Mapping the Future: Why Castle Surveys Took a Leap into Mobile Mapping

The surveying industry is known for liking what it knows and knowing what it likes. In an industry where reliability and quality are paramount, adopting new ways of working can feel daunting. As a result, surveying is often a profession slow to embrace change and innovation.

Founded in 2017 by Managing Director Paul Jackson, Castle Surveys has grown into a thirty-strong team of skilled survey professionals driven by a shared mission: to deliver high-quality, efficient, and safe surveying services through cutting-edge technology and a progressive mindset. 

As true trailblazers in the industry, the team isn’t afraid to push boundaries, investing in cutting-edge technology and adopting new methods where long-term value is clear. It’s this forward-thinking approach that has made the company a committed advocate for innovation-led surveying solutions.  

Castle Surveys is made up of professionals with diverse backgrounds, including some team members who volunteer with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, bringing valuable experience in emergency response that reinforces the team’s focus on safety, accuracy, and rapid delivery in high-pressure environments.

Standing Out in a Saturated Survey Market  

Castle Surveys' leading motivation has always been to differentiate the business through smarter, faster, and safer survey solutions. To achieve this, the company has embraced a flexible, technology-led approach. When asked about what matters most to their customers, the team identified three priorities in order of importance:  

1. Innovation  
2. Health and safety  
3. Price  

Recognising a gap in the market, Castle Surveys saw that few survey companies were offering mobile mapping as part of their services. The team decided to act, investing in the technology, hiring a mobile mapping specialist, and providing customers with a service they’d struggle to find elsewhere.  

Shortly after making the decision, James Tindall was appointed as Castle Surveys’ Operations Manager. James is a University of Plymouth graduate with a degree in Hydrographic Surveying and widely regarded as one of the UK’s most experienced mobile mapping professionals. James began his career in hydrography before moving into land surveying, accumulating deep expertise in technical support and mobile mapping.  

Introducing New Survey Technology  

After evaluating several systems, the decision was made to invest in the Leica Pegasus TRK. James had been using Leica Geosystems products for the majority of his career and was an advocate for the TRK due to its:  

• Simpler workflows  
• Robust backend software (Pegasus Office)  
• Leica’s strong heritage in mobile mapping  

“Mobile mapping is a big differentiator in a saturated market. It enables us to operate faster, deliver quicker, rely less on manpower, reduce the need for traffic management, and improve operator safety. It allows us to offer services that weren’t previously feasible, which is key to future growth and adds value for our clients.”  

Paul Jackson, Director, Castle Surveys  

Why Choose Mobile Mapping?  

Increased efficiency and productivity  
Mobile mapping significantly reduces time on site compared to traditional methods. Capturing data at road speed with minimal disruption allows Castle Surveys to cover more ground, safely and quickly. This enables more projects to be completed in less time, improving resource efficiency, boosting revenue, and increasing customer satisfaction.  

Access to new markets and services  
The investment unlocked new industries, including infrastructure, rail, marine, and renewables, and enabled the team to support other survey firms lacking in-house mobile mapping capabilities. In short, the client base grew rapidly.   

By diversifying services, Castle Surveys reduced reliance on a single market, spreading risk while pursuing higher-value contracts.  

Improved workflows and backend efficiencies  
One major reason for choosing Leica Geosystems was its seamless integration into Castle Surveys' existing workflows. The team streamlined their entire data pipeline, from downloading, base station integration, and trajectory generation, to point cloud production, imagery, and feature extraction, greatly improving turnaround times.  

Enhanced safety  
Collecting data from a moving vehicle eliminates the need for surveyors to enter high-risk environments such as busy roads, railways, or hazardous sites. This not only improves safety but also enhances compliance and reduces liability.  

Gain a competitive edge  
Offering mobile mapping solutions positions Castle Surveys as a technological leader. Clients increasingly expect smart, high-tech solutions, and mobile mapping allows the team to tailor their approach, choosing between traditional and modern methods to suit the project and client.  

The investment opened doors to new industries, including infrastructure, rail, marine, and renewables, and enabled the team to support other survey firms lacking in-house mobile mapping capabilities.  

Paul Jackson, Director, Castle Surveys  

Implementation: early projects and real-world successes  

Early mobile mapping projects immediately proved the value of the investment. One standout success was an 80 km highway scan completed in a single day, a task that would have taken multiple days using traditional or drone-based methods. If drones had been used, additional paperwork, limited battery life, and regulatory flight restrictions would have added complexity, delay, and cost. Mobile mapping offered a safer, simpler, and faster solution, avoiding traffic disruption and keeping operators out of harm’s way.  

Other projects showcased the versatility and efficiency of the technology: 

Worthing Beachfront Survey 

A large area of beachfront in Worthing required both Topo and BIM data. Traditionally, this would have meant over a week of surveying, disrupting busy traffic and footfall while presenting safety concerns for staff. Castle Surveys combined technologies: 

• The Leica Pegasus TRK captured all topographical detail safely and efficiently within just one hour. 
• Terrestrial scanners covered areas that mobile mapping couldn’t reach. 
• Drone surveys filled in the roof and infill details. 
• Ground penetrating radar identified underground utilities without road closures. 

This holistic approach allowed for the safest, fastest, and most complete deliverable possible, while minimising disruption to the public. 

A1 Route Survey for Large Vehicles 

To ensure large vehicles could access a route along the A1, Castle Surveys used the Leica TRK to map the entire route, capturing a colourised point cloud exportable in LAS format. Rather than identifying pinch points manually, which would require traffic management and additional permissions, the Leica TRK provided immediate post-processing capability. This saved significant time, eliminating the need to return to the office before analysis could begin. 

Leicester City Centre Asset Mapping 

In Leicester’s busy city centre, safety was paramount. Mobile mapping allowed the team to capture the entire area for asset extraction without putting surveyors at risk. Importantly, the high-resolution imagery proved invaluable to the client, allowing them to verify areas of interest through familiar visuals rather than relying solely on point cloud data. 

Return on investment and future ideas  

Paul has always viewed the purchase of the Leica Pegasus TRK as a long-term strategic move. He expects the system to show a return on investment within its first year, and once it does, he already has plans to upgrade it. “That’s the great thing about the Leica Pegasus TRK. We’re getting our feet wet with the initial system, and when it pays for itself, we’ll look to upgrade it. But instead of starting from scratch, we can simply build on the unit we have. The equipment grows with the business, so it’s a win-win.” Paul Jackson, Director, Castle Surveys  

Redefining what’s possible in surveying  

The company is positioning itself as an agile, innovation-led survey company, combining modern technology with a commitment to safety, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. The entire team, from leadership to operations, shares a forward-thinking vision to stay at the forefront of innovation. 

The investment in Leica’s mobile mapping solution isn’t just a technological upgrade; it’s a strategic shift to redefine what’s possible in modern surveying. Working collaboratively with Leica Geosystems and their strategic survey distribution partner G2, Castle Surveys was supported throughout the process, from system selection to onboarding, training, and ongoing technical support. 

And this is only the beginning. Paul and his team are always looking ahead, ready to explore the next innovation in survey technology.  

At Leica Geosystems, we’re pleased to support them at every stage of their journey.  

Looking to connect?  

If you’d like to speak with a member of the Castle Surveys team, please find their details below. For free information or advice on investing in Leica Geosystems survey equipment to help grow your business, please speak with a member of our dedicated service team.   

Castle Surveys  

James Tindall  
Paul Jackson  
01530 569338  
https://castlesurveys.co.uk   
info@castlesurveys.co.uk

Leica Geosystems
01908 513464 
uk.sales@leica-geosystems.com  

G2 Survey
g2survey.com 
0333 023 2200