Advertise on podcast: The Geoholics

What happens when a “crazy idea” becomes the tool that changes how an entire industry works? Buckle up—we’re talking reality capture with Juergen Mayer, Head of Reality Capture Portfolio at Leica Geosystems! From his roots in rural Austria to helping bring the BLK360, BLK2GO, RTC360, and new RTC series to market, Juergen brings a perspective shaped by surveying, business, and a passion for building things that solve real problems. We explore connected field-to-office workflows, LiveLink, catching coverage gaps before crews leave the site, and what firms should measure to see whether their technology investment is actually paying off. And because this is The Geoholics, we ask the tough questions: Does easier scanning mean better data? Where does professional judgment fit as AI and automation advance? And can real-time visibility improve collaboration without turning into micromanagement? We close with Bullsh*t, Breakthrough, or Too Soon to Tell?—putting AI-driven field checks, the future of terrestrial scanners, and the risks of impressive-looking point clouds in the hot seat. Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right” sets the tone, and our Leica Weekly Pro Tip delivers a reminder every crew can use: Capture once. Verify early. Keep the project moving. Big thanks to EMLID, TopoDOT, AllTerra Central, Leica Geosystems, David Evans and Associates, and Diamondback Land Surveying for keeping the conversations rolling! Tune in wherever you get your podcasts! #TheGeoholics #Geoholics #LeicaGeosystems #RealityCapture #LaserScanning #LandSurveying #Geomatics #Geospatial #PointClouds #SurveyTechnology #ConnectedWorkflows #Innovation

What can a satellite see that the rest of us can’t? On Episode 288 of The Geoholics, we’re joined by Sean Donegan, President and CEO of Satelytics, to explore how AI and satellite imagery can help identify methane leaks, vegetation changes, land movement, encroachments and other risks across vast infrastructure networks. We get into what’s hiding inside those pixels, how an alert becomes a decision, and the question every surveyor should ask: How do we verify what the technology says it found? Plus, Sean takes on B******t, Breakthrough, or Too Soon to Tell? Can AI spot problems before operators know what to look for? Could satellite monitoring change the future of field inspections? Tune in for a conversation about intelligence from space, confidence on the ground, and what it all means for the people managing our physical world. Adding value and making friends!  #TheGeoholics #GeoholicsPodcast #SeanDonegan #Satelytics #Geospatial #LandSurveying #RemoteSensing #SatelliteImagery #ArtificialIntelligence #Infrastructure #MethaneDetection #RealityCapture

Day 3 of the 2026 12d Tech Forum delivered an incredible mix of conversations with Michelle Blicavs, Brad Cox, Luke Studdert, Joel Gregory, Mitch McPherson, Keeton Williamson-Smith and Bridget VV. We dive into advocacy for the surveying profession, accessible GNSS technology, machine control, better 3D data workflows, the story and global growth of 12d—and the life-changing impact of creating meaningful geospatial careers for neurodivergent talent. 00:01:35 Michelle Blicavs, CEO, Surveyors Australia and ITA  00:21:08 Brad Cox, Survey hardware GIS Specialist at Mangoesmapping  00:39:32 Luke Studdert, Senior Surveyor & Chief Remote Pilot at Sunrise Surveying 00:56:21 Joel Gregory, CEO and Mitch McPherson, VP at 12d Synergy 01:24:59 Keeton Williamson Smith, Lead Data Analyst and Bridget VV from Australian Spatial Analytics Big technology, honest perspectives and one seriously inspiring finish to an unforgettable three days in Brisbane. Grab a drink, hit play and join us for the final chapter of The GEOHOLICS Down Under! #TheGEOHOLICS #12dTechForum2026 #Geospatial #LandSurveying #Surveying #DigitalEngineering #GNSS #MachineControl #ConstructionTechnology #Neurodiversity #InclusiveEmployment #Innovation #Brisbane #Australia #AddValue #MakeFriends

Day 2 of the 2026 12d Tech Forum brought another killer lineup of conversations with Tom Neighbours, Isaac Kennedy, Mick Connor, Dan Di Mattina, Steve White, Hani Arab and Max Leung. We dive into connected data environments, field-to-office workflows, drones, AI, automation, digital transformation and the technologies reshaping surveying and infrastructure delivery around the world. 00:00:56 Tom Neighbours, Regional Manager - Digital Engineering and Isaac Kennedy, Survey Solutions Lead - Digital Engineering at12d Synergy 00:18:31 Michael “Mick” Connor, National Geospatial Manager at Fulton Hogan 00:36:28 Dan Di Mattina, Project Survey Manager at Seymour Whyte 00:47:02 Steve White, General Manager at Civillo 00:59:29 Hani Arab, Chief Information Officer at Seymour Whyte 01:15:44 Max Leung, Solutions Engineering at Mach9 Big ideas, honest perspectives and plenty of GEOHOLICS-style controlled chaos recorded live from Brisbane. Grab a drink, hit play and join the conversation!  #TheGEOHOLICS #12dTechForum2026 #Geospatial #LandSurveying #Surveying #DigitalEngineering #ConstructionTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #Automation #RealityCapture #Infrastructure #Brisbane #Australia

Recorded live from the 2026 12d Tech Forum in Brisbane, these rapid-fire conversations feature Andrej Mocicka, David Mares, Andrew Fenwick, Meghan Bowman, Gary Dunn, Marisa Dittmann, and Alex Badaoui. We’re talking massive infrastructure projects, smarter data management, industry innovation, AI and the evolving role of today’s geospatial professional—all with the candid insights and controlled chaos you expect from The GEOHOLICS! 00:04:53 Andrej Mocicka, Country Manager Australia at 1Spatial 00:21:56 David Mares, Core Spatial and Andrew Fenwick, Senior Survey Manager at John Holland 00:42:18 Meghan Bowman, Senior Surveyor Marissa Dittmann, and Gary Dunn, Surveyor at Sunrise Surveying 00:56:18 Alexander “Alex” Badaoui, Associate Designer Marisa Dittmann, Experienced Designer at SMEC Grab a drink, hit play and join us from the other side of the world! 🍻🌏 #TheGEOHOLICS #12dTechForum2026 #Geospatial #LandSurveying #Surveying #DigitalEngineering #Infrastructure #DataManagement #Innovation #Brisbane #Australia

Today marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks—a day that forever changed our nation and countless lives. Episode 292 of The Geoholics is dedicated to remembering those we lost, honoring those who responded, and sharing an important chapter of surveying history that deserves to be preserved. Our guest, Steve Willard, PLS, takes us back to the aftermath of 9/11 and the critical role land surveyors played at Ground Zero and throughout Lower Manhattan. When streets, buildings, monuments, control points, and familiar reference systems had been damaged, buried, or destroyed, surveyors helped restore spatial certainty amid unimaginable devastation—providing trusted information to first responders, engineers, contractors, utility providers, public agencies, and recovery teams. Steve shares the technical challenges, dangerous working conditions, emotional toll, and acts of service that defined the response. We also explore what has changed since 2001—and why, despite tremendous advances in GNSS, laser scanning, drones, and real-time mapping, professional judgment and boots-on-the-ground verification remain irreplaceable during a crisis. This is more than an episode about surveying. It is a conversation about service, courage, responsibility, and the quiet professionals who stepped forward when their expertise was needed most. We remember. We honor. We will never forget. Episode 292 featuring Steve Willard, PLS, is available today wherever you listen to The Geoholics. #NeverForget #September11 #September11th #911Remembrance #LandSurveying #Surveyors #Geospatial #EmergencyResponse #DisasterRecovery #NYSAPLS #TheGeoholics #AddingValueAndMakingFriends

Episode 287 asks the question every surveyor should be thinking about: Will artificial intelligence replace the land surveyor—or reinvent the profession? The guys are joined by Aaron Michalenko, owner of DBE Surveying, and Willis Long, Head of Survey Operations and Senior Director, for a no-BS conversation about where AI is already creating value and where the hype gets ahead of reality. They explore point-cloud processing, feature extraction, drafting, boundary research, QA/QC, workforce development, data security, and the skills tomorrow’s geospatial professionals will need to remain relevant. The conversation gets especially real when AI meets boundary surveying. An algorithm may calculate where a corner could be, but can it determine where that corner legally is? Can it evaluate monuments, occupation, historical evidence, and intent and then accept responsibility when the answer is wrong? The crew also tackles whether AI will eliminate traditional field crews, replace manual drafting, solve the workforce shortage, or make professional licensure even more important. The takeaway is clear: the tools will change, the workflows will evolve, and the volume of data will explode, but the surveyor’s responsibility to verify the evidence, exercise professional judgment, and protect the public remains firmly intact. Buckle up for another round of “Bullsh*t, Breakthrough, or Too Soon to Tell,” a Leica Geosystems Pro Tip, and Rise Against’s “Savior” as the Song of the Week. The future does not belong to surveyors who blindly reject AI—or blindly trust it. It belongs to the professionals who understand it, question it, verify it, and know when the human surveyor must remain in control.

Check out these interviews from this years awesome event: 00:00:00 - Cold Opening 00:02:25 - Dustin Smith, GIS Specialist at the Louisiana Department of Transportation 00:21:52 - Linda Anderson and Daphne Kent with North Central Texas InterLink 00:46:11 - Samuel Landry, Student and Research Assistant at Nicholls State University 01:08:45 - Timoteo Garza, Vice President of Operations at Gratia Geomatics LLC #TheGeoholics #GeoholicsPodcast #ASPRS #ASPRSGulfSouth #GeospatialConference #Geospatial #Geomatics #Photogrammetry #RemoteSensing #LiDAR #MobileLiDAR #GIS #UASMapping #PointClouds #3DVisualization #GeospatialTechnology #GeospatialStandards #ASPRSCertification #GeospatialEducation #GeospatialProfessionals #Surveying #MappingTheFuture #TopoDOT #NichollsStateUniversity #ThibodauxLA

Check out these highlights from this year's awesome event!!! 00:00 - Paul DiGiacobbe, Vice President, LiDAR Solutions and Rob Dannenberg, President at Phoenix LiDAR Systems 00:21:25 - Jonah Colebrook, LiDAR Tech and Ryan Hagler, LiDAR/photogrammetry tech at GPI Geospatial, Inc. 00:31:35 - Mike Graham, LiDAR & Point Cloud Specialist at McElhanney and Zachary Diaz, Applications Consultant at TopoDOT  00:47:49 - Wesley Newman, LSIT and ORD Specialist and Stephania Coots, Design Tech at QK4 01:02:47 - Jason Rhodes, Technical Leader: Survey & Reality Capture at Jacobs 01:19:34 - Noah Bremer and Stephanie Wood, LiDAR Tech at McKim & Creed

Forty years in Land & Right-of-Way. An Enron survivor. A woman who earned her seat at the table in historically male-dominated industries. And, in her own words, someone who has spent her career “navigating a male-dominated world one martini at a time.”  This week, we sit down with Liz Babcock, Vice President of Land & ROW at ALTAEI, for a candid conversation about resilience, trust, relationships and what it really takes to succeed in the people-heavy world of land and right-of-way. Liz shares lessons from four decades spent working with landowners, attorneys, engineers, agencies, utilities and energy companies—and explains why technical knowledge alone is never enough. We also dive into: How the Land and ROW profession has changed—and where progress is still needed What surviving the Enron collapse taught Liz about reputation and resilience How to build trust with skeptical or frustrated landowners The importance of bringing ROW professionals into projects earlier Earning your voice and your seat at the table Why relationships, humor and genuine human connection still move projects forward The stories and experiences that make a 40-year career truly meaningful This episode is a reminder that successful projects are not built through data, documents and processes alone. They are built through trust, communication, judgment and treating people right. Because the best ROW professionals do not just help projects acquire land—they protect relationships, reduce risk and create a path forward. Music by Prince!! #TheGeoholics #LandSurveying #RightOfWay #ROW #LandAcquisition #Geospatial #Surveying #Infrastructure #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #WomenInEnergy #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerLessons #RelationshipBuilding #ProjectManagement #Prince #WhenDovesCry #Podcast

The guys are joined by TK and Big Shoots for a full-circle conversation about where The Geoholics started, what it has become, and why this crazy little show continues to resonate with surveyors, mappers, photogrammetrists, tech leaders, mentors, troublemakers, and everyone else trying to move the profession forward. This episode gets into the early days of the show, the raw and scrappy chemistry that made it work, the guests and moments that left a mark, and the bigger mission that has always been at the heart of it all: adding value and making friends. We also dig into the future of surveying, mentorship, recruiting the next generation, technology, AI, drones, scanners, mobile mapping, and the role of professional judgment in a world moving faster than ever. Because the best surveyors are not just button-pushers — they understand the why behind the workflow, the risk behind the data, and the responsibility behind every deliverable. Big Shoots is back behind the mic. TK brings the fire. Kent and Sean keep it moving. Buckle up…this one is a ride you don't want to miss! Huge thanks to this week’s featured partners: EMLID, TopoDOT, AllTerra Central, Leica Geosystems, David Evans & Associates, and DBLS. Music by Lainey Wilson! Until next time…add value, make friends, and most importantly, be safe and healthy! #TheGeoholics #Surveying #LandSurveying #Geomatics #Geospatial #Mentorship #RealityCapture #MobileMapping #Photogrammetry #LiDAR #SurveyLife #ProfessionalSurveyor #FutureOfSurveying #AddingValueMakingFriends

The BLM Idaho, alongside the Idaho State Historical Society and various mapping partners, hosted the Boise Meridian Initial Point Celebration on May 1 and 2, 2026. The signature event commemorated the 1867 founding of Idaho's survey grid and America’s 250th anniversary at the Old Idaho Penitentiary.  The community event honored the cadastral surveyors who defined the state's boundaries and set the Public Land Survey System for nearly 54 million acres. The Geoholics were honored to play a small part in this awesome celebration! Here are the folks we were honored to chat with throughout the day: Josh Strege, Land Surveyor @ BLM Taylor Stanton, Director Communications and Marketing  @ Foundation for America's Public Lands John Quincio, Amateur Radio Operator Tasha Huhta, Land Surveyor @ BLM HannaLore Hein, Idaho State Historian, Idaho State Historical Society; Vice Chair, America250 in Idaho Task Force Christian Courtial, Land Surveyor @ BLM Stuart Ward, Owner @ Dioptra Music by Johnny Cash!

This week on The Geoholics, we sit down with Karen Schuckman, Subject Matter Expert in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Services at RRC Companies—and someone who has had a front-row seat to the evolution of modern lidar and airborne mapping. Karen takes us back to the early days of airborne GPS, before IMUs became standard, and shares how she helped develop groundbreaking data-processing workflows following Hurricane Floyd and supported North Carolina’s pioneering statewide lidar program. We also explore her work supporting major FEMA initiatives, her passion for positional accuracy and data quality, and the continued importance of understanding geodesy, datums, projections and metadata. This conversation goes well beyond lidar. Karen shares valuable lessons about: Turning emerging technology into trusted, defensible deliverables Why industry standards and ASPRS guidance matter The fundamentals professionals still cannot afford to overlook Helping engineers effectively use survey-grade geospatial data What lidar’s evolution can teach us about AI, automation and digital twins The mindset required to adapt, evolve and stay relevant in a rapidly changing profession We also discuss what even experienced professionals still misunderstand about lidar, which technologies never lived up to the hype, and what continues to excite Karen after more than two decades of pushing the geospatial profession forward. Oh—and did we mention Karen was an alternate gymnast for the 1972 Olympics? This episode delivers history, technology, education and one incredible career journey. Buckle up for Episode 283 and join us as we add value, make friends and explore how accurate geospatial data gets to the right place on the ground. Music by Jethro Tull! #TheGeoholics #LiDAR #RemoteSensing #Geospatial #LandSurveying #Geomatics #Photogrammetry #Mapping #GIS #Geodesy #DataQuality #PositionalAccuracy #DigitalTwins #ArtificialIntelligence #SurveyingTechnology #ASPRS #CareerDevelopment #GeospatialLeadership #Podcast

On Episode 282 of The Geoholics, we sit down with Tom Yeshurun, CEO of Civ Robotics, to explore how automation is transforming construction layout—and what that evolution means for surveyors, contractors, field crews, and the future of the geospatial profession. Tom shares the real-world frustrations that inspired Civ Robotics, the company’s bold pivot from drones to ground-based robots, and the challenges of earning trust in an industry where accuracy, accountability, and boots-on-the-ground experience still matter. We dig into the line between surveying and construction layout, the productivity and profitability unlocked by robotic point placement, and why automation should elevate field professionals rather than simply replace them. We also look ahead to the fully connected jobsite—where robotics, machine control, digital twins, and human expertise converge—and discuss the skills today’s young surveyors and geomatics professionals will need to remain valuable in an increasingly automated world. Precision gets you started. Automation makes you faster. Verification keeps you out of court. Music by Led Zeppelin #TheGeoholics #CivRobotics #TomYeshurun #ConstructionRobotics #RoboticLayout #ConstructionTechnology #ConTech #LandSurveying #Surveying #Geomatics #Geospatial #ConstructionLayout #Automation #DigitalTwins #MachineControl #FieldTechnology #RealityCapture #FutureOfConstruction #Innovation #Surveyors #AECIndustry #BuiltEnvironment #LeicaGeosystems #Emlid #TopoDOT #AllTerraCentral #AddingValueAndMakingFriends

This week on The Geoholics, we’re going underground — literally — with Itzik Malka, CEO and Co-Founder of 4M Analytics, a company helping redefine how surveyors, engineers, designers, and contractors understand the hidden world beneath our feet. If 4M is the “Google Maps of the underground,” then this conversation is all about why that matters. Kent, Peta, and the crew dig into how 4M is using AI, satellite imagery, utility records, and digital intelligence to turn scattered underground utility data into actionable insights before crews ever step foot on site. From avoiding those dreaded “oh sh*t” utility conflict moments to improving safety, reducing risk, saving money, and helping teams make smarter decisions earlier in the project lifecycle, this one hits right at the intersection of technology, field reality, and the future of infrastructure delivery. Itzik brings a global perspective, a founder’s mindset, and a passion for solving one of the industry’s most expensive and dangerous problems: not knowing what’s underground until it’s too late. Born in Israel and now leading 4M as CEO and Co-Founder, Itzik also shares a little about life beyond the platform — soccer, music, family, and the entrepreneurial drive behind building something that could change how the entire industry plans, designs, and builds. We also talk about how tools like 4M can work alongside traditional SUE, survey, CAD, GIS, drones, and scanning workflows — not as a replacement for boots on the ground, but as a way to elevate decision-making, reduce surprises, and help teams show up smarter. Bottom line: The cheapest utility you’ll ever locate is the one you never hit. Dig smart, not sorry. Music by Cooper Alan!