At the heart of Can-Explore, a company renowned for its innovative inspection solutions, lies a department that has experienced remarkable growth in recent years: the surveying and geomatics department. The team has expanded from a small group of surveyors to over fifty in just two years, exemplifying the company’s rapid evolution and its ability to adapt to the ever-changing market needs. Such rapid development comes with numerous challenges but also notable achievements that position Can-Explore as a leader in 3D reality capture in Canada. Through insights from our experts Sandra, Michael, and Tom, we uncover the challenges and successes of a department flourishing at full speed.
Modest Beginnings, Lightning Growth
The journey began in 2015 with the arrival of Tom Tardif at Can-Explore, currently the director of the geomatics department and the company’s third shareholder. Tom’s arrival coincided with Can-Explore’s desire to use drones as inspection tools: “We naïvely thought flying drones in underground conduits would be simple,” Tom recounts with a smile.
At the time, the company had not intended to move towards surveying. The opportunity to diversify services arose from a municipality’s call for assistance with archaeological excavation projects when their chief surveyor had just retired. The company then shifted its focus to meet this demand. Construction surveying quickly became an essential component of Can-Explore’s services, and the department has been growing ever since.
Tom during the first 3D scanning project at Can-Explore.
Building a Team of Excellence
Tom emphasizes the importance of recruitment and team building as one of the biggest challenges in developing the department. “Lack of recognition was one of the biggest obstacles, especially initially. We were well known for sewer inspections, but less so for surveying.”
By surrounding himself with talent from his past experiences on major Canadian hydroelectric dam projects, Tom laid solid foundations for a great team of experts who integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as LiDAR, which enables 3D reality capture with remarkable precision.
A New Generation of Surveying and Geomatics Professionals
The recent arrival of young talents marks a turning point in the department’s expansion. Sandra, a surveyor since last year at Can-Explore, exemplifies this new wave of professionals joining a team in full transformation. She highlights aspects of her work she genuinely appreciates, notably the autonomy she enjoys and the variety of tasks she handles daily. In the surveying sector, Sandra has also found an environment at Can-Explore where equality is a core value. She emphasizes the importance of the support received from colleagues and mentors since her arrival: “Everyone is so respectful and open! It’s a very modern approach, and it reflects in our daily work.”
“At Can-Explore, I don’t feel boxed into a rigid framework where everyone has assigned tasks with a long list of procedures. Everyone contributes to the department’s development in their way and based on their experiences.”
— Sandra, land surveyor at Can-Explore
Michaël, a surveyor who also joined Can-Explore less than a year ago, quickly took on responsibilities as an account manager, focusing on business development and client relationships. His work this year has enabled the company to secure contracts with major internationally renowned consulting engineering firms and to develop new business relationships. Michael also highlights his colleagues’ involvement in significant projects with the Ministère des Transports du Québec.
“We had never worked with the MTQ before this year, and we’re already on our fourth mandate with them. I applaud the team for qualifying for these major projects! Our new Leica Pegasus TRK 700 Neo mobile mapping system also played an important role in securing several contracts.”
— Michaël, land surveyor and account manager at Can-Explore
Challenges and Opportunities in Rapid Growth
The department’s rapid growth doesn’t come without challenges. According to Tom, the surveying department has grown by nearly 1000% between 2019 and 2023, necessitating constant adjustments. Ensuring quality recruitment, adapting internal procedures, work methods, and responding to ever-increasing demand are among the main challenges the team faces.
Although demanding, this rapid evolution reflects Can-Explore’s success in a market where technology and innovation are essential to keep up: ”Clients often call us because no one else can help them, whether due to our expertise or the cutting-edge tools we have. We need to continue in this direction to distinguish ourselves from the competition,” says Tom.
Samuel, land surveyor at Can-Explore, was excited to test his new tool at the office.
Pioneering Excellence in 3D Reality Capture
The future of Can-Explore’s surveying and geomatics department looks very promising. Everyone agrees that the company is increasingly moving towards 3D scanning solutions. “The vision at Can-Explore is to build the plane while flying it. In terms of mobile mapping, we believe we can capture more markets whether terrestrial, fixed, aerial, or mobile. We already have the most advanced technology in Quebec,” says Michaël.
As a matter of fact, Can-Explore is the first company in Canada to acquire the NavVis MLX, a state-of-the-art mobile 3D scanning system that allows for the 3D modeling of complex, dimly lit, and hard-to-reach sites with up to eight times the efficiency of comparable tools. Acquiring this new technology is a decisive step for our team of surveyors who are helping redefine efficiency standards in the surveying and geomatics fields nationwide.
Benoît, geomatics engineer, and Rémy, geomatics technician, are preparing for a mobile mapping data collection with the Leica Pegasus TRK 700 Neo.
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