“Your skills and perspectives are valuable”.
– Angela Anyakora
The world of surveying is experiencing incredible change, and women are pivotal in bringing diverse perspectives and skills to the field. As the number of female surveyors in the industry grows, it is essential to acknowledge their contributions and their positive impact on the profession.
To understand this evolution, we turned to Nigerian surveyor Angela Anyakora, who shared details about her professional journey, her role, and how technology influences her work in surveying.
Working with Sambus Geospatial Nigeria as a Research and Business Development Officer and Vice-Chair (Technical) FIG Young Surveyors Network community, Angela oversees programs, leads events, and coordinates conferences. She is also an active member of the Women in Surveying community in Abuja, Nigeria, which advocates for more female participation in the surveying profession.
Breaking Ground in a Male-Dominant Field
Each morning, Angela navigates the bustling streets of Abuja, Nigeria, to reach her office, where she conducts geographic data analysis using GIS software and prepares reports. Depending on project deadlines and her weekend schedules, she also volunteers and plays basketball. Often, she’s the only woman among teams of male surveyors, yet Angela has never let this deter her.
“Each class might only have had 2-3 women out of 20 students in the past”, Angela remarks, “However, the ratio has changed to about 7-10 women today.”
The increase in female participation indicates a growing appreciation for the diverse skills women bring to the profession. Surveying is a dynamic field with numerous career opportunities for women. Whether interested in outdoor work, cutting-edge technology, or infrastructure development, there are roles within surveying to match various interests and skills.
Angela’s path into surveying drew heavily on her passions for travel, adventure, and analysis. She credits her mother, a renowned surveyor in Nigeria the current Secretary General Nigerian Institution of Surveyors and a major influence in her life, with helping her choose a career in surveying.
Angela’s Daily Tasks as a Surveyor
Depending on project deadlines and her weekend schedules, Angela employs surveying tools to deliver her work. As a cartographer of the modern world, Angela heavily relies on cutting-edge devices such as Geographic Information System software, Total Stations, and GPS for field data collection.
“The integration of advanced GPS technology with GIS allows for real-time kinematic positioning. It has significantly improved the accuracy of our measurements and reduced the time required for data gathering”, says Angela.
Such tools help her deliver highly efficient results in her positioning and mapping projects. Furthermore, Angela believes that the advancement of technology has also led to an increase in women in surveying by making the process more accessible and less physically intensive.
Innovating through Challenges with Technology
Regarding the impact of digital technology and software on accuracy, efficiency, and safety in Angela’s job, she attributed significant improvements in these fields to digital technology and software.
When speaking of a specific instance where technology helped her overcome a challenge, Angela recounted:
“There was a project in a densely forested area, where traditional survey methods were difficult to implement. By using drone technology, we could capture high-resolution imagery and generate accurate topographic maps without needing extensive ground-based surveying. It not only saved us time and resources but also ensured the safety of our surveying team.”
Angela places major emphasis on safety, calling it her “#1 sign of impact” alongside productivity enhancements, time efficiency, and precision.
Gearing up for a Greener Future
Angela enjoys solving societal problems using technology and data gathered from surveying. In this regard, the Nigerian surveyor also shared her involvement in a project examining the urban heat island effect and how green and blue spaces can moderate high temperatures in urban areas. It focused on how these spaces can help mitigate climate change. Another project focused on using renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change. Together with her team, Angela analysed the energy consumption levels of Nigerian citizens in a particular location and assessed how much carbon dioxide was being emitted, which is crucial in combating climate change.
She views her work as crucial to promoting policies that encourage sustainability by promoting sustainable and inclusive practices.
Angela’s Golden Nuggets: Top Tips for Success in Surveying
When asked for advice to women considering a career in surveying, Angela urged them to embrace the field wholeheartedly, recognising that it offers immense opportunities for growth and variety.
“Stay updated with the latest technologies, seek continuous learning opportunities, network with other professionals, and join communities that can provide support and inspiration”, Angela advises.
Joining communities like Women in Surveying and FIG Young Surveyors Network can be highly beneficial. Angela wants women to believe in their capabilities and not let stereotypes deter them from pursuing their passion.
The Triad of Progress: Women, Technology, and Surveying
Angela predicts a bright future for surveying, especially with rapid technological advancements. She believes that as technology continues to evolve, it will create more opportunities for women to excel and lead in surveying. Angela also foresees more women taking on leadership roles and driving innovation in the surveying sector.
“I foresee a future where gender parity is achieved, and women are recognised for their expertise and contributions”, she asserts.
However, she admits the path demands allying with continuous learning, mentorship programs, and communities that promote diversity and empower women.
If Angela could shape the future of surveying, she would focus on advancing education and training, promoting gender equality, and fostering community engagement. Angela advocates for mentorship programs, scholarships, and policies that encourage diversity.
“I hope to see a future where women are equally represented and recognised in the survey industry. I also anticipate that more women will continue to break barriers and achieve significant milestones in their careers with increasing awareness and initiatives supporting women in STEM fields. I believe we will see a new generation of females who are confident, skilled, and influential”, Angela concludes.
An advocate, believer, and shining exemplar of what women can achieve in surveying, Angela Anyakora is relentlessly shaping an inclusive and innovative profession. She’s certainly an inspiration to many, and through her story, we can glimpse an inclusive future where women, technology, and surveying merge into a powerful triad of progress.
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