During the 2026 NSPS Spring Meeting, the Board of Directors met and brought forward several important national initiatives that will directly impact surveyors across the country, including here in Utah. One of the key items discussed was the upcoming review and modernization of the NSPS Model Standards, which will be evaluated over the next year with the goal of presenting proposed updates for possible adoption at the Fall Meeting later this year. To ensure Utah’s voice is represented in this process, I will be meeting with UCLS committees to gather their ideas, concerns and recommendations to bring forward during the national review.
Another major topic was the U.S. Department of Labor’s request to update the ONET occupational description for professional land surveyors. NSPS will be coordinating with each state director to complete an online survey that helps define the modern role of a surveyor. This update is an important opportunity to ensure the national occupational definition accurately reflects today’s professional responsibilities, technologies and competencies.
The board also encouraged greater participation in the NSPS Map/Plat Competition, noting that state-level winners, such as those from the UCLS annual competition, should be submitted to represent Utah at the national level. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase the high-quality work being produced by surveyors in our state.
In addition to the board meeting, Utah was well represented during the NSPS lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Gary Christensen, Todd Jacobsen and I met with multiple congressional offices to discuss geodesy modernization, veteran transition pathways and other national issues that directly affect the surveying profession. These conversations helped reinforce the importance of surveying in infrastructure, public safety and national geospatial programs, ensuring Utah’s perspective was part of the broader national dialogue.
