This week the crew sat down with Dane Courville, PLS-II and Survey Leader for CDOT Region 1, to explore the life and lessons of a surveyor who’s made his mark across metes and bounds, Texas, and PLSS. Growing up in Opelousas, Louisiana, Dane’s story is one of grit, growth, and giving back to the profession. Dane shared how working across different land systems taught him that geography, history, and law all shape the surveyor’s role. From land development to energy and transportation, his career has spanned multiple sectors, each leaving him with a deeper perspective on the craft. We unpacked his manual—its success, feedback, and the opportunities it has opened. Dane also discussed his continuing education program with WFPS, particularly around oil and gas surveying, a niche where his expertise runs deep. Passionate about building confidence in the next generation, Dane believes passing licensing exams is less about pure survey knowledge and more about test-taking skills and mindset. His mission? To mentor aspiring professionals and help them see themselves as capable, licensed surveyors-in-the-making. Dane has spoken at most western state conferences and made a bold, open offer to bring his voice eastward. His goal is simple: share knowledge, spread encouragement, and leave a lasting legacy of mentorship, confidence, and professional pride. Music by The Cure!!!
In this inspiring episode of The Geoholics Podcast, Kent is joined by special guests Anna Rios and Amanda Allred to shine a spotlight on the Future Surveyors Foundation and the upcoming Women Surveyors Summit (WSS) 2025 in Las Vegas. The show kicks off with Geoholics news and happenings—INTERGEO, Trimble Dimensions, and, of course, the highly anticipated Women Surveyors Summit in October. Powered by EMLID and supported by our incredible sponsors, this episode blends industry updates with thought-provoking dialogue about the future of surveying. The guests share the origin story and mission of the Future Surveyors Foundation—creating opportunity, inspiration, and support for a diverse geospatial workforce. Listeners get an inside look at programs like PRISM+ALLIES, the Women Surveyors Summit, and mentorship partnerships designed to strengthen the profession while opening doors for underrepresented groups We dive deep into the philosophy behind the Summit—“for women, by women”—and what that means for event design and delivery. From continuing education tracks to ethics sessions, the 2025 edition promises fresh opportunities for growth, networking, and empowerment. The conversation highlights why Las Vegas was chosen as the host city and teases some standout program elements happening October 23–26, 2025 The Foundation also proudly announces the Geoholics Scholarship winners—Isabella Totra & Iris Saldana—future leaders carrying the torch for the next generation of surveyors As always, we add a cultural twist with our Song of the Week: Tim McGraw’s “Humble & Kind”—a reminder of the values that guide both our personal lives and professional journeys Listeners also catch the latest GEODNET count update, proving that satellites, crypto, and surveying are more connected than ever. The episode closes with a powerful challenge: what can you do to inspire and support the next generation of surveyors? Whether it’s attending the Summit, mentoring, or sponsoring initiatives, the message is clear—change starts with community and commitment. #addvalue #makefriends #beageoholic
This week the boys fired up the mics for an episode that’s equal parts rock concert, tech summit, and surveying masterclass. Sponsored by Emlid, the show kicked off with news, happenings, and a little Linkin Park fuel—because nothing says “let’s talk LiDAR and AI” like One Step Closer pounding in the background. After the TopoDOT Song of the Week and a few Hexagon pro tips, the crew welcomed Alex Baikovitz, Co-Founder and CEO of Mach9. Born in Miami, forged at Carnegie Mellon, and seasoned by building robots to inspect nuclear facilities, Alex has one mission: help computers understand and interact with the physical world. We dug deep into Mach9’s origin story—starting with reality capture hardware for surveyors and pivoting to automated 3D mapping software that extracts features faster than you can say “digital twin.” From the fusion of LiDAR, AI, and edge computing, to real-world use cases that are saving clients serious time and money, Alex painted a picture of where geospatial intelligence is headed. Highlights included: How Mach9 is redefining data workflows for surveyors and infrastructure teams. Why AI/ML isn’t just buzz—it’s making massive point clouds actually useful. Where geospatial sits in the bigger puzzle of smart cities, digital twins, and even generative AI. The balancing act between innovation and privacy in a data-hungry world. Alex’s five-year outlook, including what quantum computing and neuromorphic chips might mean for our industry. The future of geospatial intelligence is already here, and companies like Mach9 are leading the charge. From automating feature extraction to enabling real-time insights with AI, Alex reminded us that innovation isn’t about replacing the surveyor, it’s about empowering them to work smarter, faster, and safer. So take this conversation as both a challenge and an invitation: embrace the technology, lean into the change, and remember that adding value and making friends is always the ultimate return on investment!!!
This week’s episode was fueled by innovation, mentorship, and a whole lot of passion for the surveying profession. Brought to you by EMLID, the crew kicked things off with Geoholics News & Happenings, some personal catch-ups, and the TopoDOT Song of the Week—a nod to Ozzy Osbourne’s Flying High Again. Perfect choice, considering the theme of perseverance and vision that ran through the conversation. Sponsors Spotlight EMLID: All-in-one aerial survey kit—GNSS, checkpoints, tools, and streamlined workflows. TopoDOT: Total data governance for point cloud workflows. Diamondback Land Surveying (DBLS): A full-service firm delivering precision, reliability, and cutting-edge tech to the industry. GeoSearch: Connecting geoscience professionals with career opportunities. GEODNET: 18,620 satellite miners strong, powering precision navigation for drones, AVs, AR, and beyond. Trimble: Partnering with surveyors to shape a sustainable future. Culture & Flavor Alongside the usual Geoholics flavor—pro tips from Esri, GeoSearch Career Corner updates, and some words of wisdom courtesy of Ozzy himself—the stage was set for a deep dive into surveying leadership. Guest Spotlight – Trent Keenan From Omaha roots to Las Vegas hustle, Trent Keenan has carved out a reputation as not only a successful business owner but also a mentor and advocate for the next generation of surveyors. His hobbies (photography, golf, biking, half-marathons, even calf exercises!) may keep him balanced, but his heart is in advancing the profession. Key themes from the conversation: Pivotal Moments: The turning points that shaped Trent into a recognized voice for the industry. Mentorship: Stories from Mentoring Mondays and the mentors who shaped his path. Challenges of Ownership: Lessons learned while building Diamondback Land Surveying. Future of Surveying: Balancing rapid tech adoption—LiDAR, drones, reality capture—with the craft’s timeless fundamentals. Industry Advocacy: Breaking down barriers for new entrants and inspiring seasoned pros to step up as mentors. Legacy & Motivation: The impact Trent hopes to leave and what keeps him fired up day after day. The Elevator Pitch: His 30-second sell to high school students—why surveying is a career worth pursuing. Closing Notes As always, the Geoholics closed the show with a mix of humor, insight, and a few reminders: Rent that tractor. Check your reality capture commitment. Change the public perspective. Don’t be a dumbass. And of course, Trent left us all Flying High Again.
This week the crew sat down with Carla Lauter, Senior Content Manager for Geo Week and the Commercial UAV Expo—and let’s just say, curiosity is her superpower! We kicked things off with Geoholics News & Happenings, a few laughs, and some sponsor shoutouts (big thanks to Emlid, TopoDOT, AllTerra Central, Hexagon, NLC Prep, GEODNET, and David Evans & Associates—you rock!). Carla took us on a journey through her unique path—from studying marine biology and environmental science to NASA Earth Science, where she translated complex ocean data into stories the rest of us could actually understand. Today, she’s the mastermind behind programming some of the biggest geospatial events on the planet. We dug into: NASA stories & ocean science – including mind-blowing ocean facts and the challenge of making satellites sound sexy. Geo Week’s evolution – from niche gatherings like SPAR3D & ILMF to a global stage driving geospatial innovation. Industry trends – UAVs, digital twins, NSRS modernization, and what to expect at future shows. Storytelling secrets – how beer blogging and science communication shaped her approach to engaging technical audiences. Parenting parallels – Carla’s life raising a toddler (spoiler: stomping in puddles is just as rewarding as moderating a keynote). Of course, we wrapped with some quick-fire fun: Syracuse winters vs. toddler parenting, favorite bedtime books, toddler songs on repeat, and what style of beer best represents Geo Week (you’ll have to listen for her answer). Curiosity isn’t just a career driver—it’s a way to live, learn, and connect with people. Music by Billy Joel!
In this episode, we hit the road—literally—with Tim Hawthorne and the Auburn University Geo Explorer crew, the masterminds behind America’s first solar-powered, science-on-wheels geoscience lab. We cruised through the big ideas that sparked its creation (spoiler: one was so wild it nearly made the RV blush), how pioneering status shaped every bolt and blueprint, and the logistical magic of fitting cutting-edge tech into a space smaller than some people’s closets. We geeked out on the coolest hands-on moments—think drone flights, augmented reality, and rock-solid geology demos—that had students’ eyes lighting up brighter than the RV’s solar panels. We shared heart-warming stories from Title I and underserved schools where the Geo Explorer’s visit was more than a field trip—it was a spark for future scientists. From hydrogeology to GIS, and from navigating tricky school-day parking logistics to dreaming about future VR tours and global expeditions, the team proved that science isn’t just about data—it’s about people, passion, and creating “aha” moments. By the end, one thing was clear: when the wheels stop rolling, the curiosity keeps going—and that’s the real mission accomplished. Music by Johnny Cash!
Check out these highlights from Day 2 of this year's awesome event!!! 00:30 - Matthew Bainbridge - Principal @ Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. 14:10 - Jason Haynes - Reality Capture Director/Survey Division Manager @ Pennoni 34:55 - Gavin Schrock - Consulting Editor and Land Surveyor & Shane O'Regan - Director iCON, Building Construction Field Portfolio at Leica Geosystems part of Hexagon 53:42 - Bernhard Richter - VP Geomatics @ Leica Geosystems part of Hexagon 01:07:10 - Liam Thierens - Partner | General Manager - Spatial @ Bennett + Bennett
Check out these highlights from Day 1 of this year's awesome event!!! 03:50 - Steven Thurgood - Business Development Manager @ Hexagon Geosystems 21:30 - Robert Young - Principal Surveyor @ Trans Texas Surveying and Mapping, LLC 43:15 - Tom Givon - Vice President Marketing & Solutions @ GIV Solutions & Ivan Swindull - Innovation Domain Lead @ ExxonMobil 01:06:45 - Hans-Martin Zogg - Business Director TPS @ Leica Geosystems 01:22:10 - John Fraser - Regional President @ Hexagon Geosystems 01:39:30 - Matthew Anderle - Director of Digital Strategy @ AECOM
This episode brings together two surveying powerhouses from the great state of Wisconsin - Rich Leaver, LS and Matt O’Rourke, LS - for a deep dive into the future of boundaries (spoiler: they’re more important than you think). Rich shares how he went from re-monumenting 3,000 PLS corners in Wisconsin to exploring Switzerland’s multi-purpose cadastre system—because why not fix 99% of U.S. surveying problems with chocolate-fueled innovation? Meanwhile, Matt talks about navigating his 24+ years in land surveying, helping a two-person firm grow into a thriving team, and how to keep your cool when dealing with complex right-of-way platting and snowmobiles. Could Swiss-style cadastral systems save U.S. surveyors from a boundary crisis? Rich and Matt say ‘yes’—but it’ll take more than chocolate and yodeling to get there! The group tackled bold questions: Should boundaries be classified as critical infrastructure? Are U.S. surveyors ready for a paradigm shift? And what would they say if they only had 60 seconds to pitch cadastral modernization to a governor? (Hint: it involves passion, precision, and maybe a touch of Swiss envy). Plus: Song of the Week – “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots GEODNET hits 17,563 satellite miners ESRI Pro Tip & GeoSearch Career Corner Emlid and Trimble dropping tech mic moments It’s a mix of tech, policy, and people—the kind of episode where boundaries aren’t just lines on a map, they’re lines in the sand for the profession’s future.
Hold onto your antennae and calibrate your coordinates — this episode blasts off into GNSS orbit with Mike Horton of GEODNET and Larry Fox of Bad Elf! We’re talking democratization, satellites, and a robot invasion of 2025 (no big deal). From Chicago’s north side to UC Berkeley and beyond, these GPS pioneers dropped knowledge like satellites in freefall: Why decentralizing GNSS might just save the world (or at least your drone survey). How GEODNET is quietly assembling the world’s largest RTK network — one miner at a time. And what happens when a “Bad Elf” and a “Geo-Nerd” walk into a room. There’s tech talk, trust talk, and even some good ol’ fashioned Iron Man headbanging as Black Sabbath sets the musical tone for the week. Bonus: find out what woodworking, 3D printing, and Mandarin Chinese have to do with geospatial innovation. (Spoiler: nothing... and everything.) And don’t miss the NLCPREP brain teaser — GPS isn’t about magnets or mirrors, folks! This episode is brought to you by our friends at EMLID, TopoDOT, Hexagon, AllTerra Central, and of course, David Evans & Associates — where commitments are serious, and the relationships are even better.
In this high-octane episode, the Geoholics gang sits down with forensic legend turned Leica laser-scanning maestro, Ryan Rezzelle—a man who’s equally comfortable at a quadruple homicide scene and in full cosplay at Comic-Con. From his roots in shrinking Erie, PA (home of the world’s coldest windchill and warmest hearts), Ryan walks us through a career that spans 800+ homicide investigations, NCAA football, and selling cutting-edge 3D tech like it’s hotcakes at a garage sale. Oh—and he once solved a case involving a live grenade. Casual. Career plot twist: Ryan swapped body bags for point clouds and now helps AEC pros digitize the built world, proving that real superheroes don’t always wear capes—sometimes they wear high-viz and sell scanning systems. His passions? Hosting 1,000+ movie nights, running an eBay shop, and blogging as the “Reel Rhino”—because who wouldn't need Batman-level escapism after years of CSI work? Plus: we get tech tips, tales of courtroom drama, Leica learning curves, and an inspiring look at the future of digital forensics. Whether you’re a geospatial geek, true crime addict, or cinephile with a Leica wish list—this episode’s got something for you. Music by Everclear!!!
Check out these highlights from Day 2 of this year's awesome event!!! 00:11 - Daniel Bollone, MBA, GISP - Geographic Information Systems Administrator at The City of Winter Garden, FL 12:15 - Robyn Ryan Knaak - Partner at TopoDOT 33:00 - Natasha George - Senior CAD Tech at Hirani Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C. 50:05 - Tatiana Osuna, Geomatic Engineer and Travis St. Hilaire, Land Surveyor at Langan 01:04:25 - Mike McGill, Strategic Growth Lead, Utility Engineering at Looq AI
Check out these highlights from Day 1 of this year's awesome event!!! 00:11 - Kevin Hardy, PLS, GISP - Vice President Geospatial Technologies at TerraMark 18:50 - Don Seals, RPLS - Lidar Survey Manager at TREKK Design Group, LLC 34:18 - Chris Siebern - Application Success Manager with Design Technology Services at Colliers Engineering & Design 58:30 - Trisha Milliken - Business Manager and Scott Graham, PSM - ETM Survey, Inc. 01:16:43 - Frank Hahnel - Laser Scanning Account Executive at NavVis
In this episode, we dive headfirst into the wonderfully random life of Adam Schorger—a man who’s lived in Saudi Arabia, studied gunsmithing, wrestled with journalism, befriended GIS, and still manages to fit in gym time and screenless hobbies. Basically, he’s a one-man Swiss Army knife of the geospatial world. The hosts, powered by caffeine and TopoDOT hype, guide us through tales of failing forward, mentoring like a boss, and building GIS empires from scratch at Orbital Engineering—because who doesn’t want a side of cartography with their asset management? Adam also debunks the myth that GIS folks just “make maps” (spoiler alert: they’re digital twin wizards now), and drops advice for newbies who might be torn between making maps or, say, making firearms. (Just another Tuesday in Adam’s origin story.) Throw in some gnarly punk energy from H2O, the ever-epic Geodnet satellite miner tally, a questionable raster vs. vector pop quiz, and the usual host banter that walks the fine line between insightful and delightfully unhinged—and you’ve got another can’t-miss episode. Fail forward, ride the wave, be disruptive—and if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Also, don't forget to check if you can put a satellite miner on your house!!!
Strap in and grab your Trimble, because Episode 252 of The Geoholics takes us on a globetrotting, tech-loving, swamp-sloshing survey saga with none other than Chad Maxwell, PLS—a man who’s mapped more terrain than your Roomba on espresso. We kick things off with the usual “Jake Owen sings while KG wings it” intro, followed by breaking news from the land of satellite miners, career advice from the GeoSearch crew, and an ESRI pro tip that may or may not involve chair-based motivation. Then it’s time for the main event: Chad “Every Mode of Transport” Maxwell. This guy has surveyed from 200 meters in the sky to 3,000 meters under the sea, possibly while simultaneously filing expense reports and dodging alligators in a swamp buggy. He’s done geomatics work inside a jet engine, which raises both safety concerns and curiosity about what his LinkedIn endorsements look like. Highlights include: A “remote-sensing-first” mindset that could make drones blush. A heartfelt plea to ditch outdated habits (we’re looking at you, paper field books). A shout-out to the ASPRS standards that got more love than most people's fantasy football teams. And a lighting round that proves even surveyors enjoy filling in the blank—especially when the blank is “The future of surveying is _______.” From nuclear reactors to the Grand Canyon, Chad Maxwell proves that the future of surveying is just one swamp buggy ride away.
In this data-drenched episode, Kent, Producer Sean and Russ Hall bring the heat with updates, promos, and a life-altering reminder that you can impact anyone within 3 feet…unless you’re holding a GNSS rover—in which case, give them a little more room. Enter Ted Knaak, the President of TopoDOT and certified geospatial Jedi. Ted takes us on a journey from Jersey Shore roots to launching Riegl USA in the 90s, and then mic-dropping the geospatial world with TopoDOT in 2011—because clearly, satellites weren’t ambitious enough. We talk TopoShare (data governance’s cooler cousin), reality capture, point clouds, paradigm shifts, ROI (Return On Innovation?), and how TopoDOT is turning surveying into a high-resolution lifestyle. It’s basically Shark Tank meets Star Trek for surveyors. Song of the Week? Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m Goin’ Down,” which ironically pairs well with LiDAR elevation points. BONUS: If you like brain-twisters, there’s even a boundary survey quiz, a GEODNET miner count update, and enough acronyms to crash your COGO. So buckle up, grab your Emlid kit, and prepare to be inspired, educated, and just confused enough to start googling “blockchain RTK.” TopoDOT didn’t just draw a line—it rendered the entire surface.
This week, the Geoholics hit the big 2-5-0, and what better way to celebrate than digging deep — literally — into the glamorous, pulse-pounding world of trenchless technologies and underground infrastructure! Our guests, Sam "The Sultan of Subsurface" Ariaratnam and Firat "The Pipeline Picasso" Sever, taught us that real heroes don’t wear capes — they wear hard hats and dream of pipes bigger than your average minivan. We learned that Urban infrastructure needs trenchless tech like a millennial needs Wi-Fi...Misconceptions about underground work abound — spoiler alert: it’s not just giant moles and angry dwarves down there...UESI isn’t a secret society, but it might as well be, given how it’s saving cities one buried utility at a time...Sam schools us on trenchless technologies (because who actually wants to dig giant holes anymore?)…While Firat flexes his resume by casually mentioning he built the world’s largest composite pipe — no big deal. If you ever thought digging holes wasn’t rocket science — well, it turns out it’s worse. It's way more complicated. Love the planet, love your pipes, and if someone hands you a shovel — just politely ask if they’ve heard of going trenchless. Music by Rush!
Apologies for the audio challenges...it was one of those nights!! In this episode, the Geoholics crew sits down with serial startup whisperer Sean Gorman, co-founder of Zephr.xyz—a company so cutting-edge it probably triangulated this podcast before it aired. Sean, who grew up everywhere from Germany to the Philippines (basically Carmen Sandiego in reverse), shares how a life of constant relocation and rowing (yes, actual rowing) shaped his journey into geospatial tech superstardom. The conversation navigates GPS spoofing, blockchain-based RTK, and turning your phone into a location-locked superhero—all while trying to make sense of GNSS like it’s not just a Scrabble score. We also learn that Sean has exited three startups and still had time to accidentally go viral for a dissertation. Casual. From Sofi Tukker’s “Purple Hat” vibes to the WingtraGround setup that even your intern could master, this episode blends tech, travel, and topography in a way only The Geoholics can. One thing’s for sure: if location is everything, Sean’s been everywhere. Moral of the story? Always bring a base station…and never underestimate a former rower with a PhD and a passion for satellites.
The guys were joined in-studio this week by Colin Sellers—land surveyor, father, veteran, and part-time GPS wizard—joined us to discuss how moving around Georgia, joining the military, and raising a kid named Ragnarok (yes, like the Norse apocalypse) all led to one thing: a love affair with surveying that might just rival his affection for coffee. From dodging camels in Djibouti to resurrecting section corners like Indiana Jones with a data collector, Colin shares tales of grit, GPS, and generational wisdom—especially the time he and his son turned a Nebraska project into a family bonding moment worthy of a Pixar movie. He also dives into For The Quest, a geo-RPG that turns map-hunting into a noble pursuit, proving once and for all that surveyors can be adventurers too… just with more sunburns and fewer dragons. And of course, it all wraps up with a dose of philosophy, family values, and a reminder that the best education often comes from the dirt under your boots—not the letters after your name. Music by Tengger Cavalry!!!
Check out these highlights from this year's awesome event!!! 01:05 - Nathan Jones, UAS/GIS Department Lead @ AG3 Group LLC 18:50 - Will Alexander, Geospatial Specialist @ Centurion Planning & Design, LLC 29:50 - Scott Dunham, Geospatial Director @ Gorrondona & Associates, Inc. 38:28 - José A. Pilartes-Congo, Jr., Ph.D. Research Assistant @ MANTIS Lab (Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying & Science)