Welcoming Joseph Pannel to the Brand Ambassador family, who is covering the Southeast US region, specifically Mississippi:

Where did you study? On the job experience.

Introducing our latest Brand Ambassador Jack Edwards from Birmingham, UK:

Where did you study? I initially was taught on the job but have since attended The Survey School as apart of their TSA course.

Introducing our latest sponsors the Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the University of Ljubljana! We are super thankful to the team here who have helped to translate 2 of the geospatial posters (with Q&A sheets) into Slovenian, ready to print and distribute around Slovenia.

Let’s learn some more about them:

 1. Company Name –

Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana

2. Location –

Ljubljana, Slovenia

3. How did you choose the character and what does he/she/it represent? Mean to you? What’s his/her name?

I am hen Slavi. In shape, I resemble the outline of our country, Slovenia, with the head on the left and Slovenia on the right. I use high-quality personal protective equipment to ensure the safety and health of employees. Primarily, I assist geodesists and builders from the Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the University of Ljubljana in building a sustainable future.

4. Why is it important for your company to help Get Kids into Survey?

Our faculty is the only one in Slovenia offering study programs in geodesy and geoinformatics. We aim to attract more students to these programs because we believe that too many children are unaware of this profession and its fascinating nature.

5. What do you do?

Our primary activity is educating students to become professional geodesists with university qualifications. However, we also engage in other enjoyable activities. We research and test new methods in measuring and presenting spatial data, conduct field measurements of challenging engineering structures such as tunnels and large hydroelectric power plants, and organize excursions worldwide with students to learn new things.

6. How long have you been in the survey industry?

The University of Ljubljana was founded over 100 years ago in 1919. From the beginning, alongside the legal, philosophical, medical, and theological faculties, it had a technical faculty where geodesy was taught.

7. How did you end up getting into the geospatial industry?

Geodesy is one of the oldest sciences globally, with ancient Greek mathematicians already involved in calculating the size and shape of the Earth. Geodesy has been a major discipline taught at the University of Ljubljana since its establishment.

8. State a funny fact about you…

When Yugoslavia dissolved in 1991 and a new country, Slovenia, was formed, they decided its shape would be that of a hen, just like me: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Slovenija/ The last leg touches the sea, the tail features beautiful mountains, and the head lies in the Pannonian Plains.

9. Favourite piece of kit and why?

My favourite tool is the level. It’s the simplest of geodetic instruments but allows for the most precise measurements of height differences. With it, I can determine the elevations of mountain peaks or measure where a river has enough drop for a new hydroelectric power plant.

10. Favourite Survey technique and why?

Of all geodetic measurements, I enjoy working with drones the most. From aerial photographs, I can create beautiful 3D representations of historical objects or assist builders during excavations, foresters in measuring forest growth, and geodesists in drawing new maps.

11. Your website.

The return of our cartoon stickers!

We have many compliments about our cartoon character stickers. As you probably know, when a company sponsor one our geospatial themed posters, they receive a custom character with their branding on. Some of our long standing Brand Ambassadors are lucky enough to have their own characters too!

(you can learn all about the different cartoon characters on our ‘Character Spotlight’ blogs here)

Here is a little selection of the stickers we have left in stock… speaking of which *runs to computer and quickly orders some more custom stickers from Sticker Mule*!!!

If any of our Brand Ambassadors or sponsors wish to print some stickers of their own we are happy to give you the cartoon file for you to order through Sticker Mule. We know it’s good quality and meets our high standards* 🙂 then you can give out stickers to promote surveying… lets get them out far and wide eee!

*Please read through our Brand Guidelines before purchasing, to make sure you are aware of our standards and rules regarding our cartoons/branding. Many thanks.

Introducing Wood Rodgers our latest sponsor of two re-prints for the West Coast!

Company Name: Wood Rodgers, Inc.

Location: 9 locations throughout Nevada and California

Why is it important for your company to help Get Kids into Survey? Land Surveyors have not done a great job in the past of mentoring young professionals, promoting growth within the profession, or providing public outreach. Get Kids into Survey is now the best, most visible resource we have for promoting the profession.

What do you do? Wood Rodgers is a multidisciplinary firm with experience in a wide range of technical areas which includes Surveying and Mapping, Right-of-Way Surveying, Aerial Mapping (LiDAR & Photogrammetry), Engineering Surveying, Mine Surveying, and Construction Surveying.

How long have you been in the survey industry? Wood Rodgers had been providing civil engineering and surveying services for over 27 years.

How did you end up getting into the geospatial industry? Wood Rodgers wanted to be a one stop shop for services and surveying is a huge technical aspect to help the company providing seamless services to our clients.

Favorite piece of kit and why? Levels, total station, GPS, scanner, drone… whatever the right tool is for the job!

Favorite Survey technique and why? Anything that creates a point cloud, it just never gets old looking at them!

Your website: www.woodrodgers.com

How did you choose the character and what does he/she/it represent? Mean to you? What’s his/her name? The character we chose represents one of our company founders, Rich Wood. Rich was instrumental in creating a company that provides unmatched client service, while encouraging and emphasizing an entrepreneurial atmosphere. With this culture, Wood Rodgers has been able to attract and retain highly talented, experienced, and hardworking professionals due to our commitment of encouraging staff according to their efforts and providing an employee-focused environment.

Introducing our latest Brand Ambassador Joseph Elwell from Brownsville, Pennsylvania, USA:

Where did you study? I attended the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio grated in 1972 with a degree in Civil engineering.

Introducing our latest Brand Ambassador Dolly Carwile who is covering Central Florida, USA:

Where did you study? University of Central Florida, Seminole State College, Valencia State College, and Daytona State College

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

• • • 2 tracks
    • 4 year degree in ABET accredited geomatics or closely related field +4 years responsible charge
    • 4 year degree in any discipline with 25 credit hours related to surveying + 6 years responsible charge

How did you get into surveying? I was in a 2 year degree program for architecture and building construction. Surveying was a required course. Instead of competing with the other 250 students in the program for a handful of architectural jobs, I decided to get in to surveying before finishing my degree.

How long have you been in the industry? Since 2004

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

• Florida Surveying & Mapping Society
• National Society of Professional Surveyors

Why are you volunteering as a GKiS Brand Ambassador? I love sharing awareness of surveying as most kids (including myself) never hear of surveying as a career.

Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry? Surveying and geospatial information are integral to our everyday lives and the functioning of society at basic levels. 

What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? Get into classrooms and share surveying.

What are your hobbies outside of work? Geocaching, hiking, video games, sewing. cigars

If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? There’s already a redhead girl and a cat.

What resource would you like to see next from GKiS? Middle School/Grades targeted material.

Introducing Kris Fairley from Houston, Texas, USA:

Where did you study? Tyler Junior College

How did you get into surveying?  I lucked into surveying, however I knew the first day on the job that I wanted to make a career out of it.

If you are not a surveyor, what do you do?  Currently, I work for a survey equipment dealer in Houston, TX

How long have you been in the industry? I have been in the industry for over two decades.

Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention?  I am a member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS)

Why are you volunteering as a GKiS Brand Ambassador?  I enjoy sharing the passion that I have for what I do with the next generations that may not know what surveying is.

Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry?  Here in Texas there are fewer and fewer joining the profession.  We don’t as a whole advertise to the younger generations.  I want to change that and show just how rewarding of a career surveying can be.

What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS?  As GKIS Ambassador, I want to do as much outreach as possible.  I already teach a Boy Scouts Surveying Merit Badge several times per year.

What are your hobbies outside of work?  Cooking, DIY projects, and spending time with my teenage son.

If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? I will have to get back to you on that one.

What resource would you like to see next from GKiS?  Greater ability to order comic books.  My company, AllTerra Central, would probably order them by the hundreds if we could.  I would love to be able to hand them out at various outreach events we hold throughout the year.