Filling the need for survey speed

Employing the latest solutions to meet client needs

At SANDIS, a professional services corporation that specialises in civil engineering, traffic engineering, land surveying, 3D scanning and BIM preparation, the entire team understands the importance of accuracy. “There is little point in measuring unless the objective is to provide the exact coordinates of a point,” says Laura Cabral, associate principal and survey manager. Hightech equipment is just one element necessary to satisfy customers’ needs for efficiency and accuracy. To increase sales and profitability while achieving the best results for clients, surveyors must choose the right technology, hire and train skilled professionals to collect data, and follow best practices for data collection. That is why the company employs detail-oriented, experienced field and office surveyors and invests carefully in only the most trusted technology.

SANDIS has used Leica Geosystems total stations exclusively for more than 25 years and, more recently, the Leica ScanStation C10 and P40 laser scanners. This year, to improve client service, SANDIS purchased 15 Leica CS20 controllers featuring Leica Captivate software. The CS20 field controllers enable accurate electronic distance measuring and display the 3D data captured on the screen. They include radio and antenna for long-range robotic total station control, a GNSS receiver, a laser metre and a camera. The Captivate 3D field software works with a variety of measurement instruments, including total stations and scanning total stations, to create realistic 3D renderings. This capability gives surveyors the flexibility to switch quickly, for example, from GNSS to a total station. The fully integrated system increases the speed and quality of data transfer to and from the office, enabling SANDIS to provide fast, high-quality service.

Technology assists the company in another way as well. Located in Campbell, California, SANDIS primarily serves clients in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley and Sacramento. In these regions, development booms have stoked the demand for surveying crews. As new projects begin every week, it’s often an uphill battle to find skilled and experienced technicians. The firm’s state-of-the-art surveying solutions make it possible for SANDIS to collect more data with fewer field personnel. Crews can document more jobsites in a week and increase the accuracy of the jobs they complete.

These benefits have had a profound impact on business success. “With the Leica CS20 field controllers, we saw increased productivity and quality of both our field and office operations,” says Ken Olcott, the firm’s president. “Our crews work on hundreds of large, technical and complex projects. Whether we are laying out piles for a new NFL stadium or setting embeds for a Silicon Valley high-tech campus, we need to be precise and timely. We are only as good as our last survey. The Leica Geosystems’ total stations, CS20s and Captivate software allow us to maintain a great track record.”

Explore next chapter: Raising the bar on survey excellence

Story: Filling the need for survey speed
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Employing the latest solutions to meet client needs
Chapter 3: Raising the bar on survey excellence