Without a pipeline of surveyor talent how will projects be built

That’s the message from John Fraser of Leica Geosystems part of Hexagon, when Peter Haddock talked to him underground at the Cornish Metals Inc. South Crofty Mine as part of our Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter (CSM) mini series.

John: “CSM is playing a critical role in shaping the future of engineering surveying, and its collaboration with South Crofty Mine is essential in bridging the gap between education and industry.”

Talk about the challenges facing the sector, John added: “When I go on projects across the country, I see the use of our technology, but also a common theme, the need for more skilled surveyors.

“Many of the experienced professionals in the field today came from the Camborne School of Mines, yet fewer students are entering these courses. This is part of the reason why we have been supporting the school with our latest surveying and reality capture technology.

“This really differentiates its offering as it’s able to deliver a hands-on approach, ensuring students are learning with the same technology used on major projects like HS2 and Hinkley C. This means their skills are immediately translatable into real-world industry applications.”

Having relaunched its Surveying and Environmental Land Management MSc and the Undergraduate Mining Engineering program for 2025, Peter also wanted to know what John thought about the prospects for students.

To apply for the MSc in Surveying and Land/Environmental Management visit this link: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/mining-engineering/msc-surveying-environmental/

For the Undergraduate Mining Engineering visit - https://dees.exeter.ac.uk/study/

John: “The industry isn’t just facing a skills gap, it’s a skills opportunity. Job offers are oversubscribed, companies are sponsoring students and recruiting them before they even graduate. So for students investing in a CSM course, the future is very bright.”

“And it’s great to be here underground at South Crofty with past CSM students who now work here to see how our equipment is being used to create highly accurate 3D models that will bring this valuable asset back into use.

“As we all know, getting the survey data right first time is critical for every project and this just emphasises the importance of developing skills for the future.