On Thursday, 7th November 2025, the Department of Surveying and Geomatics at LASU’s Epe Campus buzzed with curiosity and ambition. Our outreach training, “Building Capacity for Young Surveyors,” brought students face-to-face with the tools and techniques shaping tomorrow’s geospatial profession. We covered topics from drone mapping to GNSS workflows, total station operations, traverse and set-out procedures, and the essential level instrument. This day reminded us why building skills is one of the most crucial investments in our field.
Surveying has always relied on precision, discipline, and a continuous flow of knowledge passed down through generations. The instruments may change, software may become smarter, and workflows may adapt. Yet the essence of the profession stays the same: measure correctly, interpret thoughtfully, and deliver honestly. That is why training young surveyors isn’t just beneficial; it’s a responsibility.
- Technology Is Moving Fast, and the Profession Must Keep Up
Every few years, significant advancements occur: drones get smarter, GNSS accuracy improves, data processing becomes easier, and software incorporates AI-driven analytics. If students do not receive early exposure, they enter the field already trying to catch up. Programs like the LASU outreach help close that gap by turning new tools into reliable skills.
- Field Confidence Comes From Hands-On Experience
Reading about a total station is one thing; actually using one outdoors, leveling it, properly backsighting, and capturing a clean traverse is another. Young surveyors need this hands-on experience. It builds not only their practical accuracy but also pride in their work. Watching students operate drones, set up GNSS receivers, check bubble levels, and follow set-out procedures reinforced that confidence is built through practice, not assumption.
- Strong Foundations Prevent Costly Errors
Every great structure, boundary, and engineering success starts with defendable measurements. Teaching students how to level an instrument, often neglected for flashier tools, helps them grasp the basic principles that modern technology relies on. Without solid foundations in the basics, advanced tools become nothing but expensive gadgets.
- The Profession Needs Future-Ready Thinkers
Surveyors today are more than just technicians; they are data analysts, spatial storytellers, and problem-solvers. Introducing students to drone mapping, one of the fastest-growing fields, opens their eyes to opportunities beyond traditional surveying. They see how geospatial intelligence aids agriculture, construction, environmental monitoring, and smart city development.
- Early Exposure Builds Passion and Identity
Watching students light up during a demo flight or after their first successful coordinate calculation is powerful. These experiences help shape their identity. They evolve from “students of surveying” to “young surveyors,” a small yet significant shift. Passion flourishes when learning feels hands-on, purposeful, and connected to real-world impact.
- Our Industry Depends on Continuity
Every senior surveyor once learned from someone who dedicated time to teaching. This tradition keeps the profession alive. By investing in students through sharing our experiences, challenges, and methods, we honor the past while preparing for the future. Outreach programs remind us that knowledge only becomes valuable when we pass it on.
Conclusion: A Profession That Grows by Teaching
The LASU Epe outreach was more than just a training event; it was a way to plant seeds for the future. The students gained practical skills, but more importantly, they found direction. The right knowledge at the right time can shape careers, spark innovations, and improve the standard of surveying practice in Nigeria and beyond.
As our tools continue to evolve, one truth remains: the strength of tomorrow’s surveying profession relies on how well we train today’s young surveyors. With programs like this, the future looks steady, skilled, and full of promise.
