The Geoholics

Episode 286 - Liz Babcock

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

Episode 285 - Trent "TK" Keenan & Ryan "Big Shoots" Kelly

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

BLM ID - Boise Meridian Initial Point Celebration

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!

 

Episode 283 - Karen Schuckman

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

Episode 282 - Tom Yeshurun & Civ Robotics

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

Episode 281 - Itzik Malka, CEO and Co-Founder of 4M Analytics

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!

Episode 280 - Michael Hart & Bradley Dillon

This week on The Geoholics, we’re digging into the roots of the profession with Michael Hart, BLM Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Idaho, and Bradley Dillon, Lead Surveyor in the Field Section for BLM Idaho. From the legacy of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Boise Meridian Initial Point to hunting down century-old monuments in rough terrain, this episode is all about the history, grit, problem-solving, and purpose behind cadastral surveying.

We talk field stories, conflicting evidence, protecting public lands, modernizing workflows without losing the integrity of the work, and why mentoring the next generation matters now more than ever. Because cadastral surveyors do not just find boundaries—they build the story, defend the evidence, and preserve a legacy that still shapes millions of acres today.

Buckle up…Episode 280 is one for every surveyor who believes the past still matters, the field still teaches, and the monument still tells the truth.

#TheGeoholics #LandSurveying #CadastralSurveying #BLM #PublicLands #PLSS #Surveyors #Geospatial #Mentorship #America250 #BoiseMeridian #BoundariesMatter

Episode 284 - Alex Chose, Taylor Shepley & YSN National Mentorship Program

In this episode of The Geoholics, we’re talking mentorship, momentum, and the future of land surveying with Alex Chose and Taylor Shepley from the Young Surveyors Network. With applications open for the 2026 YSN National Mentorship Program, Alex and Taylor dig into why mentorship matters right now, not someday, and how structured mentor/mentee relationships can help young surveyors navigate licensure, leadership, business ownership, work-life balance, confidence, and the kind of hard-earned professional judgment that simply cannot be pulled from a textbook or YouTube video. The 2025 pilot program delivered a powerful result, with 100% of questionnaire respondents saying they would recommend it to their peers, and the 2026 program is expanding to 250 participants, signaling real demand and real momentum across the profession.

This one is about more than career advice. It is a call to action for seasoned surveyors to be intentional about passing down knowledge, opening doors, and helping the next generation believe they belong in the room. Alex brings a passion for community, camaraderie, and preservation of wild public lands, while Taylor brings a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of surveyors through his work in the industry and with YSN. Add in a Leica Geosystems Pro Tip on mentorship, Wanda Jackson’s “Let’s Have a Party” as Song of the Week, and the usual Geoholics energy, and you’ve got an episode focused on adding value, making friends, and reminding all of us that the future of surveying depends on what we are willing to share today.

Episode 279 - John Russo & Joseph Romano - USIBD

Episode 279 of The Geoholics is a straight-up masterclass in reality capture, Scan to BIM, digital twins, and the future of the built world. Kent and the crew sit down with industry heavy hitters John Russo and Joseph Romano to unpack how Scan to BIM evolved from a niche service into a game-changing force across the AEC industry. From LOA standards and digital twin ecosystems to AI automation and the risks of “push-button” technology, this episode dives deep into the balance between innovation and professional expertise. The conversation also highlights the critical role of organizations like U.S. Institute of Building Documentation in driving standards, education, and credibility throughout the reality capture community. Toss in some classic Geoholics energy, a little John Mellencamp, industry pro tips, and plenty of future-focused insight—and you’ve got an episode built for anyone serious about where geospatial technology is headed next.

Episode 278 - Shelby Sharpe

This week, we sit down with Shelby Sharpe, an instructional designer and PhD candidate who’s right in the middle of where education meets the real-world geospatial workforce. And let’s just say…she brings some perspective.

We dig into the so-called “workforce shortage” and flip the script...it’s not just about talent, it’s about accessibility, awareness, and how we’re actually training people. Schools are teaching tools…industry needs problem-solvers. Big difference.

Shelby also drops some serious insight on how adults really learn...especially busy professionals, field crews, and PMs. Hint: it’s not sitting through long trainings. It’s solving real problems, in real time, with context that actually matters.

We also get into her journey from practicing geospatial to teaching it, what makes a great technical expert to collaborate with, and how we can better connect education and industry moving forward.

If you care about the future of surveying, geospatial, and the next generation coming into it…this one’s worth your time.

Music by Tom Petty!