Ann: Contract Win Announcement - Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project, page-19

Surveyor - $90k (say) + super @ 75 hour fortnight @ 48 weeks a year @ 85% recovered (in your dreams!) = ~ $65 per hour
Vehicle - $50k over 5 years = $6 per hour
Vehicle Running @ 85km per day @ $0.60 per km + $1.5k insurance + $900 rego = ~ $15k = ~$8 per hr (prob little light)
Survey Gear - $60k over 5 years (avg - on the VERY light side - a scanner will run you $100k without trying - could easily double this) = ~$7 per hour
Computer @ $4k every 3 years = ~ $0.75 per hour (again light when you look at the software/data we run)

= ~ $90 per hour - and this is for a junior doing standard work. Chuck a scanner into the mix and you blow this quickly.

Not to mention: Insurances + Office Space + IT Back Office + Admin + Comms + Payroll Tax + Software + Searches + Electricity + plus plus ..

No one makes money at $95. Double it and you are getting close to what it really takes to turn a profit.

Too many firms in a race to the bottom.