Terrain Surveys has been providing high-quality and efficient CCTV Drainage surveys ever since 2007. With the desire to continuously improve our services to meet all requirements, we are very proud to announce the appointment of Martin Hook as our new CCTV Surveys Manager. When it comes to CCTV Surveying Services, Martin’s knowledge and experience sets him apart from the competition, and he will now be working alongside the management team to ensure optimum efficiency across our surveying services.
We sat down with Martin, to discuss the ins and outs of his new role and also to find out a bit more about him. Here are the highlights!
A bit about Martin
Meet Martin: an extremely proud family-man, avid cyclist that loves travelling and the outdoors and is our resident CCTV drainage systems extraordinaire. Martin is no stranger to the industry, he has been “working with Terrain Surveys from 2007, undertaking CCTV surveys through my previous company, and I was officially employed with Terrain Surveys at the end of October 2022.” Martin knows his stuff when it comes to CCTV surveys and brings with him proven experience in developing and managing teams and implementing change to improve the way in which CCTV drainage surveying operates.
Martin has been in the industry for some time now too! Martin explains that it all started when: “I was a self-employed plumber by trade, and I worked in various sectors of the building industry. I became a Civils contractor site foreman working on tidal defence, main river works, and large shopping mall developments. I then started working with a local drainage company in 1997, in which I took over and developed their CCTV department, including: upgrading innovative camera systems in-house, incorporating DVD formats, and recording surveys to a hard drive, further improving process quality and distribution. All of these stages contributed to my interest in CCTV.”
Following on from this, Martin expresses that “I joined Terrain Surveys following a successful 4 years at my previous company, where I was a major part of developing an estimate, remedial, civils, and CCTV departmental teams, implementing change and process into these divisions.”
Having worked across several sectors of the building industry and faced numerous challenges along the way, Martin’s holistic knowledge and skillsets entwined with his inherent interest in the industry makes him the perfect fit for his new role, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the team!
CCTV Drainage Surveys; everything you need to know
Like we said, Martin knows his stuff: “A CCTV Drainage survey is, essentially, an inspection of the drainage system, using high-tech CCTV cameras that are specifically designed for using in drains. It is a full inspection of underground, or above ground, drainage systems to allocate any potential problems associated with the drains and the drainage system itself.”
There are various ways in which a CCTV survey can be carried out. There are standard camera systems as well as several other floatation camera units, designed for water conditions and condition lines that are half full and cannot be reduced inside the drains. This floatation design helps to avoid the water, preventing skewing of the lens. Also, with access to standard cameras and remote cameras, pictures and a laser profile can be created within the drainage system.
The benefits of CCTV surveys
Fundamentally, CCTV surveys and the technology used, provide us with the ability to look in below and above ground drainage systems to get a complete understanding. Some more benefits include:
They enable us to identify the source of an issue (such as cracks and leakages, blockages, etc), which can then be fixed as soon as possible to stop the problem from worsening.
They are time-efficient, with a fast and effective result. The surveys can identify the problem straight away, so it is not a case of waiting to process the information or data.
They support the maintenance and programming of drainage system, keeping it in running condition.
Adpapted approaches
Martin’s objective is to offer a ‘one stop shop’ to surveying, streamlining the process and consequently improving efficiency. Alongside CCTV surveys we can also provide topographical surveys and utility surveys to identify all buried services. Martin’s one stop approach includes identifying any existing or potential drainage problems, offering subsequent proposed solutions to help resolve any possible issues. Martin further acknowledges that keeping these works under one umbrella has benefits that include:
One point of communication
Keeping the process moving in a timely manner
Control and transparency
Reduction of overall costs
Here at Terrain Surveys we use the latest camera technology to have a clear vision of the drains in order to produce a sufficient inspection of the sites. We are constantly looking to develop and push the boundaries of innovation without compromising on cost. Martin explains that “our use of the latest technology, this means that it is the most cost-effective way to identify any present issues, or even potential issues that could occur in the future.”
Down to the last detail
Martin is working to develop the way in which our CCTV drainage surveying service is conducted and refining the process to ensure optimal efficiency. Martin’s careful and analytical approach ensures that all unique requirements are met.
“Once we complete the CCTV survey, we provide a report and in this report is an explanatory overview of the survey, any notable defects, as well as any potential issues that may occur. If the report consists of defects and issues, then we include a repair recommendations list as well. Our report can also include the production of new site plans, as well as any changes or updates to current site plans. We can carry out the repairs in regards to the recommendations listed at the end of the report. These include repairs such as: high-pressure water jetting (HPWJ), desilting (for root cutting and descaling with specialised nozzles) or simple cleaning, HPWJ robotic cutting, and structural lining installation (which has various methods and processes available). We provide our topographical and CCTV data which is separately surveyed and included in one CAD drawing.”
We can’t wait to continue creating new and innovative solutions and to work with Martin in his new role as CCTV Surveys Manager. For more information on our CCTV Drainage Surveys, or if you would like to discuss a project, please contact us on 01438 841300 or enquiries@terrainsurveys.co.uk to speak to a member of our friendly team. Alternatively, enquire today by completing the Contact form to get a quotation and a member of our team will be in contact with you.
