of the fun work we do in surveying.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

My hobby is work, I love my job! But I also enjoy working on cars in my spare time. 

If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be?

My character would be a surveyor from the 1800’s who’s landed in present day!

What resource would you like to see next from GKiS?

More handouts, exercises for various ages including the older students and an interactive website I can show a QR code to students to access. 

Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador Claire Buxton who is covering the area of Western Canada! Let’s learn some more about her:

How did you get into surveying? My Mum took me to a careers advisor when I was 17 who recommended I look into surveying because I liked the outdoors and maths (although English was my strong-suit). Then I went to the open-day at the Survey School at Otago University and they showed me all the cool tech they learn about and use. They also spoke about the lack of female surveyors and I saw that as a challenge I would like to meet head-on!

Please welcome our latest Brand Ambassador Christopher Guagliardo from Maryland, USA:

Christopher has had 25 years in the survey business.

He explains that “when I’m not surveying I was playing rugby”. Other hobbies include flying drones,  watching rugby and fishing!

What do you do? Work for AIDATA in Maryland.

Why are you volunteering as a Brand Ambassador? I’m doing this to get more kids involved in survey. It’s important because the survey industry doesn’t have a alot of young people in it.

Introducing Sandra Flores-Castillo from the Minnesota area, USA. Let’s learn some more our latest Brand Ambassador:

How did you get into surveying? During my senior year of high school I applied for the Phoenix Internship program at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). I really like working for MnDOT and become a college student worker for all 4 years. During my college internship I learned about many STEM paths and got really interested in the GIS careers. I switched majors to GIS and graduated college with a Geography BS- GIS Science Track degree. My first job as a young professional led me to be a GIS Research Analyst in the GIM Section of MnDOT. Then one day, during a Leadership Development opportunity I got an inside look at the Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Unit here at MnDOT. I was intrigued and decided to apply and pursue a career as a Photogrammetric Technician.

With the approach of our upcoming Subsea focussed ‘Winter’ poster we thought it’d be great to see what other educational resources are out there to teach us some more about this sector.

Spanning from the oil and gas industry to renewable energy there’s so much potential in this field. More recently there’s been some huge technological advancements which allow for safer and more accurate measurements in these rather dangerous conditions (deep sea!). Control the Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV’s), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV’s) or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) from a safe space whilst collecting all the data required for the project.

As far as surveying roles go there’s so much potential to specialise in a specific area. Here’s a little snippet of some of the roles available within this sector:

-UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Surveyors – Locate and identify unexploded ordnance on the seabed, which may pose risks during offshore construction

-Geotechnical Surveyors – soil sampling and analysis to determine the physical properties of seabed sediments and soils.

-Hydrographic Surveyors – map the seabed to provide detailed information on underwater topography, water depth, and any potential obstructions

-Construction/Installation Surveyors – positioning and placement of offshore and subsea structures, such as pipelines, jackets, and wind turbine foundations

To bring more awareness to the skills required for careers in subsea there needs to be outreach efforts to students. We’ve done the searching for you to find some free resources that may help towards outreach efforts in this sector. Let’s begin:

1- ‘Subsea Channel’ has produced some UK curriculum paired resources which can be used in schools to show real-life applications of scientific principles. Including modules such as seabed surveying and robotics & ROV’s. Access them through this link.

Video introduction to this can be found through this facebook link.

2- Fundamentals of Subsea / Offshore short course. 

This could be good for educators wanting to ask questions about the sector and a chance to ask a professor more detailed questions. Designed for those entering the industry but talks through the basics, allowing you to spread this new knowledge onto other outreach events.

3- The Society for Underwater Technology launches an educational book called ‘Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist – Quirky Questions and Fascinating Facts about the Underwater World’. Read more here.

4- Get Kids into Survey Homework Project The Curious Case of the Mysterious Cryptid. Using different skills that are taught in schools, this Homework Project relates heavily to the surveying of Loch Ness to find the Loch Ness Monster. Referencing the Get Kids into Survey ‘Offshore’ Poster.

5- Sofia Offshore Wind has facilitated the development of some primary school resources. Working with their local education trust these resources have been developed for teachers to teach their students about offshore wind. Target age range are school years 3-6.

6- UTM Consultants have put together a fabulous Hydrographic Surveyor Careers Guide. Please have a look through this resource to learn the facts about this specific career.

COMING SOON

Set in Romania bordering the Black Sea, the Winter Poster is here to highlight another sector of the geospatial industry. Touching on a range of surveying methods including:

*sea based

-Aerial surveys/remote sensing

-exploratory drilling

-reservoir modelling

-seafloor mapping

-Pipes underground (opportunity for route surveys and as-built surveys)

-Positioning and navigation finding gas reserves.

*land based

-geochemical surveying

-geological surveys

Plus don’t forget this is the home of Dracula…

Any potential sponsors reading this please find out more information about how you can help us with this project by clicking here. We really need your support.

Introducing our wonderful new sponsors Atwell who have reprinted the Property Development poster to help towards their company outreach! Let’s learn some more about them:

1. Company Name: Atwell, LLC

2. Location: I’m based in the charming little town of Pawsburg, USA nestled right between the rolling hills and sparkling streams. The perfect spot for a goldendoodle like me!

3. Why is it important for your company to help Get Kids into Survey? Atwell believes that inspiring the next generation is crucial for the future of our industry. When kids get to explore and learn about land and mapping, it helps them “dig” deeper into their interests and perhaps find their own passion for the profession. Plus, it’s always fun to see the wonder in their eyes when they get to use our cool gadgets!

4. What do you do? As a surveyor, I paw over measurements and map out land with precision. I use high-tech equipment to gather data, ensuring everything is accurate for our construction and planning projects.

5. How long have you been in the survey industry? I’ve been in the industry for about 5 years now. I started as an intern and worked my way up through sheer determination and a few playful barks of encouragement.

6. How did you end up getting into the geospatial industry? My journey began when I found a lost treasure map in the backyard. Naturally, I started digging and mapping out where the treasure could be. Turns out, it was just a toy buried by the kids, but the thrill of discovery got me hooked on surveying. I pursued it academically and professionally, and the rest is history!

7. State a funny fact about you… I once tried to use a surveying prism as a chew toy. Let’s just say, it didn’t end well for the prism, but I got quite a few treats for my enthusiasm!

8. Favourite piece of kit and why? My favorite piece of kit is the Total Station. It’s my favorite toy because it’s like the Swiss Army knife of surveying tools—it combines multiple functions into one device, making my job easier and more fun.

9. Favourite Survey technique and why? I’m a big fan of LiDAR surveying. It’s amazing to see how it captures detailed, accurate 3D information of the terrain. Plus, the scanning process is so fascinating it’s like a high-tech game of fetch!

10. Your website: www.Atwell.com

11. How did you choose the character and what does he/she/it represent? Mean to you? What’s his/her name? My character is named Max, the Mapping Mutt. I chose Max because he embodies the spirit of curiosity, fun, and dedication that we want to bring to the surveying profession. Max represents the joy of exploration and the commitment to precision that defines our work at Atwell. He’s a reminder that with a little enthusiasm and a wag of the tail, we can tackle even the most challenging surveying projects!

Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador Razaq Olasunkanmi from Lagos, Nigeria! Let’s learn some more about him:

How did you get into surveying? Im a second year survey and Geoinformatics student of Lagos state University, epe campus