Wendell Harness, PLS submitted a new blog post
Seattle Company Says New System Redefines Surveying
Terrane, previously known as GeoDimensions, is a surveying company in Bellevue, Washington, claiming that they are redefining land surveying processes.
How can a single proprietary software that only one company is using and isn't even available for purchase, redefine a profession?
Hyperbolic press-releases like this do not belong on the front page. Good for them, they're growing.. but IMHO patting yourself on the back with zero specifics isn't very useful to the users of this site.
I agree geo. They must have invented a time machine. You can't redefine following the footsteps.
There is no doubt that effective personnel and data management, which a majority of survey companies lack, can improve efficiency. There is also no doubt that the Seattle market is en fuego right now. But redefine surveying? Not so much.
I recall a company in my region that rode that kind of growth curve out of a recession. Everything went great until the next downturn, upon which the company disintegrated. In the intervening years, the demand for fast turnaround and low cost produced huge volumes of incompetent surveys along with a near-total absence of legally-required public filings.
I'm not saying the same pertains in the Seattle case, I'm just noting the similarities.
"...streamlines delivery times to provide commercial brokers, architects, financial institutions and developers proposals within hours versus days and deliver ALTA surveys of commercial land for title insurance in days versus weeks."
Well, duh. Isn't that what solo operators have been doing ever since we left the large inefficient firms and saw a great business opportunity.
Applying modern tools and work flows does not equate to cutting corners. A good Surveyor will put good product out the door more efficiently and a crap Surveyor will churn out crap faster.
He may have redefined his business plan, but he certainly didn't redefine surveying.
Kudos to him for paying close close attention to the often neglected business aspect of surveying.
Even kozebubkes has a reaction when spread efficiently.
YOS
TNAI
I know this company. They were a competitor of my former employer and we're well known for low quality (but low cost) surveys.
They now focus on individual homeowners whose only concern is transferring their property or building that new deck.
Kudos to them for tapping a niche market.
I saw him just yesterday along I-5, I thought ODOT might have leaped into the 23rd century 🙂
folks, that is a Berger 180 level, when calibrated correctly you can actually achieve .05' in about 30'
I would not use one to level my back yard, but some contractors and rental yards still use them... amazing. I can't speak for the instrument guy, he is scary
If you want to impress me w/articles write some about surveyors in rural farming type markets making it big, THAT would get my head turned.