Will surveying technicians be replaced by AI?
Updated
Surveying technicians score 49 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 64%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 15% outright, and 21% stays with people.
- 15% AI can do it
- 64% AI helps
- 21% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 72% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 30 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 5 of them today, speeds up 19 and leaves 6 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Enter Global Positioning System (GPS) data, legal deeds, field notes, or land survey reports into geographic information system (GIS) workstations so that information can be transformed into graphic land descriptions, such as maps and drawings. Extracting deed and field note data into GIS is routine data entry. | 82% AI can do it |
| Perform calculations to determine earth curvature corrections, atmospheric impacts on measurements, traverse closures or adjustments, azimuths, level runs, or placement of markers. Corrections, closures and azimuths are standard calculations software performs. | 80% AI can do it |
| Calculate latitudes, longitudes, angles, areas, or other information for mapmaking, using survey field notes or reference tables. Coordinate and area calculations are pure computation software handles well. | 80% AI can do it |
| Identify and compile database information to create requested maps. Database queries and compilation are routine; person reviews output. | 62% AI can do it |
| Answer questions and provide information to the public or to staff members regarding assessment maps, surveys, boundaries, easements, property ownership, roads, zoning, or similar matters. AI answers routine map and property queries from records; staff reviews. | 62% AI can do it |
| Prepare topographic or contour maps of land surveyed, including site features and other relevant information, such as charts, drawings, and survey notes. CAD and AI generate contour drafts from survey data; person verifies. | 60% AI helps |
| Complete detailed source and method notes describing the location of routine or complex land parcels. AI drafts source and method notes from data; surveyor signs off. | 60% AI helps |
| Check all layers of maps to ensure accuracy, identifying and marking errors and making corrections. Software flags layer errors; person verifies and corrects markings. | 58% AI helps |
| Operate and manage land-information computer systems, performing tasks such as storing data, making inquiries, and producing plots and reports. Storing, querying and reporting are digital; system management stays human. | 58% AI helps |
| Produce or update overlay maps to show information boundaries, water locations, or topographic features on various base maps or at different scales. GIS tools and scripts build overlays; person checks scale and accuracy. | 55% AI helps |
Show the other 20 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Compare survey computations with applicable standards to determine adequacy of data. Rule-based checks automate much; adequacy judgement stays with surveyor. | 55% AI helps |
| Collect information needed to carry out new surveys, using source maps, previous survey data, photographs, computer records, or other relevant information. AI gathers and summarizes records and prior data; person selects sources. | 55% AI helps |
| Prepare cost estimates for mapping projects. AI drafts estimates from templates; scope and pricing need human judgement. | 55% AI helps |
| Design or develop information databases that include geographic or topographic data. AI drafts schemas and queries; designer decides structure and standards. | 50% AI helps |
| Compile information necessary to stake projects for construction, using engineering plans. AI extracts coordinates from plans; staking data needs verification. | 50% AI helps |
| Research and combine existing property information to describe property boundaries in relation to adjacent properties, taking into account parcel splits, combinations, or land boundary adjustments. AI pulls and combines records; legal boundary description needs review. | 50% AI helps |
| Analyze aerial photographs to detect and interpret significant military, industrial, resource, or topographical data. Image AI detects features; expert interprets military and industrial significance. | 45% AI helps |
| Compare topographical features or contour lines with images from aerial photographs, old maps, or other reference materials to verify the accuracy of their identification. Image comparison aids identification; expert confirms features against references. | 45% AI helps |
| Trace contours or topographic details to generate maps that denote specific land or property locations or geographic attributes. Vectorization tools trace contours; person checks and corrects linework. | 45% AI helps |
| Monitor mapping work or the updating of maps to ensure accuracy, inclusion of new or changed information, or compliance with rules and regulations. Automated checks help monitor updates; accountable oversight stays human. | 40% AI helps |
| Determine scales, line sizes, or colors to be used for hard copies of computerized maps, using plotters. Plot style suggestions are quick; final choices need professional judgement. | 40% AI helps |
| Provide assistance in the development of methods and procedures for conducting field surveys. AI drafts procedure text; methods require experienced professional judgement. | 35% AI helps |
| Trim, align, and join prints to form photographic mosaics, maintaining scaled distances between reference points. Digital mosaicking software stitches images; manual checks remain. | 35% AI helps |
| Record survey measurements or descriptive data, using notes, drawings, sketches, or inked tracings. Voice-to-text and digital notes help; field sketches need on-site recording. | 30% AI helps |
| Supervise or coordinate activities of workers engaged in surveying, plotting data, drafting maps, or producing blueprints, photostats, or photographs. Supervising crews is people-led; scheduling tools help only slightly. | 22% Needs a person |
| Conduct surveys to ascertain the locations of natural features and man-made structures on the Earth's surface, underground, and underwater, using electronic distance-measuring equipment, such as GPS, and other surveying instruments. Field surveying with GPS and instruments needs physical presence. | 12% Needs a person |
| Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites, electronic distance measuring equipment, or electronic data collectors. Operating instruments in the field needs hands-on skill on site. | 10% Needs a person |
| Search for section corners, property irons, or survey points. Searching for corners and irons is physical field work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Set out and recover stakes, marks, or other monumentation. Setting and recovering stakes and marks requires physical fieldwork. | 4% Needs a person |
| Position and hold the vertical rods, or targets, that theodolite operators use for sighting to measure angles, distances, and elevations. Holding rods on site requires physical presence and field positioning. | 3% Needs a person |
How surveying technicians compare
All occupations (923)
Architecture and engineering (56)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $54,240 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 58,010 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +5.8% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Operate total stations and GPS receivers in the field
- Check contour drafts built from AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces
- Verify deed and field note entries loaded into ArcGIS software
- Set out and recover monuments, property irons and section corners
- Produce topographic maps in Bentley MicroStation
- Hold a state-issued surveying technician credential where available
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about surveying technicians and AI
Will AI replace surveying technicians?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly GPS and deed data entry into GIS and coordinate or traverse calculations. Field work stays with people, because holding rods, setting monuments and operating instruments need a person on site.
Which surveying technician tasks is AI taking over?
Entering GPS data, legal deeds and field notes into GIS workstations has an exposure score of 82, since it is routine data entry from structured records. Traverse closures, azimuths and earth curvature corrections score 80, because software runs these standard formulas in seconds. Compiling database information for requested maps scores 62, and a person then reviews the output.
Which surveying technician tasks stay human?
Holding the rods that theodolite operators sight through scores 3 on exposure, because it needs a person physically placed on site. Setting out and recovering stakes and marks scores 4, since it is physical fieldwork. Operating prisms, theodolites and electronic data collectors scores 10, because it needs hands on the instrument in the field.
How can surveying technicians stay valuable?
Keep field skills current on GPS receivers and total stations, since field tasks stay human. Learn AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces well enough to verify the contour maps AI drafts from survey data. Check every GIS record loaded from deeds in ArcGIS software against the original field notes. Pursue a state survey technician credential where your state offers one.
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