By Joel Pomeroy
Every project begins with geography.
Whether designing resilient infrastructure, managing natural resources, planning cities, or deploying autonomous technologies, understanding where things happen is the foundation for making informed decisions. That philosophy has guided Trimble for more than four decades and continues to shape the company’s investments in education, workforce development, and geospatial innovation worldwide.
In a recent conversation with the American Geographical Society (AGS), Ian Warner, Trimble’s Director of Industry Workforce Development and Innovation, described how the company is helping cultivate the next generation of geospatial professionals by expanding access to geoSTEM education, connecting students with real-world technologies, and preparing a workforce capable of solving increasingly complex global challenges.
As AGS prepares for the 2026 Geography 2050: Africa Shaping Tomorrow symposium, Trimble’s work offers a compelling example of how investments in people—not just technology—are shaping the future of geography.
Building a Global GeoSTEM Pipeline
Mr. Warner’s own career reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the geospatial profession. Raised on a dairy farm in rural Kansas, he spent his early years in construction management, working on projects ranging from houses and schools to hospitals, churches, data centers, and manufacturing facilities. He later moved into the tech side of the industry, joining Trimble, where he became active in workforce development and innovation, working to expand access to technology training across the industries Trimble serves.
Today, Mr. Warner leads initiatives that help prepare students and professionals to work at the intersection of geography, engineering, construction, agriculture, and digital technology. His work reflects a broader commitment by Trimble to strengthening the global geospatial workforce through education and practical training.
Rather than viewing workforce development as a recruitment strategy alone, Trimble approaches it as a long-term investment in society’s capacity to solve problems. As digital transformation reshapes nearly every industry, the company recognizes that tomorrow’s workforce must possess not only technical expertise but also strong spatial reasoning, analytical thinking, and an understanding of how geographic data informs decision-making.
Bringing Geospatial Technology into the Classroom
A key part of Trimble’s mission is developing a future workforce that is excited to engage with their technologies.
To this end, Trimble partners with primary and secondary schools to teach real-world technology to young students, including SketchUp, their 3D-modeling platform. Using SketchUp, students are able to experiment in ways that interest them through a spatial environment, acquiring skills they can apply in future work. For instance, in collaboration with AGS, Trimble has introduced SketchUp to students in Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG) classes.
As part of an AGS Teacher Fellow workshop, our APHG teacher community contributed directly to the development of Trimble’s SketchUp for Schools curriculum for geography class. In one project, students used the software to design a city addressing the problem of food deserts, integrating concepts of urban planning, equity, accessibility, and sustainability with hands-on digital modeling. Rather than learning abstract concepts alone, students apply geographic thinking to real-world challenges by designing communities, modeling infrastructure, and visualizing solutions within real spatial environments.
Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce
Trimble’s commitment extends well beyond traditional classrooms. Mr. Warner emphasized the importance of getting involved in the trades, especially given the growth of automating technologies like generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Recognizing growing demand for skilled professionals in surveying, construction, manufacturing, and engineering, the company has developed partnerships across the educational spectrum—from Career and Technical Education programs to trade schools, labor unions, community colleges, and universities.
At the heart of these efforts is Trimble’s partnership with SkillsUSA, a program that brings Career and Technical Education to junior high, high school, and community college students. This program introduces students to careers requiring expertise in technologies such as GNSS positioning, digital construction, advanced manufacturing, and 3D modeling. Participants gain practical experience using the same tools they will encounter in professional environments, creating a more seamless transition from education into employment..
Through SkillsUSA, students learn the technical skills required in trades: 3D modeling, manufacturing, airplane engine mechanics, and more. This extends into post-secondary education too. There’s huge demand for surveyors and construction workers who know how to use technology like GNSS receivers and heavy machine control, so Trimble has brought the same training programs into unions, trade schools, and universities.
These investments respond to a critical workforce challenge facing the geospatial industry. As experienced professionals retire and digital technologies rapidly evolve, employers increasingly need workers who can integrate field expertise with advanced geospatial technologies. Trimble’s educational initiatives help close this gap by ensuring that students graduate with both technical skills and the confidence to apply them in real-world settings.
Technology That Serves People
Trimble has a long history of integrating geospatial technology, starting from its beginnings as a navigation company. Among other successes, the company was the first to bring GPS to the commercial business market in the early 1980s, revolutionizing surveying. Trimble then partnered with Caterpillar to sell heavy machine control with GPS, and became more involved with construction.
Today, Trimble continues to use geospatial datasets, GNSS, and field mapping to connect the physical and digital worlds, helping its clients across sectors. These technologies support professionals working in construction, transportation, agriculture, utilities, natural resources, and countless other sectors where accurate geographic information drives better decisions.
Supporting Africa’s Geospatial Future
In preparation for our upcoming Geography 2050 Symposium ‘Africa Shaping Tomorrow’, we asked Mr. Warner specifically about Trimble’s work on the African continent. As Africa experiences rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and technological growth, the need for skilled geospatial professionals continues to expand.
Trimble partners with Optron, a South African-based technology distributor, in their enterprises in Africa. Together with Optron, Trimble has utilized their tech in key development projects such as advancing mining infrastructure in South Africa. Trimble has established partnerships across the continent to support infrastructure, mining, and positioning technologies throughout the region.
The company has also collaborated with organizations including Engineers Without Borders and The HALO Trust, applying geospatial technologies to projects ranging from infrastructure development to humanitarian mine remediation.
These partnerships reflect a broader understanding that sustainable technological progress depends on local expertise. Building geospatial capacity means empowering engineers, surveyors, planners, educators, and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools necessary to address challenges within their own communities.
For Trimble, Africa represents not only a growing market but also an opportunity to invest in one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforces, where geoSTEM education can play a transformative role in economic development and innovation.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Geography
Emerging technologies are rapidly changing how geospatial professionals work, and artificial intelligence has become one of the industry’s most significant catalysts.
According to Mr. Warner, AI has revolutionized the work being done at Trimble as well as the geospatial industry more broadly, referring to it as the “third great Industrial Revolution.” Trimble began incorporating AI many years before its recent proliferation, using technologies like automated character recognition and object recognition within building models.
There are a wide variety of ways Trimble currently uses AI, from 3D modeling to large-scale data processing. AI-generated rendering and 3D modeling, for instance, allow architects and designers to transform sketches, drawings, or 2D images into detailed 3D models and realistic visualizations of buildings and other structures. At the same time, AI processes data from LiDAR, GNSS sensors, mobile scanning, and photogrammetry to automatically classify features such as fire hydrants, stop signs, and trees, while also detecting pavement cracks and bridge defects from millions of collected data points.
Moving forward, Mr. Warner expects AI to become an even more valuable tool but stressed that it cannot replace a strong foundation of knowledge. As he put it, AI is “a great tool to have in your tool bank,” but users still need the background to question and verify its results. Ultimately, he believes those who understand how geography and technology intersect will be best positioned to solve the complex challenges of the future.
Investing in Geography’s Future
Trimble’s impact extends far beyond the technologies it develops. By investing in geoSTEM education, expanding access to professional tools, strengthening workforce pathways, and cultivating geospatial talent around the world, the company is helping build the human capital necessary to address the defining challenges of the twenty-first century.
From classrooms and technical colleges to infrastructure projects across Africa, Trimble demonstrates that innovation is ultimately about empowering people. Its long-term commitment to education and workforce development reflects an understanding that the future of geography depends not only on better technology, but on ensuring that future generations have the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to use it wisely.
As AGS looks ahead to Geography 2050: Africa Shaping Tomorrow, Trimble’s work serves as a reminder that investing in people remains one of the most powerful ways to shape the future of our world.