Qasco Buys Leading Laser Technology

The diversified survey company Qasco has purchased a Leica ALS60 airborne scanner integrated with an RCD105 medium format digital camera.

The purchase is Qasco's first step into digital aerial surveying. The company currently operates a fleet of aircraft fitted with Leica film cameras and offers a fully film-based photographic service.

Qasco Director David Sinclair says the move is part of Qasco's investment strategy in both ground and airborne equipment. "It is designed to expand the variety of solutions available to clients. We are not allowing the global financial crisis to inhibit our business development," he said.

"Federal and state governments need for additional private sector spatial resources to cope with climate change, natural disaster and homeland security issues has been a catalyst for this purchase."

The purchase comes as government agencies are pressing ahead with plans for a National Elevation Data Framework, a set of nested DEMs that would cover the whole country at various resolutions. Currently, the best national resolution is based on radar interferometry from the space shuttle, but this will be augmented by laser surveys along the coast.

In NSW, the government is fully committed to its multi-million dollar Surface Model Improvement Project. In that state, the Department of Lands has already purchased a system similar to Qasco's new unit, but work for the private sector is a part of their program.

The ALS60 is the latest scanner produced by Leica. It is notable because it is a multi-pulse system. Older versions worked by measuring the flight time of a pulse of laser energy reflected off the ground. The flight time thus limited the rate at which the laser could fire and therefore the density of points on the ground. The only way to increase this density is to fly lower, reducing the swath width and increasing the time required in the air to survey a given area.

Leica has now mastered multi-pulse, so two or more pulses can be in the air at the same time. This increases the point density at any given height. Given that most surveys are specified in terms of point density, this means the operator can fly twice as high and still capture the required number of points, hence offering a competitive advantage.

Qasco says it can operate the laser at up to 5000 metres above the terrain while still delivering acceptable accuracy.

The unit also comes with a 39 megapixel digital camera. This unit was designed to be part of the laser system, where it can give an image context to the laser results. Leica recently decided to sell this same unit independently to take advantage of an emerging market for medium format cameras.

Apart from the judgement that demand in the marketplace can sustain the operation of the laser, Sinclair says the purchase comes "at the perfect time to take advantage of the federal government's 30 percent depreciation bonus on capital investment."

(Posted May 2009)

Qasco Group Merges with Jeff Brown Surveys

Qasco has recently merged with Jeff Brown Surveys Pty Ltd, a respected regional survey office in southern NSW.

Jeff Brown Surveys was formed by the dissolution of Brown, Clarke & DiPauli's two offices in July 1996. The operation in Yass was commenced as a branch office of Brown, Clarke & DiPauli in 1992. Prior to that, services were offered from Queanbeyan and earlier from Fyshwick in the ACT.

The Yass office has been involved with a number of large projects in the district and throughout NSW with some engagements interstate and overseas.

Jeff Brown Surveys offer services to the public and government authorities in surveying and civil engineering design. These services include:

Jeff Brown Surveys won the Engineering Project Award at the 2001 Excellence in Surveying Awards jointly held by the Institution of Surveyors, NSW Division and Association of Consulting Surveyors, NSW, for the Burrinjuck Mini Hydro Project. They also won the award for the best colour photograph relating to surveying and Jeff Brown was awarded a Vocational Excellence Award by the Rotary Club of Yass.

The Qasco Group welcomes the staff of Jeff Brown Surveys.

(Posted May 2009)

Qasco Appoints New State Manager and National Production/Operations Manager

Qasco is pleased to announce the appointment of David Lowe to the position of Queensland State Manager. David steps into the role having previously held the position of Client Manager. "I am looking forward to the challenges of overseeing the continued development of the Brisbane office," he says. David has successfully managed several of Qasco's largest clients and projects and brings his knowledge of the industry and superior people management skills to the position of State Manager.

Previously Leo Watts handled the Queensland State Manager role. He held the position since 2000 and helped guide the Brisbane office into becoming one of the largest and most successful branches in the Qasco group. Leo steps down from the State Manager role to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer overseeing operations across the entire Qasco group.

"As Qasco grows it has become necessary to implement a national production and operations strategy to maximize our efficiency and skills," Leo Watts commented.

Leo brings his considerable experience and knowledge of Qasco operations to the challenging new role with the confidence that a coordinated approach will help Qasco go from strength-to-strength in these uncertain economic times.