Andy Sikes went into private engineering practice in 1977, and his firm was incorporated as Andrew Lonnie Sikes, Inc. (ALS, Inc.) in 1982. It quickly became a leader in the Houston area, known for its use of new and emerging surveying technologies: replacing the drafting board with computer aided drafting (CAD) and adding distance meters and total stations, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and aerial mapping.
For decades, ALS, Inc., pushed the leading edge of technology in aerial photography, conventional mapping, and GPS technology. The firm’s services ranged from basic title surveys to complex boundaries of heavy industry facilities and orthometrically corrected aerial maps. Long before Google Maps or Google Earth existed, ALS, Inc. produced digitized aerial images of Harris County and adjoining counties. The firm’s engineering services also included drainage design, subdivision platting, and utilities planning.
Inherent in all the firm’s projects is the ability of Andy Sikes and his team to coordinate with governments and other stakeholders to research, secure permits, and when necessary resolve conflicts between permit offices and clients. Mr. Sikes’ skill in project coordination and knowledge of the legal processes intrinsic to surveying made him a sought-after resource to attorneys in helping investigate and resolve disputes. Today, Mr. Sikes is a recognized expert providing the facts and theory of boundary locations to attorneys in a variety of matters involving litigation, arbitration, and mitigation.
Project Experience
The services offered by ALS, Inc. have encompassed a range of surveying disciplines, as well as engineering design and construction and contractor coordination.
Technical Experience and Leadership
Andy Sikes has been a hands-on practitioner his entire career. He has read the equipment and procedure manuals and performed the technical tasks involved with all the procedures he later came to supervise. His first-hand experience has afforded him broad knowledge and deep understanding of surveying practices.