Surveying has a key role in the geospatial sector, one which contributes to shaping lives and planning our future. The industry uses the latest technologies. This keeps surveyors out of harm’s way in high risk zones. And it can produce helpful tools for a surveyor’s everyday job tackling challenges such as mapping land, creating virtual reality replicas of the earth and our urban surroundings, the management of the environment and the earth’s resources, dealing with the effects of climate change and the movement of people. Can the industry strike the balance between grasping new technologies to its advantage, and future proofing humans’ role in surveying?