How AI is changing the role of the surveyor in AEC

Trimble Dimensions 2025 provided a glimpse of not only how artificial intelligence and AI assistants will impact future geospatial workflows, but more importantly how these new tools and software solutions can already be implemented today. Highlights included AI and software developments, and the changing role of the surveyor within architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) workflows.

From 10 to 12 November 2025, the latest edition of the vibrant and inspirational Trimble Dimensions event attracted more than 5,000 attendees from over 80 countries. They connected with 100-plus technology suppliers to explore trends and possibilities in the rapidly evolving geospatial technology sector. 

As Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat”. But in this age of AI and its possible disrupting effect, taking the first steps can seem daunting for technology providers. In his keynote at Trimble Dimensions 2025, Trimble CEO Rob Painter advised focusing on making incremental improvements today that will result in a compounded effect over time.

Solving real-world problems with connected workflows and AI

“Innovation cannot live in a silo,” said Painter. With so much integrated software, Trimble is working on an open ecosystem that enables manufacturers and users to build on it. A connected software solution like Trimble Connect bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds, enabling users to be more productive, connected and perform day-to-day tasks with enhanced confidence. But even when Trimble Connect is combined with reality capture and positioning technologies, the role of the surveyor remains vital to ensure that the survey data is validated and communicated to the construction workflow in the right way.

With an ever-faster pace of change, ever-tighter labour constraints and ever-higher productivity demands, AI is being utilized as a ‘force multiplier’ to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Trimble processes and workflows. For example, new tools are being added to the Trimble toolkit based on AI-enabled solutions, connected workflows and an agentic ecosystem. Agentic AI technology makes Trimble software more intuitive to navigate and use, shortening onboarding times and boosting engagement. It also removes many of the manual steps traditionally required, allowing users to detect and generate 3D objects, create CAD models and update products simply by describing what they want to do.

Within Trimble Connect, point cloud data can be automatically classified and labelled, and point clouds can be compared against models for as-built construction purposes, limiting variation between design and reality.

Trimble Marketplace and AI Studio

Mark Schwartz, senior vice president of AECO Software, explained the value of connecting tools, data and people to break down silos and enhance efficiency and productivity. Trimble Marketplace contains over 100 verified, pre-built integrations designed as a one-stop shop for solutions from Trimble and its partners. Trimble AI Studio will be launched in early 2026, enabling users to build and refine their own AI agents across the Trimble ecosystem.

Reality capture and positioning link all processes

Reliable reality capture and positioning are critical; they are the linking pin holding all the Trimble processes together. All AI tools work from a dataset. Survey professionals will play a key role in ensuring that the survey data collected for these datasets and transferred to the field is relevant, precise and accurate, and that as-built surveys are done correctly. This is especially important against the backdrop of increased risks of GNSS jamming and spoofing, and fluctuating GNSS signals caused by the solar cycle.

Trimble has developed a six-phase model clearly illustrating the role of data, tools and people in infrastructure management. Surveyors remain critical, with soft skills like project management and communication becoming nearly as important as their technical skills. This starts in Phase 1 (field data collection), when they ensure that the reality data captured by tools like mobile mapping systems is accurate and correct. In Phase 2 (data analysis/feature extraction), they analyse the data. In Phase 3 (asset lifecycle management), the necessary improvements are precisely planned and engineered. Surveyors play a vital role in bridging the gap from field to office in Phase 4 (civil construction/design), combining reality capture data with GIS data to generate a detailed constructable road model and communicating the correct data models to the field for execution. These data models are important in Phase 5 (execution), when labour efficiency and low material costs boost profitability. Lastly, surveyors are needed to coordinate Phase 6 (as-built survey), when the executed construction and maintenance work is validated against the design so that mistakes can be rectified.

Can AI solve the labour shortage?

According to Kevin Garcia, general manager civil specialty solutions at Trimble, 39% of the USA’s roads are currently in poor condition. He explained how incorporating AI workflows into this six-phase model will improve not only the precision but also the efficiency of infrastructure development and maintenance projects by enabling survey and civil engineering professionals to leverage geospatial insights. For example, the use of AI tools in Phase 2 allows faster and more automated assessment of road cracks, guard rails and traffic signs.

Greater efficiency is necessary in view of the pressing labour shortage. In the USA, for instance, the number of surveyors fell from 56,200 in 2010 to 47,770 in 2020. There is therefore a strong focus on training and education, and attracting more people to the industry. One example of Trimble’s commitment to supporting universities educating tomorrow’s survey professionals is its provision of advanced geospatial equipment to Fresno State University’s Geomatics Engineering programme in collaboration with California Surveying & Drafting Supply (CSDS, a Cansel company). As part of this collaboration, the university will open a Trimble Technology Lab on campus in 2026 as a place for students to get hands-on experience and training. The university will also teach AI as a new addition to the surveyor’s toolbox. But ultimately, AI and automation alone are not expected to solve the labour shortage, as people will still be needed for data collection, verification, 3D modelling and project management.

Key takeaways

1. Artificial intelligence will increasingly take centre stage at tech conferences because AI tools can eliminate a lot of cumbersome and time-consuming work, and AI agents can perform analysis and generate answers quickly. Surveyors should critically consider which tasks could be done more efficiently using AI.
2. In parallel, the surveyor’s role will become more important because AI and automation tools require relevant and accurate datasets. Supported by the right tools, surveyors must ensure the reliability and accuracy of the high volumes of data being captured and utilized.
3. With hardware and software solutions evolving ever faster, the pace of change can be daunting and make it difficult for technology providers to know where to start. Rob Painter’s advice is to start small, because innovation isn’t always a revolution. Sometimes, it’s a series of precise adjustments that transform everything.