Mapping Our Future: Navigating the Shortage of Land Surveyors in Illinois

HLR • April 13, 2023

Land surveyors play a crucial role in a wide range of industries, especially in civil engineering. It is no secret that, despite the importance of their work, there is a shortage of land surveyors in Illinois and many parts of the United States. Why the shortage...and what can we do as industry professionals to reverse the trend?


Firstly, it is important to understand who land surveyors are and what they do. Land surveyors are trained professionals who are responsible for measuring and mapping the land, which is then used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to construction, infrastructure, mining, and real estate. This critical profession demands extensive knowledge and experience in several areas including mathematics, engineering, geography, geodesy, cartography, and law.


Why is there a shortage of land surveyors?

One of the main reasons for the shortage of land surveyors is the lack of interest among young people in pursuing careers in this field. Surveying is not a well-known profession, and many students are not aware of the opportunities that exist in the field. Additionally, many students are not familiar with the math and science skills that are required for this profession, which can be a barrier to entry for some.


Another factor contributing to the shortage of land surveyors is the aging workforce. Many surveyors are approaching retirement age, and there are not enough younger professionals to replace them. This is a particular concern in the United States, where the average age of surveyors is over 55 years old.  It's not all bad news for Illinois, however. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May of 2021, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metropolitan area – a metropolitan statistical area that includes parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin – estimated 810 surveyors, ranking number ten on the list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in surveyors. While that estimate does not include self-employed workers, there is still work to be done to promote the profession and encourage more people to enter it.


The shortage of land surveyors is having a significant impact on the industries that rely on their services. Construction projects, for example, require accurate measurements of land and property boundaries, and delays or inaccuracies in surveying can cause significant delays and cost overruns. Infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges, also require precise surveying to ensure that they are built in the correct location and meet all necessary safety standards.


How can we address the shortage?

There are several steps that can be taken to address the shortage of land surveyors. One is to raise awareness among young people about the opportunities that exist in this field. This can be done through outreach programs, career fairs, and partnerships with schools and universities. We need to invest in training and education programs to ensure that the next generation of surveyors has the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this field. This can include continuing education courses, partnerships with industry organizations, internships, and apprenticeship programs like the Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program offered by the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA) in partnership with Parkland College in Champaign, IL, and participating employers.

  • Slide title

    March 17, 2023 – HLR surveyors Garret Bradt and Hunter Lyon speak to students at Rockford East High School about Trig-Star — a competition sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors that recognizes and rewards high school students who excel in mathematics, particularly Trigonometry.

    Button

  • Slide title

    April 6, 2023 – HLR President/CEO, Jeni Lyon, proctored the Trig-Star competition exam for 60 students at Rockford East High School in Rockford, Illinois. HLR has been a proud sponsor of the competition since 2010.

    Button

  • Slide title

    October 5-6, 2022 – HLR participated in the School District U-46 Explore event at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, with hopes of inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists, and surveyors. HLR’s exhibit featured an augmented reality sandbox—a 3D, interactive, dynamic educational tool to help students understand mapping, topography, and watersheds. Moving the sand inside the box updates a real-time projected color-coded topography map onto the sand, and can even simulate a rain event displaying where water would naturally flow based on the sand elevations.

    Button

  • Slide title

    September 29, 2020 – HLR Vice President, Austin Ridgely, PLS (front left), introducing the surveying profession and survey technology to high school students in Olney, IL.

    Button

  • Slide title

    April 2023 – Students at St. Joseph School in Olney, IL explore HLR’s augmented reality sandbox—a 3D, interactive, dynamic educational tool to help students understand mapping, topography, and watersheds. Moving the sand inside the box updates a real-time projected color-coded topography map onto the sand, and can even simulate a rain event displaying where water would naturally flow based on the sand elevations. The sandbox is scheduled to visit other schools in the area throughout the month of April.

    Button

Another step is to encourage more women and minorities to pursue careers in surveying. These groups are underrepresented in the field, and increasing diversity can help to bring new perspectives and ideas to the profession.


The shortage of land surveyors is a significant challenge for many industries. It is important to raise awareness about the opportunities in surveying, encourage more diversity in the field, and invest in training and education programs. By doing so, we can ensure that the critical work of land surveying continues to be carried out with accuracy and precision for many years to come.


If you are interested in a career in land surveying in Illinois, here are some top resources to consider:


  1. Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA): The IPLSA is a statewide organization that represents the interests of land surveyors in Illinois. They offer resources such as continuing education courses, networking opportunities, job listings, and the Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program in partnership with Parkland College in Champaign, IL, and participating employers.
  2. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees the licensing of land surveyors in the state. Their website has information on the requirements for licensure, as well as a list of approved education programs.
  3. Parkland College: The Weekend Land Surveying Program allows students earn 24 credits in just 24 months by watching pre-recorded lectures online, completing online lessons, and receiving on-campus instruction one weekend per month. Parkland is the only community college in Illinois offering a land surveying program, which means Illinois residents are eligible for in-district tuition. 
  4. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE): Beginning in Fall 2023, students will be able to enroll in the Land Surveying and Geomatics major, which is the only four-year degree of its kind in the region. While most universities only offer majors that are closely related to land surveying, such as construction management or civil engineering, this program allows students to complete an additional 24 credit hours in land surveying courses, thus earning a survey degree upon graduation.
  5. National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS): The NSPS is a national organization that provides resources and support to land surveyors across the country. They offer educational programs, networking opportunities, and advocacy for the profession.
  6. Online resources: There are many online resources available for learning about land surveying, including websites, forums, and blogs. Some popular sites include the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), and the Land Surveyors United forum.
  7. Vincennes University Surveying Technology Summer Camp (Indiana): A 3-day summer camp for high school juniors and seniors filled with hands-on learning with electronic instruments and survey technology. Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. is been a proud sponsor of this event. Additionally, VU is one of only a few universities in the U.S. offering a degree in Surveying. It offers an associate degree and certificate in Surveying Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Surveying Management. VU’s degrees and certificates prepare graduates for careers as surveyors and survey mapping technicians.
  8. Get Kids Into Survey: The Get Kids into Survey (GKiS) project is an initiative aimed at promoting the surveying profession to young people, with the goal of encouraging them to consider a career in this field. The GKiS project uses a range of activities and resources to engage young people and raise awareness about surveying. These include educational materials such as posters, videos, and activity packs, as well as events such as school visits, career fairs, and online webinars. The project also includes a social media campaign, which uses the hashtag #getkidsintosurvey to share stories, photos, and experiences from surveying professionals around the world.
  9. Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR): Whether you're reviewing educational programs and resources and need assistance deciding what program might be best for you, looking for internship/apprenticeship opportunities, or your next career move, our land surveyors are happy to discuss their journey to becoming a surveyor and share their experiences working in the profession. Give us a call anytime at (847) 697-6700.

Share This Post

Recent Posts

HLR-Led St. Francisville Wabash Cannonball Overflow Bridge Replacement Earns 2026 ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Award

By HLR • January 12, 2026
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR), in partnership with the City of St. Francisville, is proud to announce that the Wabash Cannonball Overflow Bridge Replacement has received a 2026 Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-Illinois) . This recognition honors projects that demonstrate exceptional engineering achievement, innovation, and public benefit, and the Wabash Cannonball Overflow Bridge Replacement stands as a powerful example of how thoughtful design can strengthen infrastructure while protecting sensitive natural environments. Replacing a Critical Lifeline The original bridge, a 1,100-foot timber trestle converted decades ago from a former railroad structure, had reached the end of its service life. Its narrow, one-lane configuration and severe deterioration posed growing safety risks and maintenance challenges for the City. As a vital connector between Illinois and Indiana across the Wabash River floodplain, the bridge plays a critical role in emergency response, commerce, and daily travel for residents and businesses. Recognizing the importance of this crossing, the City partnered with HLR to deliver a long-term solution that balanced structural performance, environmental stewardship, and community needs. Innovative Design in a Sensitive Environment HLR designed a new 1,030-foot precast concrete girder bridge constructed parallel to the existing structure and built in two stages to maintain traffic throughout construction. The new bridge features longer spans and fewer piers, reducing scour risk, debris accumulation, and long-term maintenance demands, key advantages in a dynamic floodplain environment. Precast concrete girders were selected over steel to provide greater durability, corrosion resistance, and life-cycle cost savings for the City, ensuring the bridge will serve the region reliably for generations. Environmental Stewardship as a Core Design Element Environmental coordination was central to the project’s success. Fourteen wetlands were identified within the project area, with impacts minimized to less than half an acre. When no wetland mitigation bank credits were available in the watershed, HLR developed a 5-acre forested mitigation wetland on City-owned land nearby, transforming a regulatory challenge into a lasting environmental asset. The project also required careful protection of threatened species, including the state-endangered bloodleaf and the eastern ribbon snake. Close coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies ensured full compliance while preserving sensitive habitats. Engineering Ingenuity from Start to Finish Tight environmental constraints and limited site access required creative construction solutions. Concrete piers were placed using the existing bridge as a work platform, minimizing disturbance to surrounding wetlands while maintaining continuous traffic. Despite complex permitting and pandemic-era agency coordination challenges, the project was completed on time and within budget. A Model of Balanced Engineering Excellence The ACEC-Illinois Special Achievement Award recognizes the Wabash Cannonball Overflow Bridge Replacement as a project that goes beyond structural design, demonstrating how engineering can connect communities, protect natural resources, and deliver lasting public value. HLR is proud to have partnered with the City of St. Francisville on a project that r eflects the firm’s commitment to innovative design, environmental responsibility, and resilient infrastructure .

Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management Project Earns Dual 2026 Industry Awards

By HLR • January 8, 2026
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR), in partnership with the Village of Elk Grove Village, is proud to announce that the Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management project has earned two industry awards in 2026 , recognizing its innovative approach to public works management, environmental restoration, and stakeholder engagement. The project received a 2026 Engineering Excellence Special Achievement Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-Illinois) and a 2026 Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Management Innovation category from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Chicago Metro Chapter – Suburban Branch . Reimagining Drainage Management at an Unprecedented Scale Elk Grove Village is home to one of the nation’s largest contiguous business and technology parks, serving more than 5,600 businesses and over 100,000 daily commuters. Maintaining the park’s 30 miles of open-channel drainage ditches, many located on private property, has long posed logistical, environmental, and communication challenges. When the Village partnered with HLR in 2024 to relaunch the drainage management program, the goal extended beyond infrastructure maintenance. The mission was clear: deliver effective stormwater management while building trust with hundreds of adjacent businesses, without disrupting daily operations. Engineering Transparency Through Innovation HLR responded by designing a first-of-its-kind, GIS-based public engagement and management platform. Using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps, and customized ArcGIS Dashboards, the team created a real-time digital ecosystem connecting Village staff, contractors, and the business community through a single, transparent source of information. Three tailored dashboards, serving Village staff, contractors, and businesses, allowed users to track work locations, view progress, receive updates, and submit concerns in real time. This innovative approach transformed routine maintenance data into a powerful communication tool, replacing years of fragmented outreach with clarity, responsiveness, and accountability. Delivering Results Without Disruption The program delivered measurable results. During the 2024 season, crews completed four invasive species herbicide treatments across the entire system, totaling approximately 120 miles of maintenance activity. More than seven miles of ditches underwent woody vegetation removal, followed by the installation of 2,650 pounds of native seed to improve drainage performance, stabilize soils, and enhance ecological resilience. Equally important, the project was complet ed on time and within budget, with no reported business shutdowns or operational delays; a critical success factor within one of the country’s busiest industrial corridors. A Model for the Future of Public Works The dual recognition from ACEC-Illinois and APWA highlights the project’s success in redefining how complex public works programs are managed and communicated. By engineering transparency alongside infrastructure, HLR and the Village of Elk Grove Village set a new standard for stormwater management, public engagement, and municipal partnership. As the program continues throug h 2026, the Elk Grove Business Park Drainage Management project stands as a replicable model for municipalities nationwide, demonstrating that in novation, environmental stewardship, and trust-building can work hand in hand. We look forward to celebrating these achievements with the Village of Elk Grove Village at the upcoming ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards Gala and the APWA Chicago Metro – Suburban Branch Awards Luncheon.

Sparking Curiosity: HLR Inspires Future Engineers at the U-46 Explore Event

By HLR • October 7, 2025
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) was proud to once again take part in the School District U-46 Explore event at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on October 1–2. This annual career and curriculum expo gives students an early look at a wide range of professions—from engineering and manufacturing to healthcare, information technology, business, and more—and our team was thrilled to help bring those possibilities to life. Hosted by School District U-46 in partnership with the Alignment Collaborative for Education , the Explore event welcomes more than 2,500 eighth-grade students from eight local middle schools. Through interactive exhibits and demonstrations, students get hands-on exposure to career pathways that match their interests and skills. The Alignment Collaborative, a local nonprofit, plays a key role in connecting community partners and supporting the district’s educational initiatives. Before attending, students use SchooLinks—a digital college and career planning platform—to identify the pathways that align with their personal strengths. With guidance from counselors, they select specific areas to focus on during the event, ensuring each student’s experience is both intentional and engaging. Representing the Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Trades pathway, HLR joined more than 60 local businesses, industries, government agencies, and nonprofits. Our booth featured a crowd favorite—the augmented reality (AR) sandbox. This interactive 3D tool lets students shape and mold the sand to create their own topographic maps, which are instantly projected in vivid color. When they simulate rainfall, they can watch how water flows through the elevations they’ve built—making concepts like mapping, topography, and watershed behavior come alive. The HLR team had a great time sharing our passion for engineering and connecting with students, parents, and U-46 staff throughout the event. We’re grateful for opportunities like Explore that help young minds see how creativity, technology, and problem-solving come together in engineering—and we look forward to inspiring even more future engineers in the years to come.