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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10-N



         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT entered into as of the 30th day of August,
1996

BETWEEN:

                 VERITAS DGC INC., a body corporate having an office at the
                 City of Houston in the State of Texas, (hereinafter called the
                 "Company")

                                                               OF THE FIRST PART

                                    - and -

                 RENE M.J. VANDENBRAND ("VandenBrand")

                                                              OF THE SECOND PART

         WHEREAS the Company is engaged in the business of the acquisition and
processing of seismic data and other activities related to the oil and gas
industry and currently employs VandenBrand through its subsidiary, Veritas
Energy Services Inc; and

         WHEREAS the Company is desirous of continuing the services of
VandenBrand, but has requested that VandenBrand relocate to the City of
Houston, Texas and assume the position of Vice President, Business Development
of the Company;

         AND WHEREAS the Company and VandenBrand have agreed to the 
compensation, terms and conditions hereafter set forth;

         NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that in consideration of the
mutual covenants hereinafter contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree
as follows, namely:

1.       (a)     The Company agrees to continue the services of VandenBrand and
                 VandenBrand hereby agrees to continue providing managerial
                 services to the Company in the capacity of Vice-President,
                 Business Development of the Company for a period of twelve
                 (12) months, commencing on the 30th day of August 1996 and
                 continuing until the 29th day of August, 1997, at which time
                 this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive
                 one (1) year periods on the anniversary date of this Agreement
                 unless terminated by either party hereto on written notice to
                 the other, such notice to be delivered at least thirty (30)
                 days prior to the expiry of the initial twelve (12) month
                 period or any renewal thereof.

         (b)     In the event that the Company gives notice of non-renewal, or
                 of termination, other than for just cause under Section 5
                 hereof, VandenBrand shall be entitled to receive


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                 from the Company within thirty (30) days an amount equal to
                 twelve (12) months compensation at the rate set out in
                 Sections 3 (a)(i) and (ii) or any amendment thereto.

2.       VandenBrand shall provide his managerial expertise to the Company
         which shall include but not be limited to duties relating to the
         matters of finance and business development, and other related duties
         and shall further devote his efforts, time, attention and ability to
         the business and affairs of the Company on a full time and exclusive
         basis, Subject to the terms hereof, VandenBrand agrees to relocate
         immediately to Houston, Texas and to perform such duties from such
         location. VandenBrand shall not have any business interest which is in
         direct competition with any business of the Company. If, in the
         reasonable opinion of the Company, VandenBrand does acquire or becomes
         a competitor of any business of the Company, VandenBrand agrees to
         immediately take such steps as may be necessary to divest himself of
         such interest within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice from the
         Company to that effect.

3.       (a)     Subject to such increases as may be approved by the Company
                 from time to time, the compensation package paid to
                 VandenBrand for his services shall be as follows, namely:

                 (i)      a monthly salary of TEN THOUSAND (U.S. $10,000)
                          UNITED STATES DOLLARS;

                 (ii)     a monthly payment of TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (U.S.
                          $2,500) UNITED STATES DOLLARS as a relocation
                          allowance to compensate for the additional cost of
                          living in Houston, Texas; and

                 (iii)    such further and additional payments to VandenBrand
                          by way of bonuses, or other remuneration as from time
                          to time determined by the Board of Directors of the
                          Company. Any such payments will be based on increased
                          earnings and cash flow per share achieved by
                          VandenBrand, and such other financial and non-
                          financial targets as the Board of Directors set from
                          year to year.

         (b)     The Company will purchase, for each of VandenBrand, his spouse
                 and his two children one least cost airline ticket from
                 Calgary, Alberta to Houston, Texas.

         (c)     Upon departure to Houston, Texas, and at the expense of the
                 Company, VandenBrand, may ship, by ground transportation, all
                 personal effects.

         (d)     The Company will pay to VandenBrand a relocation bonus equal
                 to one month's salary. Such payment is to cover expenses
                 normally associated with household relocation and will be paid
                 at the end of the first month after relocation,

         (e)     The Company will select local temporary accommodation for
                 VandenBrand and his family and reimburse VandenBrand for
                 reasonable living expenses (excluding entertainment) for a
                 period of up to one month beginning on the date of arrival at
                 Houston, Texas.
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         (f)     Upon termination of this Agreement, in accordance with its
                 terms, the Company will purchase for each of VandenBrand, his
                 spouse and his two children one least cost airline ticket from
                 Houston, Texas to Calgary, Alberta and will pay costs similar
                 to those contemplated in paragraph (c) above or may, at
                 VandenBrand's discretion, pay to VandenBrand an amount of
                 money equivalent to the cost of the airline tickets and such
                 other costs.

         (g)     During the term of this Agreement and any tax year directly
                 associated with or affected by the term of this Agreement, the
                 Company will pay all reasonable fees associated with the
                 preparation of VandenBrand's foreign and home country returns
                 and forms for reporting income taxes, provided the tax
                 preparer is approved by the Company prior to the completion of
                 tax returns.

         (h)     During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall be
                 authorized by VandenBrand to withhold from Company-sourced
                 income appropriate withholding taxes and other source
                 deductions.

         (i)     The Company will purchase one (1) round trip least cost
                 airline ticket per year to Calgary, Alberta for each of
                 VandenBrand, his spouse and his two children.

4.       VandenBrand shall be reimbursed by the Company for all expenses
         actually and properly incurred by him in connection with his duties
         hereunder and for all such expenses he shall furnish statements and
         vouchers to the Company in accordance with the customary procedures of
         the Company.

5.       The parties hereto each agree that this Agreement may be terminated by
         the Company for just cause immediately upon the giving of written
         notice by the Company to VandenBrand specifying the effective date of
         termination and as well specifying the event or events which
         constitute the "just cause" for terminating this Agreement. For
         purposes of this Agreement, "just cause" is defined as follows: a
         determination by the Board of Directors that one of the following
         events shall have occurred, (i) VandenBrand's material neglect of his
         duties hereunder; (ii) the refusal by VandenBrand to follow reasonable
         and lawful directions from the Board of Directors of the Company;
         (iii) the engaging by VandenBrand in misconduct, or in acts of moral
         turpitude, that in the judgment of the Board of Directors, acting
         reasonably, is or are injurious to the Company; or (iv) the violation
         by VandenBrand of the provisions of Section 6 hereof.

6.       In consideration of the fees payable to VandenBrand hereunder, he
         agrees that he shall not at any time during the term of this Agreement
         or thereafter divulge to any person, firm or corporation the names of
         any or all of the clients or customers of the Company nor shall he
         divulge to any person, firm or corporation any special knowledge,
         methods or confidential information obtained by him during the term of
         this Agreement.
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7.       Any notice to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be
         sufficiently given if served personally, or by facsimile transmission,
         or mailed, prepaid and registered, addressed to the proper party as
         follows:

                 VERITAS DOC INC.
                 ("Personal & Confidential")
                 3701 Kirby Drive
                 Houston, Texas 77098
                 Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
                 Facsimile: (713) 630-4456

                 RENE M.J. VANDENBRAND
                 c/o Veritas DOC Inc. ("Personal & Confidential")
                 3701 Kirby Drive
                 Houston, Texas 77098
                 Facsimile: (713) 630-4456

         The above addresses may be exchanged at any time hereafter by giving
         (30) days' written notice as herein before provided. The date of the
         receipt of any such notice shall be deemed conclusively to be the date
         of delivery if such notice is served personally or by facsimile
         transmission or if mailed, three (3) days after such mailing. In the
         event of a known interruption of postal service, service of notice
         shall be by delivery only.

8.       This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of
         the State of Texas.

9.       This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
         Company and its successors and permitted assigns and upon VandenBrand
         and his heirs, successors and permitted assigns. Neither party may
         assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other.

10.      The parties agree that they have expressed herein their entire
         understanding and agreement covering the subject matter of this
         Agreement. It is expressly agreed that no implied covenant, condition,
         term or reservation shall be read into this Agreement relating to or
         concerning the subject matter hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have hereunto executed this
Agreement, all as of the day, month and year first above written.

                                  VERITAS DGC INC.


                                  Per:  /s/ D.B. ROBSON
                                       -----------------------

                                  /s/ RENE M.J. VANDENBRAND
                                  ----------------------------
                                  RENE M.J. VANDENBRAND