2009-08-07
Flying high is not only for dreamers
Although Southern Mapping Company (SMC) was only founded in January 2007, its team of airborne survey professionals has been working with airborne LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology since the mid 1990’s. The company is dedicated to bringing innovative technology to Africa and recently purchased state of the art laser technology used for aerial surveying from Optech in Canada. This technology will be the first of its kind on the African continent.In 1996 the current directors of SMC today started the company Airborne Laser Solutions and were amongst the first in the world to offer commercial aerial Lidar surveys. This service was soon recognised by the mining, civil engineering and agricultural sectors for the provision of the most accurate surface-terrain information available. The company started to experience phenomenal growth as the demand for accurate surveys increased.
In December 2006 the four directors; chief executive Peter Moir, technical director Jim Vaughan, business director Norman Banks and operations director Jannie Engelke assessed the aerial surveying market and decided to form a private aerial Lidar survey company. One of the company’s initial surveys was for the world’s leading diamond company De Beers where Lidar aerial information was provided for the Namaqualand diamond mines. The company has since experienced phenomenal growth both within the mining sectors as well as for a host of urban developers where pipelines, power lines, roads and railways are surveyed.
Says Moir: “Our primary objective is to assist public and private enterprises through aerial surveys to map strategic resources to enhance business opportunities and facilitate sustainability throughout the African continent.”
The vision of the company is clearly defined and all four of the directors are focused leading the company towards becoming the principal aerial Lidar survey company in Africa. “Having the right attitude and a drive to succeed is part and parcel of any successful business. Our team has been working together for over ten years, we share a common goal, a common vision and a common desire for success,” says Moir.
Recently the company was awarded a contract in Nigeria and has supplied mapping and surveys which will assist the mining sector in terms of mineral exploration, audit surveys and infrastructure design. Closer to home, the company is currently completing projects for the Johannesburg City Council, the Eskom expansion program, and Idutywa in the Eastern Cape.
“Being an entrepreneur is about more than just starting a business. It is about having attitude and the drive to succeed in business. All successful entrepreneurs have a similar way of thinking and posses several key personal qualities that make them so successful in business. Successful entrepreneurs like the ambitious Richard Branson have an inner drive to succeed and grow their business,” says Moir.
When asked what key components drive business success, Moir states that an inner drive to succeed was essential, a strong belief in oneself, a continuous search for new ideas and innovation in the technology arena, an openness to change and a competitive nature were primary factors in driving success.
Says Moir, “It is also vital that a company has a clearly defined service philosophy, a vision and a mission statement. You need a direction to follow, a measure of your success and failures has to be in place as this will allow you a greater opportunity for ensuring growth and driving success.”
The fact that the company facilitates growth and business opportunities for other enterprises also contributes to the sustainability and vitality of the company. Moir concludes: “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not prepared to do.”
Southern Mapping Company
SMC provides topographic surveys and mapping for a variety of industries and sectors. These include civil engineering and infrastructure development, mineral explorations and mine management, environmental planning and rehabilitation, and urban and agricultural planning. The company operates worldwide, but specialises throughout Africa. SMC one of the first in Africa to combine Lidar and hyperspectral imaging technology. For more information about Southern Mapping Company please visit www.southernmapping.com.