Episode 270 - Rob Cammack & SmartDrone

Episode 270 - Rob Cammack & SmartDrone

From The Geoholics by thegeoholics

February 4, 2026 · 1h 20m · Episode 326

About this episode

Rob Cammack discusses innovation in surveying technology and the impact of LiDAR and drones on the industry.

This week the Geoholics crew sits down with Rob Cammack — entrepreneur, builder, and CEO/Founder of SmartDrone — a guy who’s basically been innovating since most of us were trading baseball cards. From launching businesses as a kid to founding and selling multiple companies, Rob brings that rare mix of grit, vision, and “there’s gotta be a better way” thinking that our industry desperately needs. We dive headfirst into the origin story behind Magellan, the first “No Drone Expert Required” LiDAR drone — and why it’s flipping the script on how survey firms adopt technology. No six-figure science projects. No “drone guy risk.” Just practical robotics that turn everyday crews into productivity machines. But this episode isn’t just about hardware — it’s about mindset. Rob talks: -Building companies (and selling them) without losing your soul -Removing friction so surveyors can focus on surveying -Why LiDAR is the great unlock for mapping pros stuck in camera-only workflows -How robotics can upgrade people, not replace them -What “world-class talent” really looks like in a tech-driven survey company -And where the surveying industry is headed in the next 5–10 years It’s equal parts…

People in this episode

Host: thegeoholics

Guest: Rob Cammack

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SmartDrone

Products: Magellan

More episodes of The Geoholics

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Geoholics podcast page.