From kayaks to construction sites: A typical day at CMS Surveyors
At CMS Surveyors, no two days are ever the same. With a diverse range of teams covering cadastral, spatial, BIM, drafting, and construction an engineering surveying, each department plays a vital role in delivering high-quality survey data for projects across NSW. Here’s a glimpse into a typical day across our different teams.
7.30 am
Cadastral kayakers
Nick, Bill and Hayden make their way out to site – today they’re surveying Lake Parramatta’s new swimming area. Not just a dry-land job, today they’ll be donning wetsuits and jumping in tinnies and kayaks with their equipment to make sure they get those mean high water marks just right as well as defining the boundaries for the recreation area.
9 am
Spatial goes underground
Meanwhile, Kord and Nate are busy setting up their 3D laser scanners. From scanning heritage buildings to mapping entire construction sites, they capture millions of data points that will be used for highly detailed models.
Today they’re scanning the interior of an underground bar in the CBD for an interior design client. Using this spatial data makes it easy for them to refurbish a space while preserving any required heritage features.
11 am
Bringing data to life with BIM
Neda and Ren are busy today using Revit to model train stations around NSW. Using point cloud data, they’ll create precise digital twins of the existing stations. These highly detailed 3D models will then be used by engineers and architects as a perfect base to start their designs with, safe in the knowledge that all the data they need is right at their fingertips.
12 pm
Flying high in Construction
While the spatial team scan underground, Siva is setting out a glass and steel domed roof high above them at the top of Martin Place. After several years dedicated to this iconic site and working with precision on every level of the structure, he’s measured and monitored his way all the way to the top! Siva’s working day is nearly done – he’s been doing some very early morning starts to avoid the heat of the day and keep things on schedule for the other contractors.
1 pm
Turning field data into plans
Over in the drafting team, Gonzo and Chris convert survey data into clear, professional plans. Using software like AutoCAD and Civil 3D, they create everything from subdivision plans to construction set-outs. Each plan needs to meet strict industry standards, ensuring engineers, builders, and clients can rely on them for accuracy. Today they’re working on a new residential subdivision in the Riverina, and Rodney checks each deliverable before it’s sent out to clients.
2 pm
Taking to the skies with aerial surveying
Out on a rural site, Allan is flying his LiDAR-equipped drone to scan the area for possible future development. Drone surveying in remote can mean that your deskwork needs to be done on the fly, so Al’s ute is kitted out with everything he needs to get the job done efficiently.
Traditional methods would have made this a multi-day job, but Allan scans the areas from above in just a couple of hours. He’ll bring that data back into the office to create terrain models for our council client, which they’ll then work from as the project progresses.
3 pm
Registered surveyors
The Registered Surveyors are the most experienced in the company, reviewing cadastral work, signing off on legal plans, and providing expert advice. They ensure all surveys meet legislative requirements with their stamp of approval. They’re also mentors to our junior staff, sharing knowledge and supporting them as they move up the ranks. Today, Mark and Karl are undertaking some training to keep them up to date with new legislation.
4.30 pm
Running a tight ship
As the day winds down, teams return to the office, process data, and prepare reports. Damon finalises job schedules, assigns survey teams to jobs, and makes sure everyone has the right equipment and project details for tomorrow. With multiple jobs running at any given time, communication is key to ensure each team heads out with a clear plan and everything they need.
