What Surface Systems & Instruments does

Surface Systems & Instruments (SSI) is a privately held US manufacturer of custom surface measurement and profiling equipment, founded in 1995 and operating dual facilities: a hardware design and fabrication division in Auburn, California, and an electronics and software R&D division in Manhattan, Kansas, with sales/administration in Larkspur, California. The company's product portfolio centers on the SSI Profiler software platform integrated with specialized collection hardware, including inertial profilers (CS9100, CS9300, CS8700, CS9400, CS9200), mobile LiDAR survey systems (CSL-90, CS9550, CS9500), walking profilers (CS8800, CS8850, CS8880, CS8900), ADA compliance profilers (CS8600, CS8900), profilographs (CS8500, CS8550), on-paver profilers (CS7800), off-road profilers (CS8770, CS9470, CS9400-OR), and GPS measurement devices (CS1100, CS7900). Add-on software modules include Intellicut for corrective grind planning, Profile Design for machine control modeling, Network Manager for pavement network collection, and a Validation Engine for repeatability QA. Notable proprietary technologies include patent-pending Zero-Speed Inertial Profiler capability (0-100 mph through stoppages), patented multiple profile trace reporting, CSL-90 solid-state LiDAR (1M+ points/sec, 0.5mm vertical accuracy), PPK GPS integration achieving 6mm accuracy, and wide-footprint line lasers. With 1,200+ systems deployed across 26+ countries, SSI holds compliance with ASTM E950, AASHTO M328/R054/R056/R057, Caltrans, TxDOT 1001-S, FAA, USACE, and World Bank standards.

SSI generates revenue through multiple streams: custom equipment sales (with 50% deposit terms and balance due on delivery), equipment rentals with included delivery/setup/training, project testing services using certified technicians, software licensing (perpetual license for data collection with annual fees for office add-ons and modules), replacement parts and extended warranties, and NRE custom development for military, racing, train, and quality control applications. Customer segments include state DOTs and transportation agencies (Arizona, Arkansas, Caltrans, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada), paving contractors (Graniterock, Kiewit, Flatiron, Penhall, Cemex, Granite Construction, Teichert, Lendlease), consulting engineering firms (Michael Baker International, EMG Corp.), academic and research institutions (NCAT, UCPRC, Iowa State, Texas Transportation Institute), and emerging verticals including ADA sidewalk compliance, commercial FF/FL floor testing, airports, and off-road/racing surfaces. Distribution is primarily direct enterprise field sales with inside sales support, supplemented by an authorized international agent network and a regional full-time technician presence across six US locations plus Costa Rica. Marketing emphasizes technical content, case studies from certification rodeos (ICART, Caltrans), industry association memberships, and trade show participation (Conexpo, RPUG).

Name

Surface Systems & Instruments

Legal name

Surface Systems & Instruments, Inc.

Website

https://smoothroad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Surface Systems & Instruments (SSI) is a US manufacturer of custom surface measurement and profiling equipment — including inertial profilers, LiDAR survey systems, walking profilers, and ADA compliance profilers — serving state DOTs, paving contractors, engineering firms, and research institutions in 26+ countries since 1995.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surface Measurement & Pavement Profiling Equipment

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Inertial profilers
• Pavement smoothness measurement
• Surface measurement equipment
• Road profiling systems
• IRI compliance testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Test Equipment Sales: SSI designs, engineers, and manufactures custom surface measurement test equipment including inertial profilers, walking profilers, ADA compliance profilers, off-road profilers, profilographs, on-paver profilers, GPS devices, and mobile surveying systems. Equipment is sold globally with a 50% deposit required at order and balance due prior to or upon delivery.
2. Equipment Rental: SSI rents profiling equipment for any duration with delivery, setup, and onsite operator training. Vehicle-mounted systems can be installed onto customer vehicles with training provided. Rental costs can be partially applied as discounts toward system purchases.
3. Project Testing Services: SSI offers project testing services with certified technicians for customers who need testing without purchasing equipment.
4. Software Licenses and Updates: The data collection computer has a perpetual license to SSI Profiler software with no subscription fees to collect data. Additional licenses for office computers or additional software modules have annual fees. Software updates are automatically available with internet access.
5. Replacement Parts and Accessories: SSI stocks replacement parts for all systems and offers expedited delivery. Extended warranty options are available beyond the standard one-year warranty.
6. Custom Development (NRE): SSI offers custom hardware and software development services through NRE (Non-Recurring Engineering) packages, developing custom equipment for military, racing, train, quality control testing and project management industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SSI designs, engineers, and manufactures custom surface measurement and profiling equipment (inertial profilers, walking profilers, LiDAR survey scanners, profilographs, ADA and GPS devices) paired with its proprietary SSI Profiler software. The equipment measures road, bridge, runway, sidewalk, and floor smoothness, roughness, rutting, texture, and 3D geometry for DOT compliance, construction QA/QC, and pavement management.

Product overview

Surface Systems & Instruments (SSI) is a USA-based manufacturer of custom surface measurement and profiling equipment. The product portfolio centers on the SSI Profiler Software platform combined with specialized collection hardware. Core products include: (1) Inertial Profilers (CS9100, CS9300, CS8700, CS9400, CS9200, CS9500) for collecting International Roughness Index (IRI) and ride quality data at highway speeds; (2) Mobile Surveying Systems (CSL-90 LiDAR Scanner, CS9550, CS9500) combining 3D point cloud collection with DOT-compliant IRI; (3) Walking Profilers (CS8800, CS8850, CS8880, CS8900) for benchmark profiling, FF/FL floor testing, and ADA sidewalk compliance; (4) ADA Profilers (CS8600 motorized cart, CS8900 walking) for rapid sidewalk data collection; (5) OnPaver Profiler (CS7800) for real-time smoothness monitoring during paving; (6) Profilographs (CS8500, CS8550) for traditional California-style and bridge testing; (7) Off-Road Profilers (CS8770, CS9470, CS9400-OR) for rough terrain and secondary roads; (8) GPS Measurement Devices (CS1100, CS7900) for distance measurement and navigation. Add-on software modules include Intellicut for corrective grinding, Profile Design for machine control, Network Manager for pavement networks, and Validation Engine for data QA. The modular architecture allows customers to start with basic configurations and add sensors (rutting, texture, cross-slope, cameras) incrementally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SSI Profiler Software All-in-one Windows-based software for calibration, data collection, editing, viewing, reporting, and exporting. Integrates with the collection electronics of all SSI profiling systems. Perpetual data-collection license with no subscription fees.
• Zero-Speed Inertial Profiler Upgrade Patent-pending upgrade enabling collection speeds between 0-100 mph including through vehicle stoppages while maintaining AASHTO r56 certification accuracy. Can be added to any SSI inertial profiler.
• CS9100 Mid-Mount Inertial Profiler SSI's most popular non-invasive profiler with versatile front/rear mid-mount configuration and modular, field-replaceable sensor components.
• CS9300 Portable Inertial Profiler Bumper-mounted portable profiler with quick-release mounting for easy transfer between vehicles.
• CS9500 Full Lane Survey Profiler Collects rutting data and survey-accuracy point clouds at highway speeds using six ultra-wide-beam 1280-point lasers for full lane width transverse profiles up to 14 feet; achieves 6mm vertical accuracy for 95% of point cloud.
• CS8700 Lightweight Profiler Lightweight (~1100 lbs, <10 PSI pavement impact) profiler designed for collecting data on curing concrete with low stress impact.
• CS9400 Simple Profiler Portable low-cost single-laser system (~40 lbs) for precise smoothness testing with easy transport and deployment.
• CS9200 Multipurpose Profiler 100% self-contained trailer-mounted profiling system for versatile deployment across different vehicle platforms.
• CSL-90 Portable LiDAR Survey Profiler Full lane width solid-state LiDAR scanner capturing over 1 million points/second, 13-foot scan width at 75 mph with 1x1 inch grid and 0.5mm vertical accuracy; pairs with inertial profiler for DOT-certified smoothness profiles.
• CS9550 Portable Survey Profiler Half-lane width scanner (7.5-8 foot) with single track IRI reporting; two-in-one system combining survey capability with inertial profiling.
• CS8800 Walking Profiler ASTM E2133 compliant walking profiler with outrigger wheel for stability; collects benchmark IRI profiles and serves as reference device for certifying inertial profilers through AASHTO r56.
• CS8850 Surf-Pro for FF/FL Walking profiler configured for Floor Flatness/Floor Levelness testing using ASTM E1155 random traffic collection grid, with Windows-based planning and collection software.
• CS8880 Defined Traffic FF/FL Device Walking profiler for collecting defined traffic floor data per DIN and TR34 standards; adapts to aisle width for warehouse floor applications.
• CS8900 ADA Access Profiler Fully automated walking profiler for ADA sidewalk compliance measurements at 0-3 mph; ASTM E2133 compliant with 99% repeatability.
• CS8600 Ultra Light Profiler Motorized cart profiler for sidewalks and confined spaces at 0-15 mph, with hot-swappable batteries and 50-75 mile range; a faster alternative to walking profilers for large sidewalk networks.
• CS7800 Onpaver Profiler Real-time profile collection system mounting over asphalt and concrete pavers with sensors 40-50 inches above pavement; displays IRI, speed plots, PSD plots, and localized roughness in real time during paving.
• CS8500 California Profilograph Traditional California-style profilograph with a custom 25-foot aluminum frame for testing bridges and highways; complies with ASTM E1274, CTM 526, and FAA/USACE requirements.
• CS8550 Bridge Profilograph 12-foot aluminum-frame profilograph designed for Caltrans Test Method 547 bridge pavement testing with lightweight construction for bridge deck access.
• CS8770 Survey Profiler Survey profiler on a Polaris Ranger platform with four high-standoff lasers collecting ~9-foot transverse width, designed for rugged terrain where trucks cannot access.
• CS9470 Grade Profiler Uses an inertial profiler combined with an INS-PPK system for accurate grade and cross-slope measurement on rough terrain; configurable single or dual wheelpath, mounts to truck tow hooks or hitch receiver.
• CS9400-OR Accelerometer Profiler Accelerometer-only profiling system for rough terrain where laser sensors are impractical or unsafe; all sensors inside the vehicle cab with only a GPS antenna external.
• Pavement Management Systems Scalable network collection system combining IRI, rutting, macrotexture, cross-slope, and image distress processing; Network Manager software accepts shapefiles/KML for route management and exports to GIS or Excel.
• CS1100 GPS-DMI High-accuracy GPS distance measurement instrument with 10Hz GPS sampling and 0.05% accuracy, no calibration required; plugs into vehicle 12VDC power with optional OBD-II interface.
• CS7900 Real Time GPS Tool On-equipment precision GPS navigation tool displaying real-time position relative to collected pavement profile data, enabling operators to navigate to roughness locations; 2-inch accuracy with subscription.
• Intellicut Software Corrective grind plan software that automatically generates grinding locations based on project thresholds, iteratively solving roughness and checking compliance in a fraction of the time of manual methods.
• Profile Design Software Machine control modeling software that uses collected profiles for variable depth milling and paving; exports 2D relative height for sonic systems or 3D data for total station control.
• Network Manager Software Pavement network collection management software that imports shapefile/KML paths, triggers collection by GPS, displays completed routes, and exports data by segment ID or street name.
• SSI Validation Engine Data comparison and troubleshooting software for repeatability verification and raw sensor data analysis; confirms profiler accuracy and determines best runs from a dataset.
• Equipment Rental Rental of profiling equipment for any duration with delivery, setup, and onsite operator training; vehicle-mounted systems can be installed on customer vehicles, with rental cost partially applicable toward purchase.
• Project Testing Services Testing services with certified technicians for customers who need surface measurement data without purchasing equipment.
• Custom Development (NRE) Custom hardware and software development services through Non-Recurring Engineering packages for military, racing, train, quality control testing, and project management industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% minimum accuracy achieved at ICART rodeo Stop-and-Go certification, compliant with 90% AASHTO r56 threshold
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• John Deere Operations Center / Wirtgen Smart Level ProcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025SSI software integrates with John Deere Operations Center to upload machine control models directly to Wirtgen milling machines outfitted with the Smart Level Pro system. This enables contractors to use SSI-collected survey data for machine guidance on milling operations, bridging SSI's profiling and survey data with Wirtgen's machine control ecosystem.
• ProVAL Software (Road Profile)coreTechnology or IntegrationSSI profiling data is fully compatible with ProVAL (Profile Analysis and Viewing) software. Data exports in ERD, PPF, and PRO formats are fully compatible with ProVal. SSI's Intellicut can import grind locations created within ProVal's SAM module. This integration is standard across all SSI profiling systems.
• Wirtgen GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWirtgen Group is featured on SSI's affiliations page. SSI systems integrate with Wirtgen milling machines through John Deere Operations Center for machine control model upload. The relationship extends to Smart Level Pro system integration for differential milling applications.
• NCAT (National Center for Asphalt Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAT operates a profiler certification track at Auburn, Alabama. SSI references NCAT as a certification site for inertial profilers. The relationship supports SSI's certification and validation activities with transportation agency customers.
• ICART (International Center for Aggregate Research and Testing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICART operates a Stop-and-Go (SAG) profiler certification track near O'Fallon, Illinois. SSI participated in the ICART rodeo in November 2024 where SSI's Zero-Speed profilers achieved AASHTO r56 SAG certification. ICART has also begun conducting high-speed reference collections using ULSP (Ultra Low-Speed Profiler) for improved certification accuracy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Cybernetics Corporation: ICC manufactures inertial profilers, friction testing equipment, and pavement smoothness measurement systems for DOTs and contractors. Direct head-to-head competitor to SSI in inertial profiler sales and ASTM/AASHTO certification positioning.
• Dynatest: Dynatest is a global supplier of pavement engineering testing equipment, including inertial profilers, falling weight deflectometers, and pavement evaluation systems. Competes directly with SSI for DOT profiler sales and is a key rival in pavement smoothness measurement.
• Ames Engineering: Ames Engineering designs and manufactures profilographs and pavement profile measurement equipment used by contractors and DOTs. Direct peer in profilograph and walking profiler categories, especially for traditional California-style and bridge deck testing.
• Greenwood Engineering: Greenwood Engineering (Denmark) manufactures high-speed inertial profilers and road surface measurement systems sold internationally. Directly comparable to SSI in portable walking profilers and profiler product offerings.
• Mandli Communications: Mandli builds mobile road and runway data collection systems using LiDAR, cameras, and inertial sensors for DOT and airport pavement inventory. Direct peer in mobile surveying, 3D pavement scanning, and network-level data collection.
• Roadscanners: Roadscanners (Finland) develops road surveying equipment and pavement condition analysis software, including profilers and 3D measurement systems. Direct peer in mobile road surface measurement and pavement data analytics.

Emerging players

• Pavemetrics (Ricoh): Pavemetrics, owned by Ricoh, produces the LCMS laser crack measurement system for automated pavement distress imaging. Adjacent player in 3D pavement scanning with overlap to SSI's LiDAR and image-based inspection roadmap.

Broad incumbents

• Trimble: Trimble provides GPS, surveying, and machine control technology used widely in road construction and paving. Broad incumbent with overlap to SSI in survey, GNSS/DMI, and contractor-facing machine-control workflows.
• Leica Geosystems (Hexagon): Hexagon's Leica Geosystems offers survey instruments, mobile mapping, and GNSS hardware widely used by land surveyors and contractors. Broad incumbent competing in survey-grade surface measurement and adjacent to SSI's CS9500/PSL-90 systems.
• Topcon Positioning Group: Topcon provides GNSS, optical survey, and machine control solutions for construction and paving. Broad incumbent with comparable positioning to Trimble; overlaps with SSI in machine-control model generation and surveyor workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ssiprofiler
• Facebookfacebook.com/smoothroad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surface-systems-&-instruments

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surface Systems & Instruments