Over the last five years, 3D printing technology has produced numerous incredible structures all over the world, including 3D printed houses, cabins, offices, bridges, pavilions, large-scale structures and shelters.

The craft has truly begun to capture the imagination of the masses, as low cost printers begin to make it possible for aspiring designers to create objects designed in CAD software right on their desks. 3D printing is also triggering a change in the way both small businesses and industry giants build and design their products. In education, 3D printing is now a focus in today’s engineering degrees, by studying a modern Civil Engineering degree you will learn how engineers approach industrial problems and how 3D printing can improve upon existing solutions.

So what changes and developments can we expect 3D printing to bring to structural engineering over the next 15 years?

We decided to write this blog as plans have been released for a new 3D-printed structural concrete footbridge, set to be developed in Plaine Commune Grand Paris. The footbridge is part of the development in anticipation of the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France by a consortium of developers, designers and engineers. The main architect is Lavigne and Cheron, who are masters in 3D Printing. This 40 meter pedestrian footbridge will have a deck that will be entirely made up of 3D printed structural concrete. 

This structural feat will have a long term effect on the engineering industry worldwide, pushing the technology further into the spotlight as it becomes cheaper and faster to create engineering masterpieces. 3D printing allows building designers to experiment with shapes and geometries in design that may not be financially viable with existing building techniques.

3D printing encourages freedom of design, alongside the reduction of materials and waste, leading to lower cost ratios, and a target of 60% reduction in concrete consumption for most projects. There is the ability to create free form and organic shapes that will disrupt traditional engineering and start a new design revolution. By using unconventional materials that are readily available closer to sites has also allowed an interesting development and design trend to occur. 

Hanlons do not have a 3D printer, nor do we need one, but we do need to understand the technology behind them. We need to understand how they affect the work that we do with the flexibility, forms and unusual materials that may be used in future projects.  

There have been some amazing 3D printing projects completed around the world, including:
An 8 metre square cabin, built in 2015 in Amsterdam by DUS Architects, designed as a tiny 3D printed house focusing on compact and sustainable housing solutions with the potential of providing disaster relief and temporary housing quickly in crisis. 

The new expansion of the Lewis Grand Hotel in the Philippines which includes bedrooms, living rooms and a jacuzzi room made from a combination of sand and volcanic ash. 

And lastly the Yonova House in France that only took 54 hours to print a 95 square meter house. 

As 3D printing is poised to have a massive impact upon architecture, building design and manufacturing, for us at Hanlons, it will have a huge impact on our roles as engineers and surveyors.

When designing a construction site, surveying is one of the more important parts of the whole process. 

Our surveyors are the first step of the puzzle before our engineers can begin on any project. For our engineers to know the existing topography, or geographical features of the land when planning the design of a building, roadway or railway, we need to survey first.

Engineers often develop a conceptual plan that’s practical for the site based on the survey results. One important factor is to balance “the cut and fill”, or determine the amount of dirt that needs to be added or removed. This information minimises the need to bring dirt in or take it off the site. If dirt has to be hauled away from or onto the site it can become costly to developers, public, private or individual clients.

Surveyors usually provide our engineers with the survey and in most cases a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) file. This shows the contours of the land and other features that might affect the long term design. By telling how steep the slopes are and where the dips or drainage areas are our engineers can correctly design solutions and properly complete the work.

When it comes to surveying and measuring vertical and horizontal distances the technology has advanced. Laser scanning and Drones are some of the latest technology used and are less laborious than some of the older methods. Hanlons surveyors are equipped with GPS which isn’t quite as accurate as traditional surveying methods, and in some cases it can’t be used. Hanlons can combine both traditional and contemporary methods by using both the GPS and surveying instrument depending on the location of the project and the accuracy required for that project.

The importance of accuracy needed on different projects depends on what type of survey you’re doing. For some projects the state has standards our surveyors must meet. 

If it’s in a rural setting where you’re out surveying someone’s farm for instance, the standards are not as important as if you were doing a survey in downtown Tamworth for a new subdivision. 

Accuracy is extremely important when it comes to surveying and engineering and there are an abundance of factors that can affect the measurements being exactly right. One mistake and you can throw off the design plans pretty quickly. And our surveyors hate upsetting our engineers…. Don't they Lachlan?

We are always upskilling or keeping abreast of the latest technology in the industry, or keeping up with advancements of the existing tech too. We know that GPS technology isn't new and has been around since 1973, but what we need to know is how it is changing the landscape of surveying. 

Initially developed for military use, GPS is now part of everyday life. Let us mention the usual car navigation systems or mobile technology, but also the search and rescue equipment and since the 1990s, surveying.

We have been rapidly adapting GPS for a number of different applications. GPS can give longitude, latitude and height without the need for conventional surveying tools and instruments. It can make our surveyors cars less cluttered and our muscles less bulky from carrying equipment (but that doesn't stop us from going to the gym). We believe that the speed and accuracy of GPS surveying has gone beyond any other invention of previous tools or measuring systems.

There are three methods of GPS measurement that are utilised by our surveyors.

• Static GPS Baseline: determines accurate coordinates for survey points

• Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Observations: One stationary receiver and one roving receiver allowing radio links for coordinate corrections. 

• Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS): survey quality GPS receiver is permanently installed in a location as a starting point for any GPS measurements

Most of the surveying methods produce more than the minimum number of observations needed to calculate positions or heights for most projects. So it is possible for a position or height to be calculated by several paths through the network of observations and get slightly different results because of the uncertainties in surveying. 

We only use the best, and part of that is Leica Geosystems, distributed by C.R.Kennedy, Survey Solutions. Thousands of engineers rely on their diverse visualising, positioning and guiding solutions every day delivering unmatched precision and performance. Hanlons is no different. Reliable systems designed to stand up to the harsh environments that our surveyors and engineers endure. 

Hanlons love being outdoors but we no longer need to climb to the highest points of a project landscape or measure short distances at a time due to obstacles like trees or hills. All we need is a clear view of the sky. 

Celebrating Tim’s 15th anniversary at Hanlons this month, there is no better opportunity then to “level up”. 

We googled the best way to celebrate a 15th anniversary, with the finest suggestion being “give them the day off”, well sorry Tim, we are too busy for that! So we chose the second suggestion, a Thank You (and maybe a cake, but that is yet to be decided).

Tim has been a vital part of our business for the past 15 years, starting as an engineering surveyor and now our Operations Manager, Tim motivates and encourages our staff, he supports our clients, and has a thorough understanding of our industry.

Not only is Tim an essential part of our team, he is an upstanding member of our Tamworth community. Never doing anything by halves, Tim is the past president of Collegians Junior Rugby League Club, Tamworth District Minor League Club, and past Jnr Vice President, Group 4 Jnr Rugby League.  Over the years he still found time to play for the Kootingal Rugby League Club, from which he has now retired a hero. When he is not working or doing his bit for the community, he is chasing after his three active boys.

Having Tim on our team for 15 years has allowed us to level up and become a driving force in a multi-disciplinary Engineering Surveying firm in Regional NSW.  

We thought if we kept quiet, no one would know, but now we have hit our 17th birthday it's time to shout out from the rooftops. 

Seventeen years is not a short amount of time in our industry. With technology advancements and changes to regulations, restrictions and practices, Hanlons are proud to have made it this far. 

Over the past 17 years we have learnt a lot about business, people and our practice within the engineering and surveying industries. 

Lets get sappy and reflect on what we have learnt. 

Investing in your own business is crucial. Running your own business is a learning curve, and we have learnt investing, not only in the technology, programs and software, but in the right people, is critical. The success of Hanlons is due to the hard work of our people. We are the ones that stand up, stand out and get things done. We invest in trainee and mentoring programs, and support our staff to further their skills in the industry. This investment has allowed us to move into the future of surveying and engineering in Australia. 

Being Genuine, Being Valuable. Everybody hates a fake smile. In regional Australia, genuine transparency is the only way forward. There is nothing worse than bad advice in our industry. It can be both costly and deadly. If our team doesn't know the answer, they will tell you straight up, then they will go and find it. Hanlons take pride in our values and being genuine, that's what makes us priceless.

Almost everything is simple, but almost nothing is easy. The surveying and engineering industry is full of processes, giving a clear road map on how things “should” be. However there are many ways to complete one job, and there are always multiple jobs in each project. There are times where we all want to do it the simpler way, but we now know to ask “is it the best” because it probably won't be the easiest. 

Our goal for the next 17 years is to remain an industry leader in all areas. The changing landscape (literally) of our industry allows us to better ourselves every year as a team.

A vast expanse of potential. That’s what the team at Hanlons see when a client takes them on a site inspection for a subdivision. The decision to subdivide land can be made for a number of reasons, but doing it well to maximise returns and be sympathetic to the existing environment requires skill and local knowledge, areas where Hanlons excels. 

Many would-be developers often fall over because they haven’t got the right advice from the start of the project. Finance, approvals and engaging builders and contractors all rely on having a solid foundation to work from to ensure the project’s viability. Any corner cut by Surveyors and Engineers will come back to haunt the team later in the project - a bad outcome for all involved. Setting a realistic budget, consulting with all stakeholders for project timelines and strong communication are essential to a successful subdivision. 

So what are you actually paying a consulting firm to do? A lot.

When planning a subdivision, Hanlons have an exhaustive list of tasks to ensure a successful outcome for our clients, including: assess the site; review market demand for the preferred lot type; develop and cost lot layout concepts; review Council policies and guidelines; obtain planning consent; prepare construction documents; issue invitations to tender to build the roads, drainage, water supply and sewer mains; supervise construction; obtain Council approval to the finished works; and finally, prepare, lodge and obtain registration of the subdivision plan at Land Registry Services so new titles can be issued. 

As you can see - this is where a multi-disciplinary firm such as Hanlons is an advantage, able to handle all aspects of the planning process under one roof. 

Planning a subdivision is a complex process, but having the right people in your team will make the process less stressful.

At Hanlons, we walk side-by-side with our clients, guiding them through the process and providing them with honest and reliable advice to get the job done right.

Australia’s national freight volume is increasing and the outdated rail network just can't cope.

For the trains to become longer and bigger to deal with this increased volume, existing track alignment needs to be rebuilt or new tracks need to be opened. In addition to this, the fourth industrial revolution that is upon us, which is that of big data, automation, and new materials, are bringing new trains into use that will stretch our existing rail network.

The impact of this outdated rail network is stagnant productivity. The National Freight and Supply Chains strategy has shown that freight costs have not reduced since the reforms of the 1990s. The strategy identified that Australia needs improved efficiency and international competitiveness; safe, secure and sustainable operations; a fit for purpose regulatory environment; innovative solutions to meet freight demand; a skilled and adaptable workforce; and an informed understanding and acceptance of freight operations. Once the Inland Rail is completed, the percentage of freight by rail will more than double  from 26% to 62% by 2049-2050. Which is lucky, as there is not enough road capacity to move the expected freight growth, making rail the only solution. 

Nationally, there is a new standard called AS 7364 Railway Infrastructure - Survey. It is an attempt to standardise the approach to developing the survey infrastructure and approach to providing rail surveying support during construction and operation. The aim is to provide an element of assurance that a railway network can operate in a safe manner. It provides mandatory and recommended guidance so the developed rail survey system is aligned with the safe operation of the railway network, in accordance with the requirements of Rail Safety National Law.

One of the key recommendations is the use of a geospatial reference grid system. With the available technology, there is no reason why a rail project should not be on a national or state grid system. Whilst engineers do not like scale factors, assets with coordinates can be better managed in a spatial management system under the life cycle plan. Moreover, train automation is coming (if not here) and the alignment and signal system must sit within a digital database and management system if the automated train is to properly function.

Survey is part of the asset life cycle of a railway. Surveyors collect the raw data, ensure the spatial model of the design is correct, provides oversight in the construction phase, checks build compliance and provides a final spatial model. Ongoing track monitoring may also be required. Due to the intimate nature of the process, many surveyors go onto become track designers. Here at  Hanlons, we train our surveying graduates to be track designers and work in conjunction with the other allied engineering disciplines to provide a final design product, one we've often had to provide surveying oversight during construction.

However, railway surveying is a small part of the surveying profession. Many of the government trained surveyors are close to retirement and no training program exists like the government cadet systems. The surveying profession has to develop its own training and mentoring program otherwise there will be projects that are delayed or poorly delivered.

Fortunately, Consulting Surveyors National and Hanlons have come together and developed a training program that covers all aspects of track design: terminology, track geometry, speed calculations, structure gauge, transit space and kinematic envelopes, level crossing assessment, turnouts and catch-points, control surveys, boundaries, transom bridge design, safety in design, and environmental assessment. It is early days yet but it is hoped that this body of knowledge can be passed onto the next generation so Australia has the opportunity to reach its full potential.

A one-stop shop for your next infrastructure project may seem like you are getting a jack-of-all-trades, master of none type business. But Hanlons is different - our staff are experts in their fields, and working together under one office means we can ensure our clients get high quality results with no stone left unturned. 

One of the things our clients love about us is that we work hard, and get dirty. Let’s take a look at why our approach has given us such a strong reputation in the industry, and why Hanlons should be your next project manager. 

   1. On Budget, and On Time

We know the importance of having a project delivered on budget and on-time. At the end of the day, we have our own projects too and know the frustrations that come with project delays and the financial ramifications. From building a house or implementing a new software system, to complex, multi-million dollar infrastructure projects - the same core principles should apply. Get it done, and get it done right the first time.    

   2. Get the right people

If we don’t know, find someone who does. If something does fall outside our area of expertise, we won’t just “fake it ‘til we make it”. We have a list of preferred subcontractors which are constantly being audited and assessed to ensure we get the right information to avoid delays in your project. 

   3. We know this land

We are country folks with big city qualifications, and we embed ourselves in the areas where we work. Our offices may be in Tamworth, NSW but our vehicles and staff are recognisable across rail networks and properties all over NSW and southern QLD. By working with locals we can find out the best solution for your infrastructure or development project, and build on these relationships for the future of your project. 
 

Want to know more? Contact our office to learn more about why Hanlons continues to be the preferred choice for rail and infrastructure projects across the state. 

At Hanlons, our people are always studying. It’s just a fact. 

Our cadet programs see employees complete their degree from distance education while gaining on the job experience, Graduate Surveyors need to complete post-graduate competency exams, and our fully qualified staff are regularly undertaking specialised study in a field of their interest.  

This thirst for knowledge and continual improvement lay the cornerstone of our professional training program which we incorporated into our HR system. But we felt it was important that people weren’t just learning because they had to, but because they were engaged and interested in the topics. 

We have seen a number of benefits from our training program, and in particular a knowledge transfer between generations within our staff. Our older employees are able to impart their experience and lessons learned to younger staff, while tech-savvy younger staff are able to help keep the team up-to-date with technology and compliance. As more and more systems move online we have found it extremely valuable to have already opened up these channels of communication. 

Another foundation of our continual development at “lessons learned” sessions, where the team openly discusses the successes and failings of recent projects, and what we can learn from them for the future. This honest and constructive feedback and exchange of ideas is facilitated either in-house or by an external provider, and is proving to be beneficial to our commitment to excellence as a business .

It's all about the "one percenters", those who are conscious that it’s the little things we do everyday which lead to big actions. If we at Hanlons can turn that one percent into five or even more, we are helping create a workforce that benefits clients. Even more importantly - we are empowering our staff with the knowledge they are gaining new skills and helping deliver high quality outcomes to their community, and that’s something worth investing time in. 

The Covid-19 crisis has seen countries around the world implement tough lockdown measures, with only essential services running for many communities. As the restrictions in Australia strengthen, there have been many questions about what is essential, and why are some industries able to continue operating as usual, albeit at 1.5m apart. So why should surveyors and engineers be able to visit job sites still? And why is the construction industry considered essential at this time? 

Site visits allow works to progress at all stages of a project, from the initial planning to the final handovers. Whether it’s a major infrastructure project or a property subdivision, having a pipeline of projects ready to go is essential to improving morale and providing important economic uplift. 

Surveyors and engineers are crucial in ensuring transport infrastructure is maintained (how else are we going to keep getting toilet paper delivered to our supermarkets if our roads fail?). Rail lines and roads need to be looked after to ensure country-to-city grain and coal deliveries can occur and food supply lines remain open. Working on site with maintenance operational crews ensures the right maintenance option is being selected, to avoid further damage down the track as the result of a quick fix which doesn’t last. 

While it doesn’t feel like it now - this isn’t going to last forever, and the economy is going to need a restart once we get through the pandemic. The construction sector and infrastructure projects are a great way to distribute wealth through communities, particularly in regional Australia. In remote areas, workers stay in hotels, buy supplies and food locally and often contractors take on local employees. In larger centres, firms are generally available  to do the project work, but a good firm knows that nothing beats a local business doing local projects. Larger, national firms normally employ a local surveyor who would know the site and have an emotional commitment to seeing the works done well. 

It’s inevitable that Federal and State Governments will roll out a number of infrastructure projects to help the recovery efforts, but it’s essential that private projects also tick along during this time. While the country looks at lockdown, there are many private projects with funding already allocated to planning and design, and surveyors and engineers can get these projects to the next stage of an approvals process while things are quiet so construction can commence at the earliest opportunity. Sometimes the change from the ordinary can lead to new ideas or concepts, and the idea for a project or new development may strike when looking at a tree in the garden. Talk to a surveyor to bounce ideas to see if the project has legs, you’d be surprised at their depth of knowledge regarding the whole process! 

In conclusion, allowing access to sites (while adhering to social distancing measures and government guidelines) ensures economic activity can restart quickly when the pandemic passes, while also keeping vital transport infrastructure networks operational. Our team may not be in the office but we are still working, talk to the team today if you have any questions regarding your project and our new arrangements. 

Australia wasn’t even two months into 2020 when many regions had experienced not just bushfires, but flood and storm damage too and now we have moved onto self distancing and isolation because if COVID 19. 

When people consider natural disasters, they often consider the physical damage and clean-up relief efforts, or the emotional toll the loss of a home can have on people. But many don’t consider that once the clean-up is finished the land can often be permanently altered, for example a new gully or a change in physical property boundaries with a landslide. This is where surveyors and environmental engineers provide assistance in rebuilding communities. 

Land surveyors can assess, confirm, or if needed remap property boundaries to ensure fair distribution of land in conjunction with existing land records. Because of the change in landscape this requires careful and sophisticated measuring techniques, including angle measurement, position determination, reference networks and datums. The introduction of drone technology into this process, especially for coastal surveying after storms, has delivered a huge advancement in this area. 

Environmental engineers can prepare and undertake a wide variety of assessments including contaminated site, bushfire, hydrology and planning studies to help regulatory bodies, builders and/or landowners determine the most appropriate steps that need to be taken to ensure the new development meets planning and environmental regulations.

Natural disasters are unavoidable, but careful planning and seeking the right advice in the design stages of your project (from large infrastructure to residential developments) can hopefully minimise the damage caused to your assets. It’s in this planning that the value of a multi-disciplined consultancy such as Hanlons is best demonstrated, with one-team able to handle all facets of a project to ensure all bases are covered.

At Hanlons we talk at length about the range professional services we provide and the talented team we have delivering them. From surveyors, engineers and rail designers to environmental engineers and drafting officers – our staff have extensive regional experience to ensure our customers get the most from us.

But what do all these titles mean? In this months blog we are going to explain these roles and how we all work together.

Registered Surveyor – Surveying is the measurement and mapping of our surrounding environment, essentially they are experts in determining land size and measurement. A registered surveyor will be out in the field making calculations using specialist equipment, including geodimeters, Robotic Total Stations (theodolites), aerial scanners, high order GPS and more. Once this raw data has been collected, the surveyor then can draft plans and determine boundaries which can be used by engineers, developers, architects, designers and more. To become a registered surveyor you need to show competence in engineering, planning and all laws relating to the subdivision of land and licensed by The Board of Surveying and Spatial Information.

Engineering Surveyor- Engineering surveyors are heavily involved in major construction projects such as railways, bridges, roads etc. They will analyse initial drawings and identify any issues (for example will the terrain allow for the design as it currently stands? And how will you get equipment into a small space for a rail bridge?) and work with the engineers and designers to ensure construction will run smoothly once it commences. Teamwork and communication with site supervisors and contractors are all part of the engineering surveyors job, at Hanlons we specialise in significant infrastructure projects which require highly skilled and experienced engineering surveyors.

Environmental Engineer -  Environmental engineers are concerned with the impact on the natural world by engineering activities, so how will the project affect the environment that it’s being built on and how can we overcome any potential problems. Environmental engineers can also prepare a number of reports and assessments for large infrastructure projects to agricultural industries. 

Technical Officer - A technical officer collects, analyses data and develops plans for land Surveyors to provide the basic information required for a surveying project. This includes preparing detail surveys, engineering design for subdivisions, tender and contract management and project management. 

Rail Designer - A rail designer oversees the design, supervision and management  of railway projects. This can cover track design, signal design overhead electrical design and civil works around the tracks. 

Drafting Officer –  A drafting officer uses software to convert designs by a surveyor or engineer into technical drawings and plans. These plans are created using CAD software,and can be two or three-dimensional.  

Survey field assistant - Survey assistants help surveyors undertake projects on site, helping to maintain and use surveying equipment, assist in taking and recording measurements and pegging boundaries. 

Now that you know what they do, learn more about our team here. 

If our homes are our castles, we should be able to do pretty much anything we want there, right? Well, not exactly. There are these things zoning codes and regulations that can influence our rights by restricting them. 

This may be so even if we are just moving dirt around on our lots. What if we want to do some landscaping? How about our own renovations or an extra flat on site?

The legal framework for land use zoning in Australia is established by States and Territories, hence each State or Territory has different zoning rules. Land use zones are generally defined at local government level, and most often called Planning Schemes.

While it’s the state’s responsibility to create the zoning laws, it’s up to local councils to interpret and apply them in the local context. If you’re a developer, your success hinges on a good working relationship with these powers that be.

Major zoning categories include commercial, industrial, mixed-use, residential, agricultural and public use. From there, more specific codes can apply as well as "overlays" relating to heritage, flood mitigation and bushfire requirements.  

Zoning will affect what changes to the property are allowed, how and when. It could also impact future values in both negative and positive ways. 

Hanlons are skilled in Surveying and Land information which goes hand in hand with zoning requirements for Land Subdivisions, Community Development work and Council surveys at a local government level. Contracting to many public, private and individual clients, our particular speciality is project surveying for major infrastructure projects such as railway, roads, commercial and public buildings, bridges and subdivisions.

We are thrilled to announce our Managing Director Mitchel Hanlon has been invited to speak at the Informa Australia and ARA Light Rail 2020 Conference, to be held in March.

Mitchel will be presenting with Michelle Blicavs, CEO of Consulting Surveyors National about Asset Life Cycle Management, with a focus on the Newcastle Light Rail. 

Mitchel and Michelle will be the first surveyors to speak at the conference, which brings together operators, manufacturers, contractors and industry and government stakeholders across the Light Rail sector in Australasia.  

Light rail investment is currently at record levels, with networks recently opening in Newcastle, Sydney and Canberra. We look forward to being part of the future shaping of these networks as Light Rail continues to grow in popularity. 

Congratulations to Hanlons Graduate Surveyor Lachlan Smith who last Friday was awarded the Augustus Alt Prize by the NSW Board of Surveying and Spatial Information.

The prize was presented by NSW Surveyor General Narelle Underwood in a ceremony at Parliament House Sydney, alongside the Association of Consulting Surveyors NSW President Michael Lamont.

"Lachlan is a Dungowan local who has shown the value of fostering regional talent. Coming through Hanlons’ cadet program and obtaining his degree by distance education, he has shown that with hard work and the right attitude you can achieve anything," said Managing Director Mitchel Hanlon.

"As a mentor I am very proud of what he has achieved."

The Augustus Alt Prize is awarded for the best result in an Engineering project for the Board of Surveying and Spatial Information's assessments. The project involved the engineering design of a housing estate, including roads, sewerage, drainage, water mains, and construction management.

"People often think of surveying as just relating to property boundaries, but really surveyors are integral to the town planning and civil engineering functions of a community. Working in a regional area Lachlan has had exposure to a variety of projects which has been extremely beneficial to his professional development, as proven by this prize," said Mr Hanlon.

The Hanlons cadetship programmes are now open! If you are interested in a career in surveying or are currently studying a Surveying/Engineering degree you can learn more on our Careers page. 

Whenever we’re at a BBQ or social gathering, one of the first questions we’re asked is “How is work going?”, and the answer for us always seems to be “Flat out!”.

A report out earlier this year from BIS Oxford Economics can shed some light on the matter of why we are always so busy. The report highlighted there is a current shortage of surveyors in Australia, with only 8,172 surveying professionals filling the demand of 9,125 positions. Of the positions that are vacant, 297 are for registered surveyors! 

The Australian Government has given the profession of Surveyor a labour market rating of  “shortage”, with only 33% of vacancies filled in the 2019 survey. While steps have been taken to encourage more school leavers to enter the industry, strong economic building data and forecasts highlight the shortfall of surveyors isn’t going anywhere over the next ten years.

Surveyors are needed for a lot of construction work. They obtain approvals, design the work, manage contracts, make sure the build is in the right place as well as complying with the design specification. Significant skill in project management is needed to juggle these needs.

What does all this mean? If you’re interested in becoming a Surveyor, the time to act is now! According to the Good Education Group 78% of graduates were employed straight out of university – the third highest rate in the country.

But there is a reason for the shortage - and particularly in regional NSW and Victoria. Surveying is hard work, with long hours and a lot of distance to cover. At Hanlon’s we can be in Manilla one day and Manildra the next, providing railway infrastructure surveys to land inventory, subdivision planning and farm irrigation design. We live and breath rural, but we know with hard work and the right people we get it done. If you’re thinking about becoming a surveyor and want to learn more there are some great resources available - visit A Life Without Limits website.

Source 

There are a number of routes you can take to become a trainee Surveyor in this day and age. But essentially you can start your career path right out of school! Ideally you will have an interest in Maths, English, and Geography, but within a traineeship it is all on the job learning. 

Surveyors can take on many different tasks and roles during their careers, depending on their qualifications and level of experience. 

Surveying students at TAFE and university are able to get a taste of what surveying is really like by starting out as a trainee Surveyor during study. TAFE students can then move into a Surveying Technician or Draftsperson role once they are qualified. Meanwhile, those in university complete their degree as a Graduate Surveyor, with some choosing to specialise in other related fields like geospatial information systems.

A trainee Surveyor will generally support the survey team which would consist of one or a number of Surveyors / Survey Technicians in the undertaking of surveying tasks both in the field and office environments.  

Being flexible with the willingness to travel are essential requirements of being a trainee Surveyor, as is the ability to learn a multitude of skills. Being a Surveyor, you are not chained to your desk and the best part of the job involves being out on site at different locations across the country. Being comfortable with computers as the majority of survey information is recorded, processed, and delivered digitally and working with initiative and some independence after training helps.  

If you want to see Australia while earning a living and learning new skills, maybe this is the career for you. 

Click here to see what careers Hanlons has to offer!

Regional NSW Level Crossing Upgrades

We were recently engaged by both John Holland CRN and ARTC to undertake survey and engineering design for the upgrade of 12 level crossings across regional NSW.

For 6 weeks, our surveyors criss-crossed the countryside performing detail and property boundary surveys at each level crossing site. This information was important. The surveys allow our rail designers (who are also surveyors) to know what railway and road infrastructure is on the ground.

Most of the crossings were in a poor state. The level crossing building program is important for public safety, operational efficiency and return on investment.

Our surveyors also provided construction support. After all, the road and the rail levels have to match and with the heavier truck loads and greater vehicle traffic, its important level crossings are done right.

Survey and Design

John Holland Rail CRN have an ongoing program of concrete re-sleepering of steel sleepers on their tight radius curves. The new sleepers will keep provide longer track stability and ride.

This means the track alignment needs to be determined or designed and analysis undertaken to make sure the available transit is sufficient for trains to pass through. Bridges such as the one on the left were assessed to determine if passing trains have sufficient space to pass safely.

This requires high-order control and track pick-up surveys followed by detailed track design.

Upon design approval, re-sleepering construction can commence, often in conjunction with the removal and replacement of fouled ballast. Survey constuction support ensures the design is achieved thereby maximising the asset life.

This project was over 1800 metres long at Newbridge near Bathurst. This is one of four similar projects on the Main West line.

We were recently engaged by Liverpool Plains Shire Council to undertake engineering design for the upgrade of the Merriwa to Willow Tree Road. Now this road traversed the Liverpool Range and meeting Austroads' design standards was difficult. A Safety in Design report was as important as the the construction drawings. After all, whilst reducing travel times is important, getting to one's destination safely is the overarching goal. The site is mountaineous and often single-laned. The new design had to allow for rural 2-way traffic. This meant rigid trucks as well as light passenger traffic.

The before and after photos says it all. A great final result for an important road link.

We've recently taken on a graduate surveyor to help out with our rail services team.

Jacky had previously worked on medium density and hospital projects in Sydney so he wasn't too sure what it was like working in a regional environment. I'm very close to his boss and had rang seeking recommendations on recruitment specialists. We traditionally recruit from the the regions we work in. Kids from the country already know of the challenges they and their families face. Coping with these challenges is in their DNA. Yet the work still poured in so we had to try a new strategy....hiring city surveyors!!

A city born surveyor was new to us. Moreover, what we do is new to Jacky. He is still wrapping his head around the wide range of skill sets we have. I know he's a bit trepidations about our expectations of all our staff. We've found over the years that some step-up and accept the challenge and others don't or can't. Either way is OK as we don't want people to hate coming to work. At the end of the day, you've got to love what we do and there is nothing worse than seeing someone hate their job.

In this line of work, you've got to love the job challenges and the work environment.

When you're on a job site doing the setting out of a railway you designed last week and you're suddenly asked about the region's socio-economic status as a result of improved freight movements, you need to think fast and not be a narrow technician. The fact that the surveyor has established the first survey control network, detailed the site, re-established the corridor boundaries, assessed the roads at the rail crossings, considered the environment and designed the track alignment and drainage is a considerable skill set. Many years of post-graduate on the job training is required followed by competency assessments by the client to gain engineering authority and the Board of Surveying and Spatial Information. All this can only be achieved through personalised mentoring and a structured training program.

I keep telling our people that we're problem solvers and that we use our surveying education, training and experience to solve problems. The client doesn't care about your qualifications, all he cares about is you being able to solve his problem and without causing any headaches. Make the client's problem disappear and you'll continue to get work. Anticipate future problems and he'll give you more. That's how a good surveyor becomes invaluable to a client.

That's what we do and a lot of people struggle with that responsibility. Hence the need for mentoring and a structured training program. But this isn't enough without innate curiosity to learn new skills, to like being challenged and to discover purpose.

We've taught Jacky how to drive a 4WD, he's met his first wombat and snake, and been taught the language of regional Australia. What's he's found is that country people are accepting and willing to give anyone a go. 

So, who wants to be a regional surveyor? I can guarantee you'll never be bored and you'll discover how good you can be.

PS Jacky made the mistake of trying to drive one of the survey vehicles in front of 20 railway workers. At the time, he wasn't familiar with the manual gears of the ute. The resulting kangaroo hops automatically endeared him to the team. In a world where no one is called by their actual name, Jacky's is now "Skip". If Jacky isn't on a job site, we're asked "Where's Skip"? You gotta love Aussie humour.

Ever wanted to know what Hanlons are up to when we are out of the office and "on site''? 

After completing the original design on the rail line near Bathurst, Hanlons completed the construction survey to make sure the track was put into the right position. 

If any of our measurements are off, the trains can't reach the design speed, timetables aren't met and the life of the hardware (i.e. rail and sleepers) is reduced. The exactness of the measurements and calculations comes into play from beginning to end, ensuring the maximum return on public investment in infrastructure is achieved.  

We are lucky that we can travel this great land and see what it has to offer, while doing the job we love. 

WR Connect is the freight terminal at between Leeton and Griffith at Wumbulgal  The masterplan, launched on 30th June 2018, showcased the master plan and road linkages study for the WRConnect.  

WR Connect is an operational freight terminal built on a budget to aggregate grains, cotton and hay for export via rail. The masterplan project is a joint venture of five Councils (Leeton, Griffith, Carrathol, Narrandera and Murrumbidgee), NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and Transport for NSW.

The site sits in Leeton Shire on the boundary with Griffith City Council. It's located within NSW’s most productive agricultural region, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The establishment of an expanded, efficient, state-of-the-art and common access intermodal freight terminal at WRConnect will support the modal shift of containerised agricultural and manufacturing freight in the Region onto rail and allow the economic benefits to be realised.

The project aligns with the NSW government’s 20 Year Economic Vision for Regional NSW and the Western Riverina Regional Economic Development Strategy. It also reflects Leeton Shire Council’s Community Strategic Plan which recognises the importance of good road and rail connectivity and, as the demand for freight doubles by 2031, highlights that the facility at WRConnect will need to be expanded to accommodate this. Government funding will enable the vision is achieved.

We were tasked with the privilege of project managing the technical matters with the masterplan and with authoring the road linkages study. We worked closely with all parties to ensure that the project will be a success. This is another opportunity for our firm to bolster the economy of a great part of regional NSW.

For over 30 years, the people at Hanlons Consulting have been involved with a number of projects that are transformative to their local economy. With projects ranging from poultry farms, bridges, housing estates, main roads, railways, bio-digesters, air training academies and freight terminals the Hanlons team are proud of their input. The ever changing landscape nationally has allowed us to drill into the socio-economic data and regional economic development strategies for many projects and communities.

As a firm of country people with a regional focus, the numbers and prose in the many policy and strategy documents resonate in both a good and bad way. They always have good intent but their implementation leaves much to be desired. Good policy can have immediate impact in creating stable jobs and building sustainable communities. As for bad policies, well let’s just say the organisations who develop bad policies get to hear quickly from us that their “grand plan” isn’t as good as first thought.

Our team has been far and wide and when we really start thinking about it, there are few inland country towns where we don’t know someone. Many of their stories are the same but each has their own country twist, from the black soil in the west to the sand in the east.  

Hanlons work is complete when we see our projects contribute a positive effect across our own communities. We have a vested interest in seeing Hanlons projects succeed, as we are part of the end result. Our projects successes affects us personally just as they affect our friends and our families.
 

The Hanlon re-brand is featured on page 27 of this month’s edition of The Surveyor. Thanks to the team at KEO for helping us on the journey. 

Our very own Mitch Hanlon, Managing Director of Hanlons, has written a very thought provoking article in The Surveyor on page 20 of the December Edition. 

Mitch brings to light the importance of building networks based on knowledge, guidance and government for the future of Railway Surveying and Track Design. Hanlons have joined forces with like-minded surveyors across Australia to form the Railway Surveying Working Group to focus on what lies ahead for the rail industry. 

Have a read, have a think, make a comment. We want to know your thoughts.