Surveyors urged to embrace spatial intelligence as AI reshapes profession

Land surveyors in Ghana have been urged to move beyond traditional measurement and mapping and position themselves as providers of spatial intelligence capable of supporting national planning, development and informed decision-making.

The call featured prominently at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Land Surveying Division (LSD) of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) in Accra, held under the theme, “Advancing Land Surveying through Innovation, Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement.”

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Executive Officer of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Dr Kwadwo Yeboah, said technological advancement must be accompanied by stronger collaboration among built-environment professionals. He challenged professionals to break down silos and work more strategically to address Ghana’s planning and development challenges.

President of GhIS, Surv. Emmanuel Kofi Cobbold, said land surveying remained fundamental to land administration, construction, spatial planning, environmental management and the protection of property rights. He stressed the need for surveyors and surveying firms to continuously build their capacity to respond to changing technological and societal demands.

Chairperson of the Land Surveying Division, Surv Ing Dr Tina Dzigbordi Wemegah, said the modern surveyor must increasingly operate at the intersection of technology, governance and community engagement, moving beyond boundary definition to become a key contributor to spatial intelligence and national development.

She highlighted Artificial Intelligence, GNSS, UAVs, LiDAR, GIS, remote sensing and digital twins among technologies reshaping surveying practice, while stressing that technology must augment rather than replace professional judgement.

Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Surv Prof Prosper B. Laari, linked the technological discussion to Ghana’s recurring floods, illegal mining, unplanned settlements, indiscriminate land sales, land disputes and growing pressure on urban infrastructure.

He said many of these challenges had strong spatial dimensions and required reliable spatial information, coordinated planning and responsible land governance, with surveyors becoming more visible in finding solutions.

Guest Speaker, John Asiamah, added the data and artificial intelligence dimension to the discussion, drawing attention to the increasing importance of transforming spatial data into useful intelligence for better decision-making.

Surv Naa Abu Seidu Zakariah, Acting Director of the Survey and Mapping Division (SMD) of the Lands Commission, also highlighted efforts to modernise Ghana’s geospatial infrastructure through the expansion of the CORS network and strengthening of the national geodetic reference framework to support accurate and reliable surveying and mapping.

The discussions underscored a changing professional landscape in which the surveyor is expected not only to determine where things are, but also to interpret spatial information and help decision-makers understand what that information means for development.

The conference also received brief solidarity and goodwill messages from representatives of other divisions of GhIS and sister professional bodies, reinforcing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, professional unity and stronger partnerships in responding to Ghana’s built-environment and development challenges.

The conference continues with further technical and paper presentations, providing participants with opportunities to explore emerging technologies, professional practice and new approaches to geospatial development.

It will also feature the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Land Surveying Division, where members will deliberate on key professional and institutional matters, with discussions and decisions expected to help shape the future direction of the profession.

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