Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Disposal or Impairment of Assets

Disposal or Impairment of Assets

During the three month period ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded a $890 impairment of goodwill related to the Company’s geotechnical monitoring business and a $760 write-down of a 6% interest in an investment accounted for under the cost method, as a result of the sale of the business by majority shareholders.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (ASC Topic 350),” (“ASU 2011-08”). This accounting update allows entities to perform a qualitative assessment on goodwill impairment to determine whether it is more likely than not (defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. This guidance is effective for goodwill impairment test performed in interim and annual periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.