GKiS are thrilled to welcome our latest brand sponsor, QTS Group! Let’s learn some more about them:

1. Company Name – QTS Group

2. Location – All across the UK

3. Why is it important for your company to help Get Kids into Survey? Overall, social value is essential, but giving kid the insight in surveying will essentially benefit surveying for years to come.

4. What do you do? We work to help look after and maintain the rail infrastructure in the UK … and that includes utilising technology such as total stations, GPS, laser scanners and drones. As a survey department, we use drones and cameras to produce LiDAR and photogrammetry data.

5. How long have you been in the survey industry? 22 Years and counting!

6. How did you end up getting into the geospatial industry? In my 20’s I decided a career change was needed a friend asked if I wanted to try out as a survey assistant…

7. State a funny fact about you… I’ve been out in the field so long, I wave at the total station as if it were a person 😅

8. Favourite piece of kit and why? I would say all the new drone technology. It has changed the way we survey and saves a great deal of time in the field.

9. Favourite Survey technique and why? Photogrammetry is my favourite technique, it’s versatile and doesn’t necessarily require fancy hi tech equipment. You can even produce detailed 3D models using a phone!

10. Your website

11.  How did you choose the character and what does he/she/it represent? Mean to you? What’s his/her name? Wee PB (is a pint-sized powerhouse of surveying knowledge), based on myself (Paul Brazill) and we think it is a great way to connect with the kids when we do events and presentations.

Welcoming our newest Brand Ambassador James Batdorf from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, USA:

How did you get into surveying? Started as a drafter and went out to help on the survey crew one day and basically never looked back.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? Try to recruit kids in our local schools to get into surveying and mapping.

Tell us a bit about what you do? Manage the survey crews at Newton Engineering Group Pc in Allentown pa

Anything else that you’d like to add? I’m on the board of directors for the Lehigh Valley chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors.

Welcoming Rebekah Keller as part of the team from Racey Engineering based in Luray, Virginia, USA;

How did you get into surveying? We started as a septic Engineering company and have grown into larger/ commercial Engineering and have also added surveying to our services about 20 years ago. Now we survey all over Virginia.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador?  We plan to get into middle and high schools to talk to kids about the profession. We also hope to bring in scouts for a job shadowing experience. We also currently do internships and go to many local job/career fairs.

Tell us a bit about what you do? We are an Engineering and Surveying Company. We do stakeout, boundary, topo, construction, and drone-style surveying.

Anything else that you’d like to add? We were voted Best Companies to work for overall and Best Companies to work for in the Engineering Industry. We were also named one of Virginia’s TOP Employers for Interns.

Introducing Ivan Artifeto from Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa:

How did you get into surveying? AFTER ENROLLING IN 2019 FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE GOEMATICS DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? TO GET TO EDUCATE WHAT A SURVEYOR DO AND HELP KIDS WITH CAREER GUIDANCE IF THEY ARE TO CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION AS A CAREER.

Tell us a bit about what you do? I AM A GRADUATE TRAINEE LAND SURVEYOR AT MASIMBA HOLDINGS LIMITED.

Welcoming Brand Ambassador Robert Sinkner from the Czech Republic, Europe:

How did you get into surveying? After my studies at the Czech Technical University in Prague, Surveying and Cartography, I started in 1988 at the Construction of the Nuclear Plant, I got huge experience with technical and special surveying and GIS. I have an MBA degree, Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? We as a company already organise practical training for the students of geodesy at the secondary school, regularly we make presentation for the kids in the primary schools and take part in the exhibition Adventures with technique, showing the beauties and possibilities of surveying to the children. We would like to use and share name of Get KIDS into Survey, experiences and good ideas of our colleagues from USA and all the world around.

Tell us a bit about what you do? I am 35 years experienced surveyor, University degree, involved in engineering geodesy, GIS, cadastre, UAV and 3D scanning. I am an owner of the company TKP geo, Ltd. with more than 100 employees. I am a Czech National Delegate in FIG, I was Chair of Commission 10 in 2011-2014, still active, cooperating with Young Surveyors. I am member of CLGE as well.

Is there anything else that you’d like to add? I am a Vice-president of the Czech Chamber of Chartered Surveyors, a Chair of the Working Group for Education. We know that we need children and young people to get into the geodesy with the help of “Get KIDS into Survey”.

Welcoming Ryan Howlett our latest Brand Ambassador who is covering the Alberta region, Canada! Let’s learn some more about him:

How did you get into surveying? I moved to western Canada during an oil boom looking for a job in Environmental Resources. With no formal training in surveying other than a passion for exploring and discovery I ended up in the passenger seat of someone who wanted to teach me in the field.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? I discussed this with a co-worker who is also an ambassador in BC Canada, I would like to make 3 different presentations for students at different stages of their live.
1)For kids to align with this program geared for kids 6-8 years old to introduce them into survey and geomatics.

2)For youth between ages of 11-13 that touches on this program but focuses on how there are several things in their “back yard” that require survey and engineering

3)For teenagers 15-18 years old getting ready to hit go to postsecondary or the workforce and show them all of the different technical jobs in a variety of fields in geomatics and engineering that aligned with their interests.

Tell us a bit about what you do? I spent 15 years in the field and moved into the office to become a project manager for the past 5 years however, I still find ways to get back into the field when neat jobs pop up. While my main focus is on pipeline integrity projects, I dedicate a lot of my time blending different disciplines together in innovative ways to help our clients get projects done. All though there is a lot of neat tech out there to collect data in different ways, legal surveys and boundary retracements is still some of the most fascinating survey work I get to do.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? Last year I was featured with our company on an 8 episode series called “The Death Coast” on the History channel. It was a series about looking for shallow ship wrecks off the East Coast of Canada, and I knew we had the technology and the team that could deliver quality data to assist the divers and Production team.

It resulted in us finding the stern of the Chemeau off of Louisbourg, NS, but also geological and historical features that allowed the divers to find 4 new shipwrecks. As it was also a desire to get on a Show about surveying, It was more important to use our technology to help preserve these historical items for the damaging effects of climate change and hurricanes on these sites.

Surveying is this wonderful blend of history and discovery and I am always excited to see other people that are passionate about their discipline of geomatics and to learn why they love it….. it becomes contagious.

Welcoming McElhanney’s character Cartia Cardinal! Let’s learn some more about her:

1. Company Name McElhanney

2. Location  We are headquartered in Vancouver, BC but have 30+ offices across Western Canada I can fly between!

3. Why is it important for your company to help Kids Get into Survey?  At McElhanney, we believe the world needs more curious minds who ask “How does this all fit together?” That’s what surveying is all about – understanding the land, connecting communities, and creating smarter, safer places to live.

By supporting Get Kids into Survey, we hope to open young eyes to the awesome adventures waiting in the geospatial world. The future of our industry depends on a new generation of diverse, talented, and empowered surveyors. And I’m here to help lead the way! 

4. What do you do?  We map the world: from the skies, the ground, bodies of water, and even deep in the forests!

  My team uses techy tools like GPS, drones, and lasers to measure the land and create maps that help people build stuff, protect nature, and plan for the future.

Basically, we’re part explorers, part scientists, and part puzzle-solvers. And yes, we sometimes get muddy!

5. How long have you been in the survey industry?  We’ve been proudly surveying for over 115 years! There’s always more to learn about the land beneath our boots – or claws, in my case!

6. How did you end up getting into the geospatial industry?  Well, it all started with one thing: CURIOSITY.

Ever since I was a little chick, I’ve loved flying high over forests, cities, rivers – you name it! I’d flap around wondering things like:
  – Why does that road twist like that?
  – Who built that bridge?
  – How do people know where to put new houses, parks, or playgrounds?

One day, I spotted a group of surveyors working in a big open field. They had tripods, maps, lasers, and some gear that looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie. I perched on a tree nearby and watched for hours. They were measuring, scanning, marking points, even flying a drone! I thought, “Whoa. These people are like real-life adventurers and puzzle- solvers!”

So, I followed them and started learning everything I could about surveying and geospatial science.

That’s when it hit me: this is what I want to do!
I want to help people understand the land, make maps, explore the unknown, and build a better future. Plus, I already had a bird’s-eye view, so I figured: why not put it to good use?

7. State a funny fact about you!  One time I tried to land on a total station. I thought it was a fancy perch. It beeped and spun around 180 degrees, I squawked, and… let’s just say the survey crew laughed for days.

8. Favorite piece of kit and why? Tough question—but I have to say… DRONES!

I mean, hello?! They FLY! Just like me! And okay, okay, they don’t flap their wings or sing in the mornings, but they’re seriously cool.

Let me tell you why I love drones so much:

When you’re surveying big areas – like forests, farms, or construction sites – it can take forever to walk around with measuring tools. But with drones, my human teammates can zoom high into the sky and take photos, videos, and super-precise measurements from above. It’s like giving your eyes a superpower!

And the best part? The drones collect data faster, safer, and in a way that’s really fun to watch.

Plus, drones are super helpful when the land is hard to reach, like steep hills, rivers, or remote communities. My team and I can use drone maps to spot cool features, measure distances, and even create 3D models of the land.

9. Favorite survey technique and why? LiDAR scanning! LiDAR is like a magical laser that sees through the vegetation and tree canopy to find invisible things like hidden shapes in the land. The data turns into colorful 3D maps: like digital art, but sciencey!

10. Your website

11. How did you choose the character and what does she represent? Mean to you? What’s her name? Well, my name “Cartia” comes from cartography – that’s the fancy word for making maps!

  I’m a cardinal because we’re distinctly Canadian and known for our bold color and sharp eyesight: perfect for a surveying scout.

I represent all the curious, smart, nature-loving girls and boys out there who might not realize just how cool science and surveying can be. I’m here to show that your curiosity has wings! 

At Get Kids into Survey, we’re always looking for fun, adventurous ways to show children how exciting the world of geospatial science can be. One of the coolest ways to do that? Archaeological surveying — the perfect mix of ancient history and cutting-edge tech. Because what kid wouldn’t get excited about buried treasure, lost cities, dinosaur bones, or secret tombs… especially when they realise people like surveyors are the ones helping to find them?

When we talk about archaeological surveys, we’re not just talking about dusty old digs with shovels. Today’s archaeologists rely on modern surveyors to do incredible things — like scanning hidden ruins with lasers, flying drones over jungles to uncover ancient cities, using radar to “see” underground, and even sending underwater robots to explore shipwrecks. These tools aren’t just futuristic gadgets — they’re essential in helping us understand and protect the past. And better yet, they show kids that real-world science is just as exciting as anything they see in movies or games.

Teaching children about archaeological surveying helps them connect with history in a whole new way. It sparks curiosity and shows them that discovering the past isn’t about memorising dates — it’s about exploration, problem-solving, and storytelling through science. When kids see how surveyors work with archaeologists to uncover Roman mosaics in a British field, or map ancient pyramids without laying a finger on the stones, they begin to see how powerful and important geospatial work really is.

The best part? It helps open their eyes to real-life careers they may never have heard of — and shows them that they could one day be part of this world too. Whether it’s working in a museum, flying drones across deserts, or helping preserve Indigenous cave art, surveyors are the quiet heroes behind so much of what we know about the past. And kids love heroes with cool gadgets.

That’s why are creating a brand-new Archaeological Surveys Poster — to bring all of these ideas to life in full, colourful, cartoon glory. From Roman ruins and dino digs to medieval castles and sunken ships, the poster is packed with scenes that show how technology and teamwork help uncover the secrets of the past. We’ll also be adding a free Q&A activity sheet to help kids explore each part of the scene, ask big questions, and learn how different tools are used to map, measure, and protect history.

We believe that if you plant the seed of curiosity early, amazing things can grow. A child who learns about archaeological surveying today could become a preservationist, geospatial engineer, drone pilot, or the one who scans a long-lost city tomorrow. That’s why we do what we do — to inspire, to educate, and to show kids that surveying is more than maps and measurements. It’s a chance to be part of something bigger, to uncover the stories of the past, and to shape the future too.

So join us in digging a little deeper. Let’s show the next generation just how exciting and important surveying can be — one poster at a time.