EMC Engineering Finds Growth in Project Diversity
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014
Surveying activity, which can be a harbinger of future growth in design and construction work, is up at EMC Engineering Services in Albany. A number of diverse, smaller projects including public sector transportation work and private sector work are driving the activity.
"Surveying is often the first business to pick up," said Brian Braun, Albany manager for EMC Engineering.
"We are working on infrastructure projects for local municipalities, doing some work for state and federal agencies, educational institutions and a wide varietyofprivately funded developments. In smaller towns, our work tends to be very diverse."
EMC Engineering Services, Inc. is a multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm with eight offices throughout Georgia. Its services include local planning, surveying, engineering, landscape architecture and construction administration. EMC Engineering is an employee-owned company that was founded in 1978.
"We tend to do construction administration and staking on the projects we design," Braun said. "We look at ourselves as a one-stop shop."
Technologies that are shaping future
New GPS capabilities have the potential to revolutionize the surveying industry, and EMC Engineering has gotten an early look at what's on the horizon.
"We participated in a demonstration using remote-controlled aerial drones that take pictures of the area to be surveyed. The images are then processed into drawings," said Chris Brazell, EMC Engineering Principal and Western Division manager. "We definitely want to be a part of that."
GPS-based surveying is more precise and more efficient. While GPS technologies are already widely used in surveying, the addition of remote-controlled drones offers another level of accuracy, speed and access to remote areas.
Challenges of public funding
Only three of eight regions in Georgia approved a 1 percent sales tax to cover spending on transportation infrastructure. With one of the lowest gas taxes in the country, that has put the state in a bind in terms of funding necessary maintenance on roads, bridges and other infrastructure, according to Brazell.
"Columbus, Savannah and Augustus regions approved the tax so there will be opportunities for us in those areas to help with infrastructure. The other regions are now in a bind, but we will try to find a way to support their needs," Brazell said.
At Georgia Southwestern University in Americus, the Board of Regents approved several small projects that EMC Engineering supported. The firm just completed a sidewalk enhancement project and a parking lot for a new Chick-Fil-A restaurant on campus.
Brazell and Braun both look to community leaders, Chambers of Commerce and economic development groups to support economic growth in the communities they serve. Industrial business is especially needed in Albany, according to Braun, while support of military bases is critical statewide, according to Brazell.
"The community and Chamber really embraced and understood the importance of Fort Benning to our local and state economy. With another round of base closures likely, we need to let local, state and federal officials know how much the community has done to support the base and how important it is to keep it," Brazell said.
More information on EMC Engineering Services is available at www.emc-eng.com.
