Community Mission
The mission of the Geospatial Working Group (GWG) is to expand awareness and leverage the power of geospatial engineering to enhance operational outcomes. We aim to build a foundation that integrates people, processes, and tools, enabling the creation of digital solutions that improve engineering across basing, support, and battle spaces. Positioned under the Facility Asset Management (FAM) COI, the GWG serves as a vital cross-functional asset within SAME.
Join the SAME Engage GWG NetworkCOI Objectives
- Reinforce Geospatial Engineering as one of the three core doctrinal U.S. military engineer functions, emphasizing its role in supporting cross-functional missions across the entire Force.
- Support and contribute to Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) activities by delivering engineering capabilities that enhance data accuracy and understanding of geographic locations.
- Provide expertise in data analysis and portrayal of both natural and constructed geographic features and boundaries, essential for mission planning and decision-making.
- Integrate diverse skill sets within Geospatial Engineering, including architects, cartographers, coders, data analysts, geospatial engineers, remote sensing specialists, and sUAS pilots, to offer comprehensive support to military and engineering operations.
- Leverage geospatial data to refine insights and enhance situational awareness for improved operational outcomes across multiple disciplines.
“The Geospatial Community of Practice is an umbrella
community encompassing Survey and Mapping, Remote Sensing, GIS,CAD-BIM, and
other groups engaged in geospatial work.“
– Mr. Jacob Watts, Geospatial Community of Practice Leader, USACE
Community Chair
Douglas Kaiser, PMP
Geospatial Project Manager
Organization Structure
Immediate Past Chair: Scott Ensign II, GISP, MSgt, Ret, USAF, Air Force Civil Engineer Center
Vice Chair, GeoWERX: Brian Best, GISP, HDR (Term ends May 2026)
Immediate Past Vice Chair, GeoWERX: Dan Mummert, PE, Pickett and Associates, LLC
(Term ends May 2026)
Assistant Vice Chair, GeoWERX (NEW POSITION– Vacant)
Vice Chair, Liaisons and Communications: Justus Eckstrom, Dewberry
Secretary (NEW POSITION– Vacant)
Senior Uniformed Advisor (NEW POSITION– Vacant)
Junior Uniformed Advisor (NEW POSITION- Vacant)
JETC 2025 (Louisville, KY)
- GeoWERX ’25 Demonstration
- Annual Geospatial Working Group Meeting
- DoD Installation Geospatial Information & Services Governance Group (IGG) Quarterly Meeting (IGG members only)
- DoD Geospatial Engineering Summit
- Geospatial Engineering Social
OPM Job Series
- Geography Series 0150
- Engineering Technical Series 0802
- Construction Analyst Series 0828
- Cartography Series 1370
- Cartographic Technician Series 1371
- Land Surveying Series 1373
- Geodetic Technician Series 1374
- General Physical Scientist Series – 1301
- Data Science Series – 1560
- Technical Information Specialist (Physical Science and Imagery) Series- 1412
Military (Uniformed)
Air Force
Army
USMC
U.S. Navy
DoD’s Digital Twin Definition: A digital twin is a virtual representation of a product, system, or process that uses the best available models, sensor information, data collected from the physical system, and input data to mirror and predict system activities and performance over the life of its corresponding physical twin and inform system design changes over time. There can be multiple digital twins of a system, but all digital twins should be based on authoritative sources of information and have clearly defined uses and scopes. Digital twins may vary in fidelity, based on the use case.
(Source: DoD Instruction 5000.97, Digital Engineering, December 2023/ Summary)
System of Systems: Built & Natural Infrastructure Digital Twin requires a system of systems approach as multiple sources of authoritative infrastructure data are derived via operations/ processes/ systems of distinct CE functional communities.
“The adoption of Digital Twins requires senior management to stop seeking short-term “solutions” and invest in a successful methodology capable of driving information management along the entire lifecycle. Because Digital Twins cannot be bought off the shelf, they require development by a robust methodology and strategic plan which focuses on the successful management of the flow of information across the entire construction lifecycle.” (Source: House of Digital Twins – AEC Business)
This annual demonstration executed during JETC offers a wide variety of expertise, processes, and tools for attendees to view in action, in addition the ability to discuss their application to unique mission requirements with those executing the demonstration.
Why GeoWERX? Pursuit of infrastructure Digital Twins has a very long history, but modern interests have been ignited by continued and sustained advances in technologies making them more accessible. The power of these types of capabilities are currently only limited by imagination and available resources; their potential return on investment- staggering. From traditional survey, BIM/ CAD, cartography, and GIS to Digital Twin, High-Definition Survey (HDS), sUAS, AI/ ML/ AR and beyond geospatial engineers continue to excel, showing the way!
GeoWERX ‘24 – JETC 2024, Orlando
- Story Map – pending
- Video
- Article- Guest Post: Engage With the “Silent Function” at JETC 2024
GeoWERX III – JETC 2023, San Antonio
GeoWERX II – JETC 2022, Aurora
GeoWERX I – JETC 2019, Tampa
- GISP – GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)
- GEOINT Professional Certification – National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
- Certified Survey Technician – National Society of Professional Surveyors
SAME has entered a partnership with Bootcamp GIS to offer our members the latest program of geospatial industry short courses. Engineers, planners, and environmental scientists can elevate their skills in the growing $18B Geographic Information System industry. As a Subject Matter Expert platform, our members can apply to author a course or sign up as a student to learn applied skills. You can take an individual course or earn a GIS certificate by taking six courses in six months.
Data
Data Standards
The key is to think about geospatial technology not as playing one particular role but as adding unique capabilities and progressively more value at different stages of the digital twin journey.
Upcoming National Webinars
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- Webinar
Journey to SAME Fellow Webinar
No two careers are the same and our paths may twist and turn as we carry our passions towards out goals. However, those detours don’t need to come at the expense of our long-term goals and achievements! In fact, they may be some of the most rewarding and challenging experiences. Thinking through and making a game plan during these seasons to make sure our long-term goals stay on track is incredibly important if we want to meet those goals. -
- Webinar
Assessment and Inspection Process for Sites with General Radioactive Materials
A framework has been recently developed which provides a standardized approach in conducting a Preliminary Assessment (PA) and Site Inspection (SI) for sites with a known presence or potential presence of General-Radioactive Materials (G-RAM). -
- Webinar
Business Impacts of the FAR Revisions and Contract Vehicle Realignment
The government contracting landscape has been redefined through recent revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs). All businesses alike and federal agencies are operating under a totally new set of rules based on recently released FAR 19 revisions and contract vehicle realignment. -
- Webinar
Credentialing for Successful Careers
This webinar will provide an overview of professional credentialing pathways for individuals transitioning within or into the A/E/C, national security, and public service sectors.
Related TME Articles – Geospatial Working Group
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Delivering Energetic Materials Manufacturing Facilities
Designing and constructing facilities that manufacture, process, handle, or store explosives and energetic materials present some of the most challenging defense projects—requiring technical experience, strict safety protocols, and a comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks. -
Forging Tradition and Innovation: A New Design Standard at Camp Lejeune
The II MEF Headquarters at Camp Lejeune blends Georgian Revival architecture with modern sustainability—delivering durability, efficiency, and precision that meets contemporary functional requirements while honoring heritage. -
Expanding a Sacred Legacy at Arlington National Cemetery
The design for Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion focused on seamlessly integrating the project with the historic site’s landscape, increasing burial capacity, and enhancing accessibility, resilience, and security. -
Prefabricated Magazine Earns Protective Construction Designation
Innovation Theater presented by Armag. Armags new 3-Bar Earth Covered Magazine (ECM) is an innovative structure and the first of its kind, being the only prefabricated ECM with the ability to withstand external blast pressures equivalent to site-built ECMs. Accomplishing this feat required the development of new technology and input from many departments of the U.S. military.
