MONROVIA – DERKS Surveying Solutions (DSS) has announced its willingness to partner with the Liberian government and private institutions to improve surveying and material testing in Liberia. By Henscin Dehgar, contributing writer DSS, a dynamic Liberian-owned land surveying and material testing firm established in 2018, utilizes modern technologies in both optical and GNSS methods to meet clients’ demands. Its targeted markets include the Government of Liberia (GOL), public, private, domestic, and international firms in cadastral, land management, agriculture, transportation, mining, utilities, and environmental industries. DSS’s goal is to be the most reputable land surveying and materials testing firm providing precise surveying, geospatial, mapping geotechnical services to Liberia and West African States while training the next generation of surveyors, mapping and materials testing technicians. In order to achieve these goals; DSS has set a few objectives to gauge the company’s progress: Extensive marketing initiative to create a social shift from a non-geodetic user-coordinate reference system to a globally accepted coordinate system and perform construction soil analysis and material testing for concrete and asphalt. DSS also seeks to consistently seek legal assistance in order to adhere to all ethnic, local, national, and international laws; commercial standards and professional ethics to ensure clients receive the highest standard of service; strategically establish high order geodetic networks to facilitate a shift to globally accepted coordinate reference system, create secure electronic historical survey database which can be available to customers in multiple media formats. It also intends to work closely with local governmental agencies, professional associations and commercial businesses to standardize surveying authentication processes, establish Continuous Operating Reference Stations (CORS) as mandated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). This objective will contribute vital data to the development of the proposed African Geodetic Reference Frame (AFREF). In addition, DSS aimed to Develop a surveying apprenticeship program. While attaining its goals and objectives, DSS will provide technical skills for Liberians between the ages of (18 – 30-year old) in Liberia. The technical skills include, providing public and private training and work internship/apprenticeship to local Liberians with an additional emphasis on empowering women in land surveying. as a career choice. This week, the company held a survey symposium for major stakeholders, including representatives from various government ministries and agencies, the Liberia Land Authority, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Ministry of Public Works, the National Investment Commission, Signal Technology, Gajero Engineering Service, and some civil society organizations. Solomon Vincent, the company’s founder, stated that DSS aims to collaborate with the government and partners to improve surveying practices. “My institution, Derks Surveying Solutions (DSS), is here to begin changing the way surveys are conducted by ensuring that people, especially women, are trained in the field,” Vincent said. “I strongly believe women should be encouraged to become surveyors.” Vincent emphasized that collaboration and training are essential for advancing the surveying field. To achieve this goal, DSS has invested over half a million United States dollars in new equipment, he said. Vincent is a civil engineer who has served in the United States Air Force and NATO missions. Currently he is the Senior Principal Field Engineerat SAIC in Farmington, Minnesota, Construction Project Manager at Ameresco, Cherry Point, North Carolina and Construction Project Manager of NATO. He is a retired Air Force officer, serving in various capacities – Development Manager, Engineering Flight Superintendent, Flight Chief Quality Assurance, Programs Flight Superintendent, among others. He highlighted the importance of helping young surveyors through advanced methods to address the country’s land conflicts. He stressed the need for adequate land mapping, land demarcation, and the use of stone markers for historical purposes, using advanced equipment. He disclosed that DSS has also developed the Liberian Public Land Survey System (LIPSS), which aims to reduce ambiguous legal descriptions and inaccuracies while increasing precision for the country’s benefit. According to Vincent, the LIPSS method adheres to standard survey formats for the benefit of current and future surveyors. Land conflicts have been a persistent issue in Liberia, partly due to inaccurate surveying and the lack of proper education and training for surveyors. Vincent called on intergovernmental institutions such as the Liberia Land Authority, the Ministry of Public Works, civil society organizations, and the private sector to form partnerships with DSS to improve the sector. He further stated that establishing DSS is his family’s way of giving back to Liberia. As a civil engineer who survived by surveying, Vincent says he feels compelled to contribute to improving the sector in his home country.
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