Milestones in the industry.

Trimble, Sunnyvale, Calif., opened an office in India. Trimble Navigation India Pvt Ltd., located in Gurgaon, is the primary base for sales and support of all survey and construction as well as mapping and GIS solutions for the country.

Optech Incorporated, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, announced that Dr. Allan Carswell founder and chairman of Optech Incorporated, has been honored with the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for his significant achievements in LiDAR applications and lifelong dedication to space science and development in Canada.

Design Professionals Inc. (DPI), South Windsor, Conn., hired Lawrence R. Geissler Jr., LS, as director of surveying.

Larry J. Broussard joined C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates Inc., Lafayette, La., as senior surveyor/section manager. Broussard has more than 40 years of experience and is registered in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. He oversees surveying and mapping projects for oil and gas and government related projects.

Avatech Solutions Inc., Owings Mills, Md., acquired Sterling Systems and Consulting, Madison Heights, Mich. Sterling Systems is a provider of Autodesk design technology solutions, consulting services and civil engineering solutions.Sterling founder Bruce White is now vice president of Avatech Solutions' infrastructure solutions group.

The Wisconsin chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC WI) presented Fred Halfen with the 2006 President's Award. Halfen was also elected president of the Wisconsin Land Information Association (WLIA). Halfen, a certified photogrammetrist, is vice president of photogrammetry operations and the Madison office of Ayres Associates, Eau Claire, Wis.