How ESO Surveyors Revolutionised Data Management with 12d Synergy

In the high-stakes world of infrastructure surveying, accurate data management and fast decision-making are crucial to success. ESO Surveyors, a leading name in the Australian surveying industry for over 30 years, has built a reputation for delivering high-quality work on large-scale infrastructure and reality capture projects across the country. With an extensive suite of advanced technologies—from UAVs and wearable scanners to autonomous robots—ESO is helping shape the future of surveying.

For over three decades, ESO Surveyors has played a vital role in shaping Australia’s infrastructure. From major rail depots to complex underground utility projects, they’ve been at the forefront of survey innovation. But as project complexity grew, so did the challenge of managing design and survey data.

In this case study, we speak with Chris Staak, State Manager for South Australia at ESO Surveyors, who shares how their team transformed project delivery and data management using 12d Synergy. Chris offers firsthand insight into the challenges ESO faced, how they implemented the platform, and the significant gains they’ve made in consistency, efficiency, and risk management as a result.

A Surveying Legacy in a Modern World

With more than 30 years of experience, ESO Surveyors is no stranger to the pressures of infrastructure delivery. Operating nationwide, ESO focuses heavily on large-scale infrastructure and has developed a particular strength in reality capture — combining detailed feature surveys with cutting-edge technology.

“We’ve got laser scanners, UAVs, wearable scanners, AR devices, and even tiny robots,” says the State Manager for South Australia. “We call one of them the Tiny Surveyor. It marks kilometres of linework on roads — faster and safer than ever before.”

This forward-thinking approach reflects ESO’s commitment to both innovation and safety. But with high-tech tools came another challenge: managing increasingly complex data sets across geographically dispersed projects.

The Breaking Point: Complexity, Pressure, and Disconnected Data

As ESO took on larger infrastructure projects, managing data became a growing pain point.

“The data sets were becoming more complex — and being delivered later and later,” Chris explains. “That put a huge amount of pressure on our field teams. We needed a central source of truth, something to streamline how design models were shared and updated across the business.”

Before implementing 12d Synergy, data distribution was manual and error-prone. “Design updates were being emailed around or even passed on USBs. Looking back, it makes me shudder.”

Implementing 12d Synergy: A Game-Changer for Project Delivery

The turning point came when ESO implemented 12d Synergy, a common data environment (CDE) designed for engineering and construction professionals. The results were immediate and far-reaching.

“From day one, having a single source of truth for design information was critical,” says the Chris. “Once a model is updated in the master project, every surveyor gets access to it. That alone has saved us hours each week.”

The initial implementation came with a few growing pains — especially when managing their own server — but the transition to the 12d Synergy Cloud solved those challenges. “After we migrated to the cloud, it was pretty seamless.”

Driving Consistency Across Projects and States

One of the most impactful changes came through ESO’s use of project templates and naming conventions within 12d Synergy.

“Consistency is everything. Whether you’re working in Adelaide or Melbourne, a surveyor knows exactly where to find the data and what to expect. That level of comfort is key to starting a job right.”

By breaking down data sets into more granular, structured folders, surveyors can quickly locate what they need — and avoid using superseded information.

Managing Risk and Liability with Confidence

In today’s high-risk construction landscape, data transparency is more than a luxury — it’s a legal necessity.
“Surveyors often get blamed first when something goes wrong,” Chris explains. “If there’s a service strike, the question is always, ‘Why didn’t the surveyor have the right data?’”

12d Synergy has become a critical safeguard for ESO, enabling:

• Full version history and audit trails
• Live access to the latest design models
• Centralised data workflows

“If something does go wrong, we can trace exactly what happened and when. That level of transparency protects us as a business.”

Unlocking Collaboration and Efficiency

From major infrastructure to smaller, fast-paced projects, collaboration is vital.

“12d Synergy just promotes collaboration. Everyone knows where the data is, and they can access it instantly,” the State Manager says. “Even on smaller projects where surveyors rotate in and out, they’re walking into a consistent environment. It sets them up for success from day one.”

Efficiency isn’t just a goal — it’s a survival tactic in today’s resource-constrained market.

“Everyone in the industry is facing a resource crisis. If survey companies aren’t working efficiently, they simply won’t be able to keep up.”

Quantifying the Impact: Hours Saved, Projects Won

ESO has gone beyond anecdotal feedback to quantify the time savings. “Across the board, our team reports saving 3 to 5 hours per week per surveyor just through better data management.”

This translates to around 10% increased efficiency — a massive margin in an industry where margins are tight and labour is scarce.

“It’s not just about saving time — it’s the difference between winning and delivering a project, or not. Sometimes you just can’t find that extra 10% in headcount, so you need to find it in smarter systems.”

The Future of Surveying: Doing More with Less

With a booming infrastructure pipeline — particularly in South Australia — ESO sees 12d Synergy as a core enabler for the next decade.

“The only way we’ll get through the next ten years of work is by doing more with less. And platforms like 12d Synergy are how we make that happen.”

When asked if he would recommend 12d Synergy, the answer is unequivocal:

“It’s hard to see how any survey company can operate efficiently without a good CDE. For us, it’s been nothing short of revolutionary.”