Point of Beginning articles from April 2005

Point of Beginning archives from April 2005

Star surveyors.(editor'spoints)(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... Professional licensed surveyor registered in three states. Private boundary consultant. Adjunct faculty member. Avid historian. Enticed by challenge. Inspired by prospects of the future. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These are words that...

Traversing the law future perspectives.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... March 2005 In his March 2005 article "Rewriting the BLM manual," Jeffery Lucas states that "A check of our Constitution reveals that there is no constitutional right to own property..." and "... nowhere in the Constitution are you given...

Editor's points.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... March 2005 I was pleased to see that you support Habitat for Humanity. I retired in 1994 and joined Habitat for Humanity of Cambria County in Johnstown, Pa. They were just starting their first home. I am a registered surveyor and also a...

Traversing the law.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... February 2005 Every article that is published each month in POB is great. Every now and then, however, an article or series will be published that really stands out to me. This is true for the column "Traversing the Law" by Jeffery N....

NCEES renames licensing exams.(newsline)(National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Beginning with this month's exam administration by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the names of the surveying exams will be changed. The Fundamentals of Land Surveying exam becomes Fundamentals of...

NOAA activates 500th CORS site.(newsline)(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration )(Continuously Operating Reference Station )
April 1, 2005... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the 500th site in its National Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network. Administered under NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS), each CORS site features a...

Surveying career.com website goes live.(newsline)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) created a new website to promote the surveying profession: www.surveyingcareer.com. Aimed at young people...

University of Maine announces online GPS courses.(newsline)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The University of Maine announced GPS-GAP, an asynchronous Internet education program of foundational Global Positioning System (GPS) courses. The GPS-Geodesy and Application Program (GAP) focuses on the basis for understanding GPS and its...

FIG Commission to meet in U.S.(newsline)(International Federation of Surveyors )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... For the first time in the 127-year history of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), one of its commissions will hold an annual meeting in the United States. FIG Commission 7, which focuses on cadaster and land management, will hold...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... APRIL 3-6 GIS-T 2005 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Lincoln, Neb. 916/654-3379 www.gis-t.org 10-13 ACEC Annual Convention 2005 American Council of...

Highlights in surveying: our first annual Highlights in Surveying Project contest selection. And the winner is ...
April 1, 2005... The votes from our judges are in and the virtual polls have closed. POB's first annual Highlights in Surveying Project contest was a cool experience, and we thank all of the participants for sharing their projects with us. The awards...

A survey of great proportion: a boundary survey along Lake Erie reveals history, beauty and an Ohio firm's appreciation for the city of Cleveland.(Editorial)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... Nearly 99 percent of the world's water supply is either frozen or saltwater. The five Great Lakes and their connecting channels form the largest fresh surface water system on Earth. One group served by the tremendous resource of Lake Erie, the...

A twisted tale to tell: a project encompassing surveying, architectural design, the sun--and for one worker, acrobatics.(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... The History Channel has dubbed it a "Modern Marvel" in a special two-volume video set on skyscrapers. It is regarded as a structure of design excellence based on sustainable design and environmental responsibility. This noted structure, the new...

Real-time exposure: a progressive Florida firm demonstrates the advantage of utility Locating equipment with radar, GPS and vacuums.(Southeastern Surveying and Mapping Corporation )
April 1, 2005... Underground utilities are a major expense in today's construction industry. The cost of the labor, materials and equipment required to install these lines is often a key item in a land development budget. Once these utilities are in the ground,...

Unearthing a new tool for surveyors: a Florida engineering and surveying firm invests in vacuum excavation equipment to aid in locating utilities.
April 1, 2005... Surveyors are experts at depicting the size, shape and location of features on the ground. However, we are limited to locating what we can see. For some projects, surveys that are limited to visible improvements above ground do not provide...

Magnetic locators.(productfocus)
April 1, 2005... Information for POB's special focus on magnetic locators has been provided by the respective manufacturers of the products. For more specifications, visit the websites listed under each entry. CST/berger Locate with one hand tied...

The state of surveying education: instructors from around the country share their views on surveying education.
April 1, 2005... Concerns about the future generations of surveyors seem to be growing. Will there be enough? Will the current and future crop be able to learn all that is expected of them? Will they be able to quickly and efficiently adapt to the technological...

Construction control: natural backsights and foresights.(backtobasics)
April 1, 2005... The concept of using natural backsights and foresights when establishing control or laying out structures in the field is a simple and important one to successful construction layout. Before the layout of any type of construction structure...

Ethics and conflict.(onthelevel)
April 1, 2005... Nine attributes for the surveying engineer were enumerated in an article in the February 2005 Journal of Surveying Engineering published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). In "Surveying Vistas from Turkey in the New...

The role of GIS in surveying education.(theacademicangle)
April 1, 2005... Surveying programs have experienced big changes in the past five to 10 years. Many courses are different, the equipment used by students is different, and in many cases the departments that are home to the programs are different. ...

Q & A on surveyor safety.(safetysense)
April 1, 2005... Training seminars offer a great opportunity for attendees to obtain answers to questions that concern them. During several surveying safety presentations, I've fielded the following questions, and offered some responses. Perhaps you have had...

Leica Geosystems.(turningpoints)(provides tarining for customers )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS. Atlanta, Ga., announced a major strategic initiative to expand and integrate technical support, service and training for customers in North America. The effort is being spearheaded by Paul Stack, PE, newly appointed vice...

Leica Geosystems GIS & Mapping.(turningpoints)(appoints Jim Farley )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Also, LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GIS & MAPPING division. Atlanta, Ga., announced Jim Farley joined the company as vice president of business development. Farley has spent more than 20 years in the information technology industry in both mainstream IT and...

Surveying and Mapping Inc.(turningpoints)(appoints David Jellison and Tony Cavell)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SURVEYING AND MAPPING INC. (SAM INC.). Austin. Texas, announced that David Jellison, RPLS, LS, joined the firm as the department manager of survey operations for the Austin office and Tony Cavell, PLS, joined the firm as GPS manager for the...

Surveysa.(turningpoints)(announces return of Susan Banks )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SURVEYSA, San Antonio, Texas, a residential and commercial surveying company, announced Susan Banks returned to the firm as office manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

PBS & J.(turningpoints)(appoints John B. Zumwalt III)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... PBS & J, Las Vegas, Nev., named John B. Zumwalt III, PE, as the new chairman of the board. Zumwalt, who has served as president of PBS & J since 2000, continues to serve as CEO. He replaced outgoing chairman Richard A. Wickett, CPA. Todd J....

Land & Water Consulting Inc.(turningpoints)(acquired by PBS & J )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Also, PBS & J acquired LAND & WATER CONSULTING INC., a 43-person engineering and natural resource consulting firm headquartered in Missoula, Mont.

Sanborn.(turningpoints)(appoints three new employees)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SANBORN. Colorado Springs, Colo., announced three new employees. Hugh Bender, the company's new Texas Gulf regional manager, is responsible for the success of market presence and direct client communications for customers in the Texas Gulf...

Corbley Communications Inc.(turningpoints)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... CORBLEY COMMUNICATIONS INC., a public relations and marketing communications firm exclusively serving the international geospatial industry, has moved its corporate headquarters from Colorado to the Washington, D.C., area. The new mailing...

Woolpert Inc.(appointed Thomas Gregory Pendleton)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... WOOLPERT INC., Arlington, Va. hired Thomas Gregory Pendleton, PLS, as survey project manager. Pendleton has more than 17 years of experience with GIS. GPS and conventional surveying in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Pendleton addresses...

Woolpert.(appointed Russell S. Kauffman)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Also, WOOLPERT named Russell S. Kauffman, PLS. as GIS federal Department of Defense group manager. Working out of Woolpert's Hampton Roads, Va., office. Kauffman is responsible for providing all branches of the nation's military with Woolpert's...

John Chance Land Surveys.(appointed Larry Broussard, Morgan Reed, Kevin Normand, Eric Lissard, Jay Wiltz and Marcus Nepveaux)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... JOHN CHANCE LAND SURVEYS (JCLS). Lafayette, La., named Larry Broussard, PLS, as vice president of survey operations in the Land Division, Broussard has been with the company since 1997. In the Corridor Mapping (CM) Division, JCLS created a...

Carter & Burgess.(appointed Marla McOmber)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... CARTER & BURGESS. Fort Worth. Texas, recognized Marla McOmber, PLS, for her success within the industry and her contributions to the firm by naming her an associate of Carter & Burgess. McOmber is a survey group manager based in Denver, Colo.

Carter & Burgess.(turningpoints)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Also, Chet Glasscock, PLS, joined CARTER & BURGESS as survey unit manager in Austin, Texas. Glasscock supports business development efforts while managing survey staff. Glasscock has 29 years of experience as a surveyor and manager. ...

FOIF.(profileofthemonth)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... In August 1999, Suzhou FOIF Co. Ltd. was established through Suzhou First Optical Instrument Factory on the basis of legal integrated transformation. Founded in 1958, Suzhou First Optical Instrument Factory was formerly a state-owned...

Prosurv LLC.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... PROSURV LLC released new Pocket Quads.NET software for the Pocket PC. Completely rewritten using the Microsoft .NET platform. Pocket Quads.NET supports devices running the .NET Compact Framework, including Windows Mobile 2003SE (Second Edition)...

Eagle Point partnered with Two Technologies.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... EAGLE POINT partnered with TWO TECHNOLOGIES to release the SMI Jett*ce data collector with SMI Version 8.0f. This data collection solution is designed to eliminate the learning curve for SMI HP 48 users while delivering all the benefits of the...

Point Inc.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... POINT INC. began offering complete one-day training for the Stratus L1 integrated GPS system with Stratus Controller Software. The program also includes an introduction to Spectrum Survey Post-Processing Software. Sessions are available on the...

Sokkia.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... SOKKIA released SDR Level 5 v5.53 data collection software. The latest version features new output formats, graphical view of line work and enhanced feature control codes. Additional enhancements include Bluetooth support, note records for GPS...

Dotsoft.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... DOTSOFT announced Map Works 1.0, a map import tool that runs inside AutoCAD, Microstation or ProgeSoft IntelliCAD. MapWorks processes major file formats produced by ESRI, civil applications and government agencies. This tool allows users to...

Topographic Mapping Company.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING COMPANY released the GIS Starter Kit, a set of mapping components that includes GIS software, base map data layers and a GPS handheld unit. Topographic offers onsite training with the kit, which is intended for landmen,...

Oce North America Inc.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... OCE NORTH AMERICA INC. introduced a new version of the Oce TCS400 fully integrated large format color print/copy/scan system. The new version has a third media roll to let users easily switch between three media roll sizes or types for less...

Givemepower Corporation.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... GIVEMEPOWER CORPORATION announced its PowerCAD CE 5.5 line of mobile/wireless CAD and digital blueprint management software: PowerCAD CE 5.5 Viewer. PowerCAD CE Classic and PowerCAD CE Pro. The software systems feature support for Windows...

General Cadd Products Inc.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... GENERAL CADD PRODUCTS INC. released General CADD Pro Version 3.1.12. This computer-aided drafting and design software features a user-friendly two-letter command structure, complete Windows functionality, a powerful Macro programming language,...

Listech.(new & notable)
April 1, 2005... LISTECH released LISCAD Version 7 surveying and engineering software. LISCAD's comprehensive feature set includes rigorous geodetic computations, unlimited model size, traverse and least squares network adjustments. 2D/3D transformations,...

Leica Geosystems GIS & Mapping LLC.(new & notable)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GIS & MAPPING LLC announced ERDAS IMAGINE 8.7 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) V8.7 Feature Update. ERDAS IMAGINE 8.7 SP2 contains the following performance enhancements: improved JPEG2000 encoding;...

Surveying solutions.(funandgames)
April 1, 2005... Each month we present a surveying problem from the second edition of 1001 Solved Surveying Fundamentals Problems by Jan Van Sickle, PLS. As in the following example, the answer will appear below the problem, in a shaded box. We hope you enjoy...