Surveylab closes in on military

Wellington technology company Surveylab is teaming up with multibillion-dollar engineering company SAIC to develop a new generation of its handheld GPS locators for the United States military.

Surveylab founder and chief executive Leon Toorenburg calls the partnership a breakthrough for the 14-person firm. "They are fantastic partners for us because they are huge and can talk to people we don't even know exist."

SAIC employs 44,000 staff and turned over US$8 billion last year.

Mr Toorenburg invented Surveylab's Ike computers, which combine a GPS transceiver, laser finder, digital camera, inclinometer and compass in a single device, letting users photograph and record the location of objects and buildings from a distance.

Ikes have been used to mark the location of landmines, and damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr Toorenburg says SAIC and a $760,000 grant from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology are funding the development of a new version of the Ike which will conform with the US military's recently-agreed standard for GPS equipment, SAASM. It will be less susceptible to jamming and will still work if the civilian GPS system is turned off, which could happen in a conflict. SAIC will have exclusive rights to sell the SAASM-compliant device.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has placed a $500,000 order. Mr Toorenburg says that caused some controversy, with a congressman asking the US Government why the corps was buying from Surveylab rather than a US-based competitor. But a corps general backed its decision with research papers indicating the Ike met its needs better, he says.

Surveylab is also selling the Ike to oil and gas explorers. They are using them in New York State to survey the location of houses and private property during seismic surveys without having to go on to people's properties.

Surveylab sold 190 Ikes, costing about $10,000 each, in the 12 months to September 2006.

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast and partner Rex Nicholls own about 23 per cent of Surveylab. Venture capital firm No 8 Ventures invested $2 million in it, and owns 46 per cent.

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