Patrick Kirby, PLS

Patrick began surveying in St. Johnsbury Vermont in 1975. He has an Associate of Science in Surveying from Vermont Technical College, a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Masters in Spatial Information Science and Engineering from the University of Maine, Orono. He was drawn to surveying because it included working outdoors. He has continued to enjoy it because it combines graphic art, math, history, and finding and deciphering physical evidence. His surveying profession has made it possible for him to live and work in some wonderful places including Northeast Vermont, Antarctica, Kodiak Alaska, Guerneville California, and best of all, San Juan Island.

Since moving to San Juan Island in 1986, Patrick has surveyed on over 30 of the San Juan Islands and has extensive experience on Orcas Island. He was instrumental in the establishment of the county GPS control network that forms the basis for the county’s Geographic Information System. He has surveyed several of the large county road reconstruction projects. Patrick’s software skills include AutoCAD with Civil3D and Raster, ArcMap, StarNet Least Squares adjustment, LiDAR processing and the integration of Aerial Photography. He is always looking for ways to improve field and office procedures and to employ new technology to bring novel, value added products to our customers. Patrick is an active member of the San Juan subchapter Land Surveyors Association of Washington.

Outside of surveying, Patrick is vice president of the Islands Oils Spill Association. He regularly participates in boom deployment drills and responds to local oil spills. He is an archer, and enjoys backpacking. In the evenings he works on a high-performance-cluster computing project. On weekends, he enjoys collecting edible wild mushrooms in season and swimming and rowing in the Sound year around. Patrick lives near False Bay with his partner, Chef Gretchen Allison.

Patrick’s Resume »