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Category Archives: Land Survey

A Look Back At Forest Surveying: Oregon Field Guide

Land surveying has changed dramatically over the last 140 years, even over the last 10 years as 3D scanners, .360 cameras, drones, and handheld computers have become prevalent. However, some aspects of land surveying remain the same as this Oregon Field Guide Video shows us. Another look at modern land surveying can be seen in ... Continue Reading

Connecting With Future AEC Professionals

Westlake recently had the opportunity to host thirty students from Portland Community College’s Civil & Construction Engineering Technology program at our Tigard, Oregon offices. Our team came away energized and excited by students’ insightful questions and enthusiasm about the career path they’d chosen. First year students attended overview sessions about Land Use Planning, Civil Engineering, ... Continue Reading

The Critical Role of Survey Datums in Geotechnical Engineering

In August, Sam Hargrave, PLS and Maggie Thornton, CPSM visited GRI, a full-service geotechnical, geologic, and pavement engineering solutions company located in Tigard, where Sam presented a Lunch & Learn program to their team. Westlake often works alongside GRI on projects like the Oregon Zoo Bond Improvements, the Rose Quarter Improvement Project, and the Willamette ... Continue Reading

National Honors for Clark College YSN Survey Team & Westlake’s Own Bobby Clapham

We’ve invited Westlake’s Robert “Bobby” Clapham, Jr., to guest blog about his experience competing in the 2025 National Young Surveyors Student Competition. This competition, put on by the National Society of Professional Surveyors, brings student teams from across the U.S. to Washington DC for a week packed with competition and networking. Bobby is a full-time ... Continue Reading

National Surveyors Week 2023

This week, March 19-25, 2023, is National Surveyors Week! The work of land surveyors is essential, and the goal of this week is to explain their contributions to the public, while promoting the profession to young people considering career paths. Why Surveying? Survey is a great industry to get into if you enjoy working in ... Continue Reading

Thank Your Mentor Day

This year, Thank Your Mentor Day falls on Saturday, January 21st. This is a great opportunity to show your appreciation for all the mentors in your life, both personal and professional. This day is especially impactful in the AEC business, as experiential knowledge and leadership skills being passed to younger generations ensures a thriving future. ... Continue Reading

New Associate Principal Named

Westlake is excited to announce Douglas Liles, PLS has been named Associate Principal. Liles is being recognized for his leadership, expertise, and commitment to the firm. Doug joined the firm in 1991 and will continue to help support the survey division, providing expertise with calculations for complex construction projects, survey control networks, and data management ... Continue Reading

Celebrating Lake Oswego-Tigard Water System

Today marks 5 years since the completion of the $254 million Lake Oswego Tigard Water Partnership program. The project began in 2008, when the City of Lake Oswego and the City of Tigard decided to partner together to build a new water system. The massive project included the construction of a river intake pump station ... Continue Reading

Professional Development at Westlake

We want our employees to know they’re working for a company that is invested in their future and committed to their professional development. When each person succeeds, the whole team succeeds. Here at Westlake, we routinely schedule Lunch & Learn presentations to discuss interesting, relevant, and necessary topics to ensure the quality of our work ... Continue Reading

Westlake’s Survey Team Continues Work at the Oregon Zoo

Westlake’s surveying and 3D laser scanning team continues to support the Oregon Zoo’s extensive animal habitat and infrastructure improvements. We have been fortunate to have worked on these improvements since 2011. Westlake has provided surveying to support the design and construction for the Veterinary Medical Center, Penguin habitat upgrades, Condors of the Columbia, the Education ... Continue Reading