Shaping the raison d’être of surveyors

In June 2025, Séverine Vernet was unanimously confirmed as the first permanent female president of the Conseil supérieur de l’Ordre des géomètres-experts (the national council of licensed surveyors in France). With 25 years of field experience, Vernet blends technical practice with institutional leadership. In this exclusive conversation with GIM International, she shares her views on the current state of France’s geospatial sector and lays out her vision and ambitions for guiding the profession through major transformations: from digital innovation to environmental responsibility, to governance reforms and a renewed raison d’être for surveyors.

In 2025, you became the first woman to be confirmed as president of the Conseil supérieur de l’Ordre des géomètres-experts (OGE) after more than a quarter of a century in land surveying. Looking back at your journey, which experiences have most shaped your vision for the profession?

First of all, I want to say how proud I am to be the first female president of the national council of licensed surveyors in France. For me, it shows that this path is now open to everyone; that it no longer matters whether you are a woman or a man. I’ve been a land surveyor for over 25 years, and that hands-on experience is essential for leading a profession like ours. I care deeply about staying connected to what professionals experience every day in their offices. Ours is a profession rooted in practice, and practice is the best experience you can have. I became involved in the work of our institution early on in my career, and that shaped my belief that you have to give in order to receive. My work on training, on issues related to our professional monopoly and later as a regional president all gave me insight into how our institution functions. This inspired me to continue this commitment with a clear understanding of both the system and the reality on the ground.

How would you describe the current state of the surveying sector in France?

I would say the profession is at a real turning point. The real-estate crisis is slowing activity and making it harder for firms to plan ahead. At the same time, it’s fair to say that our work has never been more crucial: ensuring land security, supporting urban densification, contributing to more efficient land use, and helping achieve the Zéro Artificialisation Nette (Zero Net Land Take or ‘ZAN’) targets. We also need to embrace digital innovation, especially 3D modelling. New ways of collecting and processing data are transforming how topography is done. So yes, the sector faces serious challenges, but there are also huge opportunities that highlight its strategic role in sustainable land planning.

What are your key priorities for OGE over the next years, and how do they align with the evolving role of land surveyors?

Actually, I have set four main priorities. First, updating the governance of our institutions. Second, guiding the digital transition, bringing in new 3D data collection and processing methods, making digital tools standard practice and helping our members adopt emerging technologies like AI. Third, ensuring the profession’s long-term future by raising its profile, making it more attractive and inspiring young people to join. And lastly, strengthening the image of licensed surveyors as essential players in spatial planning, committed to ecological transition and responsible land management. These priorities are in line with how our profession is evolving: at the crossroads of law, technology and the environment. We need to be credible, visible and innovative.

You’ve spoken about making OGE more agile and inclusive. What concrete steps are being taken to reform governance and strengthen professional standards?

The goal is to build a more agile, participatory organization. We’re developing a new strategic plan that fully integrates environmental and social issues. We’ve also launched the Assises ordinales, which is a new forum that brings together all regional and national representatives to work collectively on the future of the profession. This is very much needed, as it is helping us foster dialogue, transparency and better representation, especially of younger generations and women. At the same time, we’re updating the profession’s code of ethics and working on clarifying both our raison d’être as surveyors and OGE’s own purpose. We’re also weaving in stronger commitments around compliance, ethics and environmental responsibility.

At the FIG Working Week 2024, you presented OGE as a “second-level regulator” with a responsibility to instil a compliance culture and define a raison d’être for the profession. How will this process support surveyors in meeting societal expectations, from climate action to data governance?

By “second-level regulator”, we mean moving beyond a purely disciplinary approach and building a true culture of compliance. Instead of only enforcing obligations, we want to help surveyors anticipate the challenges ahead. At the Assises ordinales, we will unveil both the profession’s raison d’être and that of OGE. The idea is to strengthen our ability to tackle climate, environmental and digital challenges so we can play an even bigger role in shaping the territories of tomorrow. When it comes to data, our focus is on ensuring reliability, confidentiality and ethics. This proactive approach gives every licensed surveyor the tools to meet society’s expectations with credibility.

During the recent Universités d’été annual national meeting of French surveyors, you emphasized the housing crisis. How can licensed surveyors and the wider geospatial community contribute to solutions such as urban densification and the more efficient use of already-developed land?

The housing crisis France is facing calls for concrete, responsible solutions – and licensed surveyors are very central to that effort. With our legal and technical expertise, we can spot opportunities for densification in urban areas, design appropriate subdivisions or consolidations, and make sure projects are legally secure. We also work with local authorities to assess soil conditions, check development feasibility and factor in environmental and climate constraints. And by providing reliable data, we support the redevelopment of brownfields and urban renewal projects. In short, I like to say that we help build more housing without taking more land.

OGE is an active member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). In your view, how can the institution contribute to FIG’s global agenda, and what are the benefits for French surveyors of being part of this international community?

Our involvement in FIG shows a clear ambition: putting the French profession at the heart of the global conversation. We contribute our expertise in compliance, governance, raison d’être, land-use efficiency and the fight against land artificialisation. In return, French surveyors gain access to a wealth of international know-how, technological innovations and on-the-ground experience. This global outlook helps us modernize and makes the profession more attractive. Moreover, in 2028, FIG will celebrate its 150^th anniversary in Paris. Hosting this historic congress is both an honour and a major milestone, and it also poses a great opportunity to showcase how dynamic and influential French licensed surveyors have become on the international stage.

From climate change to digital transformation, surveyors worldwide face growing responsibilities. How should the geospatial industry position itself as a key actor in addressing these global challenges?

The geospatial sector should position itself as a crucial link between data, public policy and sustainable transition. French licensed surveyors already work around the world on land security, cadastre development and legal reforms, helping build stable, equitable living environments. OGE also monitors European developments closely, especially on climate, environmental, human rights and compliance issues. With our legal rigour, data quality and strong social commitment, we can become a cornerstone of global transitions that are working for both territories and citizens.

Digital twins, building information modelling (BIM) and advances in reality capture are all reshaping the surveying profession. How is OGE helping its members to adopt and integrate these technologies into their daily practice?

We actively encourage the adoption of digital twins, BIM and other emerging technologies. Producing reliable data is key to any digital twin, so we promote better data quality as well as advanced visualization, geolocation and simulation tools. We’re also involved in national initiatives, such as the open call from IGN, CEREMA and INRIA to build a digital twin of France. Acting as a bridge between surveyors and public institutions helps ensure these tools are actually used on the ground – in land, urban planning and infrastructure projects. I’d also like to mention that we’re currently developing a ‘data qualification’ tool to track and label essential criteria like acquisition dates, processing methods and so on. This will help strengthen both reliability and interoperability.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing surveying and geospatial workflows. How do you see AI transforming the role of surveyors, and which opportunities or risks should the profession be preparing for?

AI offers huge potential to boost both efficiency and precision. It can handle repetitive tasks like image processing, classifying geospatial data or spotting anomalies, and can free up time for higher-value work like analysis, consultancy and legal security. It also allows us to cross-reference massive datasets to inform public policy on housing, mobility or climate. But we must also be very aware that there are risks: algorithmic opacity, dependence on private tools, and the danger of losing control over our data. That’s why we need clear ethical and professional standards to guide its use. In fact, AI will be the central theme of our next national congress, so we can explore these issues together as a profession.

Many countries face a shortage of young surveyors. Is this also the case in France? If so, how is OGE helping the industry to attract and retain the next generation?

Yes, France faces the same challenge; we definitely risk running short of young talent in the coming years. This is something we need to address – and already are addressing in several ways. We are strengthening ties with schools and universities, supporting courses that are aligned with new needs like land-use efficiency, digital twins and data. We are also running awareness-raising initiatives: summer universities, competitions and educational events such as the Expert Game. Through our networks, we actively promote diversity and inclusion to better reflect society and attract a wider range of profiles. The goal is to show young people an exciting and meaningful profession that is full of opportunity at the crossroads of law, digital tech and the environment.

Beyond FIG, which opportunities do you see for stronger collaboration and knowledge exchange with the wider geospatial community?

I strongly believe in European and Francophone cooperation. OEG is part of European regulatory networks and projects on digital twins and land-use efficiency. We also work closely with the Fédération des Géomètres Francophones (FGF), which is an excellent platform for exchanging knowledge and sharing common standards across the French-speaking world, and for supporting countries where land security is still a major issue. Additionally, we very much value bilateral partnerships and research consortia that bring together institutions, universities and local authorities, since these collaborations enrich our practice and strengthen the international reach of French licensed surveyors.

By the end of your mandate in 2027, what impact would you like to have achieved, both within OGE and within the broader profession?

By 2027, I hope that OGE will be more agile and inclusive, as outlined in our new strategic plan. I also want our governance to be more representative and transparent, and our partnerships with private operators, local authorities and public bodies to be much stronger. Above all, I want the profession to have fully embraced a culture of compliance, built on a strong raison d’être that links our work to climate, digital and social challenges. And I hope surveyors will be widely seen as key players in spatial planning – ready to meet the challenges of the next decade and expand their influence both nationally and internationally.

Rounding off, what is your message for GIM International readers?

That licensed surveyors are here to serve society. Our mission goes far beyond measurement; it’s about securing land rights, supporting the ecological transition and helping to shape well-balanced territories. In a world changing rapidly due to climate pressures, digital innovation and new citizen expectations, we must stand firm on our raison d’être and our culture of compliance as guarantees of trust and credibility. Last but not least, I wholeheartedly invite the international community to come together in Paris in June 2028 to celebrate FIG’s 150^th anniversary: a truly historic milestone and a unique opportunity to shape the future of our profession, together.

Further reading

The Expert Game: https://www.geometre-expert.fr/actualite/lexpert-game-2025-une-experience-unique-pour-se-mettre-dans-la-peau-dun-geometre-expert/

About Séverine Vernet

Séverine Vernet is the president of the Conseil supérieur de l’Ordre des géomètres-experts, the national council of licensed surveyors in France. An engineering graduate of the École Supérieure des Géomètres et Topographes (1996), she has practised as a land surveyor at Bonnier Vernet Floch since 2000, and also serves as an expert at the Court of Appeal of Versailles. She chaired the Île-de-France Regional Council from 2013 to 2017, became vice-president of the National Council in 2015 and first vice-president in 2021. After acting as interim president from March 2024 to June 2025, Séverine Vernet was confirmed as the first woman to permanently lead the institution.