Nolan Aikens is Jamaica’s Chief Geodesist, leading nationalefforts to strengthen and modernize the island’s geodeticinfrastructure. With over 15 years of surveying experience,he is a Member of the Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors (MRICS) and holds a Master’s in EngineeringSurveying and Geodesy. At the National Land Agency, Mr.Aikens oversees major projects including the densificationof Jamaica’s vertical and horizontal control networks, theintegration of GNSS technologies, and the use of geodeticdata to support development priorities. He is also dedicatedto capacity building, training, and fostering regionalcollaboration to enhance geospatial resilience in SmallIsland Developing States (SIDS). Internationally, he hasrepresented Jamaica at the United Nations Committee ofExperts on Global Geospatial Information Management(UN-GGIM) and the Geodetic Reference Frame for theAmericas (SIRGAS). His current focus is the intersection ofgeodesy and climate change, particularly how accurategeodetic reference systems support monitoring of sea-levelrise, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable planningacross the Caribbean. A passionate advocate for nationbuilding, Mr. Aikens champions the role of geodesy andprecise positioning in addressing the Caribbean’svulnerabilities and opportunities in a changing climate.
