In today’s Character Spotlight, we discover a little more about one of GKiS’s newest sponsors “QK4” while interviewing Ben Shinabery, Land Survey Director of QK4
Ben Shinabery, Land Surveyor Director at Qk4
Company Name – Qk4, Inc.
Location – Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, & Georgia, USA
Why did you get involved in Get Kids into Survey? I grew up as the son of a surveyor and want to introduce other kids to all that surveying offers
What do you do? – I tell people that I am a “High Definition Digital Terrain Modeler” that creates virtual reality environments for engineers… a Land Surveyor…
How long have you been in the Survey Industry? – If I count walking with my dad through corn fields looking for section corners when I was a kid, over 30 years. I have already started teaching my son and daughter how to be a surveyor…
How did you get into the Industry? – Having a land survey father helps, but I also liked math and science in school. I also love being outdoors and enjoying different location surveys: mountains, farms, creeks, cities, and caves
Funny Fact about you – I collect and throw axes… I also love spending time looking at old maps of places that I have been or would like to visit some day
Favourite piece of kit and why? – I carry my drone with me wherever I go, just in case we need to map a jobsite
Favourite Survey technique and why? – 3D Laser Scanning is my favorite way to collect the highest resolution digital model of existing survey features whether above ground or underground… look up “Big Bat Cave LiDAR” for an underground cave scanning tour in Kentucky
Your website: www.qk4.com or find me @theQk4Surveyor
If you have a character; how did you choose and what does he/ she/ thing represent? Mean to you? – One of the most important projects that we have ever run is the Bridging Kentucky Program… Our bridge surveys are helping sustain safe bridges for school busses, firetrucks, and emergency workers to cross Kentucky Bridges. The Qk4 Bridge Troll inspects and maintains bridges, and because he cares for the safety of all, he doesn’t charge any crossing toll.