New Technology in Construction Surveying: Transforming High-Rise Delivery in Western Australia

At CK Maloney Surveying, construction surveying has always been defined by accuracy, control and confidence. As project complexity increases, construction programs tighten, and buildings reach greater heights, we recognise that traditional survey methods can come under increasing pressure. For this reason, the adoption of advanced technology is becoming essential across the industry.

One solution gaining significant attention is the Core Wall Control Survey System. This technology is specifically designed to maintain precise vertical alignment and survey control on high-rise construction sites, addressing many of the challenges associated with modern construction environments. We are proud to be bringing this technology to the Western Australian construction scene and to be a foundational company implementing this system locally.

Our introduction to this system began at a Hexagon convention in Las Vegas, where we explored both the concept and the broader strategic thinking behind it. What stood out immediately was how effectively the technology addresses long-standing challenges in transferring and maintaining survey control as structures rise. In high-rise construction, environmental influences, structural movement and access constraints can make conventional methods more difficult, time-consuming and susceptible to cumulative error. Approaches such as Leica Geosystems’ Dynamic Survey Control are designed to respond to these challenges by integrating positioning and monitoring technologies, enabling more reliable and real-time control data.

Since that initial exposure, our team has continued to build capability and understanding through industry engagement and professional development. We have contributed to discussions on this topic at industry conferences, including presenting at a Western Australian Institution of Surveying conference in Western Australia. This provided a valuable platform to share insights while also validating these systems against the practical realities faced by surveyors locally. More recently, attendance at the Leica Future Forum in Brisbane offered further exposure to emerging workflows and reinforced the broader industry shift toward digital construction and advanced measurement systems.

We see particular value in the Core Wall Control Survey System for its ability to support modern construction workflows where speed and precision must operate together. Traditional vertical transfer methods can be labour-intensive and highly dependent on site conditions, line-of-sight requirements and repeated verification processes as construction progresses. In contrast, integrated control systems enhance efficiency, reduce uncertainty and provide survey teams with higher-quality data to inform decision-making on site. Importantly, these systems do not replace professional judgement or experience; they enhance it by delivering more robust and reliable information in environments where tolerances are minimal.

From our perspective, the significance of this technology extends beyond the equipment itself. It represents the ongoing evolution of the surveying profession—from a discipline focused primarily on measurement and set-out to one increasingly driven by real-time data, integrated systems and smarter construction delivery. The Core Wall Control Survey System is a clear example of how innovation can directly contribute to improved project outcomes.

As adoption of these technologies continues to grow, CK Maloney Surveying remains committed to ensuring that our work supports not only progress on site, but also the highest standards of precision, reliability and accountability, while playing a leading role in advancing the use of cutting-edge survey systems within Western Australia. We gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support of the C.R. Kennedy team in the successful implementation of this initiative.