Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast

This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds your host, Tim Burch, providing news and other updates for his episode of "From the Director's Desk." He recaps the last few episodes and shares the latest updates on happenings from the world of NSPS and surveying. Tim provides updates on the 2025 Student Competition and "NGS Day" being held In Silver Spring, MD next March. He also acknowledges the generous sponsors who help provide support for the activities and advocacy within the profession:

Assurance Risk Managers

This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" digs into one of the biggest challenges facing the surveying profession, the shortage of surveyors. Our guests come from the Hoosier State via Vincennes University: Parker Zurbuch, SI (student) and Jessica Hess, PS, Program Coordinator, Surveying Technology. Parker and Jess recently joined Tim Burch to discuss Parker's school paper, "Surveyor Shortage" and how a class project has motivated a young surveyor to find solutions for this issue within our profession. While they admit there is a formidable challenge ahead, it is clear that Parker and Jess are up to the challenge. A stimulating and thought-provoking conversation you don't want to miss!

Download Parker's school paper here: https://bit.ly/ParkerZurbuch

For more information about the Vincennes surveying program, click here: https://www.vinu.edu/major/surveying-technology.html

Today's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds us talking with one of the legends in social media for surveyors, Justin Farrow, Founder of Land Surveyors United. Justin, along with collaborator Christopher Lucas and Texas RPLS Deward Bowles, joined Tim Burch to discuss the radical overhaul of the famous website. They spoke of providing educational resources and tools for every facet of surveying, so join us for a great conversation about how the future of sharing surveying knowledge is evolving.

For more information about the website: https://landsurveyorsunited.com/rebirth

This week's "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" previews the next session of "Esri and NSPS - Surveyors and GIS Webinar Series" and it's a good one. The host of the series, Linda M. Foster, PLS, GISP, MGIS and Director of Land Records/Cadastre Solutions at Esri, recently joined Tim Burch for to discuss the series. The next webinar, "The Role of GIS and Surveying in a Digital Twin," is coming up, so Linda and Tim talked about why this one will be one not to miss.

The featured speaker for the seminar is Narelle Underwood, Surveyor-General and Executive Director of Spatial Services in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Narelle has overseen the planning and implementation of a robust digital twin for the state of NSW and shares the highlights and challenges they faced in implementing this significant project.

This will be a great opportunity to hear about the real world benefits of digital twins and the important role surveyors have in its development. 

Esri and NSPS | Surveyors and GIS Webinar Series

For more information about the Esri and NSPS | Surveyors and GIS Webinar Series, visit here:

For more information about Linda Foster and her incredible blog, visit here:

NSPS is excited to announce a collaborative initiative with GeoLearn, a leading online education provider for surveyors, so this episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" features a conversation with Joe Paiva, founder of GeoLearn. This collaboration aims to offer enhanced opportunities for continuing education and training to NSPS members.

For more information, visit "https://bit.ly/NSPS-GeoLearn"

This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" is a follow-up with our EP155 guests, Data Activation Center (DAC)! With more surveyors using cellular networks for data collection and communication, this episode catches up with Chandy Sayre (Account Manager), John Robinson (Director of IOT) and April Hawley (IOT Sales Manager) to discuss how cellular technology has advanced for the surveying and mapping communities in two short years. They recently chatted with Tim Burch about expanded coverage, access to multiple cellular networks, and the transition to e-SIM connectivity. Lots of great information about progressing technology, so check it out today!

We are in the "dog days of summer" but NSPS rolls on with news from the legislative world! This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds your host, Tim Burch, providing an update on proposed legislation for banning certain Chinese-made UAV systems. In this episode of "From the Director's Desk," he shares the latest updates on the proposed federal bills and observations on prior federal acts affecting Chinese technology. He also notes that surveyors need to keep their eyes out on other obstacles to the profession. Thanks for listening!

Two in a row for the USACE! "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds us have a great conversation with Mack McCarty, Community of Practice Lead for CAD-BIM, Topo Survey, and Hydro Survey at the US Army Corps of Engineers. Mack sat down with Tim Burch to discuss his exposure into surveying at an early age, and how it lead to a carer at the Corps. They discussed the importance of good people within the Corps to make successful projects that protect the public. Mack shared a bit of history of the Corps, so this is a chat you don't want to miss. Lots of survey nuggets in this one!

The Corps is in the house! We are back in the studio for this episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" with a special guest, Natalie Martinez-Vega, Surveyor/Training Specialist from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Army Geospatial Center. Natalie recently stopped at the NSPS headquarters to sit down with Tim Burch to share her "life in surveying" story. She also shared her introduction to surveying at the University of Puerto Rico, opportunities within the USACE, and how training and mentoring is key to helping practitioners become successful surveyors. A truly inspiring conversation, and and features our first ever "words of wisdom" message in Spanish!

For more information about a career in surveying with the USACE, visit USAjobs.gov.

This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" previews a new documentary being filmed to capture the story behind the location, design, and construction of the Erie Canal. Our guest today is Tom Garber, owner of Third Wave Films in Long Island, NY, and the filmmaker behind the upcoming movie, "Creating the Erie Canal." Tom recently chatted with Tim Burch about his introduction to the subject matter, the research necessary to develop the script, and how surveyors played a large part in the overall project. They also talked about how filmmaking and surveying have progressed with technology, yet the basics of each discipline are still important to learn. A great conversation, and we can't wait for the film's release in early 2025!

If you would like to make a donation to help this film get finished up, please visit Tom's website: thirdwavefilms.com.