The Geoholics

Episode 260 - Alex Baikovitz & Mach9

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!!!

Episode 259 - The One & Only Trent Keenan PLS

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.

Episode 258 - Carla Lauter & GeoWeek

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!

 

Episode 257 - Geo Explorer - Auburn

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!

Hexagon LIVE 2025 - Day 2

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

 

Hexagon LIVE 2025 - Day 1

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

 

 

Episode 256 - Rich Leaver LS, Matt O'Rourke LS and Swiss Cheese or Swiss Precision?

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.

 

Episode 255 - Mike Horton, Larry Fox & the Future of GNSS with GEODNET & Bad Elf!

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.

 

Episode 254 - Ryan Rezzelle, Body Bags & Point Clouds

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!!!

TUC 2025 (TopoDot User Conference) - Day 2

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