Transportation

The mission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to provide the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world. The FAA Airports Surveying Geographic Information System (AGIS) program helps to collect airport and aeronautical data to meet the demands of the Next Generation National Airspace System. NextGen—as it is known for short—will transform the air traffic control system from a ground-based system to a satellite based (GPS) system.

To support the FAA AGIS 18b survey requirements, we provide aerial and terrestrial surveying control and locations, as well as digital geographic information mapping. This demands a high level of expertise from us, as considerations have to be made concerning primary and secondary control, accuracy requirements, field survey, layer and feature class definitions, heights, distances, metadata, airfield surfaces, runway ends, navigational aides, obstruction identification and airspace analysis. To ensure we can meet the demands of these clients, our AGIS project manager is a FAA licensed pilot and ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist who is highly experienced in aerial imagery processing.

Data sharing is an essential need for our clients. The most efficient way of sharing mapping data is through interchangeable digital drawing files compatible with a number of software programs. Regardless of whether you are working in AutoCAD, MicroStation, Arcview or another program, we have the capability to provide you with a digital drawing file that is compatible with your system and needs. We also ensure that all digital terrain mapping (DTM) and digital elevation models (DEM) will be prepared precisely and be spatially accurate.

For example, many government agencies (e.g., the NJDEP) require submissions in GIS compatible format, including shape files. Borbas is well versed in providing these deliverables, and our digital drawing files support plotting hardcopy black and white and/or color prints. Our computer systems also support 3D point cloud models for piping, buildings, structures and surfaces.

For those clients who have historic mapping in hardcopy (prints) format—such as pipeline right of way companies—we have the ability to convert hardcopy mapping to precise digital formats that are compatible with almost any software system.

Railroads, pipeline companies, electric companies and departments of transportation require specialized right of way mapping for maintenance, planning, design, acquisition and improvements.

Borbas is an excellent source for Right of Way surveys because we understand the two critical components of these types of surveys: First, you need to possess a thorough knowledge of boundary and title law. Then, to conduct the survey itself, you need to be able to employ a combination of research, geodetic control, aerial imagery and ground surveying. With the advent of new aerial equipment, Borbas is incorporating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology to assist with difficult data acquisition.

For more than twenty years, we have been using, learning and testing state-of-the art technology, including GPS and high-accuracy coordinate pinpointing via the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). As a result of these endeavors, we can effectively provide centimeter-level positioning in real-time or post process our observation data to obtain even millimeter-level positioning.

Borbas was a founding partner in a group that worked with Leica Geo Systems and the New Jersey Institute of Technology to develop and implement a high density real-time GPS/GNSS network across the State of New Jersey. Whether we are working for our clients in New Mexico, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey or Delaware, we can tie into a real-time geodetic network system with any of our equipment.

Ships, barges, buildings, tanks and walls…Borbas has worked on them all to provide the precise measurements and mapping engineers need for a variety of reasons:

• Oil company clients may need us to monitor tanks for suspected or potential movement
• Machinery may need to be dismantled and reassembled in another state or country
• A damaged barge may need to be reconstructed and put back in service
• Excavation work may need to be performed next to buildings or railroads and require the monitoring of movement, or change detection
• Existing monuments may require surveying to assess shifts over time, movement, distortion, or damage in the event of a natural disaster

Whatever the demand, we can perform structural surveys with the same level of expertise our clients have come to expect from our other survey offerings.

Prior to performing studies, design and analysis, we are often asked to prepare existing condition surveys to support our clients’ work or that of others. As-built surveys verify compliance with approved design plans and provide a legacy record for both internal and external use, such as pipeline companies.

At the outset, we determine the needs of all parties and set the criteria for the existing conditions survey. Many of these surveys are used for soil and volume calculations, drainage design, bridge and highway design and site planning.

Our surveying offerings extend to those lands flowed by both fresh and salt water. Our hydrographic skiff is equipped with a real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS/GNSS antenna mounted directly above the sonar sensor so we can provide real-time elevations in NAVD88 or your particular project datum. As a result, we can effectively offer underwater topographic surveys of watersheds including rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, bays and harbors.

The hydrographic and bathymetric surveys we conduct support flood study analysis, scour analysis of bridge piers, dredging analysis, erosion analysis and dam studies. Files are provided in digital models and drawings as well as in hardcopy formats.