We are proud to receive many award-winning recognitions by our clients

Degrove Exhibits at AIWA Conference in Charleston, SC

Degrove Surveyors attended the annual Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, and also contributed as an exhibitor.  The conference was held at the historic Francis Marion Hotel in downtown Charleston from November 13-14.  Attending for Degrove were Randy Tompkins and Tyler Tracz.  Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Tracz attended a variety of sessions given by representative’s from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and a variety of local and state representatives.  In the exhibit hall, Degrove had the opportunity to highlight our diverse capabilities, particularly regarding single-beam and multi-beam hydrographic surveying.  We were excited for the opportunity to attend this conference, and we thank the staff of AIWA for their efforts which made the 2012 Conference such a success. 

Degrove looks forward to attending future AIWA events and being active members of the Association. 

For more information regarding AIWA and the work they do, please visit their website:

Tracz, Pyle attend FSMS Retracement Camp

Tyler Tracz and Will Pyle of Degrove Surveyors attended the three-day Sectional Retracement Camp organized by the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS).  The Camp was based at 4-H Camp Ocala in the Ocala National Forest, near the town of Altoona.  Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on field work, students learned about the history of the Public Land System and how to retrace the sectional boundaries established by the original GLO surveyors in the mid-1800s.  Classroom topics included the formation, administration, and equipment used for the Public Land System, as well as theoretical instruction on sectional retracement.  Field instruction gave students a hands-on opportunity to retrace the footsteps of the original GLO surveyors through searching for the necessary evidence to prove individual section corners.  Some of the evidence found included decades-old tree markings, stump holes and charcoal remains of reference trees set in the mid-1800s, and a lighter wood post likely buried some time in the early 20th century. 

Will Pyle (left) pictured here with Lemar Evers (middle) of FDEP Division of State Lands and Lee Willingham (right) of Bradshaw-Niles & Associates, uncovering the stump hole and charcoal remains of a bearing tree referenced many decades ago. 

Tyler Tracz is pictured here using an historical surveyor’s compass in an attempt to find remains of historical reference trees that will help prove the location of the nearby section corner.  Compasses like this were used by the original GLO Surveyors in the mid-1800s.

Retracement Camp instructor Milton Denny, PLS, (middle) pictured here with Retracement Camp students, discovering the remains of a lighter wood post, buried as a survey marker probably sometime in the early 20th century.

Degrove Completes Hydrographic Surveys for National Park Service at Cumberland Island, GA

Degrove Surveyors recently completed two Hydrographic Surveys for ferry docks at Cumberland Island and St. Mary’s, Georgia.  The ferry transports visitors back and forth between St. Marys and Cumberland Island.  The project is owned by the National Park Service and the surveys will support construction efforts for dock modifications.

Degrove Surveyors Attends FSBPA Conference as an Exhibitor

Degrove attended the 2012 Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA) Conference in Naples, Florida.  Randy Tompkins and Tyler Tracz attended and represented Degrove in the Exhibit Hall.  With a variety of engineers, surveyors, scientists, and public officials present, the strength and effectiveness of FSBPA was made evident throughout the conference.  The professionals in attendance were among the best of the best in their respective fields.  Degrove enjoyed the opportunity to re-connect with these other professionals who share our interest in the preservation of Florida’s shores and beaches.  We were also pleased to exhibit our extensive experience providing survey support for beach nourishment and shore preservation.  More information on Degrove’s qualifications and experience with providing survey support for coastal projects can be found here.

Degrove Attends FSMS Conference in Naples, FL and Serves in Local Chapters

Degrove Surveyors was once again well-represented at the 2012 Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) Conference, held this year in Naples, Florida.  Degrove President, Ray Niles, attended the Conference along with his wife, Mary.  Mr. Niles is a Past President of FSMS, and is currently serving as the FSMS Liaison to the Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers (BPSM), and on the Society’s Legislative Committee.  Having been recognized with the Society’s most prestigious awards, he is a Fellow and Life Member of FSMS.

Also attending the Conference were Degrove team members Tyler Tracz and Will Pyle, who are each serving as Secretary of the FSMS Crown Chapter and North-Central Florida Chapter, respectively.  Other Degrove team members who are currently serving as officers are Tom Tracz, currently serving a second term as Crown Chapter Treasurer, and Randy Tompkins, serving as Crown Chapter Vice President.

Degrove recognizes that good professionals are involved in their profession.  Our firm is proud to continue our active involvement with and support of FSMS.  We send our thanks to all FSMS staff and volunteers who contributed to another great Conference!

Degrove Completes Hydrographic/Topographic Survey at Mile Point; Supports Efforts of USACE & JAXPORT

Degrove Surveyors recently completed a Hydrographic and Topographic Survey for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in support of their efforts on the Mile Point Project.  Mile Point is an area located between river miles four and five west of the Atlantic Ocean along the St. Johns River, at the confluence of the river and the Intracoastal Waterway (IWW).  The IWW enters the St. Johns River from the south out of Pablo Creek at an angle almost parallel with the channel, with flow usually running in the opposite direction of the flow of the river.

These difficult crosscurrents not only cause concerns about erosion of the Mile Point shoreline, but also prevent certain large vessels from navigating this portion of the river during the ebb tide.  As a result, the problems at Mile Point present the greatest obstacle to the growth of Jacksonville’s ports.

The Corps has partnered with Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) to address these problems.  The Corps and JAXPORT recently signed the Project Design Agreement which will allow the design to move forward.  Currently, the recommended plan includes relocation and reconfiguration of the existing training wall, restoration of Great Marsh Island, and creation of a flow improvement channel in Chicopit Bay.  An illustrated presentation of these details can be viewed here.

Degrove’s services included a Hydrographic and Topographic Survey of this entire area, including the area along the training wall and rock jetties, Great Marsh Island, and large portions of Chicopit Bay.  Degrove completed the field work in less than three weeks, with as many as three crews working on it at a time.  RTK GPS was utilized for both the uplands and hydrographic portions of the project.  Hydrographic crews utilized Degrove’s 14-foot Demaree inflatable-pontoon boat.  This platform has the advantages of a very shallow draft, superior stability, and a rugged construction that allows the vessel to make contact with jetty rocks without incurring any damages.  All data was used to create a Digital Terrain Model. 

Above: Image shows coverage area of survey data that Degrove achieved for the Mile Point project.

Degrove’s Support for U.S. Forest Service Recognized in Gainesville Sun Newspaper

Degrove Surveyors has recently been supporting the U.S. Forest Service through providing boundary-related line maintenance/marking services in the Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests.  The project was recently highlighted in the Gainesville Sun newspaper.  The following are excerpts from the article entitled, “Keeping it all straight: Ocala National Forest survey.”

OCALA – Surveyors in the Ocala National Forest are entering the home stretch on an important boundary management project for the U.S. Forest Service.

“When you’re walking on the edge of private property and approaching forest service land, it should be obvious. That’s no longer the case,” Fillion said.

[…]

The Forest Service is concentrating maintenance efforts on spots noted by prescribed burn fire personnel and areas where boundary violations have been brought to their attention. Once a problem area is identified, Fillion hires private companies to renew the boundary lines. For the Ocala National Forest job, he turned to Degrove Vice President Tom Tracz, who has worked as a surveyor for 30 years.

Prescribed burns can’t be performed without knowing where property lines are located, and a lack of clear boundaries costs homeowners during new construction projects.

The article can be read in its entirety here.

More on Degrove’s role in the project, both in Ocala and Apalachicola, is available here.

Degrove Licensed to Practice Surveying in North Carolina

Degrove Surveyors is now licensed to practice surveying and mapping in the great state of North Carolina.  After passing the state exam and meeting all licensing requirements, Ray Niles and Randy Tompkins are now North Carolina Professional Land Surveyors.  North Carolina is the seventh state in which Degrove is licensed to provide surveying and mapping services.  Degrove continues to expand throughout the southeastern United States and looks forward to the opportunity to serve the people and agencies of North Carolina.

Degrove is also licensed to practice surveying and mapping in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana. 

Degrove’s Will Pyle now a Certified Floodplain Manager

Degrove Survey Technician Will Pyle, S.I.T., in passing the certification exam and satisfying all requirements of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, is now a Certified Floodplain Manager.  Mr. Pyle received his Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics from the University of Florida.  In his time with Degrove, he has been involved with numerous projects concerning water resources and floodplain management.  Mr. Pyle has also served as Degrove’s field supervisor for multiple topographic and hydraulic structure surveys supporting Watershed Management Plans throughout the state of Florida. 

Mr. Pyle is an asset to the Degrove team, and his floodplain knowledge allows Degrove to provide better survey support for a variety of projects concerning floodplain management, environmental services, water management, and water resources.

Descriptions of some of Degrove’s watershed management projects can be seen here:
Alligator Creek Watershed Management Plan
Myakka River Watershed Initiative
Marion County Watershed Management Plan

Degrove Supports NAVFAC SE Efforts for Gradient Study at Kings Bay Naval Base, GA.

Degrove Surveyors recently completed a monitoring well project at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Georgia.  Surveying services were in support of the Spray Field Gradient Study being completed by NAVFAC SE.  The study is being completed to determine the direction of groundwater flow from reused water spray fields.  Project tasks included completing a vertical control survey and also providing horizontal coordinate information on 23 monitoring wells located throughout the base – some being in very high security areas in which a full-time escort was required.  Despite having to cooperate with time-consuming security checks and daily vehicle scans, Degrove completed the project and delivered the information days early.  Field crews used digital levels and bar-code rods to achieve maximum accuracy and precision.  All vertical data was processed and adjusted using least-squares adjustment software.  Horizontal locations were determined with Trimble sub-meter GPS units.