GC Surveys and the Power of Innovation

Introduction

During the global financial crisis, many businesses were struggling to survive, let alone start something new. But for John Grantham and Chris Coates, it was the moment to start planning and take a bold step into the unknown of running their own business. Drawing on their decades of combined surveying experience, they founded Grantham Coates Surveys (GC Surveys).

Known for their professionalism, customer focus and meticulous attention to detail, John and Chris quickly built a reputation that set them apart. What began as a two-person operation has since grown into a talented team of surveyors working across diverse sectors, with a remarkable story to tell.

A unique approach to surveying

GC Surveys offers a broad range of services including land, rail, river, engineering and measured building surveys. At the heart of the company lies a simple principle: to keep customers, suppliers, and staff happy.

Based in the Midlands, the team delivers projects across the UK and internationally, often taking on assignments at short notice in far-flung locations.

What makes GC Surveys truly powerful is its creative use of 3D laser scanning technology to push the boundaries of traditional surveying. Their expertise has taken them to some of the world’s most iconic sites. They have captured Nelson’s Column for a Star Wars production, scanned buildings for BBC election broadcasts at Old Broadcasting House, scanned a courtyard at the Louvre for the Olympics and even created a detailed model of Battersea Power Station for a LEGO advertising campaign.

New business, new equipment, new possibilities

In the early days of GC Surveys, hiring kit was the team’s go-to method for getting the tools they needed. Total stations could be hired affordably at just a couple of hundred pounds a week, but GPS units were always a different story, often costing much more.

That higher rental rate eventually pushed John and Chris to bite the bullet and buy their own. One of their first purchases was a GPS rover unit. To keep costs down, they often turned to Leica Geosystems’ ex-demo or reconditioned units, which came serviced, warrantied and ready to go.

Over the years, GC Surveys bought a mix of both brand-new and second-hand equipment as they were confident in Leica Geosystems’ quality assurance, regardless of whether the unit was new or refurbished. Their scanners tell the story well: the ScanStations Leica C10 and Leica P40 were bought second-hand, while the Leica RTC360 was purchased new. Together, they form a fleet that has carried the GC Surveys team through countless projects and milestones.

The unique possibilities of embracing survey technology

For Chris and the team, embracing new technology is about staying ahead of the curve and remaining competitive. He acknowledges that while many innovations represent only incremental improvements, it’s vital to stay familiar with each update so the technology gap never becomes too wide. Otherwise, years can pass and by the time you finally adopt new tools, the industry has already moved on, making it harder to catch up.

Some technologies, however, have been truly revolutionary. None more so than the Leica AP20 AutoPole.

“The productivity from the Leica AP20 AutoPole is insane compared with what you could do before. To me, it’s the biggest leap forward in the survey industry in the last twenty-five-years, even bigger than the arrival of 3D laser scanning.

Since the beginning of time, surveyors have had to keep a pole upright, with all the hassle that comes with it. Then suddenly, Leica Geosystems comes along and says, ‘Here’s a tilting pole, you can place it in corners, on slopes, even upside down if you want. You don’t even need to see the point, as long as the pole can reach.’ Suddenly, we can access culverts and areas we’d never have been able to before. It’s amazing how much faster and easier it is.” Not to mention safety gains where the surveyor can now lean their pole rather than themselves.

Chris Coates, Director, GC Surveys

Half a day saved on the first job

The team discovered the Leica AP20 AutoPole at Leica Geosystems’ launch event and were impressed.  On the drive home afterwards, John and Chris excitedly discussed where the Leica AP20 AutoPole could have been used on a multitude of recent jobs. The next day they placed the first pre-order in the UK.

On their very first job with the AP20, GC Surveys was tasked with mapping a 100-metre footpath bordered by foliage, hedges, a fence and a bank. Previously, every point had to be taken as an offset with spot levels, edges and features all estimated with the pole held at awkward angles. It was less accurate and required constant coordination between the surveyor on the pole and the operator at the total station.

With the AP20 AutoPole, the process became far simpler. Point after point was captured directly, quickly, and with greater precision. That single job saved nearly half a day of work.

Every surveyor has also made a pole height mistake in their career which takes time to identify and fix but the AutoHeight feature of the AP20 AutoPole eliminates any future mistakes, improving quality and reducing corrections.

The benefits, however, went beyond speed. The team can now deliver higher-quality results in less time, without increasing costs to clients. This efficiency frees up capacity for more projects, ultimately driving growth and boosting profitability. Personnel safety is also a key winner , especially when working near watercourses, the AP20 simplifies measurements with a tilted pole, keeping the surveyor out of harm’s way.

Three months after using their new AP20, GC Surveys were so convinced of the return on investment that they duly ordered a second unit and have not looked back since.

“The Leica AP20 is the biggest, most productive change in the industry that I’ve seen in 25 years.”

Inspiring the Next Generation with Immersive Technology

With most of the GC Surveys team in their forties, attracting younger recruits has long been a priority. Fresh talent and a desire to learn can only be a good thing for a growing business with strong ambitions. The realities of traditional surveying, early mornings, extensive travel, long hours outdoors in all weathers, have often prove challenging for new entrants.

The next generation have grown up with technology, they are comfortable with it. One might even be so bold as to say they are motivated and inspired by it. That’s why immersive technology from Leica Geosystems is helping to boost interest in survey careers. Tools such as 3D laser scanning, mobile mapping, and reality capture present surveying as a digitally driven, innovative profession, one that combines time in the field with advanced data processing, visualisation, and collaboration back in the office.

For GC Surveys, showcasing these technologies has become a powerful way to inspire younger talent. Instead of seeing surveying as physically demanding and unpredictable, the next generation can experience it as a career that blends cutting-edge technology with real-world impact, a combination far more aligned with the expectations of a new era of surveyors. 

Why Leica Geosystems?

For the GC Surveys team, Leica Geosystems has become more than just a supplier; it’s a trusted partner that enables them to work smarter, faster and with greater confidence.

The familiarity and reliability of Leica Geosystems equipment, paired with long-standing relationships, give the business the assurance it needs across diverse projects, from everyday topographic surveys to world-renowned projection mapping installations.

By adopting innovations like the Leica AP20 AutoPole, which has delivered time savings of up to 50% on certain jobs, the team continues to demonstrate how Leica Geosystems technology helps surveyors push the boundaries of what’s possible without compromising on accuracy or efficiency.

Looking to the future

Looking ahead, GC Surveys plans to continue balancing traditional surveying expertise with innovative, technology-driven applications that set the team apart. From local infrastructure projects to rail and world-class video projection mapping, their commitment to pushing technical advantages into both creative and global use cases remains central to their story.

At the same time, they recognise the importance of adapting the industry to better support the next generation of professionals. Leica Geosystems empowers surveyors not only to work faster and smarter, but also to expand the very possibilities of the profession.

With an increasingly tech-savvy generation entering the workforce, there is real hope that innovation and advances in technology will inspire more young people to consider a career in surveying.

By combining customer care, staff wellbeing, and a culture of innovation the GC Surveys team has built a business that thrives locally while making an impact on the global stage. 

At Leica Geosystems, we look forward to continuing to support them as they make their mark.

Grantham Coates Surveys Ltd.
Tel: 01789 764420
info@gcsurveys.co.uk

Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right

With more than 200 years of history, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying, construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial content-dependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower our autonomous future.

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