By Mark Knapp, NV5

Mark Knapp

The geospatial industry will experience robust change, innovation, and growth that distinguish it from other sectors in 2025 and beyond. As more individuals and organizations gain geospatial literacy, demand will surge and industry expansion will dwarf other science-dependent sectors such as IT, energy, and logistics. When 2025 draws to a close, the speed and level of change witnessed across the geospatial community will justify use of the term “revolution.”

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS

Advanced Geospatial Analytics

Advanced analytics will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to process and derive assessments from vast amounts of geospatial data, raising the industry to new heights. The ability to automatically detect patterns, anomalies, and changes in geospatial data will provide deeper insights and more accurate predictions.

For instance, AI-driven geospatial analytics will save lives in disaster response by quickly identifying affected areas, assessing damage, and optimizing resource allocation. In urban planning, advanced geospatial analytics will enable city planners to model and simulate various development scenarios, helping make informed decisions about infrastructure investments and zoning regulations. Environmental monitoring also will benefit from innovative geospatial technologies, helping to track changes in land use, vegetation cover, and water bodies, and providing critical data for conservation efforts as well as climate change mitigation.

By Amanda Iglesias, Software Product Manager for Mobile Mapping Systems at Leica Geosystems (part of Hexagon).

Amanda Iglesias

How are emerging surveying technologies reshaping the surveying industry in terms of the operational landscape and the role itself?

As modern surveying technologies – such as 3D laser scanners and mobile mapping – enable more efficient and precise data collection, they’re also driving fundamental changes in how surveying businesses operate and grow.

Smaller firms are growing into mid-sized companies, which are then absorbed into larger geospatial companies, creating a network of diverse departments that include surveying, environmental services, and beyond. As they expand, successful organisations are adopting digital tools and cloud platforms to connect the dots between surveying data and engineering insights. The benefits also extend beyond internal teams, with these same tools enabling seamless collaboration with external partners like architects and local authorities.

Alongside the advancement of technology, the surveying landscape itself has become increasingly competitive, with surveyors expanding their skill sets to meet evolving demands. While maintaining that core focus on traditional engineering projects like roads and railways, professionals will increasingly augment their services with cutting-edge tools that offer greater precision and expanded scope.