The report, conducted in partnership with Clear Seas Research, indicates that RPLS/PLS/RLS/LS registration/licensure can pay off for survey and geospatial professionals.

Spending is increasing and lasers are among tools being added.

Categories studied include total stations, data collector/controllers, geodetic survey-grade carrier-phase GPS receivers, mapping-grade code-phase receivers, 3D laser scanners, UAVs, and wireless cloud computing.

Growth of 3D imaging is only the beginning for geospatial professions.

Laser scanning and imaging systems are rapidly making their way into every surveyor’s toolkit.

This year's annual POB Capital Investment Study of surveyors and geospatial professionals shows that, on average, spending levels have remained fairly consistent over the last three years.

The experience and pay grade of surveyors is rising, but fewer young people are entering the profession.

It’s no surprise that point clouds are one of the top geospatial uses for 3D technologies. This year’s study of 3D surveying trends confirms growth, but there’s a slight twist in the results that could have some interesting implications.

What will surveyors be buying in 2018?