Riegl USA, Orlando, Fla., announced the spinoff of Certainty 3D LLC, Orlando, Fla., and named Ted Knaak president and CEO of the new company. Certainty 3D’s mission is the development, application and organization of 3D imaging solutions to meet the technical and economic requirements of the civil market. Certainty 3D’s principal software product is TopoDOT, an advanced tool suite for processing of point cloud data and calibrated imagery directly in Bentley’s MicroStation CAD environment.

Also, RIEGL USA announced that Jim van Rens is president and Ted Knaak is chief technical officer. Van Rens joined Riegl USA in 1997 as vice president. He is a member of MAPPS and ASPRS and serves on the ASPRS LiDAR subcommittee. Knaak served as president of Riegl USA since its 1992 founding with Riegl LMS of Austria. In his new position, Knaak uses his expertise in the development of new product and market initiatives.

Digital Geographic Technologies Inc. (DGT), Boston, acquired Gunther Engineering Inc. and its Survey and Engineering divisions, including Aspinwall & Lincoln, William S. Crocker Co., New England Survey Service, Survey Engineers of Boston and J. F. Hennessy Co. The new Gunther Engineering Division and J.F. Hennessy Divisions of DGT are managed with the DGT Survey Group as an integrated operation out of DGT’s Boston office.

Vertical Mapping Resources Inc. (VMR), Scottsdale, Ariz., acquired Sacramento-based Kellogg Aerial Surveys and named Bill Swope regional manager of consulting and development for the firm’s Sacramento-area office. Vertical Mapping Resources operates under both the VMR moniker and the Kellogg Aerial Surveys brand.

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (VHB) announced that Jim Diorio, RPLS, is a senior principal and Christopher Danforth, PLS, is a principal. Diorio is director of land survey and has worked at VHB for 23 years. He is based in the Watertown, Mass., headquarters and manages all survey activities across VHB offices. Danforth is based in the Middletown, Conn., office.

Stantec, Irvine, Calif., hired Kevin Hills, PLS, as an associate and Gustavo Rios as a project manager for its surveys/geomatics group in Los Angeles. Hills has more than 20 years of experience, including managing surveying and mapping projects for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and multiple bridge projects for the City of Los Angeles. Rios has 10 years of experience in 3D laser scanning, including five years of land surveying experience for land development.

Clary & Associates, Jacksonville, Fla., hired Cliff Colyer as a junior crew chief. Colyer is a registered land surveyor intern. He also holds a surveyor in training designation from the state of Florida.

Dewberry, Tampa, Fla., announced that Keith Patterson, PSM, is a director on the board of the Florida Region American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Patterson’s two-year term began in May. He has more than 30 years of experience in photogrammetry, mapping and GIS. At Dewberry, Patterson is responsible for managing remote sensing projects requiring aerial imagery, image interpretation, feature extraction, LiDAR and GIS.

McKim & Creed, Raleigh, N.C., elected Timothy Cawood, PLS, to its board of directors at the company’s annual meeting in April. Cawood is McKim & Creed’s national director of geomatics advanced technology. He joined the company in 1985 as a land surveyor and has helped build the company’s geomatics division to the largest in the southeast. He currently oversees the company’s hydrographic surveying services and 3D imaging services for industry, architecture and manufacturing.

Merrick & Company announced the certification of seven individuals as geographic information systems professionals (GISP). The individuals now certified in Merrick’s Aurora, Colo., office include Sergio Aguayo, photogrammetrist; Matthew Bethel, manager of systems engineering; Carol Spear, senior photogrammetrist; Mark Stucky, senior GIS analyst; and Roger Hanson, director of geospatial operations. The individuals certified in Merrick’s Colorado Springs office include Deborah Barnes, senior GIS analyst; and Janina Barnes, GIS specialist.

Spalding DeDecker Associates Inc. (SDA), Detroit, appointed Cheryl Gregory, PE, and Joe Muller, PE, as vice presidents. Gregory is manager of the transportation department and an SDA associate. Muller is manager of the national land development department. He has more than 35 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, including survey and geotechnical services.


Associate Editor Wendy Lyons compiles “Turning Points.” Contact her at 248/786-1620 or lyonsw@bnpmedia.