Episode 256 - Rich Leaver LS, Matt O’Rourke LS and Swiss Cheese or Swiss Precision?

This episode brings together two surveying powerhouses from the great state of Wisconsin - Rich Leaver, LS and Matt O’Rourke, LS - for a deep dive into the future of boundaries (spoiler: they’re more important than you think). Rich shares how he went from re-monumenting 3,000 PLS corners in Wisconsin to exploring Switzerland’s multi-purpose cadastre system—because why not fix 99% of U.S. surveying problems with chocolate-fueled innovation? 

Meanwhile, Matt talks about navigating his 24+ years in land surveying, helping a two-person firm grow into a thriving team, and how to keep your cool when dealing with complex right-of-way platting and snowmobiles. 

Could Swiss-style cadastral systems save U.S. surveyors from a boundary crisis? Rich and Matt say ‘yes’—but it’ll take more than chocolate and yodeling to get there!

The group tackled bold questions: Should boundaries be classified as critical infrastructure? Are U.S. surveyors ready for a paradigm shift? And what would they say if they only had 60 seconds to pitch cadastral modernization to a governor? (Hint: it involves passion, precision, and maybe a touch of Swiss envy).

Plus:
Song of the Week – “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots
GEODNET hits 17,563 satellite miners
ESRI Pro Tip & GeoSearch Career Corner
Emlid and Trimble dropping tech mic moments

It’s a mix of tech, policy, and people—the kind of episode where boundaries aren’t just lines on a map, they’re lines in the sand for the profession’s future.