Expanding Survey Service Across New York

A Q & A With Rich Guisado, LS

In today’s fast-paced real estate market, delays can mean lost opportunities. Reliable, accurate survey data helps developers keep projects moving forward – on time and on budget.

From due diligence to ALTA surveys for transactions, developers need survey insights early and often to make informed decisions. As Bohler continues to expand its survey capabilities across the New York Metro region, we caught up with Rich Guisado, LS, who is leading the charge.

With 25 years of experience in boundary and topographic surveys, construction stake-out, utility and rail projects, and subsurface utility investigations, Rich has played a key role in major infrastructure efforts, including the $12 billion East Side Access project in NYC. Now, he’s focused on streamlining the survey process for Bohler’s clients, providing the critical data they need – when they need it.

Here, Rich shares his insights on survey efficiency, risk mitigation, and what’s next for Bohler’s growing team.

In a busy land development market, developers can find themselves in a survey time crunch, often delaying critical data needed for property closings, financing, or project feasibility.

Survey delays can create bottlenecks that could impact the overall delivery of the project. However, there are several strategies development teams can use to  maintain momentum:

• Define the Survey Scope Early: It’s essential to clarify the survey’s purpose from the outset. For instance, an ALTA survey without topography might be sufficient for real estate transactions.
• Use Phased ALTA Surveys: Starting with an ALTA survey for boundary details and deferring the topography work can save time and money, especially when the development timeline is still uncertain.
• Leverage Office-Only Surveys: We can gather useful information using existing records, GIS data, and prior surveys without immediately sending crews to the field. This approach offers an initial understanding for feasibility discussions.
• Prioritize Due Diligence Steps: Not every project requires a full survey upfront. Beginning with a basic boundary survey and expanding the effort as the project’s potential becomes clearer helps avoid unnecessary costs and accelerates the early stages of development.

By applying these strategies, my team provides solutions that help our clients anticipate certain challenges and make informed decisions at every stage.

Surveys play a crucial role in various aspects of real estate development and transactions. How does your team integrate into the development process?

Surveying is an integral part of every phase of a development project, though it’s often overlooked. Our team collaborates with clients from the earliest stages—before a real estate transaction even occurs—to provide key insights that help to guide decision-making. For example, we might partner with land use attorneys to clarify property boundaries or identify potential restrictions.

As the project progresses, our involvement continues during the design phase, where we work closely with landscape architects and civil engineers in preparation of accurate site layouts. In pre-construction, timely construction staking helps streamline the build process, minimizing delays and costly mistakes.

Ultimately, our ability to tailor survey services to a project’s specific needs enables us to support diverse client goals, whether they’re evaluating feasibility, securing financing, or moving into active development. We help clients see the bigger picture and make informed decisions that set the stage for successful outcomes.

How does your experience with major infrastructure projects like the East Side Access help Bohler’s clients move projects forward through agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)?

Surveying for major infrastructure projects like East Side Access, Amtrak corridors, and complex large-scale utility and infrastructure clients requires unparalleled precision, regulatory awareness, and problem-solving. In these high-stakes environments, even minor discrepancies can disrupt schedules, drive up costs, and impact public safety.

This background brings technical rigor and risk mitigation to commercial development projects. Using advanced control networks and QA/QC processes, we provide clear boundaries, accurate stake-outs, and seamless integration with both site civil engineering and construction workflows.

Our approach goes beyond technical accuracy – we strive to anticipate hiccups in permitting, utility coordination, and approvals, proactively addressing challenges before they become roadblocks. Whether managing unforeseen site constraints, resolving discrepancies between historic and modern mapping, or streamlining regulatory compliance, we will work to keep projects on track and minimize costly revisions.

For commercial developers, this often means faster approvals, fewer surprises, and greater confidence in survey data—which translates into smoother construction and optimized site utilization.

You’ve gained diverse experience in the land development industry throughout your career. In your opinion, what sets Bohler’s survey teams apart in the New York Metro area?

Bohler’s survey teams stand out because of our close collaboration with both in-house engineers and landscape architects, which streamlines communication and enhances project efficiency. Our surveyors work side-by-side with engineers throughout every phase – from concept to design and construction – so we can quickly address questions and resolve discrepancies amongst our in-house project team.

This integrated approach often results in fewer delays, faster resolutions, and a more seamless project execution. We also offer flexibility, mobilizing our team quickly when project needs shift. Whether it’s supporting property transactions or providing critical data during construction, we tailor our services to meet clients’ specific needs and help keep their projects moving forward.

As you look ahead to expanding Bohler’s surveying capabilities, what are you most looking forward to?

I’m most excited about the opportunity to grow our team and continue diversifying our project portfolio. As we grow, our focus remains the same—delivering fast, reliable data that gives our clients a competitive edge in an ever-changing market.