 Munroe was one of a group of foreign engineers (including Horace Capron, Thomas Antisell, A.G. Warfield and Benjamin Lyman) who conducted a land and resources survey of Hokkaidō, with the particular aim of developing its mineral resources.Munroe was assigned to work with Lyman on a geological survey after Antisell had been dismissed from his post due to personal conflicts with Capron.His work laid the foundations for the future coal mining industry in Hokkaido.