How modern technologies can improve surveyors’ competence – Experts

For Nigeria-based land surveyors to continue to be relevant, they must embrace modern technologies and be in tune with changes to their chosen profession from across the globe.

This was the view of experts, who gathered at a professional development seminar organised by the Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday with the theme, ‘Surveying and Technology in a Changing Environment.’

Majority of those who spoke at the occasion agreed that surveyors must keep themselves abreast of new trends affecting their practice in order to continue to be relevant.

The chairman of the occasion and representative of Lagos and Ogun states on the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr. E. F. Durodola, reminded practising surveyors of the changing operating environment and urged them to develop themselves through training in order to embrace modern surveying methods and equipment.

The Chief Executive Officer, Quest Consolidated Limited, Mr. Abiodun Awofeko, said apart from the numerous software and hardware for capturing data that were available, the challenges and responsibilities of surveyors were enormous, especially in the areas of globalisation, demographic change, reduction of poverty, energy supply, climate change and security.

He appealed to his colleagues to re-brand themselves through skill acquisition, and by attending training conferences and workshops in order to remain relevant.

Awofeko urged them to adapt to new tools in terms of software and hardware, adding that the future of registered surveyors in evolving technologies required deepening partnerships and building institutions with specialties in different fields.

According to him, surveyors should not allow the emerging technologies to becloud their sense of reasoning in terms of compromising standards, adding that they should check all field records, and ensure quality control and accuracy of field data to find presentation.

“Apart from normal deliverables on sun print, surveyors need to fine-tune to modern technology deliverables done through social media, mobile smartphones, tablets, Androids and iPhones, among others as the client wishes,” he said.

The Head of Surveying and Geoinformatics Department, University of Lagos, Prof. James Olaleye, said in a paper that advances in technology had impacted tremendously on surveying and mapping, adding that traditional data acquisition, which had been the preserve of surveyors, was now continually being turned into a black box.

To be conversant with modern surveying tools, he said the surveying curriculum must be expanded such that professionals coming through it would have the necessary empowerment to function effectively in the modern social-economic order.

“The immediate impacts of computing and other emerging technologies need to be appropriated in the training of the professional surveyor so that his contributions to human development can be readily appreciated,” Olaleye said.

He listed challenges confronting surveyors to include erosion of their professional status, competition from non-surveyors, pressure of more cost-effective services, compelling need for adaptive skill adjustment, and insufficient depth of skills.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, APPSN, Lagos State Branch, Mr. Adetunji Adeloye, said advances in technology had helped surveyors to carry out their jobs successfully and accurately.