Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Expert Engineering & Surveying Services in Anchorage, AK
Founded in 1974, F. Robert Bell & Associates (BELL) is an employee-owned engineering and surveying firm with decades of experience navigating Alaska's unique environmental challenges. Our team of professional engineers and surveyors delivers solution-based design, permitting, and construction management services to federal, state, and private clients across Alaska and internationally. With over 60 staff members during peak seasons and offices in Anchorage and Prudhoe Bay, we combine deep local expertise with cutting-edge technology like 3D laser scanning and UAV photogrammetry. Our 30-year presence on Alaska's North Slope has enabled us to contribute to major infrastructure and energy projects while maintaining an exceptional safety record with no lost-time accidents in over 20 years.We specialize in civil engineering, land surveying, and subsurface mapping, serving diverse industries including oil and gas, transportation, and utility development. Our commitment to technological innovation is demonstrated by being the first Alaskan firm to implement 3D laser scanning for enhanced survey accuracy. Through close client collaboration and rigorous quality control, we provide tailored solutions that address both immediate project needs and long-term infrastructure sustainability. Our staff's extensive Arctic and sub-Arctic experience ensures reliable service delivery in some of the world's most demanding environments.
Services
Civil Engineering
Land Surveying
3D Laser Scanning
UAV Services
Subsurface Mapping
Oilfield Engineering
Construction Management
Boundary Surveys
Topographic Mapping
Pipeline Inspection
Details
- Year established: 1974
Highlights and features
- We offer 50 years of Alaska-specific engineering expertise
- Our team pioneered 3D laser scanning in Alaska
- We maintain a 20+ year accident-free safety record
- Our staff includes FAA-certified UAV pilots
- We operate from strategic locations across Alaska
Services
Civil Engineering
Our civil engineering team specializes in Alaska's unique infrastructure challenges, providing site layouts, road design, and utility engineering for commercial, residential, and oilfield projects. We combine cold-region expertise with modern design software to create durable solutions that withstand extreme conditions. Our services include erosion control, storm sewer systems, and subdivision planning tailored to Alaska's diverse terrain.
Land Surveying
With four decades of experience, our land surveying services cover boundary determination, topographic mapping, and construction layout across thousands of miles in Alaska. We utilize advanced GPS and conventional surveying methods to deliver accurate data for ALTA/ACSM standards and state land surveys. Our expertise includes remote access surveying and long-term contracts with major energy companies.
3D Laser Scanning
As Alaska's first adopters of 3D laser scanning, we provide high-precision digital modeling for facility documentation and construction verification. Our technology captures detailed as-built data for oil pads, pipelines, and infrastructure projects, offering clients interactive 3D models accessible through standard web browsers. This reduces field time by up to 70% while maintaining sub-centimeter accuracy.
UAV Services
Our FAA-certified UAV pilots conduct aerial photogrammetry, thermal inspections, and volumetric surveys in remote locations. Equipped with high-resolution and thermal imaging cameras, our drones safely inspect pipelines, power lines, and infrastructure in Alaska's extreme environments. This technology reduces survey time by 50-80% while maintaining 3cm accuracy for topographic mapping.
Subsurface Mapping
Using ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic detection, we map subsurface utilities and structures across Alaska's North Slope. Our team locates pipelines, voids, and permafrost features to support safe excavation and infrastructure development. Combined with traditional surveying, this technology provides complete subsurface visualization for oilfield and construction projects.
People
Kirstyn Draper
Chief Executive Officer
With 15 years in Alaska and 13 in oilfields, Kirstyn holds BS degrees in Geomatics and Business. She oversees executive operations while maintaining technical expertise in surveying and CAD software.
Bob Bell
Principal
Founder of BELL since 1974, Bob has over 40 years of Arctic engineering experience. He leads as principal engineer and surveyor, combining field expertise with strategic management of Alaska's largest infrastructure projects.
Chris Burt
Chief Technical Officer
With 15+ years at BELL, Chris developed Alaska's first 3D scanning department. He manages technical operations and quality control for all laser scanning projects across the state's energy sector.
Vivian Santiago
Civil Engineer
A registered Alaska engineer since 2016, Vivian brings international experience from the Philippines. She specializes in civil design and cost estimation for infrastructure projects in Alaska's challenging environments.
Brad Rinckey
Senior Survey Manager
With 23 years of Alaskan surveying experience, Brad manages complex projects across the state. He holds Alaska PLS license #1129 and specializes in boundary resolution and high-accuracy survey deliverables.
Questions
What engineering services do you specialize in?
We specialize in civil engineering for Alaska's challenging environments, including cold region infrastructure, oilfield facilities, transportation systems, and utility engineering with 50 years of local expertise.
Do you offer advanced surveying technologies?
Yes, we pioneered 3D laser scanning in Alaska and utilize UAV photogrammetry for precise topographic mapping and remote inspections in difficult terrain.
How do you handle remote location projects?
With offices in Anchorage and Prudhoe Bay, we've developed specialized logistics capabilities for remote Arctic projects, maintaining safety and accuracy in extreme conditions.
What safety certifications do your teams hold?
Our staff includes FAA-certified UAV pilots and ACI-certified concrete inspectors, with a 20+ year accident-free record in Alaska's challenging environments.
Can you support international projects?
Yes, our experience extends beyond Alaska to international locations, applying our Arctic expertise to similar climate regions worldwide.