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Interview
As instruments get smarter, how will the role of the surveyor evolve? The surveyor’ s role is evolving from data collection to decision-making. AI and automation handle repetitive measurements, while professionals focus on interpretation, validation, and solving complex challenges.
As such, we’ re not replacing expertise but amplifying it. The next generation of surveyors will be both analytical and strategic, blending their human judgment with machine precision.
What’ s been the hardest part of getting professionals to trust AI-driven automation? Trust takes proof. In industries built on accuracy, professionals need to see consistent, accurate results before they believe in any new technology. Once they experience AI delivering precision and reliability, in real conditions, not demos, adoption accelerates.
Ultimately, we’ ve learned that transparency and performance build confidence faster than any marketing claim ever could.
How will edge AI reshape the entire construction workflow, from design to maintenance? During design, edge AI refines models and simulations with insights drawn from previous field data, making plans more accurate before ground is even broken. During construction, it guides adaptive workflows by feeding live measurements and progress updates directly into those models, helping teams adjust in real time.
Once projects move into maintenance, the same intelligence continues to monitor performance and predict issues before they appear, creating a feedback loop that improves each future design.
In this way, edge AI connects every phase into a single ecosystem, where data flows continuously from design to build to operation. Each stage benefits from the last, forming the backbone of a truly autonomous, data-driven construction lifecycle.
Can the TS20’ s edge AI breakthroughs extend to other sectors?
Absolutely. Any industry operating in complex, high-stakes environments, whether mining, energy, or transportation, can benefit when teams can act on data instantly. The result is faster decisions, more efficient operations, and safer outcomes.
These technologies aren’ t limited by sector; they’ re limited only by imagination. When we connect data, people, and intelligence in real time, we move from reactive decisionmaking to proactive precision, which turns complexity into opportunity.
What’ s the next big step: self-learning instruments or deeper human – machine collaboration? It is not a question of machines replacing humans; it is about partnership. The future lies in deeper collaboration between people and machines, powered by autonomous intelligence. In construction, this means AI systems that analyse data, predict outcomes, and guide teams towards safer and more efficient decisions. As intelligent systems take on repetitive or hazardous work, people can focus on creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. This balance enhances productivity, improves safety, and ensures the industry continues to evolve with both people and technology at its core. ■
www. hexagon. com
Burkhard Boeckem is CTO at Hexagon. With more than 200 years of history, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software, and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying, construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial contentdependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower an autonomous future. Hexagon is the global leader in measurement technologies. The company provides the confidence that vital industries rely on to build, navigate, and innovate. From microns to Mars, its solutions ensure productivity, quality, and sustainability in everything from manufacturing and construction to mining and autonomous systems.
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