Meet the Team: Daryl Brown
When Daryl Brown initially joined Watson Engineering Company (Watson) he worked as a drafter/designer. A self-starter, he visited with firm president Tim Watson about opportunities to further his role in the firm and industry. Tim brought up the value of land surveying and at first Daryl was a little hesitant about whether it was a profession he wanted to pursue. But after speaking with associate professor Walt Cunningham at Salt Lake Community College something clicked. “We discussed my options and Walt helped me map out the steps toward becoming licensed,” remembers Daryl. “I felt his conviction and passion for surveying and was confident this was a profession I wanted to be a part of.”
For the past few years Daryl pursued his licensure while working full time to complete the educational requirements. In the process of becoming a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) he capably managed Watson’s Survey Department and all surveying projects coming through the office.
Daryl enjoys the variety of services he can provide as a licensed surveyor. From calculating and determining a property boundary to performing a flood elevation survey to determine if a structure is above or below a flood elevation, he enjoys solving problems and getting out in the field.
He also enjoys collaborating with Watson’s Civil Engineering team to support the design process and increase the quality of information the firm provides in our drawings. “Land surveying plays a key role in what our firm does,” he explains. “The surveyor has to first gather topographic information on a site before civil design begins. The resulting site or roadway design includes underground utilities which the surveyor then stakes out for the contractor to build.” It’s that full-service approach to our work that serves Watson clients well.
Land surveying is a highly dynamic field and keeping up takes time and effort. Daryl has enjoyed implementing new technologies and tools for scanning sites and gathering reliable data. “Our GPS rover and robotic total station not only improve accuracy but also productivity,” he relates. The use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, for aerial and topographic surveys provides a better experience and results for surveyors and clients.
Daryl embodies what it means to stretch. A love for his work and improvement has pushed him to embrace new opportunities not only for himself but for our clients.