Matt's life as a Geospatial Surveyor

I'm Matthew McQuillian, Lead Digital Measured Surveyor at Egis. I lead the surveying team in the technical delivery of measured surveys throughout the UK. My expertise is in geospatial surveying: capturing detailed information about the physical and built environment and transforming it into datasets, drawings and models that provide an accurate digital representation of a site or asset. 

Geospatial surveying provides the baseline information that projects depend on. Good decisions come from good data, and our role is to ensure project teams have a reliable understanding of existing conditions from the outset. 

The complexity behind capturing good data 

Some of the most complex challenges I help solve involve capturing reliable information in busy workplaces, live sites and operational facilities. Our role is to develop the most effective survey strategy, balancing safety, efficiency and technical requirements to deliver the data a project needs. 

People often think geospatial surveying is simply about capturing and presenting information, but a significant part of the role is interpreting requirements, solving technical challenges and ensuring the data provides a reliable basis for decision-making. Success comes from combining technical expertise with strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, because every project presents a different challenge. 

Reducing risk from the earliest stages 

Geospatial surveys are one of the earliest opportunities to reduce risk on a project. Ultimately, good decisions come from good data, and by providing reliable geospatial information early on, we enable teams to make informed decisions, reduce risk and achieve better outcomes. 

We work closely with a range of technical disciplines to understand what information is required and how it will be used. That collaboration helps ensure our survey outputs support the broader technical objectives of a project. A good example is a retrofit project, where surveyors, architects and engineers all need to work together from the outset. We provide the geospatial information that helps other disciplines understand the site, identify constraints and develop solutions, ensuring everyone is working from the same dataset. 

Why collaboration matters on complex projects 

Complex projects require input from a range of specialists, each bringing a different perspective and area of expertise. Collaboration ensures decisions are based on a complete understanding of the project, leading to better outcomes and reducing the risk of issues being missed. 

A role that keeps changing 

Continuous learning is essential in our industry. I keep up to date with developments in surveying technology, industry standards and emerging best practice, while also learning from the wide variety of projects and technical challenges we encounter. Egis provides opportunities to work on a wide variety of projects across different sectors and disciplines, and that exposure creates a great environment for continuous learning and professional development. 

What keeps the work interesting for me is the pace of change within the industry. The role is very different from what it was five years ago, with advances in technology continually changing how we capture, manage and deliver information. It's rewarding to see how those developments allow us to provide greater value to our clients. 

That combination of technical precision, collaboration and constant change is what makes geospatial surveying such a rewarding discipline to work in, and why the data we capture on day one continues to shape how a project is delivered long after.