xyHt - December 2023/January 2024

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GIS SURVEYING GNSS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

INSIDE For a 10 Mapping Good Cause 25 AI and GIS 28 Surveyor's Corner

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CONTENTS

DEC 2023/JAN 2024 xyHt [ISSN 2373-7018 (print), ISSN 2373-7735 (online), CPC CPM No. 41437548] is free upon request to qualified subscribers in the United States. The Canadian subscription rate is US $20/year. The International subscription rate is US $40/ year. Periodicals postage paid at Frederick, MD and additional post offices. xyHt is published 10 months a year by xyHt LLC, 6 N. East Street, Frederick, MD 21701.

POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: xyHt Subscriptions, 6 N. East Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Send Canadian changes of address to: Box 697 STN A, Windsor, ON N9A 6N4, Canada. For advertising, editorial, or other information, write to xyHt LLC, Inc. or call 301-662-8171.

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FEATURES

MARITIME ANTI-SPOOFING STRATEGY

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CHATBOT NAVIGATION EARTH’S LOST CONTINENT FIRED UP ABOUT DRONES GPS AT 50

Dec 2023/Jan 2024 Volume 10 Number 11 Publisher Editor-in-Chief

Jeff Thoreson jeff.thoreson@xyht.com

Director of Sales and Business Development

Chuck Boteler chuck.boteler@xyht.com

Creative Director

Ian Sager ian.sager@xyht.com

Accounting and Classifieds

Angie Duman angie.duman@xyht.com

Circulation

subscriptions@xyht.com Phone: 301-662-8171

Editor, Located

Jeff Salmon jeff.salmon@xyht.com

Editor, Field Notes

Eric Gladhill eric.gladhill@xyht.com

Mapping for a Good Cause

NEW PRODUCTS / NEW SOLUTIONS

When humanitarian emergencies strike, these volunteers are willing to share geospatial exspertise and help communities map their way out of crisis. You can help, too.

Contributing Writers

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GIS SURVEYING CE GNSS INTELLIGEN ARTIFICIAL

INSIDE For a Mapping 10 Good Cause AI and GIS 25 ner veyor's Cor 28 Sur

ON THE COVER: Some of our 24 Young

Marc Delgado Giulio Maffini Juan Plaza Gavin Schrock

Copyright © 2023 xyHt magazine. Printed in U.S.A. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material, the accuracy of information supplied by manufacturers, or opinions expressed by contributors.

24 Young Geospatial Professionals to Watch in 2024

/ JAN 2024

Shawn Dewees shawn.dewees@xyht.com

Partners and Affiliates

Geospatial professionals are pushing boundaries no one could have seen even a few years ago. And much of that change is being driven by a new generation entering the field, many drawn by the fancy technology that is now prevalent in the industry.

THE

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Artificial Intelligence and GIS

IMAGING & GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION SOCIETY

Last month we explored what AI can do for GIS. In this, the final part of our series, writers Juan Plaza and Giulio Manffini take a look at what GIS can do for AI.

Geospatial Professionals to Watch in 2024, part of xyHt’s continuing effort to help young men and women find the geospatial professions and succeed in them.

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Send your Located items to located@xyht.com

Located

Compiled by Jeff Salmon

Mapping Your World | UAV/UAS | Space | New Products

Maritime Anti-Spoofing Strategy Gets a Boost MANIPULATED GNSS SIGNALS CAN CAUSE SHIPS TO VEER OFF COURSE AND UNDERMINE SAFETY. Galileo, the European counterpart of the American GPS, can help ships avoid fake positioning data with a technology that taps into its open authentication service. Developed by the ASGARD project (Advanced Shipborne Galileo Receiver Double Frequency), the new security strategy detects and prevents GNSS spoofing attacks by taking advantage of Galileo’s Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) platform. It works by sending a key

RIEGL’s My-Linh Truong Appointed to MAPPS Board of Directors MY-LINH TRUONG, RIEGL USA’S DIVISION MANAGER OF UNMANNED LASER SCANNING, has been appointed to a two-year term on the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) board of directors representing the associate members. MAPPS is the U.S. national association of firms involved in the promotion and advancement of economic opportunity, networking, education, and professionalism within the geospatial community.

My-Linh holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Central Florida. She has been an integral part of RIEGL USA’s success since joining in 2010. Her focus for nearly 10 years has been the expansion and development of the commercial UAS lidar marketplace, and as the division manager of unmanned laser scanning, she has been influential in advancements to increase visibility on business development in a variety of market verticals.

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and digital signature to ASGARD receivers, allowing users to check the authenticity of the GNSS signal before employing them for positioning.

This service is free and ensures that the ship’s navigational data is coming from the secure Galileo constellation network. Protecting the shipping industry from malicious GNSS will not only improve safety in the seas, but it will also avoid the costly economic impacts of disturbance in seaport operations.

—Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com

Topcon Releases LN-50 3D Laser TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS HAS ANNOUNCED ITS NEW LN-50 3D LASER, the latest addition to the LN layout navigator family of instruments. Intended to be a solution for digital layout, the LN-50 has a 50-meter (164-foot) range as compared to the longerrange, full-featured LN-150.

The new LN-50 is designed specifically for homebuilders, mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) trades, concrete contractors, and others to achieve highspeed precision in their measuring and layout work, mitigating the risk of errors that can lead to rework.

Now Chatbots Can Make Maps PERHAPS THE BIGGEST TECH STORY THIS YEAR IS CHATGPT, the artificial intelligence tool developed by the OpenAI company. This new technology allows users to get answers simply by talking to a chatbot, a computer program that simulates human conversation.

Since its initial release in November 2022, ChatGPT has made inroads in various sectors such as customer service, healthcare, finance, and education. So, will the location intelligence sector be left behind? Not quite.

In August, the mapping company Tomtom launched its ChatGPT-compatible chatbot plugin that provides its users with real-time mapping, routing, and local insights. Bing Maps, Microsoft's web mapping service, has also been using the same chatbot technology to improve its search function since March. Meanwhile, Google Maps is sticking with Bard, the AI-chatbot developed independently by its parent company Alphabet Inc. With ChatGPT's explosive growth (surpassing 100 million users in January), can we expect more geospatial companies to jump on the bandwagon? No need to ask a chatbot to answer that question. As with any new tech, we’ll just have to wait and see.

—Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com

Robotic Layout Solution Helps Construction Site Layouts

BY DIGITIZING WHAT HAS LONG BEEN A MANUAL AND TIME-CONSUMING TASK, a new robotic tool from HP called HP SitePrint helps construction professionals bring an idea to life on-site, while providing accuracy and reducing costs.

HP SitePrint’s advanced technology streamlines the layout process, making it easier than ever to create accurate and effective layouts for projects. The system can print onsite layouts for many building construction tasks. These include interior walls, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, HVAC, and formwork. The HP SitePrint solution has a printing speed of 900m/h (2,953 ft/h) and features four safety sensors to avoid falloffs and three lidar sensors to avoid collisions. The unit is portable, making it effortless to transfer from job site to job site.

First Map of Earth's Lost Continent Published IN 2017, A HERETOFORE UNKNOWN CONTINGENT OFF THE SHORES OF NEW ZEALAND was discovered making headlines worldwide. Zealandia, known as Te Riu-a-Māui in the Māori language, covers more than 5 million square kilometers, making it twice the size of the subcontinent of India.

What took so long for Zealandia to be discovered? Well, it turns out that 95 percent of its area is submerged beneath the southwest Pacific Ocean and disappeared long before humans existed. Only a large mountain chain (the two islands of New Zealand) and some small oceanic islands are visible on the surface.

A global team of geologists has recently completed offshore reconnaissance geological mapping of the Zealandia continent. The map was formed using a combination of rock samples recovered from the sea and geophysical mapping methods, including interpretation of magnetic anomalies.

Geologists discovered large sandstone formations and deposits of basaltic rock pebbles following the outer margins of Zealandia as they searched for samples. The team discovered basalt pebbles, which are associated with underwater volcanism, leading them to believe that Zealandia was gradually flooded around 40 million years ago.

The study "Reconnaissance Basement Geology and Tectonics of North Zealandia" includes many maps of the continent. It was published in the September 2023 issue of the journal Tectonics.

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EVENTS GeoBuiz Summit January 9-11, 2024 Monterey. CA GeoWeek February 11-13, 2024 Denver, CO Federal GIS Conference February 12, 2024 Washington, D.C.

This Drone is Fired Up

MAPPS Winter Conference January 14 - 17, 2024 Honolulu, HI

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE. BUT BEFORE SENDING IN FIREFIGHTERS to control the flames, why not let drones fly in first to assess the situation?

According to researchers at Imperial College London and Empa, drones could be sent inside a burning area to immediately collect vital data, which firefighters would then use to do their jobs more safely. To back up their idea, they built the FireDrone, an unmanned aerial robot that can operate in temperatures of up to 200-degrees Celcius for 10 minutes thanks mainly to its structural shell that is made of thermal aerogel insulation material.

This protective exoskeleton has a built-in cooling system that houses all the necessary hardware (infrared cameras, CO2 sensors, video transmitters), which can be used in scoping the extent of any fire incident, while at the same time preventing them from melting in the high heat. Tests of the FireDrone prototype conducted inside a firefighter training center have been successful, so the next step is to use it in real-life firefighting missions.

“Deploying robots in extreme environments provides great benefits to reducing risks to human lives,” says Mirko Kovac, the project’s principal investigator.

— Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com

GeoMax Announces New Advanced Tablet Optimized for Surveyors GEOMAX POSITIONING, PART OF HEXAGON, has introduced the new Zenius08 rugged tablet. Optimized for surveyors across all industries, the Zenius08 delivers a faster, more intuitive, and more rugged design than its predecessors.

The new, enhanced tablet includes the latest Android technology and is equipped for future Android OS updates. Zenius08 offers extended operating times and a faster processor so surveyors can accomplish more in a shorter time without stopping to recharge.

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Esri User Conference July 15-19, 2024 San Diego, CA

THE LEICA BLK2GO PULSE IS A HANDHELD FIRST-PERSON LASER SCANNER that delivers complete, colorized point clouds to a smartphone while scanning. The BLK2GO PULSE is designed to capture indoor spaces and create 3D digital twins and 2D floorplans or elevations quickly. For applications that require up-to-date dimensions and visualization, the BLK2GO PULSE is an ideal tool for quick, easy laser scanning.

The unit features PULSE Technology—a unique fusion of GrandSLAM with dual Time-of-Flight (ToF) lidar sensors created in collaboration with Sony—the BLK2GO PULSE captures uniform point clouds and colorizes them instantly with no postprocessing required.

THE PAS PANA IS PHASE ONE’S NEW WIDE-AREA CAMERA for aerial mapping that provides a large swath of 48,800 pixels to capture maximum areas in minimal times. The unit comprises a seven-camera wide-field system that expands the landscape of aerial mapping precision and effectiveness. The configuration includes five RGB cameras equipped with 150 mm lenses and two NIR cameras with 70 mm lenses.

Together with its impressive range of high-resolution images that stretch from an astounding 2.5 cm Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) to an exceptional 30 cm GSD, customers now can cover the largest area with the lowest number of flight hours, while maintaining impeccable image clarity based on their needs. xyHt

Geospatial World Forum May 13-16, 2024 Rotterdam, Netherlands

Leica Intros New Handheld BLK2GO PULSE Scanner

Phase One Debuts Country Wide-area Mapping Solution

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XPONENTIAL/AUVSI April 22 - 25, 2024 San Diego, CA

GPS Turns 50!

WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT A SATELLITEBASED RADIO-NAVIGATION PROJECT started by the U.S. Air Force five decades ago would go on to have such a huge impact in how we live today?

The Global Positioning System, or GPS as it is popularly called, has definitely improved our lives, from providing more accurate data for land surveying, to making sure that the pizza we ordered will arrive on time at the correct address. Approved by the U.S. government in December 1973, GPS became fully operational in 1993. According to Brad Parkinson, the first director of NAVSTAR (the original name given to the GPS project), he was already thinking of the technology’s impact during those early days.

“I made a few drawings that depicted GPS applications that I could personally foresee. They included an automobile navigation system, semiautomatic air traffic control, and wide-area vehicle monitoring,” he said in an interview with MIT News.

Fifty years and 24 orbiting satellites later, the many uses of GPS keep on growing.

— Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com

Trimble’s New R580 THE TRIMBLE R580’S SURVEY-GRADE GNSS PERFORMANCE enables professionals in surveying, mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), civil construction, and utilities to quickly and easily capture centimeter-level positioning and boost productivity in the field.

With the field-proven Trimble ProPoint GNSS engine on board, users can measure points in challenging environments, such as under tree canopy or near buildings, while Trimble EVEREST Plus technology can identify and remove unwanted multipath signals for improved accuracy and data confidence. Using the Trimble Maxwell 7 chipset technology, the receiver provides fast processing, anti-spoofing capability and the ability to track all available GNSS constellations.

New from Vexcel THE ULTRACAM DRAGON 4.1 PRODUCES HIGH-RESOLUTION NADIR and oblique aerial imagery enriched with precise elevation data from a powerful 2.4 MHz lidar scanner for in-depth data insight into complex urban environments.

The lidar's fast-pulse repetition frequency offers flexibility and enables faster data acquisition of a specified point density per square meter.

UltraCam Merlin 4.1 is a cost-effective solution that empowers smaller mapping companies to venture into the aerial services market or diversify their offerings. The system captures true nadir imagery with advanced geometric algorithms and top imaging performance.

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A flooded village after Cyclone Idai.

MAPPING FOR A GOOD CAUSE

When humanitarian emergencies strike, these volunteers are ready to share their geospatial skills and help communities map their way out of crisis. You, too, can lend a hand.

By Marc M. Delgado, PhD

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fter Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique in the middle of March 2019, it left behind more than 1,000 casualties, miles of damaged roads, and ruined at least half of that year’s annual crop harvest. The port city of Beira, in the eastern part of the country, was the hardest hit, whipped by winds that reached 106 miles per hour and torrential rain that caused widespread flooding.

Christopher Jarvis, along with other international humanitarian workers, soon ar-

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rived at Beira’s airport to support the rescue efforts in the country. Partially damaged by the storm, the airport was reopened and functioned as an operations hub for various disaster response activities.

“When we landed it was intense from the start,” says Jarvis. “There were loads of people rushing around and working from the small airport.”

Jarvis is a volunteer at MapAction, a UK-based non-profit organization that provides geospatial, mapping, and data know-how to help its partners anticipate,

prepare for, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. The organization has worked in more than 140 humanitarian emergencies in 80 countries.

“MapAction was founded in the early 2000s when mapping went digital to support decision-making in humanitarian response,” says Alex Macbeth, the organization’s head of communications. “It was started by several people with the insight and vision to realize what a transformative difference rapidly created situation maps could make in humanitarian emergencies.”

One of MapAction’s primary roles is to create maps that can support operations during crisis situations. Their work is especially indispensable in locations where maps are either hard to compile or are missing, as in the case of many developing countries. Humanitarian workers need maps not only to show the location of the crisis but also to monitor how events evolve in order to best help impacted communities. As such,

mapping is often the first step in any emergency response.

In the aftermath of Idai in Mozambique, for example, immediately locating the flooded communities was critical. But doing that required mapping the extent of the deluge, a challenging task that Jarvis had to do before anything else.

“The floods were huge, and it was really difficult to figure out how big the scale was,” recalls Jarvis of his first deployment with MapAction. “We knew it was big and it was bad, but we didn’t know how big and how bad.”

So, with mobile phones at hand, Jarvis went up in a helicopter to conduct aerial surveys together with the Red Cross and the UN. Within three days, he was able to observe from the sky an area of around 16,000 square kilometers.

This allowed him to create a map of the affected areas and identify which places needed help straight away.

“I produced the aerial survey map, which we updated twice a day for five days,” says Jarvis. “There is only so much you can do to help with the resources that you have, and when it’s such a massive area you need to focus the help so it

can maximize the humanitarian benefit of the people affected.”

According to Macbeth, maps are key to search-and-rescue operations because it is crucial to know where to send rescue personnel and to identify areas which have been searched and which haven’t. Other maps can help plot a path for emergency aid to those who need it most using the fastest and most accessible routes. “Each map is created to help decision-makers act more quickly and accurately,” he says.

Darren Connaghan, another volunteer with Jarvis in Mozambique, remembers his own initial volunteering deployment with MapAction. In 2005, he was sent to Pakistan for three months after strong tremors devastated the northern region of the country.

“The earthquake was one of the biggest in Pakistan for many years, and the international response was still ongoing months after the event,” he says. “I was available at that time, so I flew out and joined the UN team.”

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the Kashmir region in the Himalayas destroyed 3 million homes and left 75,000 casualties. Urgent humanitarian assistance

was indispensable in this mountainous area, especially as the cold season was approaching and heavy snowfall could block many roads disrupting humanitarian logistics.

“Winter was about to start, so it was vital to understand how temperature and snowfall can affect the way resources can reach those who are affected in order to keep them alive during the cold period,” says Connaghan. “Maps and information management were required to make sense of the spatial destruction, the number and location of people in need, and what that need would be.”

MapAction’s cartographic efforts in Pakistan supported the work of other humanitarian organizations which were aiding affected villages. It was also significant for the organization because the way it currently creates and organizes its mapping projects were mainly developed from their experience in that country.

“Many of the structures that MapAction uses now were developed over time in Pakistan,” says Connaghan, who has been volunteering with MapAction for 18 years.

“These include our map template design, the directory structure for storing all the data we use, the symbology, and the naming.”

Flood severity map created by MapAction Mozambique in support of the humanitarian response to Cyclone Idai, 2019.

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But before MapAction volunteers can create maps, they must collect, assess, and organize the data that they need. Doing all this is often not straightforward as they typically use open source and publicly available datasets.

“We can only work with the data available,” says Macbeth. “In some territories, the quality of data limits our work.”

Gathering data to create maps during humanitarian emergencies can also be overwhelming. Jarvis says one can have too much information sometimes and then not have enough during other times.

“You get flooded with reports and documents, rumours about different figures and what’s going on in different places, and confusion from people who have just arrived in a country that they’ve never been in,” he says. “But at the same time, you almost never have good data on who is affected, or the administrative boundaries that are found online are not anywhere near the same as the current boundaries or places that people know.”

That was what happened in Mozambique when the map data obtained by MapAction was not the one recognized by the national government.

“One of the tasks whenever a response is required is to do a data scramble to source as much base data as possible,” says Connaghan. But using an unofficial baseline map posed a big problem for the team.

“A lot of data was being collected against the administrative areas that we had no knowledge of.”

In order to deal with that kind of challenge means communicating with as many decision makers and data providers as possible, Connaghan says. “Many of the products we produce are incomplete, but when distributed to the responding agencies who have not provided the information, we usually garner a response,” he says. “Data generally flows in quite quickly after that.”

Once data and data sources have been ironed out, creating maps usually turns out to be like any other GIS project. For example, the team chooses between using either commercial or freeware mapping software, swapping one for the other depending on their needs.

“We have been fortunate that ESRI has been a massive supporter of MapAction, almost from day one. They provide multiple

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licences for MapAction to use for their ArcGIS software,” says Connaghan. For their deployable laptops, QGIS open-source software is used, particularly during training and capacity building activities in places that cannot afford the cost of ESRI licences.

“We provide templates and symbology to them in QGIS,” he adds.

Such flexibility does not only apply in their ability to use different mapping platforms to accomplish their work. Volunteers must also be ready to adapt to changes in deployment locations at a drop of a hat.

Volunteer Alice Goudie, for instance, was preparing to go to Bolivia to help map forest fires in that country. But she soon found herself boarding a plane to another destination.

“My first emergency deployment was to the Bahamas for Hurricane Dorian in 2019,” says Goudie. “I’d just finished all my MapAction training and was due to go to Bolivia, but the situation changed and suddenly I was on the plane to Nassau.”

Cyclone Idai left a trail of destruction through Beira City in Mozambique. (right) Christopher Jarvis working on maps of the flood disaster in Libya. (below)

Hurricane Dorian, one of the strongest storms to ever hit the region, had stalled for 40 hours causing damage to more than 75 percent of all houses along its path.

“As the Hurricane was moving so slowly, it was really hard for people to quantify how bad the damage was and which areas were most badly affected,” recalls Goudie.

“Lots of people were arriving on the ground with little understanding of the situation and going to devastated areas with limited communications, so maps were the best way

of explaining what was going on and where aid was needed most.”

Goudie, who works as an analyst for a geospatial software company, first got involved with MapAction after listening to a talk while she was doing her graduate studies. “I wanted to be able to use my skills for something worthwhile, and they sounded like an amazing organization.

Also, they said we needed to be happy camping in tough environments and going for days without a shower, which sounded right up my street.”

During her deployment in the Bahamas, she learned that time is of the essence especially to get a map done promptly to enable someone to go into the field and make decisions.

“The maps we create do actually make a huge difference, and sometimes things that we think are very simple can be critical for making sure that the right aid gets to the right people in the right place and at the right time,” she says. And after having been on five emergency missions with MapAction since 2018, Goudie looks forward to more deployments. “I have much more to learn and many more assignments to go to.”

Goudie, Jarvis, and Connaghan are part of the more than 70 volunteers at MapAction. As of this writing, the three volunteers have been working on maps to support the humanitarian efforts in Libya after a massive flood swept the town of Derna. When a disaster like that happens, the UN or any regional partner can request MapAction to help in mapping the situation. “We then put out an alert among our whole team to see who is available to deploy or to support remotely,” says Macbeth.

And how does one become a MapAction volunteer? Macbeth says MapAction is looking for enthusiastic professionals who have a desire to commit to a great team and to help MapAction make a difference. And while it helps to have mapping skills, a knack to do other duties is also sought after.

“We need project managers, software developers, data engineers, data visualization specialists, communications specialists, and more,” he says. “People fluent in second languages other than English are particularly welcome.”

Jarvis, who works as a senior scientist in the UK Public Health Agency, adds

Population map of people in need of aid in the aftermath of the Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, 2019.

that people with leadership and communication skills are also needed. Folks who can be calm in intense situations and have the ability to think clearly while weeding through all the information in order to determine what is important can be an asset to MapAction’s work.

In order to help them prepare for work on the ground, MapAction volunteers receive training year-round. “Training allows the MapAction volunteers to form a working team really quickly and just crack on with what needs to be done,” says Jarvis. He is now part of MapAction’s board of directors and has been on 12 missions since 2019. “I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.”

Connaghan has the same sentiment, even after almost two decades of volunteer mapmaking. He still has the passion and desire to provide support either in the field or remotely.

“My day job is challenging, but a MapAction deployment requires control, chaos management, calmness, and confidence in your decision making,” he says.

“We are respected within the UN and humanitarian environment.”

For Goudie, MapAction is a fantastic organization to volunteer with. “It requires a very unique set of skills, but if you have them then it is an amazing way to do something meaningful,” she says. “You can use your skills in a way that makes a real impact and see parts of the world that most people don’t get to go to.”

To be able to create maps while working in difficult situations, however, requires GIS skills accompanied with grit and compassion.

“There are a lot of people with data and GIS skills, and also lots who can rough it in harsh environments, but not many have the one and the other,” says Jarvis. “So, if you have both together, then you should really think about how you can use that combination to help others.” ■

Marc Delgado, PhD, is a GIS specialist who crisscrosses continents teaching GIS in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa.

YOU CAN HELP

Without adequate funding to work on emergency response, MapAction cannot respond to as many disasters as it would like. By supporting MapAction now, donors will make a real difference to communities working hard to improve their own disaster resilience. If you'd like to support MapAction's work contact fundraising@mapaction.org.

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n the geospatial arena these days, the only thing that is constant is change. Driven by technological advances that seem to come by the hour, geospatial professionals are pushing boundaries no one could have seen even just a few years ago.

It doesn’t need to be said that the dichotomy between advancing technology and data and aging geospatial professionals who grew up on analog systems is the great divide of our industries.

But that’s also what is creating opportunity. xyHt remains committed to doing what it can to attract the next generation of geospatial pro-

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fessionals. Maybe lugging transits and Gunter’s chains around didn’t hold any interest for younger generations of a few decades ago, but geographic information systems, satellites, and drones have grabbed their attention and are luring them into the geospatial world.

Thousands of young professionals with advanced college degrees are pouring into the profession at a time when they are most needed. Each year, xyHt tries to identify the up-and-coming young pros that we in the geospatial fields should keep an eye on. They will likely be the geospatial leaders of the very near future.

24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024

EVAN APPLEGATE

COMPANY: The Map Consultancy CURRENT POSITION: Cartographer AGE: 35 EDUCATION: MS in cartography and GIS, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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or 12 years Applegate has made beautiful, data-rich maps for the news, Fortune 500 companies, charitable foundations, and commercial interiors. He created his first maps in 2011 as a graphics editor for Bloomberg Businessweek.

Figuring a degree would help him land a job at National Geographic, he attended the graduate cartography program at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he learned mapmaking from master cartographer Daniel Huffman, who won the NACIS Student Map Competition and published five maps in the October and November 2015 issues of National Geographic.

After graduate school Applegate founded The Map Consultancy, providing high-design thematic maps to big organizations like Prologis, HF Sinclair, and the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. In

2019 he created Radiant Maps, his brand of ultra-detailed 3,600 DPI LED-backlit sculptural maps with all the detail of a paper map with an inviting glow.

In 2023 Applegate launched the weekly cartography podcast “Very Expensive Maps,” in which he interviews mapmakers who craft unique worlds in ink, pixels, threads, paint, ceramic, wood, and metal.

Since the best living mapmakers taught themselves, Applegate believes anyone can make a great map. To that end he maintains a mapmaking guide for novices at www.youshouldmakemaps.com.

When not making maps Applegate is an avid day hiker, preferring trails in coastal live oak habitats.

KYLE DEUSCHLE

COMPANY: Trimble Inc. CURRENT POSITION: Hardware product manager, building construction field solutions AGE: 27 EDUCATION: BS construction management

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euschle oversees a diverse portfolio, including the Trimble X7 and X9 laser scanners, Trimble RealWorks point cloud software, and XR10 mixed reality headset. He has nurtured profound collaborations with industry giants like Microsoft, Hilti, Piaggio FF, Panasonic, among others, harnessing their collective wisdom to enrich the geospatial domain.

Yet, Deuschle’s heart belongs to construction. Graduating from Colorado State University with a B.S. in construction management in 2018, he embarked on a journey into the field, where his passion for the craft ignited. He not only mastered the art of

personnel management but also the intricate choreography of orchestrating diverse trades and handling multifaceted tasks.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Deuschle revels in the simple joys of life, cherishing moments with family and friends.

His love for construction extends into his personal life, where he eagerly takes on DIY projects, savoring every opportunity to use a tape measure and explore the aisles of hardware stores.

Denver Broncos' games resonate through his living room, and he's a dedicated strategist in the world of fantasy football. His days are enriched by exercise and the perfect cup of coffee.

NEJC DOUGAN

COMPANY: Flai, see flai.ai CURRENT POSITION: Founder and CTO AGE: 33 EDUCATION: BS, and MS in geodesy and geomatics, PhD student, University of Ljubljana

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ejc Dougan stands at the forefront of the evolving geospatial landscape, merging the precision of geodesy with cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence. An alumnus of the University of Ljubljana with a masters, he has charted a path as the CTO of Flai, a company he founded to revolutionize geospatial processing with the use of AI. At Flai, Dougan harnesses his extensive experience in software engineering to lead innovations in the application of AI, particularly in the automation of lidar point cloud classifications. His pioneering work doesn't stop at industry

applications. He is currently expanding his expertise through PhD research at the University's Faculty of Computer and Information Science. There, his research delves into the potential of deep learning convolutional neural networks to transform aerial laser scanning point clouds, underscoring his dual commitment to academic excellence and industry leadership.

His vision is not just to advance the field technically but to forge pathways that blend the rigors of scientific inquiry with the demands of a rapidly changing technological domain.

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24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024

OSCAR DURAN

COMPANY: Towill, Inc. CURRENT POSITION: Senior geomatics analyst AGE: 34 EDUCATION: PhD in progress at Purdue University; MS California State University, Fresno; BS University of Calgary

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s a senior geomatics analyst, Duran performs many geomatics processes involving photogrammetric and lidar data. Having more than 10 years of experience in our profession, Duran has worked for multiple federal, state, and local municipal agencies in Canada and the U.S. before joining Towill, Inc., in 2019.

Concurrently, Duran servers as a reserve in the U.S. Air Force.

With a bachelor's degree in geomatics engineering from Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, and a master's degree in geomatics engineering from California State University, Fresno, Duran is currently pursuing a PhD in geomatics engineering at

Purdue University. During his time as a graduate student, Duran has been awarded several scholarships, including the ASPRS Francis H. Moffitt Memorial Scholarship and the ASPRS Robert E. Altenhofen Memorial Scholarship for his research in the field of photogrammetry.

Additionally, he is a Canadian professional engineer, a certified photogrammetrist, a project management professional, and a California licensed surveyor-in-training. Culturally, Duran has visited and lived in many countries and speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

BETHANY EKISS COMPANY: Morris P. Hebert, Inc. CURRENT POSITION: Survey technician AGE: 23 EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science (concentration in geomatics), Nicholls State University

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kiss is a dedicated and skilled survey technician, currently contributing to the success of Morris P. Hebert, Inc., as a member of the remote sensing team. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Nicholls State University and is currently working toward obtaining her land surveying license in Louisiana.

With a strong educational background in geomatics, Ekiss is passionate about working with cutting-edge technology to collect,

FELIPE GONZALEZ

COMPANY: Trimble Inc CURRENT POSITION: Product manager, data insights AGE: 26 EDUCATION: BS in geomatics engineering, York University

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onzalez is a dynamic professional with a rich background in data analytics, product management, and geospatial engineering. At York University, he gained a strong background in geospatial theory and practice. He spent his summers working as a land surveyor with a focus on underground utility surveys, lidar scans, and construction as-builts. In his senior year, Gonzalez worked alongside a research team of graduate students in developing computer vision and image processing algorithms for sensor calibration, data labeling, and data processing.

Armed with this experience, he joined Trimble Inc. as a product applications engineer and rotated through four different business areas and roles within the company. The work he did included product marketing management for the highest-level subscription offering of a popular 3D design software, implementing a new 16

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road-mapping tool across a product management organization, spearheading market acceptance testing efforts for cutting-edge layout and XR solutions in the building construction space, and supporting the development of a new GNSS antenna.

Gonzalez is now working as a data analytics product manager at Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies, a joint venture between Caterpillar and Trimble that does R&D for machine control and positioning products in earthmoving applications. He is at the forefront of leading the data analytics efforts within the organization, paving the way for data-driven decision making and insights to solve business problems and improve products. He is enthusiastic about harnessing the potential of data to drive transformative change and innovation across the construction and geospatial technology sectors.

process, and analyze geospatial data. She is driven by a deep passion for geospatial sciences and a commitment to leveraging data to make informed decisions.

She continuously seeks opportunities to further her expertise and make lasting contributions to the land surveying industry.

Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time fishing and with family and friends.

24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024 ALEX HARPER

COMPANY: Central Arkansas Water CURRENT POSITION: GIS manager AGE: 38 EDUCATION: BS in spatial information system with GIS option, University of Arkansas at Monticello

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arper has been at the forefront of transforming how we perceive and interact with spatial data.His journey into the world of GIS began in high school when he submitted a poster to the Intergraph Geomedia Conference K-12 poster competition and won. This early recognition ignited a passion that would shape the trajectory of his career.

Shortly after graduating, Harper joined the Pulaski Area Geographic Information System (PAgis) as a GIS technician in 2007. His dedication and proficiency propelled him forward, and by 2008 he assumed the role of GIS database coordinator at Central Arkansas Water (CAW). Over the years, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing GIS capabilities, playing a pivotal role in the integration of technology and data management at both PAgis and CAW.

In 2018, Harper became GIS manager, leading a dynamic team of 13 GIS professionals across CAW and PAgis. He oversees the dayto-day operations and spearheads initiatives to acquire, maintain, and distribute GIS-related data within Pulaski County, Arkansas.

UA at Monticello recognized Harper as a Young Alumni Rising Star in 2020, acknowledging his significant impact on the field. Esri, the Arkansas GIS Users Forum, AT&T, GovTech, and URISA have all bestowed honors on Harper and his teams for excellence and innovation.

Harper's story is not just one of personal success but also a narrative of the transformative power of GIS. His passion has evolved into a career marked by leadership, innovation, and a commitment to leveraging geospatial technology for the betterment of communities.

BROOKE HATCHER

COMPANY: New Light Technologies CURRENT POSITION: Senior geospatial engineer AGE: 31 EDUCATION: Masters geospatiaI information science and technology

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s a senior geospatial analyst with New Light Technologies, Brooke leads research and development of geospatial solutions for the homeland security and disaster response communities.

Since 2018, she has supported FEMA applying advanced analytical methods to develop maps, models, data services, and web-based applications to support a range of missions vital to

the safety and health of vulnerable populations across the nation.

Hatcher has been instrumental in developing AI/ML tools to assess remotely sensed imagery to detect natural hazards and assess and predict impacts to communities.

This work has involved development of novel models to identify and prioritize risk and isolated communities used to guide response operations for the Office of Response and Recovery.

ALEXANDER HOLLBERG

COMPANY: Chalmers University of Technology CURRENT POSITION: Associate professor AGE: 38 EDUCATION: PhD and MS in architectural engineering, BS in civil engineering

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ollberg is an architectural engineer by training and since his first days of studies has been passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration. He joined Chalmers as assistant professor for computational sustainable design in 2019. He works on developing methods and tools that facilitate the design of sustainable buildings and cities.

He drives to explore new ways of using digital tools in creative design processes with multiple stakeholders. The goal is to provide decision makers with the necessary information in the early design stages. Example of tools he developed include BIM-based lifecycle

assessment tools that help to minimize both operational and embodied carbon emissions of buildings or new workflows based on a digital twin of the city and Unreal Engine to use VR in participatory urban planning to increase social sustainability.

He leads one of the core research projects in the digital twin city at Chalmers. Recently, he was awarded the prestigious Swedish Future Research Leader grant to develop a digital material inventory for urban mining using machine learning and remote sensing.

He is co-founder and scientific advisor at CAALA, a software and consulting startup based in Munich, Germany.

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24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024 KAYLA KELLER

COMPANY: Woolpert CURRENT POSITION: Geospatial team leader, remote sensing AGE: 33 EDUCATION: MS, GIS, University of Washington; BS, geography, Ohio State University

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eller is a geospatial team leader who focuses on project phase management as well as remote sensing priorities.

In this role, she assists with the management of planning, schedules, and budgets.

Keller performs technical work and QA/QC in addition to managing the work of others. In her remote sensing technician role, Keller has gained experience with data management and acquisition, problem solving with a sustainability mindset, and geospatial data analysis. She has worked with impervious surface data, landcover, and structure capture (change detection). She has extensive experience with county clients and has completed tasks related to landcover classification, building footprints, elevation-derived hydrology, and impervious surface capture.

Keller acts as a subject matter expert providing project deliverable development oversight, creating, refining, and implementing

technical processes, and furnishing technical support to Woolpert markets and practices. She develops and reinforces QA/QC standards while creating and overseeing the quality of deliverables prepared by team members.

She trains, coaches, and mentors various staff on existing or new technical requirements. She also resolves issues impacting technical project objectives. She leads or supports her team in technical scope and budget/pricing development for proposals and dynamic project planning. She supports client relationships and business development in support of strategic business plans.

She acts as a key point of internal contact for technical needs and identifies plan-versus-actual performance variances. She also provides monthly reporting of resource planning, percent completes, budget dollar variance, and market communications.

ALI KHALOO, PH.D.

COMPANY: Aren, Inc. CURRENT POSITION: CEO and co-founder AGE: 36 EDUCATION: Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University; PhD. Philosophy, George Mason University;

MS, Tufts University, BS, Tehran University

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r. Ali Khaloo stands at the helm of Aren as its visionary CEO and co-founder. His journey began with the completion of his Ph.D., followed by a prestigious appointment as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University's esteemed Runway Startup program on the Cornell Tech campus in New York City—the birthplace of Aren.

With nearly 12 years of immersion in autonomous sensing, geospatial data analysis, and intelligent condition assessment of civil structures, Khaloo boasts a distinctive prowess. His groundbreaking integration of computer vision and machine learning with civil engineering forms the bedrock of Aren's revolutionary software platform.

Khaloo's transformative work has touched iconic bridges, dams,

WANMEI LIANG

COMPANY: NASA CURRENT POSITION: Science data visualizer AGE: 26 EDUCATION: BS in geography and minor in geographic information systems & technology, University of California, Los Angeles

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iang works at NASA Earth Observatory as a science data visualizer, skillfully blending elements of cartography, journalism, and science communication by transforming data from NASA's missions and instruments into captivating maps, infographics, and charts.

Her portfolio encompasses a wide spectrum of subjects, from covering disasters like hurricanes and floods to sharing the latest scientific research using remote sensing and GIS. Wanmei and her team at Earth Observatory serve as a critical bridge between complex scientific data and the broader public, communicating vital information about Earth.

Liang’s impact reaches far beyond her responsibilities at NASA. In her free time, she creates stunning maps that push the

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boundaries of data visualization and science communication, serving as a source of inspiration and motivation for seasoned cartographers and the next generation of GIS professionals in the art of cartography and data visualization. Additionally, she utilizes the power of social media to chronicle her ongoing transformation, evolving from a timid individual who once lingered in the shadows to a thriving and confident young professional.

Through her online presence, she not only shares her personal growth but also offers inspiration and motivation to others who may be embarking on a similar path of self-discovery and professional development.

airport runways, cooling towers, and structures worldwide.

Prior to Aren, Khaloo was a senior research scientist in a venture capital-backed startup. He led the charge in crafting cutting-edge deep-learning algorithms tailored for real-time object detection on devices with restricted computational resources, a feat particularly crucial for smartphones.

Khaloo’s intellectual footprint includes more than 20 papers published in influential international journals and conference proceedings. Additionally, he is the inventor of three patents on generating and analyzing 3D models of large civil infrastructure systems using AI.

24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024

NOLAN MARK, PS

COMPANY: On the Mark Land Surveying AGE: 34 EDUCATION: BS in civil engineering technology, Murray State University; licensed professional surveyor in Indiana,

Kentucky, and Michigan.

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olan R. Mark, PS has over a decade of land surveying experience within a wide range of residential, commercial, and public works projects. His expertise covers all facets of surveying services, including boundary, topographical, construction, utility, verification, and control surveys. He is a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in civil engineering technology and is a licensed professional surveyor in the states of Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky.

In the past year, Mark has made strides in his surveying career, starting his own company, On the Mark Land Surveying.

He was elected vice president of National Society of Professional Surveyors Young Surveyor Network, and he contributed to the promotion of surveying with his involvement with Get Kids Into Survey. His company has recently qualified for certification as an Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In addition, Mark is also the Young Surveyor Coordinator for Indiana and is the treasurer for Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors.

RACHEL RODRIGUEZ MARQUEZ, GISP, PMP

COMPANY: County of Los Angeles – Internal Services Department – Enterprise GIS Program CURRENT POSITION: Principal GIS analyst AGE: 37 EDUCATION: MS University of Southern California, geographic information science and technology. Certificate

courses in emergency management, Western Washington University

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arquez has an illustrious geospatial career spanning 14 years in local and state government, including tribal enterprise. Marquez demonstrates a passion for innovation and a commitment to giving back to the geospatial community, including presenting in elementary schools, leading high school hand-on workshops, and talking to university classes about the various work and project experience in the geospatial field. Rachel’s favorite story about the importance of geospatial information involves a whale and a well.

Marquez is the program coordinator for the County of Los Angeles' groundbreaking Countywide Address Management System (CAMS). She has transformed CAMS into the board of supervisors-approved authoritative repository for physical (situs) address information, consolidating data from the 88 incorporated jurisdictions within the county. CAMS plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the health, security, and well-being of the County of Los Angeles' residents and workforce.

Committed to the advancement of geospatial professionals, Marquez

generously volunteers her time and expertise with URISA. Since 2018, she has been an active URISA Next Generation 9-1-1 Task Force member, contributing significantly to the URISA’s educational initiatives. Her daily work and professional contributions align in sharing her expertise and communicating nationwide best practice stories to jurisdictions throughout California, supporting the development of similar address repositories to CAMS. Within URISA, she served on the Vanguard Cabinet of Young GIS Professionals from 2018 to 2021 and was chair from 2019-2020. URISA recognized Marquez as the Young Professional of the Year in 2020 and the URISA Service Award for the year 2021. For the California Chapter of URISA, she actively fosters educational and collaboration building, which speaks to her commitment to the geospatial profession.

Marquez is poised to lead the chapter in 2024 as she assumes the role of president. She dedicates time and energy to expanding the leadership role of women, young professionals, and neurodivergent persons in the geospatial profession.

ETHAN MCGHEE

COMPANY: City of San Luis Obispo CURRENT POSITION: Systems application specialist - GIS AGE: 25 EDUCATION: BS, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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cGhee is a geospatial advocate leading the growth of the GIS Industry by creating innovative solutions at the local government level and engaging young professionals across the country. As a systems application specialist for the City of San Luis Obispo, he is responsible for the implementation of geospatial solutions across the entire organization.

As a WebGIS enthusiast, McGhee actively works to create efficient workflows and implement new strategies to assist other departments improve their effectiveness. He pioneers new GIS-centric solutions as a way to benefit the whole organization, whether it be at the field or leadership level. In 2023, McGhee was selected to the URISA Vanguard Cabinet, an advisory board of passionate young professionals focused on engaging with young geospatial professionals.

During his first year of the three-year term, he took a leadership role in overseeing the URISA Mentoring Network, facilitating mentorship connections for GIS professionals across the world. Newly appointed to the vice-chair role within the cabinet, he will now spend the next two years leading the team by overseeing subcommittee operations and ensuring that the entire team collectively reaches the largest possible audience and effectively advocates for young professionals across URISA. In 2023, McGhee was selected as the City of San Luis Obispo’s employee of the year for his contributions to service and acting as a team player in several large-scale projects. He continues to provide exceptional service to his organization and plans on starting a master’s program within the coming months.

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24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024

JAKE MCCAY

COMPANY: LIDARUSA CURRENT POSITION: Sales manager AGE: 34 EDUCATION: BS business management

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cCay worked in sales at a several companies prior to joining LIDARUSA. For more than four years he has been head of sales at LIDARUSA. Starting with no knowledge of the industry, he was quick to pick up on lidar and photogrammetry, drones, SLAM, and all the lingo associated with the mapping industry.

During his time at LIDARUSA, McCay has been engaged in some TV shows promoting lidar technology. The more interesting shows were the Netflix Original “Pirate Gold of Adak Island,” which

involved traveling to the far reaches of Alaska to a now desolate island. While they may have been searching for gold using a UAV-borne lidar system, what seems to have really struck home was the overabundance of bald eagles. They were a nuisance like seagulls at the beach.

The more recent exposure was with Josh Gates of “Expedition Unknown” an episode in which they were searching for Italy’s lost empire.

KIERAN MUIR

COMPANY: Vexcel Imaging CURRENT POSITION: Support engineer AGE: 31 EDUCATION: Some college for electrical engineering

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uir's journey to Vexcel Imaging was marked by a remarkable blend of determination, hands-on experience, and a deep passion for technology. Starting his professional life earlier than most, Muir ventured into maintenance roles at grain elevator plants, where he honed his skills in wiring high-voltage electrical motors and acquired valuable insights into industrial machinery.

During slow seasons, he delved into part-time construction jobs, expanding his skill set even further. His career took an exciting turn when he joined Eaton Corporation, where he underwent comprehensive training in electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and robotics systems, swiftly excelling in these areas.

Relocating to Colorado, he embraced the role of a crane technician, specializing in repairs and OSHA inspections. It was this journey of practical experience that eventually led him to Vexcel Imaging, where he embarked on a path that would see him become a crucial asset to the company's support engineering team.

Muir joined Vexel Imaging in November 2018 at the age of 26 and

MAUDE PELLETIER

COMPANY: Balko Technologies CURRENT POSITION: President AGE: 39 EDUCATION: MS geographic sciences, Laval University, Quebec City; BS geography, Laval University, Quebec;

certification of professional piloting of light drones, Centre de Formation Aéronautique du Québec (CQFA)

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elletier is a geomorphologist with a strong background in GIS/ geomatics. Her various professional expertise has allowed her to obtain in-depth knowledge of all geomatics processing deliverables related to lidar data and aerial imagery.

In 2016, she founded one of the first companies in Canada specializing in UAV-based lidar data acquisition. In parallel, she

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has been working on an R&D project for the past eight years with a team of experts in electronic, mechanical, and software development to build the world's first modular lidar.

In 2021, she founded Balko Technologies, the first manufacturing company in Canada to develop and resell a modular drone lidar.

brought his expertise in programming, electrical work, and customer interactions. While he didn't possess the required college degree, his practical skills and determination set him apart.

Muir’s journey within Vexcel began when he applied for a support engineer role. Over the years, he immersed himself in the world of aerial survey technology, where Vexcel's cutting-edge aerial sensors are developed. Muir’s eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies made him an ideal fit for the team.

He now serves as the TopoFlight and UltraNav V7 expert for Vexcel Imaging in North America, as well as the Somag mount expert for Vexcel U.S. He thrives on personal interactions with customers, ensuring they receive top-quality support. Muir's journey exemplifies how ambition, dedication, and hard work have enabled him to excel in the geospatial field, despite taking a non-traditional path to his professional role. His commitment to continuous learning and skill development drives his pursuit of excellence in the industry.

24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024

KENDAL PRICE

COMPANY: Truckee Meadows Water Authority CURRENT POSITION: GIS analyst AGE: 29 EDUCATION: BS environmental management and protection, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo;

Graduate certificate in analytics and data science, Georgia Tech.

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rice is a GIS analyst at the Truckee Meadows Water Authority in Reno, Nevada, where she supports the authority's utility asset management with her background in geospatial technology and analytics. In addition to her work with the water authority, is a member of URISA's Vanguard Cabinet, a young professional board focused on creating events and activities to support the growth and development of emerging professionals across the geospatial industry.

She serves as the chair of the Mentoring Committee and oversees the URISA Mentoring Network, which has helped to match hundreds of emerging geospatial professionals with mentors to provide them with the support they need to navigate their career. This program has a global reach and has helped connect mentees and mentors from more than 20 countries. Price’s efforts in support of this program have been critical to its success and growth over the last few years.

FRANK ROMO

COMPANY: RomoGIS Enterprises CURRENT POSITION: CEO AGE: 33 EDUCATION: MS urban and regional planning; graduate certificate in real estate development from the University

of Michigan. Columbia University New York/Paris Urban Design and Architecture Program participant.

BS in urban studies, Loyola Marymount University.

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rank Romo is a social-good focused creator, entrepreneur, community organizer, and mentor. He is a social justice geographer trained in urban planning, specialized in geospatial technologies, and is the founder of RomoGIS. RomoGIS Enterprises is a data, design and research collaborative aimed at promoting the public good through innovative technical solutions.

The vision of RomoGIS is to see community members empowered with the tools, opportunities, and confidence to harness the transformative power of maps, data, and technology for social good.

As a minority entrepreneur, he helps train the next generation of leaders by providing them with the confidence, strategic tools, and skills necessary to create more change in their communities.

In order to create opportunities for more people to get involved in their community, RomoGIS provides internships, workshops, and

mentorship to underrepresented groups in the tech industry and trains people how to harness data, maps, and technology to tell their stories, advocate for justice, influence change, and make a sustainable impact in their communities.

Romo’s background as an urban planner, community organizer, and educator has allowed him to develop culturally competent curriculum and products specifically tailored toward community empowerment and social justice. In his work with the University of Michigan, Romo engages in community-based research and develops geospatial applications that advance equity and greater vitality in cities.

He served on the URISA Vanguard Cabinet where he co-founded the Mentoring Network for GIS professionals worldwide and facilitated professional development and mentorship opportunities for members.

GREG SAUNDERS

COMPANY: DOWL CURRENT POSITION: Surveyor/remote sensing scientist AGE: 34 EDUCATION: MS natural hazards, University of Oslo; BS geological engineering, University of Nevada, Reno

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aunders has followed a winding path to get to where he is today, but a few things have stayed constant—his desire to learn and his love of spending time outside. Saunders is a professional land surveyor in Nevada and a certified photogrammetrist and certified mapping scientist. He works at DOWL as a remote sensor and surveyor.

His career path started with obtaining bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. From there he completed a master’s degree in geohazards from the University of Oslo, Norway. His thesis focused on monitoring landslide prone areas with photogrammetric methods. To complete this he spent countless hours in the mountains and fjords of Norway collecting terrestrial and aerial photogrammetric data.

His educational background led him to a job at the Nevada Department of Transportation where he worked on building a UAV mapping program off the existing photogrammetry and imagery foundation. He then moved to the private sector and pursued ASPRS certifications and his professional land surveyor license.

He has experience with traditional photogrammetry, UAS workflows, lidar, and data processing. During the past few years, he has flown UAS all over the West Coast. He has amassed hundreds of hours behind the sticks in all different climates and terrains.

In addition to work, he sits on the board of the Nevada Young Surveyors and is an active member in various ASPRS groups. He prides himself on helping others hone their skills in the field and in the office.

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24 YOUNG GEOSPATIAL PROFESSIONALS TO WATCH IN 2024 ALEX HILL-STOSKY

COMPANY: Eagle Engineering & Consulting CURRENT POSITION: Manager of reality capture development and regulation AGE: 38 EDUCATION: BS in geodesy and geomatics engineering with cadastral survey option, University of New Bunswick;

Diploma in geomatics engineering technology, Centre of Geographic Sciences

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ill-Stosky was inspired by his brother to enroll at COGS in 2014 with the intention of establishing a career as an accredited land surveyor. Geomatics became a passion for him, but economic hardships forced the world economy to slow just as Hill-Stosky entered the workforce. He doubled down on education, earning an engineering degree with an accreditation in cadastral land survey in 2022.

Hill-Stosky became excited by 3DGIS, the power of digital twins, and the potential of reality capture technology and analytics, causing a shift in career interest. He started with Eagle Engineering & Consulting uniting the entities at a time when Eagle had recently emerged as an innovative reality capture solutions partner and provider. In the two years since, Hill-Stosky has risen from technician, to team lead, to manager of reality capture development and regulation for Eagle Engineering.

Within that time, Eagle has acquired a wide range of 3D scanning instruments to facilitate a number of reality capture initiatives from asset status documentation and reporting, to point cloud extraction, analytics and engineering surveys, plus engaging with developers and networks around the world to help bring in 21st century spatial awareness to those who stand to benefit from it.

Hill-Stosky is at the forefront of several pioneering initiatives with Eagle and actively promotes awareness about the potential of reality capture technology. He is a visible presence on podcasts, event committees, conference platforms, and panel discussions alongside esteemed industry peers for organizations such as the Reality Capture Network (RCN,) the United States Institute for Building Documentation (USIBD,) and GoGeomatics Canada. He is a founding committee member of the first GoGeomatics Expo in Calgary held in November 2023.

MARIANA VILELA

COMPANY: GeoMax Positioning CURRENT POSITION: Technical support for US, Canada & LATAM AGE: 29 EDUCATION: Associate degree in psychology; currently working on a bachelor’s degree in land surveying

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orn in Brazil and fluent in three languages, Vilela brings a global perspective to her work. She manages technical support, dealer, and customer training for the U.S. and LATAM regions of GeoMax, a part of Hexagon.

Before her current role, she honed her skills and gained priceless experience as a land surveyor with Langan Engineering and AIA Surveying in New York. During those five years, she had the opportunity to work on challenging projects, contributing to the growth and success of those organizations.

Seeking new avenues to expand her expertise, she joined Tiger Supplies as a survey equipment specialist. It was here

IAROSLAV ZIFCEAC

COMPANY: Oficiul de Cadastru si Publicitate Imobiliara Bihor AGE: 32 EDUCATION: University of Oradea

CURRENT POSITION: Cadaster inspector

aifceanc is an exceptionally dedicated young surveyor who works tirelessly on numerous projects, striving to make a significant impact. With more than six years of experience at the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI), he has emerged as one of the leaders shaping the future of cadastre in Romania, a country endeavoring to align with Western European standards in land registration.

His recent achievement of becoming one of the youngest judicial technical experts in topography authorized by the Romanian Ministry of Justice underscores his unwavering dedication and his commitment to advancing the field. Driven by a profound passion for learning and development, Zifcenac has embarked on a journey towards a Ph.D. at the University of Bucharest. His research focuses on the application of remote sensing satellite imagery in the thermal infrared domain for geological purposes.

In addition to his career and academic pursuits, his enthusiasm for giving back and inspiring others through volunteering has led him to serve as president of the Youth Commission of the Romanian Surveyor Union. Alongside a group of young colleagues, he is working on building a network aimed at helping the next generation of surveyors establish themselves in the evolving professional landscape. His active involvement in the new wave of surveyors in Romania, as well as his participation in various international projects, such as serving on logistic and registration teams for different FIG Young Surveyors Meetings, being a member of FIG Commission 8, contributing as an editor for HOT, participating in the Hack for Earth hackathon, and engaging in Erasmus Exchanges, sets him apart as an individual worth following. His influence extends beyond his professional accomplishments, as he actively strives to create positive change in the world around us.

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she developed a unique understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of multiple brands. She also honed her talent for technical sales, building the company's online exposure through product videos.

In her role with GeoMax, Vildla has established herself as an expert in X-PAD software, helping customers across multiple countries improve their workflows, become more efficient, and deliver greater results for their clients. Through her diligent efforts and desire to help others succeed, Vilela has delivered unparalleled support and made a significant imXpact on the surveying market.

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What GIS (knowledge) can do for AI?

BY JUAN PLAZA AND GIULIO MAFFINI

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ow that we have explored what AI can do for GIS in the first two parts of this series, let’s embark in the more complex task of exploring what a GIS-empowered AI will look like.

First, let us clarify that it is our belief that it would be naïve to assume that a fully autonomous AI engine will address the issue of representing the Earth the same way humans have done for millennia. For starters, we have been “prisoners of cartography” since the first maps were chiselled on a rock wall, pressed on a clay tablet, or scribbled on papyrus.

AI will not have the limitation of representing a round surface in a 2D format for convenience. AI will always “think” and analyze on a spherical surface and will present its results in any way we want, but the default way to show results will be over a round representation of our reality, which is the way it exists.

We will explore some scenarios of embedding GIS knowledge in an AI application that thinks spatially. This is not about AI using any particular GIS software application it is about AI being trained, like a spatial data scientist to “gather knowledge about the world and organizing and condensing that knowledge into testable laws

and theories,” as E.O. Wilson wrote in his book, Consilience.

To become a spatial thinking scientist, the AI application must be able to find and access relevant spatial data to the domain of enquiry and have knowledge of generic geospatial-mathematical algorithms underpinning any GIS functionality. This material is scientific knowledge largely accessible to the public. This AI would understand what questions are asked and create spatial models of the real world to answer them using geographical expertise. There is a possibility that AI, with this training, could invent from scratch new methods of spatial analysis that humans have not thought of.

Since, as far as we know, no such AI application exists, we can use a thought experiment for logical thinking to speculate and change paradigms on what capabilities it might have and how it would perform them.

Let’s start with a simple commercial example that requires no private data at all.

You are a provider of solar panel solutions, including power walls, and want to finetune your target audience for marketing and to increase sales and you have access to a cloud-based AI app. You know nothing about GIS. You have only provided the AI app with a few photos showing what solar

panels look like from above. You explain that they are installed on roofs of houses in a particular orientation to the sun. You also tell the app that people within a certain socio-economic range purchase solar panels.

Your ask the AI app for advice on where to target your sales and marketing.

The AI uses what you have given it and selects three spatial data layers from its library: • A street and address database (OpenStreetMap – coverage worldwide) • Basic socio-economic census data for each address (U.S. Census Bureau) • Air photos and satellite imagery (many free satellite imagery data sources) Using the provided photos of solar panels, the AI app performs a quick scan of some air photos for the market area to detect roofs with suspected solar panels. At this point, it might get back to you and ask you to confirm if it has correctly identified solar panels.

(This verification process is the machine learning training). Once the AI app has reached a sufficiently accurate detection level it stops and proceeds with the next stage in the analysis.

The AI app now scans the whole target region. When it detects a solar panel,

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the AI app creates a record and assigns the record to the nearest street address.

Using the address, the AI app queries the U.S. Census Bureau data and assigns a socio-economic profile to each tagged address record in the database. The AI app has also been told that that the likelihood of installing solar panels is influenced by how many other homes in the immediate neighborhood have solar panels. So, for each address the AI app calculates how many solar panels there are in several distance bands—¼ mile, ½ mile, and one mile—around each address.

Armed with this knowledge for all the addresses in the database, the AI

• Frequency and location of severe weather events (NOAA) in the target region • Frequency of power outages (utility companies) The AI app now has added knowledge to target those addresses that have high potential for solar panels and additional reasons to install a power wall.

With this new data, the AI app can quickly modify its training to target marketing and sales of other devices, such as generators, by adding to the address records which addresses have access to piped natural gas service. The new AI app can be trained to identify generators (that

First- and second-level triangular divisions in a QTM.

app now builds a probability model of a solar panel presence/non-presence and identifies all the addresses that have all the right conditions for solar panels, but currently do not have them. You get a list of addresses, each tagged with a probability score, for which you can then create a marketing campaign.

The target marketing may need get a little more sophistication for the power wall target marketing and sales.

Power walls are inside houses. Instead of selling electricity back to the grid, power walls store electricity from the solar panels in the home. They can supply the home for a few days of normal electricity use. You cannot use the same type of analysis to train the AI app to target them. You have told the AI app that power outages are due to a variety of factors, including increasing severe weather events. The AI now adds two more spatial datasets to its analysis:

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things to identifying addresses eligible for climate adaptation programs and incentives.

These kind of generic spatial problems “use what I told you about, something I am looking for, and tell me where to find more” occur across a wide range of disciplines from mineral and metals exploration, epidemiology to criminal investigations. They can employ a handful of spatial data layers or hundreds.

An AI app that thinks spatially needs to understand the domain of the query.

Ideally, the library of AI spatial data used to train and search to respond to questions should be accessible, without performing laborious map projection transformations on the fly. Today, GIS data is in many vendor-specific formats and many, many projection systems. We have to remind ourselves that maps are just reports of the spatial data.

Storing the GIS spatial data in a projection system is traditional for humans, but it is not required for an AI app to build a spatial database. Spatial data stored in map formats and projections is just an artificial restriction or limitation, that, like us, turns the technology into another prisoner of cartography. The AI spatial data needs to be set free from maps and cartographic projections.

Decreasing size and increasing Accuracy in a QTM. Images Courtesy of Zheng Wang , Xuesheng Zhao , Wenbin Sun, Fuli Luo, Yalu Li and Yuanzheng Duan.

are always outside) and calculate different probability profiles of socio-economic conditions while excluding homes with solar panels.

The geographic extent of such an AI application can cover a city, a state, the entire U.S., or the world. The purpose of the AI application may also change from selling

A great deal of GIS spatial data is in vector format. Vector format is good for representing spatial data representing topological relationships of networks, such as rivers and streams, roads, rail, electrical, and telecom networks. Vector format is also good for well-defined objects, such as precise property parcels surveys. Most of all,

it is superb for making beautiful cartographic maps. But it is not a good format for representing poorly defined areas, such as forests, wetlands, and other forms of natural land cover that have inherently fuzzy-edge conditions between one area to another.

The very precise vector representation of XYZ coordinates in these cases is misleading. It does not reflect the vagueness and ambiguity encountered during the digitizing of the vectors. There are two types of uncertainties—spatial accuracy, and the attribute accuracy. An AI application with the knowledge of how the spatial data was captured and therefore its accuracy needs to be integrated in its spatial data model.

There is a lot of GIS knowledge about the difference between spatial accuracy and precision, but we humans have not done a good job of systematically applying this knowledge in how we structure spatial data in GIS. Usually, we just provide statistical error summaries.

The AI app also needs to understand the difference between precision and accuracy and embed this knowledge in structure of the spatial data it uses for training and searching.

What other spatial structures are out there that can do all this for AI? Well, there is raster format (used to store data collected by air photos and satellite

imagery) but rectilinear cells are poor for representing in a consistent area and projection a spherical surface like the earth.

Raster formats also have a tendency create massive data records, and they have many potential resolutions.

There is another option: a Geodesic Planetary Model using a Quaternary Triangular Mesh (QTM) first developed by Geoffrey Dutton, where any location on a planet has a hierarchical address, or geocode, which it shares with all other locations lying within the same facet. As depth in the tree increases, facets grow smaller, geocodes grow longer and tend to become more unique, being shared by fewer entities.

As is shown in Table 1, triangular subdivision tiling can cover the earth with a triangular mesh of potentially great precision to accommodate even the most precise surveying methods.

Our human-built GIS and spatial data based on a map paradigm is too cumbersome and inefficient. The diagram titled Thought Experiment of GIS Knowledge Based AI attempts to show at a high-level how GIS knowledgeable AI might function.

What conclusions can we draw from our thought experiment?

The first is that AI will not replicate our GIS software and cartographic data structures to store and analyze spatial data.

Converting our existing legacy spatial data layers to something like the Quaternary Triangular Mesh (QTM) structure will enable AI to integrate hundreds and even thousands of spatial data layers in a consistent spatial data format with built-in varying spatial and attribute accuracy.

Second, AI will likely reinvent GIS functionality based on data processing of hierarchical address, or geocoded data trees.

This will create new algorithms for building, testing, and statistically validating spatial models of discovery.

Third, AI will answer our questions with text, data tables, and beautifully rendered 2D cartographic map products in any projection or cartographic style we desire.

Alternatively, it will present the map results draped over a virtual 3D globe (Google Earth). However, these great visual displays will just be reports for the consumption and appreciation of humans of the spatial data, not the data itself.

Finally, and more consequential to our profession, AI will break free of the cartography paradigm prison by embracing the spherical nature of our world and representing all its findings to our queries in any format we want, but rest assured that all the analyses and the underlying data will be in a global structure and not a 2D adaptation.

In order to test our hypothesis, we went back to ChatGPT 3.5 and subjected our Thought Experiment to the current state of AI and the results will surprise you the same way it surprised us. In short, today AI is aware of QTM and how to actually make this paradigm shift possible.

The entire conversation with ChatGPT can be found here. ■

Giulio Maffini started his career in the 70s as an urban and regional planner. Later he founded a company (TYDAC) to build Spatial Analysis PC desktop software (SPANS). In the early 90s he was part of team that commercialized an all-relational, multi user, Oracle-based enterprise GIS (VISION*) for Utilities, Telecom’s, and Municipalities. He is now an advisor to spatial technology companies. Juan B. Plaza is the CEO of Plaza Aerospace, a drone and general aviation consultant firm that specializes in modern uses for manned and unmanned aviation in the areas of mapping, lidar, and precision GNSS.

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SURVEYOR’S CORNER

I

JUST WARMING UP

BY ERIC GLADHILL

t’s that time of the year when many of us are experience frigid temperatures, and we must be ready for difficult days in the field. I’m sure there are those who will say—as Alfred Wainwright once said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” To that, I would respond with something about being caught unprepared and sometimes the best outdoor clothing is not affordable for a young rodman/chainman.

When I was in that stage of my career, I had some decent outdoor clothing, but it was all hunting gear. The idea of looking like a deer hunter walking around in a housing development didn’t stop me from wearing a blaze orange coat into the surveying field.

Those who work in more temperate areas probably haven’t had the “pleasure” of trying to work a keyboard (or in the old days write in a field book) with freezing fingers. Cold is one thing, but the wind makes the day unbearable. There is some good clothing that will keep one warm in below-freezing temperatures—until the wind kicks up.

One winter the firm where I was employed had to survey a large field for development. I was instructed to take a rodman and gather the topo with a total station and data collector. I was “running the gun” (operating the instrument) so I ended up standing next to the instrument for two sub-freezing days with wind whipping across a snow-covered field. I wore insulated coveralls, gloves, face mask, hat, and felt pack boots, and I still had to get in the truck every 30 minutes to warm up. I left the motor running so I could crank up the heat and thaw my fingers enough to turn the knobs and push buttons.

When I worked in the field, it always seemed there were a few days when I was caught unprepared. This usually happened when I shifted from one crew to another and didn’t have a wardrobe of sweatshirts and coats stashed in the work truck. These were days the forecast was for sun and calm winds, but clouds gathered, a breeze would pick up and then turn into a gale.

When the temperature plummets below freezing for a few days, setting stakes becomes a major undertaking. Frozen ground is similar to concrete, so setting a wooden stake requires a pilot hole to be created by driving a steel pin into the ground.

We usually used a discarded bull point from a jackhammer. Of course, this was dangerous because they are made of hardened steel which can chip off; especially when it’s cold.

I’ve also heard the steel pin for driving pilot holes called a “bull pin” or “frost pin.” Once when I was working with a new guy, I told him to get the bull pin. “Isn’t it called a frost pin?” he asked.

I told him he could call it whatever he wanted, just get it. “Okay, here’s the pinecone,” he said. When I questioned his new term, he reminded me that I had said, “…or whatever you want to call it.”

After that, he and I used the term “pinecone” for the steel pin.

This winter, I hope everyone who works in the field will keep the heater running and dress warmly while I stay comfortable in the office and remember—not so fondly—those cold days. ■

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