RAPID CITY, S.D. – Professional land surveyors from across the country gathered at Mount Rushmore Monday to mark America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate a major milestone in the nation’s mapping and surveying system.
The ceremony was hosted by state and national surveyor organizations and highlighted the profession’s ties to Mount Rushmore. Three of the four presidents depicted on the monument, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, worked as land surveyors before becoming president.
As part of the event, Governor Larry Rhoden proclaimed October 19th as Professional Land Surveyors Day in South Dakota. State officials emphasized the important role surveyors play in protecting property rights and managing public lands.
Federal officials also used the event to unveil a modernized National Spatial Reference System, a major upgrade that will improve mapping and positioning accuracy by relying on advanced satellite and GPS technology.
NOAA representatives said the new system will benefit industries ranging from agriculture to transportation, while also helping improve navigation and mapping nationwide.
Officials also highlighted a growing shortage of surveying and geodetic professionals, calling for more people to enter the field as demand for accurate mapping and infrastructure data continues to grow.
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