David Drolet's in-depth expertise in land surveying and his training as a land surveyor, combined with his field experience, enable us to integrate an essential legal perspective into our technical projects. The result is greater rigour in the validation, structuring and interpretation of geospatial data.
David plays a key role in the quality assurance of our surveys and deliverables, which translates into real added value for our internal and external clients. His critical eye ensures that the integrity of the data collected is maintained while complying with professional and regulatory standards.
As a result, CIMA+ offers innovative technological solutions (mobile mapping, 3D scanning, GIS, etc.) and legal and technical expertise that is unique on the market. At CIMA+, we are privileged to be able to count on talented people like David to push the boundaries of excellence.
Why did you choose consulting engineering? What do you like about this field?
I chose to join a consulting engineering firm because of the breadth and diversity of the projects to which the industry provides me the opportunity to contribute. Each project represents a new opportunity to take on technical challenges, explore a variety of environments and play a tangible role in local development. What I find particularly exciting is working with cutting-edge technologies: the constant evolution of surveying tools and methods feeds my curiosity, encourages me to continually improve and pushes me to innovate in my practice. Consulting engineering combines rigour, precision and interdisciplinary collaboration, which makes this field both stimulating and rewarding on a daily basis.
What inspired you to specialize in land surveying and to incorporate reality capture as a lever for technical innovation?
What inspired me to specialize in land surveying was the diversity of tasks that this profession encompasses. Land surveying is a field that combines legal aspects, customer service, team management and a strong technological component. It requires mastery of specialized software and high-precision measuring instruments. It also requires good analytical and problem-solving skills. This variety stimulates me daily and allows me to flourish in a role with a technical and strategic dimension, where relationships with clients, partners and colleagues also play an important role.
For me, reality capture represents a natural and stimulating evolution of the practice. The integration of technologies such as laser scanning and photogrammetry not only increases precision and efficiency, but also opens up new possibilities in 3D design and modelling. Using these tools as a lever for technical innovation gives me the opportunity to push back the traditional boundaries of surveying, while helping to design smarter, more integrated solutions for our clients.
How does your legal approach enrich the interpretation of geospatial data in our projects?
My expertise in land surveying enriches the interpretation of geospatial data by providing both technical rigour and legal credibility. Too often underestimated, geospatial surveying is the foundation of every engineering project. An inaccurate or misinterpreted survey can lead to costly errors, redesigns and even litigation. My role is to ensure that the data is reliable, accurate and obtained to the highest quality standards.
My expertise enables me to deal with complex property issues, such as the analysis of property boundaries, the presence of encroachments, the interpretation of easements and regulatory constraints. These services, which come under the heading of land surveying, are rarely offered in-house by engineering firms. There is a growing demand from clients for geospatial data validated and supervised by a land surveyor—a sign that this added value is increasingly sought after in the sector.
What do you see as the main challenges in reality capture today, and how is CIMA+ addressing them through technological innovation?
One of the main challenges in reality capture is managing, processing and interpreting massive volumes of data. Technologies such as 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry generate vast quantities of data, which then have to be structured, filtered and converted into useful, usable deliverables. Another major challenge is to maintain constant accuracy while adapting to varied and sometimes complex environments, such as active worksites, difficult weather conditions, restricted access, etc.
CIMA+ meets these challenges through technological innovation and the expertise of its team. We use cutting-edge tools, such as specialized point cloud processing and 3D modelling software, to speed up project completion while ensuring the utmost rigour. The automation of certain processing stages, the integration of data into BIM or GIS processes, and the ongoing training of our technicians and professionals all contribute to optimizing our deliverables and proposing solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. This proactive, innovation-oriented approach is supported by constant monitoring of new technologies and emerging digital solutions, enabling CIMA+ to remain at the forefront of the field.
How do you see the role of the land surveyor evolving in the context of the digital transformation of infrastructure?
With the digital transformation of infrastructure, the land surveyor's role is no longer limited to surveying. As mentioned above, they are becoming gatekeepers of geospatial data— responsible for the quality, accuracy and reliability of the data used to design, build and manage assets.
Our role is evolving: we are integrating advanced technologies such as 3D scanning, LiDAR and drones, while ensuring that data is geo-referenced, legally defensible and ready for use in BIM or GIS environments.
In today's fast-paced environment, our expertise is increasingly essential. By taking our place in multi-disciplinary teams from the earliest stages, we add a layer of technical and legal rigour that secures projects from the outset.