Highland Geo Solutions

When the RPM Nautical Foundation of Key West, Florida set out to explore the coast of post-communist Albania, Highland Geo Solutions of New Brunswick was there. Following a highly successful survey this past summer that located ancient Greek shipwrecks and artefacts, Highland Geo Solutions is helping RPM retool for a second mission next spring.

The most important recovery from the first survey was a 2400-year-old Greek amphora or ceramic storage jar that RPM mission leader, George Robb characterized this way: “You’re touching something that was made before Plato was born.” Up to 60 more amphorae and many more shipwrecks remain on the seabed.

To conduct the initial exploration, RPM needed to compile an underwater cultural heritage map. This is where the young New Brunswick company entered the picture. Highland Geo Solutions specializes in underwater mapping. HGS staff surveyed the seabed and created maps that RPM used to explore the ancient Greek shipwrecks. “We helped plan the survey itself, operated the survey equipment, conducted survey operations and processed the data collected to generate maps of the sea floor,” said HGS president, Graham Nickerson.

Currently, Nickerson and his colleagues are working on archiving the data from the first mission. At the same time, they are helping reconfigure the survey vessel’s computer network. Improvements need to be made to both hardware and software in preparation for the next mission. HGS specializes in state-of-the-art surveying technologies. Often, the company finds it necessary to customize software for clients such as RPM that have specific needs.

Albanian authorities and scientists hope the successful first mission is the start of a longer term relationship with RPM and Highland Geo Solutions that could see the project continue for up to five years. The first amphora, which was found on the last day of the survey, is now resting in a saltwater bath at the Durres Museum on the Adriatic coast. Albanian authorities hope to see numerous benefits from such discoveries, including a boost to archaeological research, increases in tourism, protection of precious archaeological sites from looters and perhaps an underwater museum.

A new breed of company, Highland Geo Solutions is a small operation based just outside Fredericton, New Brunswick. The location is an advantage to the company. With low overhead, a small head office and a team of contracted workers, HGS is highly flexible. Working for clients around the world, HGS sends surveyors, engineers, software experts and project managers to places like the English Channel, offshore Africa and the coast of Indonesia. The company even worked on post Hurricane Katrina projects.

For more information, contact Darcy Rhyno, media contact for Highland Geo Solutions.