Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Professional Land Surveying Services in the Northeast U.S.
Founded in 1972, Thew Associates has established itself as a leader in professional surveying services, driven by an unwavering commitment to quality and client satisfaction. Our expertise spans land, hydrographic, and aerial surveying, supported by cutting-edge technologies like 3D laser scanning and UAV LiDAR. With offices across New York and decades of collective experience, we deliver precise geospatial solutions tailored to the energy, environmental, government, industrial, and institutional sectors. Our team of six licensed professional land surveyors and 30 technical staff prioritizes responsiveness, technical excellence, and continuous professional development. Rooted in the principles of L.L. Bean's customer-centric philosophy, we focus on providing reliable services at fair costs while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.Our history of innovationfrom early adoption of UAV technologies to advanced terrestrial laser scanningensures clients receive efficient, accurate deliverables. Serving the Northeast U.S., we combine 50+ years of local market knowledge with nationwide project capabilities. Our partnerships with aerial mapping firms and in-house data processing teams enable comprehensive geospatial management from project inception to completion. We invest in staff training and equipment to guarantee long-term operational sustainability while maintaining open communication with clients throughout every project phase. This approach has solidified our reputation as a trusted surveying partner for complex, high-stakes developments.
Services
Land Surveying
Hydrographic Surveying
Laser Scanning
Aerial Mapping
UAV LiDAR
Details
- Year established: 1972
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of specialized surveying experience in the Northeast U.S.
- Our team includes six licensed professional land surveyors and 30 technical staff
- We utilize advanced technologies like 3D laser scanning and UAV LiDAR
- We maintain a quality assurance system modeled after L.L. Bean's standards
- Our services integrate seamlessly from project planning to final deliverables
Services
Land Surveying
Thew Associates provides foundational land surveying services including boundary determination, topographic mapping, and construction staking. Our methods combine traditional techniques with modern GPS and robotic total station technologies to ensure sub-centimeter accuracy. Clients benefit from 50 years of expertise in utility mapping, transition zone surveys, and complex site analysis across upland and wetland environments.
Hydrographic Surveying
Our hydrographic surveying services specialize in marine and freshwater environments, offering seamless data collection from upland areas through deep water zones. Using multi-beam sonar and bathymetric equipment, we create detailed underwater topographic maps for dam inspections, sediment analysis, and coastal infrastructure projects. This capability supports environmental remediation and hydroelectric facility maintenance across the Northeast.
Laser Scanning
High-definition terrestrial and mobile laser scanning services capture millions of data points to create precise 3D models. This technology enables structural deformation monitoring, as-built documentation, and virtual project tours. Clients receive RGB-colored point cloud data and digital terrain models that improve design accuracy and reduce field revisit requirements for renovation and construction projects.
Aerial Mapping
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR and photogrammetry services collect topographic data over large or inaccessible areas. Our RIEGL miniVUX-1 sensor produces colorized point clouds and orthomosaic imagery for land development, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure projects. This approach reduces data collection time by 60-70% compared to traditional methods while maintaining survey-grade accuracy.
UAV LiDAR
UAV-mounted LiDAR systems deliver high-density spatial data for complex projects requiring rapid data acquisition. This service generates digital elevation models, planimetric maps, and 3D feature extractions. Applications include environmental remediation monitoring, historical preservation documentation, and large-scale construction progress tracking across challenging terrains in the Northeast U.S.
People
Spencer F. Thew
Founder
Licensed PE and PLS with 50+ years of surveying experience. Holds MS in Geotechnical Engineering from Clarkson University. Supervised early Adirondack Mountain surveys and founded Atlantic Testing Laboratories in 1967. Now provides strategic guidance while retired from fieldwork.
Jim Thew
President
Licensed Land Surveyor since 1996 with BS in Surveying Engineering from University of Maine. Managed geotechnical divisions before focusing on surveying growth in 2006. Directs operations across four New York offices while maintaining active project involvement.
Questions
What geographic areas do you serve?
We provide surveying services throughout the Northeast United States with primary operations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
What technologies do you use?
We employ GPS systems, robotic total stations, multi-beam sonar, terrestrial/mobile laser scanners, and UAV LiDAR for comprehensive data collection.
How does 3D laser scanning benefit projects?
Laser scanning reduces field time by 70%, captures complete spatial data, and minimizes return visits while providing millimeter-level accuracy for complex structures.
Can you handle environmental projects?
Yes, we specialize in environmental remediation surveys including wetland mapping, sediment analysis, and contaminated site documentation using specialized marine and UAV equipment.
What industries do you work with?
We serve energy, government, industrial, institutional, and environmental sectors with tailored geospatial solutions for infrastructure, construction, and natural resource projects.
How do you ensure data accuracy?
Our quality control process includes redundant measurements, equipment calibration verification, and peer-reviewed deliverables following national spatial data accuracy standards.