Pre-Construct Archaeology
Quality Control & Expertise
Quality
PCA has established a considerable reputation for providing its clients with Professional archaeological services, for not losing sight of Commercial realities and for being Accountable.
At PCA we are acutely aware that many of our clients commission archaeological works in order to obtain planning permissions. For some clients this may be an unwanted and unwelcome problem. That's where we come in. PCA is here to provide you with professional solutions to these problems. Although we operate in a commercial environment our Project Managers will ensure that all tasks are completed to the highest standards whilst ensuring that all planning requirements are met. Being a Registered Archaeological Organisation (RAO) with the Institute of Field Archaeologists you can be assured that we are accountable. As no formal kite mark system exists for contact archaeologists, the Institute advises that being an RAO is the same as being in a Quality Assurance scheme.
We work to English Heritage, Institute of Field Archaeologists and Local Planning Authority excavation and archiving guidelines, standards and procedures. We have internal quality control systems for ensuring both accuracy of content, quality of delivery and visual appeal, and compatibility of the final deposited archive. Initial site records are checked by site supervisors and then again by the archive officer. Graphics are checked by the CAD manager and reports are checked by the post-excavation managers and the relevant project manager prior to being sent out. Regular management meetings and reviews of excavation, post-excavation and publication schedules enable all project work and resource levels to be monitored and deadlines maintained.
Resources
PCA currently employs approximately 100 full time and part time staff but can gear up significantly if required. A recent excavation at Tabard Square, London required over 50 staff and on occasions the Company numbers exceeded 150. The company is run by a senior management team comprising the Managing Director and four Directors, three of whom are members of the Institute of Field Archaeologists. Three managers are responsible for setting up, and managing projects during the field work phase, one is responsible for managing the post-excavation phase and one is responsible for graphics, and they are aided by four assistant managers. Each member of staff possesses a university degree or higher, or a commensurate level of experience and the skills levels of the staff are highly regarded within the profession. PCA considers that the skills and experience of its staff to be its greatest asset.
PCA has since its foundation recognised the importance of information technology for the success of its service. PCA operates 50 fully networked computers. Computing is used within the organisation for word processing, database applications, spreadsheets and statistical packages for data analysis. The software and hardware systems, programs and applications are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure continued efficiency consistency and effectiveness of the service.
The graphics section consists of 7 full time staff, four of whom work mainly in AutoCAD 14, 2000 and 2002, but also in CorelDraw, Illusttrator and Photoshop, to produce drawings and images for a wide range of purposes, from site-specific feature analyses and interpretation to high quality graphics for display and publication using our own large size digitisers and plotters. A Geographic Information System, ArchView, has recently been purchased which will also enhance our capabilities. All staff are fully trained and have between them extensive experience in the graphic representation of a full range of project types, including deeply stratified urban sites, standing building recording and rural landscape studies. Other types of specialisation include use of topographical and contour modelling software, and 3-dimensional reconstruction of both buildings and other archaeological features.
In addition three staff undertake hand drawing of artefacts for display and publication,
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