Meet Andreas Taylor, Rail Survey Manager

With close to 20 years of surveying experience across Canada and Australia, Andreas Taylor joined Vision Surveys Rokchampton at the start of 2026 as the kind of professional who has built his career from the ground up, literally. From labouring on construction sites in British Columbia to leading complex rail and infrastructure surveys across some of Australia's most demanding environments, his path into surveying is one driven by genuine curiosity, hard won expertise and a commitment to getting it right every time. 

Started as a labourer in 1996 

Andreas's career started out in Canada in 1996, where he began working in the construction industry as a labourer. He earned an interprovincial trade accreditation and spent years working across increasingly complex projects, developing a hands-on understanding of how large-scale construction works from the inside out. 

It was that experience that led him to surveying. "The more complex the projects got, the more I realised how much the surveying underpinned everything," he said. "I wanted to understand it properly, so I just started learning." 

What followed was a years-long process of self-directed study that saw him transition into an independent surveying contractor, delivering transport and infrastructure work for clients including BC Ministry of Transportation and Public Works Canada.  

In 2013, Andreas made the move to Australia. He completed a TAFE Surveying Qualification and his Remote Pilot's licence, formalising the expertise he had spent years developing in the field. In 2022, he went further, completing the IREX, the commercial manned aircraft instrument rating required for Beyond Visual Line of Sight RPAS operations, one of the more demanding credentials in the industry. 

Civil, rail, bridge, mining and nearly two decades across two continents 

Few surveyors bring the breadth of experience Andreas does. Across nearly two decades he has worked across civil, rail, bridge, mining and infrastructure projects on two continents, developing expertise in UAV and LiDAR surveying, GNSS networks, civil construction set-out, machine-control surveys and spatial data analysis. 

He has built and led RPAS programs, mentored survey teams and managed large scale projects from initial fieldwork through to final data delivery, with a consistent focus on accuracy, compliance and finding smarter ways to get the job done. 

"What I enjoy most is the problem solving side of it," Andreas said. "Every project has its own constraints and its own challenges. The job is figuring out the most efficient, accurate way through them and then delivering something the client can actually rely on." 

That approach has been put to the test on some significant projects. One Andreas is particularly proud of is the Ship loader and Berth Replacement at Hay Point, a major port infrastructure project delivered by McConnell Dowell that required precision, coordination and the kind of technical confidence that only comes from real time in the field.

Doing it well and accurately 

For Andreas, the appeal of surveying has never worn off. He's motivated by the precision the work demands and the real world impact it has on the projects and communities it serves. He takes pride in mentoring the people around him, passing on knowledge the same way others once helped him, and believes strongly that a capable, well supported team produces better outcomes for everyone, including the client. 

"This industry rewards people who care about doing it well," he said. "And that's the standard I hold myself to and encourage in the people I work with." 

Climbing guide, search and rescue volunteer, journalist 

What most people don't know about Andreas is that before surveying, he had a very adventurous career. He was a professional climbing guide certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and worked for Squamish Search and Rescue, the busiest search and rescue organisation in Canada, performing climbing, avalanche and swift water rescues alongside ambulance crews and the military. 

In the late 90s he also documented his adventures through photography and journalism, contributing to the Canadian Alpine Journal and Gripped Magazine. 

"People raise an eyebrow when that comes up," he laughed. "But a lot of the same instincts carry over. Reading the environment, keeping a cool head, knowing that cutting corners has consequences. That mindset doesn't leave you." 

It’s that mindset, combined with nearly two decades of technical expertise and a genuine passion for the work, that makes Andreas a great fit for our team at Vision Surveys, and we’re really glad to have him.