NCSS is partnering with the Foothills Chapter to present this seminar.

Registration begins at 7:00 am, and a full breakfast will be served, so come hungry. Class begins at 8:00 am and concludes at 5:00 pm.  Lunch will be provided.

Schedule:
8:00 am - 9:30 am: UgCS Flight Planning - Doug Suttles
9:30 am -11:00 am: Virtual Surveyor - Briton Voorhees
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Agisoft Metashape - Fred Johnson  
12:00pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Agisoft Metashape - Fred Johnson  
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Part 107: What is it and Why you need it? - Dr. Jerry W. Nave
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: AI Surveying - Doug Suttles

Topics: Modern Surveying Technologies & AI Applications

• Mission Planning for UAV Surveys - Master the art of efficient drone survey planning, site assessment, and flight optimization. Learn to minimize risks while maximizing data quality and operational efficiency.
• Part 107 : What is it and Why you need it? What is it? Why is it required? How do you get the certificate? This will get you started to achieving the certificate.
• Agisoft Metashape Mastery - Hands-on training in photogrammetry workflow optimization, from image alignment to final deliverables. Generate survey-quality point clouds and orthomosaics.
• Virtual Surveyor Techniques - Advanced point cloud processing, volume calculations, and surveying-specific analysis tools. Transform raw data into actionable surveying deliverables.
• AI in Surveying - The Future is Now - Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing automated feature extraction, quality control, and data analysis in modern surveying practice.

Instructors:

Doug Suttles - Foothills Chapter

Doug Suttles assumed leadership of Suttles Surveying in 2016 but began his career in 1990 after obtaining an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Surveying Technology from Coastal Carolina Community College. He has been involved with surveying since 1986 and his expertise includes data management and output from AutoCAD and various software packages as well as information technology management. Doug has served as a Council member of the North Carolina Electronic Recordation Council for 10+ years as well as being a member of the following associations and boards. The North Carolina Society of Surveyors (Foothills Chapter President), Director of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors Education Foundation, Member of Western Piedmont Community College Advisory Panel, Member of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors Education Enhancement Committee, Chairman of the McDowell County Utility Coordinator Council (UCC) and is the co-chairman of the Burke/Caldwell Utilities Coordination Committee.

Dr. Jerry Nave - NC A&T University

Dr. Jerry W. Nave graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Surveying and Mapping Science.  He later completed a Master's Degree in 1999 and his Doctorate Degree in 2005, both from East Tennessee State University.  After graduating in 1986, he worked for Dewberry and Davis for six years in both Fairfax, Virginia and Johnson City, Tennessee.  In 1992, he began working for the City of Johnson City, and in 1993, he relocated to the City of Kingsport as a Land Surveyor in the Engineering Department.  He later started a small land surveying firm in Elizabethton before joining the faculty at East Tennessee State University’s Surveying and Mapping Science Program.  In 2007, Dr. Nave moved to Greensboro, NC, to help start the Geomatics Program.  Dr. Nave has served as the President of the Guilford Chapter (2015-2019), the NCSS Executive Board of Directors (2017-2023), and has served on a number of committees for the Society.  In addition to his University duties, Dr. Nave teaches seminars related to boundaries, GNSS, UAS, and ethics to surveyors in North Carolina.  Dr. Nave is licensed as a PLS in both Tennessee (1993) and North Carolina (2015) and has his FAA UAS certificate (2018-Present).

Briton Voorhees - Virtual Surveyor

Briton Voorhees has worked alongside surveyors for over 12 years, helping them integrate drone technology into their workflows. In 2010, he recognized the transformative potential of drones in the geospatial industry and focused his studies on remote sensing and drone-based data collection. Since then, he has collaborated with surveying professionals across the U.S. and Canada to implement LiDAR and photogrammetric drones into field operations.

Early in his journey, Briton realized that drone surveying doesn’t end with the flight—it’s what comes next that truly matters. Actionable, lightweight, and intelligent data is key to making drone operations efficient and valuable. In 2019, he joined Virtual Surveyor to help bridge the gap between raw, unstructured drone outputs and smart, CAD-ready data.

As an Account Manager at Virtual Surveyor, Briton has spent the past six years championing the concept of "virtual surveying"—enabling professionals to survey like surveyors, but in a virtual environment. His work continues to bridge the divide between field expertise and evolving technology, as well as between drone data and design-ready deliverables.

Fred Johnson - Spatial Data Consultants, Inc

Fred Johnson is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in North Carolina, Photogrammetric Surveyor in South Carolina, Surveyor Photogrammetrist in Virginia, and holds PSM licensure in Florida. As Director of Geomatics and Vice President at Spatial Data Consultants, Inc., he has led complex geospatial initiatives across the Southeastern U.S. since joining the firm in 2017.

As a U.S. Navy veteran, Fred brings military precision and strategic thinking to every project. He holds a BA in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has studied Hydrographic Surveying at Cape Fear Community College, and has also studied Remote Sensing at Penn State University.

With over a decade of combined field and executive experience, Fred is dedicated to transforming spatial data into actionable insights that guide infrastructure development, environmental stewardship, and community planning.

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