ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION
PR Newswire | June 01, 2023
Aurigo Software, the leading provider of capital planning and construction management software for infrastructure and private owners, is partnering with the University of Florida's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering to develop a revolutionary system for underwater surveying, mapping, and inspection, provisionally named Bathydrone.
The current process to gather data for new underwater construction or the inspection of existing assets such as bridges, docks, and levees consists of manual surveying from divers or survey sensors mounted to a boat. With the new, safer, and more efficient Bathydrone system, a drone drags a small vessel on the water's surface, eliminating the need for manual surveying. The vessel is equipped with a COTS sonar unit mounted on its bottom. The sonar unit has down-scan, side-scan, and chirp capabilities and logs data onboard the console, which is located inside the hull. Data can then be retrieved post-mission from the console and plotted in various ways.
"We are excited to be working on this groundbreaking technology with the team at the University of Florida," said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and founder of Aurigo Software. "The Bathydrone system will vastly expand the possibilities for underwater endeavors while providing a cheaper, safer, and more eco-friendly alternative for our customers."
Not only is data collected more easily, but the technology can also be operated remotely and autonomously using AI navigation software to overcome obstacles in or under the water, creating a faster and cheaper solution. The system will also integrate with Aurigo's Masterworks Cloud Platform to properly store and categorize project data and route any inspections or other results for approval or further action.
Additional Bathydrone differentiators include:
Fully battery-operated and better for the environment—no fuel or loud noise
Lightweight and easily transportable
Does not require a dock or boat ramp to get in the water
Able to be deployed in a wide variety of water systems, including shallow water and rivers with strong currents
Able to survey a large area on a single charge
"This project supports our department's mission to conduct state-of-the-art research to advance science and technology," said Peter Ijfu, University of Florida's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Excellence Term Professor and Associate Chair of Faculty Affairs. "This pioneering approach to underwater surveying and mapping has multiple real-world applications that are not currently commercially available."
Aurigo will work closely with the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering's staff and students to bring this leading-edge solution to the infrastructure market in the next 12 to 18 months.
About Aurigo Software
Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. Aurigo provides modern, cloud-based solutions for capital infrastructure and private owners to help them plan with confidence, build with quality, and maintain their assets efficiently. With more than $300b of capital programs under management, Aurigo's solutions are trusted by over 300 customers in transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and the government on over 40,000 projects across North America. Aurigo helps capital program executives make better decisions based on proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Aurigo is a privately held US corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with global offices in Canada and India. Learn more at www.aurigo.com.
About the University of Florida
The University of Florida is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. The state's oldest and most comprehensive university, UF is among the nation's most academically diverse public universities. UF traces its beginnings to a small seminary in 1853. It opened its doors in Gainesville in 1906 with 102 students. Today, it is one of the most comprehensive and academically diverse universities in the nation, with an enrollment of some 52,000 students annually. UF is home to 16 colleges and more than 170 research centers and institutes and UF offers nearly 300 graduate degree programs. Only five other universities nationwide have as many programs of study on one campus as the University of Florida.
Read More
ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION
Businesswire | June 06, 2023
Bowman Consulting Group Ltd., today announced the acquisition of MTX Surveying, Inc. a geospatial, land survey and project management company based in Marshall, Texas. Founded by Shane Nafe and Austin Holland in 2016, the firm has grown rapidly to a workforce of over 60 accredited professionals, technicians, and support staff serving clients in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Today, MTX provides full-service consulting, project management, surveying, mapping, and permitting services for clients working in oil and gas, energy and renewables, utility services, and land development. The MTX staff will all become Bowman employees in connection with the acquisition.
“Shane and Austin have built an exciting company,” said Gary Bowman, CEO of Bowman. “Their focus on oil and gas, energy, and renewables projects will help to accelerate our goal of increasing the contribution of power and utility-oriented assignments within our revenue mix. Their experience with aerial mapping, data capture, hi-res orthometric imagery, and drone surveying complements other recent acquisitions and investments we have made in geospatial technologies and services.”
“We’re pleased to be joining Bowman and are excited about the opportunities this acquisition provides,” said Shane Nafe, President and Founding Partner of MTX Surveying. “Bowman has an expansive national platform of clients, assignments, and engineering professionals to which we can contribute immediately. We’re ready to get started adding value and growing our collective energy services and geospatial practice.”
Financed with a combination of cash, seller notes, and equity, the acquisition falls within previously discussed target multiple and operating metric ranges and is expected to be immediately accretive. The Company anticipates the acquisition will initially contribute approximately $9 million of annualized net service billing. More detailed information on M&A activities, pipeline, and guidance updates are provided in connection with scheduled quarterly and annual communications.
About Bowman Consulting Group Ltd.
Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Bowman is an engineering services firm delivering infrastructure solutions to customers who own, develop, and maintain the built environment. With over 1,700 employees and more than 75 offices throughout the United States, Bowman provides a variety of planning, engineering, geospatial, construction management, commissioning, environmental consulting, land procurement and other technical services to customers operating in a diverse set of regulated end markets. Bowman trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol BWMN. For more information, visit bowman.com or investors.bowman.com.
About MTX Surveying, Inc.
MTX Surveying is a result driven geospatial, survey and aerial mapping firm serving Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and other states across the United States. The company’s management team is experienced in the successful execution of projects across a wide range of industries including oil and gas, energy services, land development, municipal planning, and telecommunications. MTX has grown from two founding partners in 2016 to a team of multi-licensed professionals and experienced technicians. For more information on MTX Surveying, their projects, and services, visit https://www.mtxsurveying.com.
Read More
CONSTRUCTION
Businesswire | June 05, 2023
The Kleinfelder Group, Inc. (“Kleinfelder”), a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm, announced today that it has acquired Doucet & Associates, Inc. (“Doucet”). The transaction, which closed on May 31, 2023, fortifies Kleinfelder’s commitment to strategic growth and strengthens an already robust client and service portfolio in the growing Texas market.
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Doucet provides civil engineering, environmental permitting, surveying, and construction management services to clients throughout Texas. Doucet is focused on delivering these services to public and private sector clients in the land development, commercial, education, healthcare, industrial, municipal, transportation, and water resources markets.
“The Doucet acquisition further establishes Kleinfelder’s presence in Texas,” stated Kleinfelder President and CEO Louis Armstrong. “Doucet’s strong client base, successful project delivery track record, and service capabilities will create near-term revenue synergy opportunities for Kleinfelder. The combination will also create numerous career opportunities for Doucet’s employees.”
With the close of the transaction, the Doucet organizational structure will remain unchanged, operating under the direction of its existing operational leadership team led by John Doucet. The Doucet organization consists of over 110 professionals spread across six offices in Texas and will be incorporated into Kleinfelder’s Central Division business unit, which is led by Executive Vice President and Central Division Director Lisa Millet.
“We are elated to find a perfectly aligned partner in Kleinfelder,” noted Doucet President Amy Doucet. “In addition to the complementary services, market strategies, and long-term client satisfaction, Kleinfelder’s culture and focus on people stood out and will allow our exceptional staff opportunities to grow together.”
Kleinfelder’s Commitment to Strategic Growth
Doucet represents Kleinfelder’s sixth acquisition over the last three years. Kleinfelder remains focused on driving a strategic plan centered on organic growth bolstered by acquisitive expansion, with the goal of acquiring firms with complementary employee-focused cultures and a trusted commitment to clients.
Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel and KPMG provided transaction advisory and tax services to Kleinfelder. Morrissey Goodale LLC served as sell-side financial advisors, MouerHuston, PC as sell-side legal advisors, and PKF O’Connor Davies for transaction advisory and tax services to Doucet.
Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions.
Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm. Kleinfelder now employs more than 3,100 professionals and operates from over 105 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base.
Read More