Story #70 - Surveying Technology over the Years

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Story #70 is a look at the Survey team’s technology through the years.

Take a look at our some of our notable survey and data capture technology upgrades throughout the years.

1932 | In 1932, engineering and surveying was a manual process. It started with paper and pencil, capturing data and measurements in the field and then drawing out plans and designs by hand.

1972 | Hewlett Packard's 3800A Distance Meter opened a new era in surveying for Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, Inc. this past week. It allows measurements to be made up to 10,000 feet with an accuracy of +(0.01 feet +0.01 ft. per 1000 ft.). This instrument replaced the measuring tape when large tracts of land were to be surveyed. 

1994 | CADD Department Upgrades Equipment
Adding 5 new CADD stations and replacing its old Calcomp pen plotter with a new HP650C Design Jet color printer reducing printing time from 1 hour to six minutes.

1995 | SSM added state-of-the-art Trimble Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to enhance its surveying capabilities. GPS uses satellite telemetry to obtain precise three-dimensional positions on the earth's surface. Since GPS does not rely on optical line of sight conditions, it can be used day or night, over long distances and under all weather conditions. The use of this equipment is expected increase the efficiency, accuracy, and versatility of our surveying department. With GPS, SSM can provide commercial and industrial clients with land development control, groundwater monitoring well locations, and aerial photography orientation points. SSM can provide municipal clients with three-dimensional networks for municipal mapping and GIS applications.

2007 | SSM purchases its first high-definition scanner. Coined Lucille by the staff, the high-definition laser scanning technology provided a non-intrusive method to obtain three-dimensional geometry measurements and models of existing structures and sites for both large and small-scale projects. Our recent addition of P40 Leica scanner captures 1,000,000 data points in a second.

2012 | SSM purchases its first drone and invests in training/certifying staff as FAA Certified Remote Pilots. We use Drone Flight Services and High-Definition Laser Scanners to obtain 3-D models and measurements of existing structures and sites. This non-intrusive, cost-effective technology saves time while raising the bar for high-definition precision in large- and small-scale projects such as campus master planning, historic building preservation and industrial development or impact sensitive agricultural and preserved lands.

2022 | Our most recent scanner upgrade, the Leica RTC360, empowers users to document and capture their environments in 3D, improving efficiency and productivity in the field and in the office through fast, simple-to-use, accurate, and portable hardware and software.