Will AI replace Geodetic Surveyors?
AI can do 65% of the work Geodetic Surveyors do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 10 of them. 6 still need a person.
AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.
AI could do this next10 · 65% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Conduct surveys to determine exact positions, measurement of points, elevations, lines, areas, volumes, contours, or other features of land surfaces.14% of time
- Analyze control or survey data to ensure adherence to project specifications or land survey standards.11% of time
- Prepare progress or technical reports.7% of time
- Maintain databases of geodetic and related information, including coordinate, descriptive, or quality assurance data.7% of time
- Verify the mathematical correctness of newly collected survey data.6% of time
- Compute, retrace, or adjust existing surveys of features such as highway alignments, property boundaries, utilities, control and other surveys to match the ground elevation-dependent grids, geodetic grids, or property boundaries and to ensure accuracy and continuity of data used in engineering, surveying, or construction projects.6% of time
- Assess the quality of control data to determine the need for additional survey data for engineering, construction, or other projects.5% of time
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in technology, equipment, or systems.4% of time
- Review existing standards, controls, or equipment used, recommending changes or upgrades as needed.2% of time
- Distribute compiled geodetic data to government agencies or the general public.2% of time
Still needs a person6 · 35% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Compute horizontal and vertical coordinates of control networks, using direct leveling or other geodetic survey techniques, such as triangulation, trilateration, and traversing, to establish features of the Earth's surface.10% of time
- Calculate the exact horizontal and vertical position of points on the Earth's surface.10% of time
- Plan or direct the work of geodetic surveying staff, providing technical consultation as needed.8% of time
- Determine orientation of tracts of land, including position, boundaries, size, and shape, using theodolites, electronic distance-measuring equipment, satellite-based positioning equipment, land information systems, or other geodetic survey equipment.4% of time
- Provide training and interpretation in the use of methods or procedures for observing and checking controls for geodetic and plane coordinates.2% of time
- Request additional survey data when field collection errors occur or engineering surveying specifications are not maintained.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 0 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.
What to do next
- Get ahead on the 10 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 6 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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