Project Snapshot
| Category | Details |
| Client | North Fraser Harbour Commission (later Port Metro Vancouver) |
| Project Name | North Fraser Harbour Mapping & GIS Modernization |
| Location | North Arm of the Fraser River, British Columbia |
| Date | 1958–2008 |
Project Overview
Introduction
Underhill served as the consulting surveyor for the North Fraser Harbour Commission (NFHC) from 1958 to 2008. Over five decades, we led multiple phases of harbour headline control mapping, legal and digital surveying, and GIS system development—contributing to the foundation of today’s Port Metro Vancouver.
Phased Contributions
1958 Harbour Headline Mapping
- Defined the harbour headline using triangulation and photogrammetry.
- Produced 1 to 200. scale plans integrating planimetric and cadastral data.
- Coordinates expressed in imperial datum using latitude and departure values.
1979 Mapping Modernization
- Migrated headline mapping from imperial to metric (SI) units.
- Integrated NAD27-based provincial survey control.
- Used electronic distance measurement (EDM) for strengthening triangulation.
- Delivered orthophoto base maps with cadastral overlays at 1:2500 scale.
1989 GIS Transition
- Replaced destroyed monuments and updated control network.
- Conducted full COGO-based digital cadastral compilations.
- Integrated planimetric features using digital photogrammetry.
- Built a custom GIS system in Terrasoft, incorporating 100+ spatial features:
- Harbour lines, lease areas, foreshore structures
- Environmental zones (FREMP data)
- BC Assessment parcel data
- Municipal zoning overlays
1996 Datum Modernization
- Converted NFHC control from NAD27 to NAD83 using GPS, GeoLab adjustment, and ISA ties.
- Created a transformation grid to align legacy data with modern ISA systems.
2001–2005 Updates
- Incremental cadastral and attribute updates as needed.
- Ensured continued integrity of harbour headline controls.
2008 Onward: Port Metro Vancouver
After the 2008 merger of regional port authorities, Underhill continued to provide survey and GIS expertise for the expanded Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (Port Metro Vancouver), integrating NFHC data into broader land and marine asset management.
Technical Highlights
- Control Framework: Custom harbour headline system integrated with provincial ISA networks.
- Datum Transition: NAD27 to NAD83 using customized transformation surfaces.
- COGO Calculations: Accurate lease and cadastral boundary projection to headline chords.
- GIS Output: DGN, DXF, and orthophoto maps with full attribute query capability.
- Custom GIS UI: User-friendly interface linked to spatial and tabular datasets.
Project Impact
Underhill’s five-decade partnership with the North Fraser Harbour Commission established the foundation for modern harbour mapping and GIS in the Lower Mainland. Our work transitioned the harbour from analog mapping to digital cadastral systems, integrating legal, environmental, and infrastructure data into a unified platform. This legacy continues to support Port Metro Vancouver’s land use, lease management, and marine planning today.
