David began his surveying career in 1966, supervising crews on large projects in Cochrane Ontario, including Ontario Hydro Right-of-Way surveys, Engineering Surveys and Second Order Control Surveys throughout Northern and Northwestern Ontario. From 1966 - 1972 he pursued post-secondary studies completing a Surveying Technician program through Ryerson Polytechnical Institute followed by a B. Sc. from the Surveying Engineering Program at the University of New Brunswick. David's initial work placements included Township Boundary Retracement Surveys in Northeastern Ontario, as well as Mining Claim and Engineering Surveys in the high Arctic.

In 1975, after completing his education, David began work at Simpson & Taylor - Ontario Land Surveyors, conducting Subdivision, Legal and Engineering Survey projects in the North Bay area, also executing a number of O.N.R. Communications Sites Surveys on James Bay.In 1977 David established his private practice D. S. Dorland Limited in Sudbury. Since then the company has directed and executed thousands of legal, engineering, control and right-of-way survey projects throughout Ontario.Throughout the years, David has developed extensive experience with planning and land development projects, acting as consultant/agent in more than 2,500 Planning Act applications.He has also been accepted as an expert witness in planning related matters before the Ontario Municipal Board.

Over the years David has been a member and actively involved in a number of surveying related organizations including the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS), Canadian Institute of Surveying and Mapping (CISM), Prospectors and Developers Association (PDA), Northeastern Regional Group of Ontario Land Surveyors (NERG), and the Institute of Survey Technology of Ontario (ISTO) where in 1992 he served as President of Board of Directors.

David is also proud to have his son James working with the company as well, bringing with him a new generation of insights, technologies and methods.