Celebrating Thirty Years of RM Surveys
From two licensed surveyors working around a kitchen table in Bull Creek to a trusted spatial partner shaping projects across WA and beyond, RM Surveys has spent three decades setting the benchmark for accuracy and innovation.
1993–94
Geoff Robb begins trading as RM Surveys with Greg McLean, delivering cadastral surveys and contract work for Landgate.
1995
RM Surveys became Geoff’s full-time focus, with a strong emphasis on cadastral and property surveys.
1997
Geoff connects with Greg Birch through the Institute of Surveyors. Birch, then Head Surveyor at Murrin Murrin, brings Geoff and Andrew Walton into a 12-month program. Their shared ambition for a people-first company takes shape.
1998
Greg Birch joins Geoff on metro projects like Exchange Plaza and Winthrop Baptist. The partnership is sealed with a handshake, creating a company culture built on trust, good equipment, and meaningful work.
1999–2001
RM Surveys moves from spare rooms to offices in O’Connor and then Willetton. The founding team grows to include Geoff Robb, Greg Birch, Gillian Robb, Andrew Walton and Andrew Criddle.
2002
Dimensional Control is introduced, bringing metrology-grade accuracy to shutdowns, fabrication, and complex fit-ups.
2007
RM Surveys incorporates as the entity it is today.
2008
RM Surveys moves into Augusta Street, which remains our headquarters today.
2012
Acquisition of the Leica C10 laser scanner marks the beginning of Geospatial & Digital services.
2013
Succession planning begins, guided by advisors AK Sabar and Andrew Sullivan.
2014
Acquisition of MakJaP establishes a permanent presence in Broome.
2015–2018
Leadership evolves: Dane Blower returns as Operations Manager, Kyle Downes provides interim leadership, and co-founder Greg Birch retires.
2018
Acquisition of MHR Surveyors adds depots in Port Hedland and Kalgoorlie. Underground Utility Mapping services commence.
2017–2020
New technologies adopted, including Pointerra3D, Inspire 2 UAV, Wingtra UAV, and RM Surveys’ first laser tracker.
2020
Sydney office opens. RM Surveys becomes Australia’s first and only NATA-accredited provider of Dimensional Control & Metrology.
2021
Underground Utility Mapping gains Approved Locator certification.
2024
Governance is reshaped: Peter Marcello appointed CEO, a formal Board is established, and General Managers take responsibility across business functions.
2025
Regional Survey Services (RSS) launches, ensuring faster mobilisation and continuity across WA’s regional centres. Defence capability begins to scale, leveraging RM Surveys’ precision heritage and accredited systems.
Faces of RM Surveys
WA Maritime Museum (Multiplex, c. 2000)
Precision construction surveying for concrete set-out, as-constructed surveys and mega-column steel erection; balancing heritage sensitivities and new architecture with disciplined control.
View more
Optus Stadium (New Perth Stadium)
Coordinated BIM and traditional methodologies across a vast site, aligning more than 35 contractors into a single spatial masterplan to manage services and enable real-time decisions. Recognised with the Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Award (2018) for Spatial Enablement.
View more
Elizabeth Quay Bridge & Matagarup Bridge
From dimensional control of prefabricated steel at Civmec’s Henderson facility to on-site assembly in Perth, we applied high-accuracy workflows to ensure components met design within tight tolerances.
View more
Narrows Bridge Duplication (2002)
Multi-year involvement in waterfront infrastructure redevelopment, demonstrating continuity of data and method across long programs.
View more
Perth CBD high-rise program
Complex urban contexts, constrained access and interfaces with services; surveying for buildability, safety and compliance.
View more
Fiona Stanley Hospital
Construction and engineering set-out and validation in a highly regulated environment, aligning structural and services packages.
View more
Tanami Control Survey
Remote-area geodetic control underpinning efficient exploration and operations.
View more
Pilbara Ports Authority / Canning Dam — Concrete Construction
High-precision works in industrial settings where tolerance, safety and documentation are non-negotiable.
View more
Port of Derby — Hydrographic Survey (2016)
Bathymetric and port-environment surveying to inform planning and maintenance.
View more
Offshore Patrol Vessels (Civmec)
Dimensional Control and fabrication support in defence manufacturing environments, where traceability, metrology and documentation standards are stringent.
View more
Kings Square
A showcase of modern urban precinct surveying, supporting the delivery of mixed-use developments in the heart of the city.
View more
Perth Underground
A strong example of RM Surveys’ role in major engineering projects, providing precise data for complex subterranean infrastructure.
View moreData in action on WA projects
Projects that shaped us
Over the past thirty years, RM Surveys has delivered projects across every corner of Western Australia, from remote control networks in mining regions to complex, city-shaping precincts in Perth.
Along the way, we have built expertise across infrastructure, construction, resources, defence, and property development. Each project has added new capability, fresh lessons, and stronger client relationships that continue to shape the way we work today.
Innovation & technology milestones
Positioning and control
- 1996 — GPS StateFix: Early adoption of satellite-based workflows cut time in the field and lifted repeatability for control networks.
- 1998 — Leica GPS500: Greater precision and reliability supported larger subdivisions and infrastructure works, improving productivity without compromising quality.
Precision and metrology
- 2002 — Dimensional Control: Formal introduction of DC brought metrology-grade workflows to shutdowns and fabrications. Bespoke tooling, and later 3D-printed fixtures, reduced downtime and fit-up error.
- 2020 — Laser Tracker: Lifted accuracy and traceability for high-tolerance works in manufacturing and assembly.
Digital capture and delivery
- 2012 — Leica C10: Laser scanning became the backbone of our Geospatial & Digital services, enabling accurate models and as-built documentation at scale.
- 2017 — Pointerra3D: Clients could securely view and collaborate on large point clouds without specialist software—bringing transparency to multi-stakeholder projects.
- 2018 & 2020 — Inspire 2 and Wingtra UAVs: Expanded capture methods for volumes, progress, and access-challenged sites with improved safety and turnaround.
Subsurface certainty
- 2018 — Underground Utility Mapping (UM): Integrated records review, on-site locating and survey capture to reduce strikes and rework.
- 2021 — Approved Locator certification: Formalised competence and process, giving clients confidence in how underground risks are managed.
Community & industry impact
We believe strong businesses contribute to strong communities. That belief shows up in how we hire, how we support staff and how we engage beyond the project boundary.
People and wellbeing
Back in 2007, RM Surveys introduced the Social Club as a way for people to connect beyond day-to-day projects. What began as a casual idea soon became a lasting tradition, with regular events and activities that continue to strengthen our sense of community.
In 2015, we also established morning gatherings, known today as the ‘waddy’, which created a consistent space for communication, teamwork and connection across the business.
We also prioritise the wellbeing of our people, offering all-staff PBF memberships, access to an Employee Assistance Program with structured activities, and, in 2024, appointing a dedicated HSQE professional to further strengthen our commitment to safety and quality.
Community partnerships
We support charities that matter to our people and communities: Canteen, Variety, Share the Dignity, Foodbank, Movember, R U OK? and MATES in Construction, among others.
We invest in career pathways through partnerships with Curtin University and WAIS, and sponsor local initiatives such as the Broome Senior High School Surf Club.
Sustainability also matters in daily practice at RM Surveys; initiatives like Containers for Change keep us accountable and local in our impact.
Accreditation, awards and nominations
2025 and beyond.
The years ahead will also see continued investment in technology. UAVs, laser trackers, and advanced digital delivery platforms will remain core to our innovation strategy, ensuring the data we provide is not only precise but also practical, accessible, and actionable.
Above all, our future is about balance: staying at the forefront of technology while keeping people first. The same values that shaped RM Surveys’ first three decades will continue to guide us into the decades ahead.
Thirty years on, the spirit that began at two kitchen tables is still what drives us: precision in every survey, people at the centre of every decision.
Looking ahead, whether you’re planning a project in Western Australia or need a spatial data partner who can mobilise regionally and deliver with discipline, we’re ready. Our people bring field experience, strong data discipline, and the right tools to make projects safer, clearer, and more efficient.