YEPPOON, QUEENSLAND - DSS, the Global Positioning System (GPS) Specialist Surveying company, is celebrating its 21 year anniversary. These years have been a dynamic and exciting time for this vibrant company.

Dynamic Satellite Surveys (DSS) was established by Tim McCall and Bill Hedditch in 1989. Tim had a detailed knowledge of the new GPS system, while both had international experience in oil and gas exploration. The company was started using some of the first commercial GPS receivers, and software written by Tim, pioneering the use of GPS in these areas.

DSS originally focussed on the oil and coal exploration industry within Australia. As few hardware and software systems existed for GPS, the ability of DSS to build hardware and write specialised software to suit, such as the Rapid Elevation Meter (REM) for barometric levels, which still remains unique to the company, ensured a continual path of success.

DSS provides surveying services to geophysical seismic companies, and has been involved in most of the on-shore seismic exploration in Australia since 1989. The company developed a system of surveying lines for oil and gas exploration which was unmatched for speed and accuracy. Software and hardware developed further until DSS installed the first Bulldozer Guidance System in 1992, for seismic applications. Minimal environmental impact is ensured by utilising the most advanced technologies (GPS), which are also economically practical.

The company's abilities were recognised internationally in 1993 by Petroleum Development Oman, with an initial trial of one week, followed by a five-year contract. The NSW' "Sir Thomas Mitchell Excellence in Surveying" Award was presented to DSS in 1996 for project utilisation and transfer of GPS technology in oil and gas exploration for Petroleum Development Oman.

Some of the more unusual projects undertaken by DSS have been tracking the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats in Epping Forest National Park (Central Queensland), the location of all pathways and cycleways in Canberra using our Asset Capture system mounted on tricycles, the location of coral for shipping off the coast of Fiji, a Man Lost Exercise in Oman (Middle East), Continental Drift measurements on Thursday Island and gravity observations in Myanmar (Burma). Delivering quality data to its clients, year after year, is critical to DSS' success. Motivated to deliver the best survey service possible, the company became Quality Assured in June 1997. The Quality Management System covers the provision of Global Positioning System (GPS) survey services, Engineering survey services and Geographic Information System (GIS) services in both private and government(state and federal) sectors.

In 1999 Tim bought out Bill's share of the company and continued to diversify into non exploration areas, thus stabilising DSS' long term prospects. These areas of surveying include high accuracy survey control, photogrammetry, pipeline routing, asset management, and DCDB and machine guidance. As demand increased, Large Scale Engineering Projects, Digital Road Centreline Surveys, and Deformation Monitoring Surveys were added to the services offered.

Digital Cadastral Data Base (DCDB) Upgrades have become another specialised service offered by DSS. The total DCDB and assets upgrade process has provided councils an unsurpassed, spatially accurate data set that allows planning at a higher level than previously possible, and equips them with an efficient and accurate tool that they then maintain.

Loyalty in its management team is a key ingredient to DSS' success in such a specialised business, and most of its senior managers have been with the company for more than 15 years. Its employees strongly believe DSS is an Employer of Choice and describe their workplace as interesting, friendly and professional.

"The past 21 years have truly been a rewarding experience for us all at DSS," said Tim McCall, Managing Director.