Establishing survey control in PNG

A significant wharf and marina upgrade in New Britain, Papua New Guinea, called for more than routine survey work. In late 2025, Dylan headed over to gather the detailed information needed to move the project forward for a client we’ve worked with for nearly ten years. His focus was on resolving control problems, establishing a dependable framework, and supporting skill‑building within the local survey team.

For General Manager (Mackay & Whitsundays) Chris and Surveyor Dylan, the project stood out from the outset.

“We knew the scope itself was straightforward,” Chris said. “What wasn’t straightforward was the condition of the existing data. Before you can move anything forward, you have to trust what you’re working from.”

Starting with the fundamentals

On paper, the work was very familiar. Wharf upgrades, marine infrastructure and tidal environments are all part of what Vision Surveys regularly delivers. What made this one different was the existing survey control.

There were surveys of the site dating back 20 to 30 years. Much of the physical evidence referenced in those plans no longer existed. More recent surveys had been completed without a consistent framework, resulting in discrepancies across datasets.

Before any upgrade could confidently proceed, that had to be untangled.

Dylan spent his first week investigating historical information, working back to permanent marks in town to confirm heights and coordinate systems and reconciling differences between old and recent data.

“It turned out to be a really interesting project,” Dylan said. “We were upgrading a wharf on New Britain Islan and while I was piecing together all the old data, I was also training the local surveyors so they can carry the work forward.”

Chris said the early challenges were expected given the location.

“There was no single, reliable reference point to start from,” Chris explained. “In Queensland, we have established databases and clear frameworks. Over there, it required more investigation and a lot more interpretation.”

On a marine project, that groundwork is critically important. When a new jetty or ramp needs to tie precisely into existing infrastructure, even small inconsistencies can create significant construction issues.

Working in a different environment

Operating in PNG meant navigating a different regulatory and operational landscape.

Access to historical information was not always immediate. Standards were not always aligned with what surveyors are used to in Australia. It required more communication, more troubleshooting and a greater reliance on experience.

Talking about the project, Chris Hetherington, General Manager (Mackay & Whitsundays), explained what those first few days were like:

“There were a lot of unknowns at the start,” Chris said. “That first week involved a fair bit of problem solving. But that’s where experience counts. You work through it methodically.”

The local team had equipment and software, but limited experience applying it within a structured control network. Part of Vision Surveys’ role was to help establish that structure and ensure it would hold once we stepped away.

Building capability, not reliance

Training was a deliberate part of the engagement. Rather than simply completing the survey work and leaving, Dylan worked alongside the local surveyors to explain the control network, demonstrate the software workflows and build confidence in how the data tied together.

“The objective wasn’t to create dependency,” Dylan said. “It was to set the project up properly and leave them in a position where they could carry it forward.”

Once the framework was in place and the PNG team was able to continue independently.

Delivering practical outcomes

This project reinforced that accurate data is only part of a successful marine upgrade. Establishing reliable control, resolving legacy discrepancies and supporting the people delivering the work are just as important.

For the client, that meant reduced risk and fewer surprises as construction progressed.

For Vision Surveys, it demonstrated our ability to step into unfamiliar environments, work through complex control challenges and deliver practical outcomes that extend beyond our time on site.

“Marine projects are unforgiving,” Chris said. “You don’t get many second chances. Getting the fundamentals right at the start makes all the difference.”