Before an oil and gas company can complete a pipeline or any other major construction project, they need to have a full and accurate understanding of the land and existing assets where the project will be completed. Land surveying helps provide this understanding, but at the same time, it's crucial that the surveying efforts provide information that propagates information and efficiencies throughout all phases of the project. Working with a surveying partner that provides a complete, end-to-end solution can help oil and gas companies ensure that they get great surveying results while also keeping the project on the right track.
Collecting data
Of course, the first task any land surveying service provider should be able to help you with is data collection. Unfortunately, all too often, this is the only service many surveying companies provide. Even if the data does meet the high standards needed for oil and gas construction projects, just having the right data doesn’t do you much good if you’re left to your own devices to figure out how to apply it.
Regardless, an effective end-to-end surveying partner should be able to start things off right by helping you use the latest surveying technologies, including aerial surveys conducted with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and laser scanning to support the creation of detailed 3D models. These new technologies help support the goal of pursuing accuracy and detail without increasing costs or causing delays.
Processing data
The point at which the value of an end-to-end surveying provider really starts to shine is during the data processing stage. Using UAV’s (Drones), surveyors can collect massive amounts of imagery and point cloud data which can take weeks to process.
On the other hand, the right service provider could help you move data from the collection site to the data center quickly, due to their high bandwidth infrastructure. In addition, a good surveying partner can provide a level of computing power that ensures your data is processed within 24 hours. They should also have qualified professionals to oversee the process and turn out high-quality deliverables.
Storing data
Today's modern surveying techniques are great for understanding project sites better, but one drawback they present is the tremendous amount of data they create. You need to keep this data safe and available at all times, which means you'll need a storage solution. Starting up such a storage solution for your organization can be prohibitively expensive, and quite frankly, probably isn't a good use of your time or efforts.
On the other hand, many leading providers of end-to-end surveying can offer you access to a cloud storage platform, which provides the level of security and availability you need for your data, and comes at a very reasonable price tag. This is one less thing you have to worry about as you begin work on your project.
Distributing data
Finally, your data needs to be available when and where it’s needed the most. This can be challenging for many businesses that don’t have a qualified partner to assist them. When people across the project aren’t able to access the data they need and export it to the software they prefer to use, the productivity of the whole team will suffer greatly. In addition, people looking at different versions of the same documents can lead to confusion, and ultimately delays and wastes money.
Using a cloud-based data storage platform assures that everyone can pull from the same standardized, centralized version of the data, so version control is never an issue. The data can be accessed from any device, so all team members see the exact same thing, whether they’re in the office on a desktop device or they're onsite with a tablet. The help of an end-to-end service provider is the one solution that makes it all possible.
Final thoughts
While it may be tempting to pinch pennies on land surveying by buying services a la carte, whatever up-front savings you might experience are rarely worth it in the end. Choosing an end-to-end service provider helps ensure you get the results you need quickly and cost-effectively, while also freeing you up to focus on executing a great project.
