From preserving cultural landmarks to democratizing data for broader audiences, modern surveyors are redefining the profession to prove that precision and creative execution can co-exist.
Years ago, before technology mostly standardized the end results, maps were stunning works of art — hand drawn, intricate, and individualized — with the creator’s fingerprints left distinctly on them.
Though technology has come a long way in helping to deliver accuracy, efficiency, and other significant benefits, Jesse Gutierrez believes there’s no reason to leave the art of surveying in the past.
Jesse, head of the scanning department at Original Survey Solutions in Modesto, Calif., thinks there’s a world where both technology and art can co-exist. At OSS, he uses the latest laser scanning equipment to document the details of the location he’s trying to capture, but he also injects creativity and beauty into the deliverables he produces.
It’s a perspective the entire OSS team and culture embraces, says owner Will Paul.
“You look at some of those old maps, and they’re beautiful,” Will says. “There’s no reason why our deliverables can’t be beautiful too.”
While typically regarded as a technical and precise profession, surveyors also have the power to tap into their artistic sides and transform hard data into visually stunning deliverables that captivate and inspire.
Jesse and Will, recently interviewed for the Tech Insider podcast, says surveyors should continue to find ways to elevate their craft, creating outputs that not only provide accurate information but also engage clients, decision-makers, and the public at large.
The Role of Aesthetics in Survey Deliverables
As one of the world’s oldest professions, surveying’s history is steeped in artistry.
Will says he senses a return within the field to re-emphasize the fact that aesthetics do indeed matter, with more surveyors recognizing a need to look beyond the data to create deliverables that resonate first and foremost with the end user.
“I think that was something that a lot of people struggled with when this large-scale reality capture and 3D scanning came out,” he says. “I think a lot of service providers didn’t really know what to do, so they would just capture a bunch of data and say, OK, client, here’s your scans. That is never what I did or what my team did. Instead, it was: How do we make this as useful as possible?”
“Storytelling is essential. How do we use our tools to help the client understand the site? What does the data mean? How can we best represent it?”
—William Paul, PLS, President and Founder, Original Survey Solutions
A beautifully rendered 3D model or a detailed point cloud can make that complex data accessible.
Will says this approach can allow clients and stakeholders to better grasp the meaning behind the measurements captured — to frame a story that tells the full picture through your deliverables. It’s a tried-and-true method that more surveyors should employ, he says.
“Storytelling is essential,” he says. “How do we use our tools to help our client understand the site? What does the data mean? How can we best represent it?”
Captivating Clients and the Public Through the Art of Surveying
Visual assets are often a more powerful tool than datasets, spreadsheets, or straight measurements for engaging audiences, especially for projects with cultural or historical significance.
The OSS team saw this firsthand through their work at Mission Soledad, a mission that dates back to the 1700s in the Central Coast area of California.
Though the project started out as a school assignment for Jesse’s son, it quickly morphed into a bigger initiative to preserve and share the history of the mission.
First, the team used a Leica RTC360 to capture and produce stunning 3D models and realistic cross-sections from the point clouds.
“The nice thing about the RTC360 is that you get those beautiful pictures,” Jesse says. “At the same time, you’re getting a very precise point cloud.”
Then, they got to present at the California Mission Foundation’s annual conference, where their deliverables came to life for an audience of several hundred people — none of whom were CAD users — inspiring both better understanding and excitement for the work performed.
“Back in the day, when surveyors would measure things, we’d create all this highly detailed information, but no one would be able to get access to it unless you were a technical expert,” Will says. “But with laser scanning … it’s a great way to share it with the public.”
The mission now intends to use the deliverables, which can easily help spark the public’s imagination, in their fundraising efforts for preservation and restoration.
The art of surveying helps contribute to what Will describes as a rising movement for the “democratization of data.”
By making information accessible to a broader audience — engineers, architects, historians, and even enthusiasts and curious kids — surveyors can foster deeper connections between people and the spaces they inhabit.
“It isn’t just in these little secret places in these servers now,” Will says. “We can get the data into the hands of people that need it.”
Elevating the Profession Through Artful Surveying
OSS is leading the way in demonstrating how surveying can transcend its technical roots to transform and inspire through artistry.
“As surveyors, we always need to pivot. It’s not about the technology; it’s about the solution.”
—William Paul, PLS, President and Founder, Original Survey Solutions
By focusing on aesthetics, storytelling, and empathy, surveyors are redefining their roles — not just as data providers but as creators of deliverables designed for maximum impact and endurance.
“As surveyors, we always need to pivot,” Will says. “It’s not about the technology; it’s about the solution.”
In Will’s mind, that solution should perhaps be more accurately measured by how effectively it connects people to places in ways that are both practical and beautiful, forming a surveying landscape where both creativity and precision can live in harmony.
