Four decades of surveying on the Cape: meet John McElwee

Few people know the contours of Cape Cod like John McElwee. As a Registered Professional Land Surveyor, he’s been mapping property boundaries on both sides of the Bourne Bridge for more than 40 years. As our Director of Surveying, John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every survey project we perform.

A wealth of expertise

John joined Cape and Islands Engineering in 2024 after 12 years in a leadership role at Coastal Engineering. When that firm was acquired by Tighe & Bond, they discontinued land surveying services and we were pleased to add John to our team.

His surveying expertise is both deep and broad—from boundary and land title surveys to condominium plans to land division. Over the years, John has accumulated a wealth of knowledge that benefits our clients.

“You pick up a lot of historical information about properties in the various towns on the Cape. As you solve issues that arise, you retain that information in your memory. The next time that issue comes up, you can address it more quickly,” John explains.

Fostering good working relationships with local officials is equally important. “I’ve always focused on having a good rapport with each agency and board we deal with. I find you go a lot further in helping your clients that way.”

Technology meets old school

Since he started in the profession, John has seen a lot of technological advancements that have changed the ways surveys are performed. “Back then, we were guiding a 100-foot measuring tape through the woods. Now, we’re trying to poke through the trees to connect with GPS satellites that can put us within a quarter of an inch in a few seconds.”

While he appreciates the advantages of technology, John says he’s glad he had that “old school” training. “It’s important to understand the theory behind the measurements and calculations, the trigonometry and geometry.” This solid foundation, together with years spent in the field, enables John to provide the critical “gut check” to make sure surveys are correct.

Guiding the team

These days, John spends most working days in the office, creating proposals, managing the surveying team, and reviewing survey reports. But he enjoys what he’s doing at this stage in his career, including working with younger members of the team. “They’re interested in surveying, they embrace new technology, and they’re open to guidance from myself and others in the office,” John says. “Joining Cape and Islands Engineering has been a great move.”