Surveying Mapping And Reprographics Technology Services, Inc.

20/06/2026

When working with structural steel, its all about getting the foundations correct. Of course nothing is perfect but getting the concrete footings and bolts within tolerance allows everything else to fit in the right place. A good structural engineer will always design the build in a way that allows for a certain amount of deviation.

Whether we are talking about constructing a 30-story high rise or an airplane hangar with the ADf for HMAF, Tonga, it's always about the grid lines. As with every project, the surveyors remain the unsung heroes. The backstage puppeteers pulling the strings, the Wizards of Oz behind the curtain making magic. In this arena, there is no such thing as, "good enough." The quality and integrity of their workmanship is essential for everyone's success.

Although we are not quite out of the woods with this project, the fact that the steel structure is assembling quite nicely, is a predictor to a job well done.

20/05/2026

They need a Surveyor General to help with a strategic plan and not another Land Plan. Someone who fully understand the professional systems, procedures and how to use the available technology. Moving from the dark ages into the digital future without braking the present is a monumental task that would require a cultural understanding, as well

Nuku'alofa, Tonga: A backlog of more than 13,000 land surveying applications, land registrations, and lease files is overwhelming the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning & Natural Resources due to poor filling in the past, the Minister for Lands, Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi has said, adding that it could...

29/04/2026

Most companies hire staff to fill a role but when the world has a shortage of experienced and trained professionals, its up to us vetrans to pay it forward and lend a helping hand with building up the talent pool.

21/04/2026

Out working along side Tonga's Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources

Being already familiar with the Survey Division, I was expecting to see them using a first generation total station while writing in field books and tapping on calculators. Something, I hadn't done in 40 years. Nonetheless, their ability to find reference monuments without a metal detector and shovel was impressive.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Geology Division flying a LIDAR drone with GPS corrections. A peice of kit with survey capabilities, beyond those easily available within a company of our size. At the time, they were conducting a tree survey but when I asked what they do most often with their drone, they said coastal shoreline monitoring.