65th Annual LSPS Convention

April 15-17, 2026

Golden Nugget Casino & Hotel, 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601

Hosted by the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors

Register now

EMC (Every Member Campaign) Scholarship- Deadline March 1, 2026

*Don’t forget to check out our scholarship opportunities!

WE
NEED
YOUR
HELP!

We want to help worthy students join us in the Land Surveying profession!
Please donate to:
1.The Education Foundation grants scholarships while providing guidance by assisting worthy students to obtain instruction and training in land surveying and higher education.
2.The Every Member Campaign (EMC), which began in 2006, was created solely for the purpose of supporting the Geomatics Program at Nicholls State University.

Donate to the Disaster Fund so that we can always stand ready to give relief when disaster hits our area.

Donate to the Legislative Fund so that we can be ready to address legislation affecting our Surveying Profession.

In Memoriam...

Stephen Joseph Langlinais
November 1, 1964 - January 18, 2026

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father Clinton Sensat at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Readers for the Mass were his granddaughters, Alison Bourque and Hannah Granger. Gift bearers were Regan Granger, Olivia Harris, Elizabeth Harris, and Katelyn Earnest. Interment followed immediately at Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.

Visitation was held at Frioux-David Funeral Home in Erath on Thursday, January 22, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. A rosary was led by Deacon Tim Marcantel at 11:00 a.m.

Stephen Joseph Langlinais was called home to his Heavenly Father at 7:00 p.m. on January 18, 2026, surrounded by his beloved children.

Known to many as “Mr. Steve,” he was a native of Erath and was raised on a rice and dairy farm, where he and his siblings learned the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work. His days often began at 4:00 a.m., milking cows, followed by school and football or track practice, then returning home for chores and studying late into the night. He attended Erath High School, graduating as Valedictorian in 1961. During his high school years, he excelled in football and track, earning All-State honors in track all four years and setting multiple school records. He was later inducted into the Erath High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Stephen went on to attend USL, where he was a member of both the football and track teams. He earned his Bachelor’s degree and later his Master’s degree from LSU. In 1969, he obtained his Professional Engineering license, and in 1971, his Professional Land Surveying license. Shortly thereafter, he founded his land surveying business, S. J. Langlinais & Associates, which he operated from his home for many years before moving to a dedicated office in Abbeville. In addition to running his business, he accepted a professorship at USL at the age of 25 and taught Agriscience for 30 years.

Following his retirement from USL, Stephen was named “Outstanding Alumni of the College of Life Sciences” in 2001. That same year, he was honored as “State Engineer of the Year” by the Louisiana Society of Engineers. He also served for many years as an officer in the local chapter of the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors (LSPS), including the role of President. He led his land surveying firm for over 50 years and was recognized by colleagues, peers, associates, and family for his dedication and service at a semi-retirement banquet in 2022.

In his professional life, Stephen also served as an expert witness in numerous cases, offering insight in criminal court proceedings, environmental lawsuits, and matters involving mechanical and boundary-related concepts. He was also known to have written and copyrighted his own drainage calculation software, pioneering the use of computers in engineering drainage design.

He proudly represented the Krewe of Vermilion in 2003 and was crowned King Vermilion IV, serving alongside his youngest daughter as his Queen. In 2005, he was inducted into the Order of Living Legends by the Acadian Museum in Erath.

A lifelong, devout Catholic, Stephen served as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and was a member of the Come Lord Jesus prayer group. He was also a member of Les Curieux, where he enjoyed engaging with community leaders on issues affecting Vermilion Parish.

Stephen married the love of his life, Juliette Marie Toups of Henry, in 1964. Together they shared 57 years of marriage and raised five children. They were later blessed with fifteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He will be remembered as a kind, caring, patient, and genuine gentleman; a devoted professor; and a respected businessman who touched countless lives. Stephen was known for his sense of humor, contagious laugh, strong moral compass, and selflessness. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren and taking sincere interest in their activities, sports, and hobbies.

The Langlinais family extends heartfelt gratitude to Mandy and Debbie Baudoin, Norma Broussard, Dorothea “Dot” Babineaux, Linda Lee, Michelle “Mimi” Reaux, and Adrienne Delcambre for the love, care, and companionship they provided to Stephen in the later years of his life. These women held a special place in Stephen’s heart and in the hearts of his family, and their dedication and compassion were beyond measure.

Serving as pallbearers were Craig Langlinais (Stephen’s godson) and his grandsons: Seth Bourque, Cole Bourque, Mason Granger, Grant Kimbell, and Rhett Kimbell. Honorary pallbearers will be Kamren Earnest, Reed Langlinais, John Eric Granger, Luke Harris, David “DJ” Jennings, Logan Harris, Asher Jennings, and Maverick Bourque.

Stephen is survived by his five children: Ann Lori Langlinais Broussard (Lynn), Dana Langlinais Granger (Nathan), Carrie Langlinais Ferrell (Michael), Benjamin Langlinais (Cherie Hollis), and Bethany Langlinais Harris (Everitt); one sister, Charlotte Langlinais Waguespack (Glynn); two brothers, Larry Langlinais (Minette) and Glenwood Langlinais (Jackie), and a special friend Ms. Gloria Newton.

He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren: Seth (Alicia), Cole (Peggy), and Alison Bourque; Mason (Mary), Hannah, Regan, and John Eric Granger; Grant and Rhett (Kaitlin) Kimbell; Dylan Ferrell (Chloe); Reed Langlinais; Olivia, Luke, Elizabeth, and Logan Harris. His five great-grandchildren are Kamren and Katelyn Earnest, DJ and Asher Jennings, and Maverick Bourque.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Juliette Toups Langlinais; his parents, Wilfred and Anna Langlinais of Erath; and his grandson, Ross Stephen Granger.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Stephen’s memory to the Ross Granger Memorial Fund or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

LSPS DISTRICT INFORMATION

If you are not an LSPS member, we would like to invite you to attend a District meeting in your area. Contact the LSPS office at lsps@lsps.net, or the chairman in your area noted above for details about upcoming meetings.

Mason and Jeremiah making the donation to Saline Food Pantry

LOUISIANA TECH STUDENT CHAPTER UPDATE
February 2026

The LSPS student chapter began the Winter Quarter with a Christmas food drive, collecting non-perishable food donations from students and faculty. Chapter President Mason Scott and Vice President Jeremiah Gray delivered the contributions to the Saline Food Pantry.

In January, Mr. Dakota Scott of Delta Consulting presented the chapter’s Industry Talk, offering students insight into the surveying equipment commonly used in professional practice.

Donna Sentell with LAPELS talks to the students about licensure.

The Chapter also participated in an Engineering and Science (E&S) Day at Cedar Creek School, where fourth grade students took part in hands-on surveying activities and learned how to draw contour lines.

On February 11-12, Donna Sentell, Shanna Hubble and Rhett Rayburn with Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board visited Louisiana Tech University to duscuss licensure requirements for engineers and surveyors in Louisiana. Their visit conculded with a jambalaya dinner hosted for students.

On February 6, the LSPS student chapter partnered with AGC and ASCE to host the 2026 Winter Banquet. The event featured brief presentations highlighting each organization’s activities and accomplishments from the past year, along with the presentation of scholarships funded by AGC. ASCE and LSPS.

As the Winter Quarter concludes, 15 students will complete the Legal Aspects of Boundary Surveying course, and 29 students will complete the Advanced Surveying course.

More than 30 students are currently pursuing the Land Surveying Certificate. For information about the Construction Engineering Technology Surveying Option at Louisiana Tech University contact Reginald Jeter, PE, Program Chairman at rjeter@latech.edu.

BE a SURVEYOR .COM

Revamped and Ready to Educate: beasurveyor.com

Beasurveyor.com has undergone a complete redesign, tailored specifically to engage K-12 audiences. With a sleek new design and user-friendly interface, the website is geared towards making surveying accessible and exciting for young minds. The updated aesthetics, curated videos, and intuitive navigation are sure to captivate students and educators alike.

Surveying Outreach Resource Page

One of the standout features of the redesigned website is the Surveying Outreach Resource Page. This section is a treasure trove for surveyors interested in outreach and educators looking to incorporate surveying into their curriculum. It offers a variety of valuable resources. You can download lesson plans for classroom activities, access surveying presentations, play videos, and even order materials for speaking engagements or career fairs.

For those new to outreach, the "Outreach 101" section offers guidance on how to effectively engage students and the broader community in surveying. It's the perfect starting point for surveyors eager to share their knowledge.

Why Focus on K-12 Education?

The decision to cater to K-12 audiences is a strategic move. After a yearlong research project, results pushed for outreach efforts to be aimed mainly at K-12 demographics. By introducing surveying to students at an early age, beasurveyor.com aims to kindle an interest that could turn into a lifelong passion and a career choice. Although K-12 is the main target audience, the website and outreach plan will incorporate college students, ex-military, and others looking for a change in career.

Get Started Today

Together, we can inspire the next generation of surveyors and change the way they perceive the world around them. Visit the new and improved beasurveyor.com today and be a part of the surveying revolution!

NICHOLLS GEOMATICS PROGRAM UPDATE
February 2026

By: Dr. Esra Tekdal-Yilmaz

Greetings from the Nicholls Geomatics Program,

Nicholls State University’s geomatics program received the 2025 National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Education Award. This $10,000 award recognizes outstanding university surveying programs.

Nicholls State University was the only institution in Louisiana to receive this award. This is the fifth time the program has been recognized with this award as a top ten program in the nation for 2016, 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2025 by NCEES.

The NCEES Engineering and Surveying Education Awards recognize programs that have a broad and robust curriculum, with the awards intended to encourage programs to engage their students with other professionals, introduce them to new technology and promote licensure. The vision of NCEES is to provide leadership in professional licensure of engineers and surveyors through excellence in uniform laws, licensing standards and professional ethics in order to shape the future of professional licensure.

During GIS Day on November 19th 2025, an annual event celebrating Geographic Information Systems-based technologies, the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board Executive Director Donna Sentell presented the award to Nicholls geomatics.

Nicholls’ GIS Day celebration also featured outreach tables hosted by T. Baker Smith, Navigation Electronics Inc., Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board, Morris P. Hebert, Inc. and The Hub, along with hands-on geomatics activities for 45 high school students from Hahnville, Terrebonne High School and Covenant Christian Academy. Students participated in interactive demonstrations, including a drone demonstration.

Mr. Reece Toups is the recipient of American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Kenneth J. Osborn Memorial Scholarship. The award consists of a certificate, a cash award of $3,000, and a one-year membership extension in ASPRS.

Samuel Landry was awarded 3rd place at the Annual Undergraduate Research Conference, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) Nov 14-15, 2025. His talk titled “Exploring GeoAI Capabilities for Timely and Accurate Post Hurricane Damage Assessment,” conducted with his mentor: Dr. Balaji Ramachandran.

Nicholls Geomatics Students and Faculty presented at the recently concluded Geo Week 2026 conference held in Denver, Colorado from Feb 15 through Feb 18, 2026.

Utilizing GeoAI for Rapid and Accurate Damage Assessment by Samuel Landry, Nicholls State University. Remote Sensing and GIS Research Topics – I, Academic Hub.

UAS-Derived Hyperspectral & Lidar Data Metrics for Accurate Estimation of Sugarcane Yields by Balaji Ramachandran, Nicholls State University.

Accurate Characterization of Coastal Ridges by Fusing Hyperspectral and Lidar Data by Balaji Ramachandran, Nicholls State University. Research Topics Under Advancements in the Capabilities of UAS Sensors and Derived Data Sets.

Dr. Balaji Ramachandran is elected as President for the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS0 Gulf South Region for the calendar year 2026.

The ASPRS Gulf South Region (Louisiana & Texas) will hold its 4th Geospatial Conference April 8th, 9th, and 10th at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. This in-person event will feature geospatial technical sessions, a 4-hour Preparation for ASPRS Certification Workshop, a Geospatial Experts Panel moderated by Kent Groh of the Geoholics, Sponsor Equipment Demonstrations, a Student Poster Competition and an abundance of networking opportunities for attendees and sponsors. Attendees will receive one Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each technical session they attend. The Objectives of the Gulf South Region include advancing knowledge in imaging and geospatial information within the region. Information regarding the conference can be accessed at the following URL:

https://community.asprs.org/gulfsouth/region-navigation/2026-gsr-conference

Dr. Ramachandran appeared on the Geoholics Podcast to promote the conference and the viewers can get a discount on conference registration cost by visiting their podcast on YouTube. The podcast was streamed live on Feb 12, 2026: The Geoholics LIVE Episode 276 - ALL THINGS ASPRS!! at the following link.

https://www.youtube.com/live/UQLjL5CMyvw?si=qcTQi1ON4u37yu97

I would like to conclude my updates with a request to support our program through Give-N-Day. Donations can be made using the link below.

Thank you very much for your continued support.

https://www.givenday.org/organizations/geomatics-student-association

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By: Harper Duncan & Associates, LLC

As preparations begin for the 2026 Legislative Session, we would like to share several important updates relevant to land surveyors throughout Louisiana. The 2026 Session will take place from March 9 through June 1.

Save the Date: 2026 LSPS Day at the Capitol

We are pleased to announce the 2026 Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors Day at the Capitol, scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2026. This event aligns with National Surveyors Week, which will be observed from March 15–21, 2026.

LSPS will host a table in the Rotunda of the Louisiana State Capitol, providing members with an excellent opportunity to:

· Engage in discussions with legislators and their staff regarding the surveying profession.

· Raise awareness concerning issues affecting infrastructure and public policy.

· Advocate for policies that support land and boundary practices.

Public Parking Locations:

· Street parking is available near Arsenal Park (Capitol Access Road/Capitol Lake Road).

· Metered parking can be found on Spanish Town Road.

· Open parking lots are located along River Road and within the Claiborne Building lot.

· A parking garage is situated at the intersection of River Road and North Boulevard.

Legislative schedules will be released on the Friday prior to the event. We encourage all LSPS members to mark their calendars and participate in this important occasion.

2026 Legislative Session

Several bills for the 2026 Regular Session could impact land rights, infrastructure, and eminent domain, important topics for surveyors working in boundary and property acquisition. The pre-file deadline is February 27, and a final bill tracking list will be available before the session starts.

Summary of the main bills affecting eminent domain and landowners:

HB 7: Limits Eminent Domain for Carbon Dioxide Infrastructure

· Prohibits private entities from using eminent domain to acquire land for carbon dioxide pipelines or underground storage.

HB 37: Limits Eminent Domain by Foreign‑Controlled Entities

· Restricts certain foreign-owned or controlled companies from using eminent domain in Louisiana unless registered in the U.S. or their country has reciprocal property rights.

SB 60: Louisiana Landowners Protection Act

Prohibits private entities from using eminent domain to take land for carbon dioxide transport or storage projects, similar to HB 7.

JOIN LSPS:
The Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors is organized to enhance the Surveying Profession. Our goal is to carry out our mission by maintaining high technical and cultural standards in our field, working with educational institutions for the maintenance of high standards of education in Land Surveying, requiring a high standard of ethical practice by our members, and encouraging the personal and professional development of young Land Surveyors.

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EMAIL PHOTOS

February 2026