How Fresno State, Trimble, and CSDS Are Closing the Workforce and Technology Gap

On January 22–23, 2026, Fresno State hosted the 65th Annual Geomatics Engineering Conference at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union, bringing together students, educators, surveyors, engineers, and technology providers for two days of technical sessions, vendor exhibits, and professional networking.

The conference, which has been held continuously since 1958, celebrates the surveying profession while connecting students to alumni, industry professionals, and researchers. With more than 20 guest speakers, a strong vendor presence, and a long tradition of awarding scholarships—over $1 million to Lyles College of Engineering students over the years—the event reflects both the history and the future of geomatics.

This year’s conference comes at a critical moment for the geospatial industry.

Across the country, surveying and geomatics firms are struggling to find qualified professionals—especially those who are proficient with modern tools and workflows. The shortage isn’t just about headcount. It’s about capability.

“A lot of companies are saying, ‘I can’t find the people,’” said Shaaden Salem, Education Program Manager at Trimble. “It’s not just about finding surveyors. They can’t find the surveyors who are proficient with using the technology they’re using.”

That reality is driving a new approach to geomatics education—one that blends strong fundamentals with modern technology and closer industry collaboration. At Fresno State, a partnership with Trimble and CSDS (California Survey & Drafting Supply) is helping to modernize the learning environment and better prepare students for the demands of today’s geospatial workforce.

Outdated Tools, Outdated Training

For many academic programs, keeping pace with rapid technological change has been difficult. Limited budgets often mean students are trained on aging equipment and legacy workflows that no longer reflect real-world practice.

“Most schools, when you go in and look at their equipment, it’s old. It’s hobbled together from hand-me-downs,” said Dr. Scott Peterson, Program Coordinator for Geomatics Engineering at Fresno State. “That sure makes it hard to teach somebody what to expect in the real world.”

Peterson has seen the consequences firsthand. New instructors sometimes arrive expecting to teach traditional methods that haven’t been widely used in decades.

“I had a guy tell me he was expecting to be setting up stations on hillsides and doing trilateration like he did 30 years ago,” Peterson said. “That’s not what students are going to be doing when they graduate.”

The problem isn’t that foundational techniques are unimportant. It’s that students also need exposure to the tools they’ll actually use in the field—modern GNSS systems, mobile LiDAR, integrated data processing platforms, and digital workflows that define today’s surveying and geomatics work.

Without that exposure, graduates often require extensive retraining after being hired, slowing productivity for both employees and employers.

A Workforce Problem with Industry Consequences

The shortage of skilled, technology-ready professionals has ripple effects across the industry. Agencies like Caltrans and PG&E, along with private engineering and surveying firms, need new hires who can contribute quickly and confidently.

“We keep hearing, ‘We’d love to do more, but we can’t find people who know how to use the technology,’” said Tom Cardenas of CSDS, a long-time Trimble dealer and technology integrator. “That’s a real bottleneck for growth.”

Cardenas emphasized that the issue isn’t just a lack of surveyors—it’s a lack of surveyors who understand modern workflows.

“If the only thing people know is what they learned 20 or 30 years ago, that puts pressure on technicians and on companies like ours to fill the gaps,” he said. “We need better preparation earlier in the pipeline.”

That pipeline begins in the classroom.

Strong Fundamentals Still Matter

While modern tools are essential, Fresno State has not abandoned the fundamentals that have long defined geomatics education. In fact, Peterson argues that those fundamentals are more important than ever.

“You can’t teach students every tool they’ll ever use, because the tools keep changing,” he said. “But you can teach them how to think critically, how to ask the right questions, and how to evaluate new technology as it comes along.”

Fresno State’s Geomatics Engineering program has built its reputation on teaching the “why” behind the work—boundary law, engineering principles, and critical thinking—while now pairing that foundation with modern technology.

“We’re not just teaching them how to push buttons,” Peterson said. “We’re teaching them how to understand what the technology is doing and how to use it responsibly and effectively.”

This balance between fundamentals and innovation is what makes Fresno State a natural partner for industry leaders like Trimble and CSDS.

The Trimble–CSDS–Fresno State Partnership

The collaboration between Fresno State, Trimble, and CSDS forms a three-part ecosystem:

• Trimble provides the technology and a vision for where the industry is headed.
• CSDS delivers local training, integration, and technical support.
• Fresno State supplies the academic foundation and the next generation of professionals.

“Trimble knows where they see the industry going,” Peterson said. “CSDS sits in the middle, helping supply and support that technology. And we’re on the education side, figuring out how to prepare students for where things are headed.”

From Salem’s perspective, this collaboration is about more than just equipment donations.

“When we talk about changing the industry, it starts at the origin,” Salem said. “The origin is the schools. The people who graduate are the face of the new industry.”

By equipping students with modern tools and workflows, the partnership aims to create graduates who are not only proficient users of technology, but also advocates for better, more efficient ways of working.

Productivity Starts in the Classroom

One of the most important outcomes of modernizing geomatics education is improved productivity.

Students who learn to capture, process, and deliver geospatial data using contemporary tools can add value much faster when they enter the workforce.

“Instead of starting their careers doing things the old way and then figuring out productivity later, they’re coming out of the program already understanding how to use modern workflows,” Cardenas said. “They can show employers how to be more efficient from day one.”

Salem agreed, noting that the goal is not just technical proficiency, but confidence.

“We want students to be comfortable assessing new technology, testing it, and asking the right questions,” she said. “That way, when something new comes along, they’re not afraid of change.”

This ability to adapt is critical in an industry where tools and workflows evolve rapidly.

“Change management is one of the hardest parts of technology adoption,” Salem said. “If people don’t feel confident, they resist new tools. Education can help remove that barrier.”

Creating Change Agents, Not Just Employees

The partnership also aims to develop graduates who can help drive innovation inside the organizations they join.

“If you bring in new blood that’s trained on modern workflows, they can be the change makers,” Salem said. “They can help organizations adopt better processes faster.”

Rather than simply fitting into existing systems, these graduates can introduce new approaches to data capture, processing, and delivery.

“We’re teaching students how to explore the technology, test it, and understand what it can do,” Pederson said. “They won’t always have all the answers, but they’ll know how to find them.”

That mindset benefits both employers and the industry as a whole.

The 65th Annual Geomatics Engineering Conference

The 65th Annual Fresno State Geomatics Engineering Conference is a public expression of this education-industry collaboration.

Held on campus at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union, the two-day event will feature:

• Technical sessions on Land Surveying, Photogrammetry, UAS, GIS, and GPS
• More than 20 speakers from industry, government, and academia
• Vendor exhibits showcasing the latest geospatial technologies
• A Young Surveyors Session focused on career development
• Networking opportunities, raffles, and auctions
• A banquet celebrating students and donors at The Painted Table Event Center

The conference has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to engineering students over the years, reinforcing its role in supporting the next generation of professionals.

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Scott Peterson, brings deep expertise in geomatics engineering, civil engineering, and boundary law, along with a strong commitment to student education.

For industry professionals, the conference offers a chance to engage directly with students, see emerging tools in action, and stay current with trends shaping the profession.

For students, it provides exposure to real-world applications, potential employers, and the broader geomatics community.

A Model for the Rest of the Country

While the Fresno State partnership is rooted in California, its lessons extend far beyond the state.

“Legacy geomatics programs are disappearing,” Salem said. “If we want to keep this profession strong, we need to support the schools that teach the fundamentals and modernize their technology at the same time.”

Pederson believes the model is replicable.

“This shows what’s possible when education, industry, and technology providers work together,” he said. “We can’t just rely on the past. We have to step up our game.”

Cardenas sees benefits for everyone involved.

“Better-prepared graduates help employers, reduce training burdens, and push the industry forward,” he said. “That’s a win for all of us.”

Looking Ahead

The future of surveying and geomatics depends on people—people who understand the fundamentals, embrace modern tools, and are confident enough to drive change.

By aligning education with industry needs, Fresno State, Trimble, and CSDS are helping to close the skills gap and build a stronger, more productive workforce.

And the 65th Annual Geomatics Engineering Conference is where that future comes into focus.

Attend the Next Conference

Whether you’re a student exploring a career in geomatics, an employer seeking the next generation of talent, or a professional looking to stay current with industry trends, the Annual Fresno State Geomatics Engineering Conference offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and engage.

Learn more at:
http://fresnostategeomatics.com