SAM, Inc. is committed to staying on the leading edge of technology advancements. The firm’s leadership recognized the importance of technological currency from the beginning and has been one of the first to embrace technical improvements in every phase of our operations. Over the last decade we have strategically expanded our technology to support the latest developments in the profession, including new services related to digital aerial mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), terrestrial scanning, mobile and airborne LiDAR, and Subsurface Utility Engineering. We leverage the latest technology to deliver precision surveying and mapping products for a wide range of client needs, project types and market sectors. The firm provides an integrated and innovative all-digital approach to its entire line of surveying and mapping services. Our ‘complete geospatial’ approach gives us the tools and skills to develop efficient and customized solutions for projects of any scale.
Some of the technologies behind our service offerings include:
Standard Field Surveying Technology
The professional land surveyor staff at SAM, Inc. uses the latest dual-frequency GPS surveying receivers and Trimble S6 Total Stations to provide a complete range of surveying services. The firm is a global leader in tablet-based data acquisition technology and has deployed state-of-the-art Trimble Tablet Rugged PCs to all field crews in North America. The tablet system provides advantages for every type of fieldwork, with benefits of increased speed and productivity in data collection, transmittal and management across the project cycle. For office operations our technicians use integrated CAD workstations equipped with the latest software, including AutoCAD, MicroStation, GEOPAK, BlueSky AlignDB and PLS-CADD.
Mobile Mapping System
SAM, Inc. uses the Lynx™ Mobile Mapper as part of its broad inventory of advanced surveying and mapping technologies. The non-invasive, state-of-the-art Lynx™ Mobile Mapping system is ideal for civil engineering firms or government agencies managing rail surveying, road surveying, pipeline surveying, waterway, electric power line survey services and design-build projects. It incorporates the most advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, digital cameras and a GPS navigation system to quickly and accurately collect survey-quality point data for corridor projects throughout North America.
Airborne LiDAR System
SAM, Inc. owns and operates d a state-of-the-art Trimble Harrier 68i Airborne Laser Scanner that can be deployed from either a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. The Trimble Harrier 68i is the most advanced LiDAR scanning system on the market and has a truly impressive set of specifications, including a very high rate of data capture, extremely dense data capture (or point cloud), a 45-60 degree field-of-view, and an integrated 60 megapixel medium-format digital frame camera.
Digital Photogrammetry and LiDAR Aerial Mapping
SAM, Inc.'s fully digital Photogrammetry Department utilizes state-of-the-art workstations to develop Digital Terrain Models (DTM), Planimetric Mapping, and Digital Orthophotography. SAM's services include comprehensive LiDAR acquisition and data processing solutions. Using multiple data processing software systems, we tailor our LiDAR data processing to the specific need of clients. SAM, Inc. provides aerial mapping services across North America to a wide variety of industries including infrastructure, pipelines, electric transmission, environmental, and rail.
Geographic Information System (GIS) Services
As an Esri Authorized Consultant, SAM, Inc. provides complete turnkey solutions for project planning, management, and implementation services. GIS technicians utilized the latest in high-speed computational workstations, combined with high-resolution displays capable of 3-D visualization, and integrated with a high-capacity network storage system. All data products generated by the surveying, aerial mapping, SUE and utility coordination service divisions can be delivered in a variety of GIS and CAD formats.
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)
SAM, Inc. uses the latest Subsurface Utility Engineering technologies: radio frequency, acoustic, sonic magnetic sensing, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and non-destructive vacuum excavation equipment. These tools allow SAM, Inc.’s SUE technicians to quickly and reliably designate, locate and accurately map underground utilities, as well as assist clients in utility coordination.
Terrestrial Laser Scanning
SAM, Inc. provides experienced High Definition Surveying (HDS) data acquisition, project control, filtered data and complete schematic drawings and 3-D models for a variety of terrestrial laser scanning applications, including civil, mechanical, electrical, architectural, and archaeological. These services are performed using Leica C10 Laser Scanners for high-density data collection in the field. These are backed by high-speed computational workstations connected to high-resolution displays and integrated with high-capacity network storage systems for data processing operations.
Corporate Network Operations
All SAM, Inc. services and operations are backed by an enterprise-class networked computing and data storage system. Both local and distributed computing systems are used, providing the best options for computing efficiency, with the security of redundant data management. In addition to high-speed, high-bandwidth network connections, the system is comprised of a server network with massive computing cores, and over half a petabyte of data storage.
SAM, Inc. software tools include a very broad range of applications. From common business applications, through enterprise management tools, and virtually every industry-standard application for surveying, geospatial and engineering practices, SAM, Inc. can provide compatibility with all of our clients data needs.
The entire enterprise is managed with best-in-class backup and security tools and practices, to ensure the protection of all data. SAM, Inc. employs its own team of expert IT professionals to support every technology in the company, from desktops, servers, and database programming, to wireless data collection hardware and software. The IT staff is ready to support any of our clients computing needs.
