Point of Beginning articles from December 2005

Point of Beginning archives from December 2005

Total stations that share your values: Nikon total stations offer speed, accuracy and reliability--all backed by TDS service and support.
December 1, 2005... With Nikon[R] total stations from Tripod Data Systems (TDS), you don't have to compromise your values. That's because Nikon total stations provide the unmatched performance, ease of use and productivity you value--all backed by TDS' free tech...

What's your incentive?(Editorial)
December 1, 2005... While our December issue each year focuses on the history of surveying, we must recognize that the present and future of the profession are equally important as we follow in the footsteps of our ancestors to carry on and advance their legacy....

Traversing the law: October 2005.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Mr. Lucas has correctly stated in his article "Trampling private property rights?" that there is no specifically written right to own private property to be found in the Constitution. However, private property ownership existed before the...

Errata: November 2005.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... In "Traversing the Law," a portion of a citation on p. 47 was missing. The complete quote from Lammey v. Eckel, 970 S.W. 2d 307, (Ark.App. 1998) follows: "In the case of a boundary by agreement, the landowners have made a parol...

Measuring the world's largest ice cream sculpture.(Baskin-Robbins attempt for Guinness World Record)
December 1, 2005... Baskin-Robbins, the ice cream shop famous for offering 31 flavors, celebrated its 60th anniversary this year. To commemorate this milestone, Baskin-Robbins attempted to assemble the largest ice cream sculpture and called on Carlson Software...

Calendar of events.(Illustration)(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... DECEMBER 1-2 NHLSA 2005 New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association Bedford, N.H. 603/895-4822 www.nhlsa.org 22 NHLSA Workshop: Professional Liability of the Land Surveyor New Hampshire Land...

Locating liberty: volunteer surveyors establish the location of the State House Observatory where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public.
December 1, 2005... The gray weathered steps creaked beneath his feet as he ascended to the balcony of the wooden structure. Col. John Nixon. commander of the Philadelphia city guard, held in his hands a large, rolled parchment. He had read it through several...

Rebuilding the Chimney: recovering, reinstalling and rededicating the Calais Observatory.(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
December 1, 2005... Arough cut, 1-ft square, 8-ft tall granite shaft protruded from the top of a granite dome behind the Calais Academy High School in Calais, Maine. Generations of children called it "The Chimney." Perhaps the name came from the idea that...

Laying out Alabama: a look into the creation of the public land surveys of Alabama.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2005... As part of Huntsville, Alabama's bicentennial celebration this year, the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association hosted the city's annual Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll on May 8th. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The group welcomed volunteers dressed in...

Thompson's travels: Surveyors Rendezvous '05 takes attendees through the life of David Thompson, noted land geographer.
December 1, 2005... When Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery embarked on their epic journey in 1804, among the items they carried with them were maps created several years earlier by David Thompson. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thompson was a fur trader,...

Adding more birds: enhancing the use of GPS survey systems.(Miller Triplett and Miller Engineers)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2005... Like many traditional civil engineering/land surveying firms, Miller. Triplett and Miller Engineers (MTM) has a notable history and a dedication to excelling in business. Located in Birmingham, Ala., MTM was founded by Joseph A. Miller Jr. in...

The pattern of professional life.(The Business of Surveying)
December 1, 2005... The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away a few small stones.--William Faulkner In this series, "The Business of Surveying," we've looked at a few observed deficiencies in the aspect of professionalism in the surveying...

Adjusting a static GPS network.(thegpsobserver)
December 1, 2005... Many of us in the geodetic community are concerned about the way some surveying firms have been adjusting GPS static networks using too many "fixed" stations. Earlier this year I received an E-mail from a colleague that read: "I have just...

Creating a business continuity plan.(thebusinessside)
December 1, 2005... Recent natural disasters have moved company planning and preparedness to the forefront of my mind. Think about the effects of a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina; it put healthy companies and their owners out of business in one day....

How to double-center critical points.(backtobasics)
December 1, 2005... This past summer, as I have done for the last 20-plus years, I presented training sessions to newly hired field engineers for several construction companies. These new hires come from various construction management, civil engineering and...

The practice (and polemics) of water witching.(thetechnologybenchmark)(Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority)
December 1, 2005... Dowsing is the action of a person--called the dowser--using a rod, stick or other device... to locate such things as underground water, hidden metal, buried treasure, oil, lost persons or golf balls, etc. Since dowsing is not based upon...

Eager, reliable and trustworthy.(productandliteratureshowcase)
December 1, 2005... At Allen Precision Equipment, we enjoy strong relationships with our customers. And those relationships don't end with the sale. A comprehensive training program for robotic and GPS equipment is offered at a choice of locations and includes...

Leica SmartStation.(SmartStation)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Leica Geosystems introduces SmartStation, the world's first--and only--high performance total station with integrated GPS. The revolutionary SmartStation reduces the time required for setup and orientation by up to 80 percent, increasing the...

Riegl 3D scanner.(3D laser scanning)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Riegl LMS-Z420i is setting the standard for 3D laser scanning in all fields for capturing and documenting existing conditions. The multisensor platform is ideal for high speed data acquisition, and the integration of photogrammetric cameras...

Carlson Survey 2006.(productandliteratureshowcase)
December 1, 2005... This latest version of Carlson Survey offers tremendous value, being a complete survey solution. The new Carlson Survey 2006 is fully compatible with AutoCAD 2004, 2005 and 2006 drawings. Visit our website for more information about Carlson...

MicroSurvey FieldGenius 2006.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... MicroSurvey, the value price leader, introduces FieldGenius 2006. With unmatched linework, FieldGenius brings data collection to the next level. * Keyboard Shortcuts -- Customize your data collector by assigning commands to your keyboard...

Series 230RM auto-pointing total station.(productandliteratureshowcase)
December 1, 2005... Sokkia's new Series 230RM auto-pointing total station offers complete single-operator capability in the field with remote capture and up to 1,140 feet of reflectorless range. Operation is simple--attach a data collector and radio kit, locate...

Topcon FC-100 boosts memory.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Topcon FC-100 controller, now featuring 256 Mb of internal memory, powers through field tasks fast and easily handles big job files. Its lithium-ion camcorder-style batteries let you work up to 20 hours without recharging. Visibility in...

Technology & more magazine, fall 2005.(productandliteratureshowcase)
December 1, 2005... The latest Technology & more magazine is now available! Packed with interesting and informative customer stories, articles and news on the most current innovative technologies in surveying. Technology & more is an excellent way to learn how...

"Total Recon" shows rugged TDS Recon survive real-world abuse.(productandliteratureshowcase)
December 1, 2005... Warning: this video contains graphic images of a TDS Recon data collector subjected to all kinds of torture and abuse. Watch it survive a dramatic trip down concrete steps, multiple mud baths, being thrown--and dropped, even a trip through a...

2005 CAD/surveying software survey.(Surveying Software )(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... 2005 CAD/Surveying Software Survey PROGRAM/VERSION Autodesk Survey 2006 Autodesk Civil 3D 2006 MANUFACTURER Autodesk Autodesk WEB...

Seiler Instrument & Manufacturing Co.(turningpoints)
December 1, 2005... SEILER INSTRUMENT & MANUFACTURING CO. Webster Groves, Mo., celebrated 60 years in business. Founded in 1945 by Eric H. Seiler and his wife, Dora L. Seiler, the company began as a small survey instrument repair shop and has grown into a...

Toshiba Corporation.(turningpoints)
December 1, 2005... TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Tokyo, Japan, named Ray O'Connor, CEO of TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS, Livermore, Calif., as recipient of Toshiba's Business Performance Award. O'Connor received the award in recognition of his leadership and performance in...

Shive-Hattery.(turningpoints)
December 1, 2005... Don Puffett, LS, joined the community development team of SHIVE-HATTERY, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Puffett has more than 30 years of land surveying experience. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lochrane Engineering Inc.(turningpoints)
December 1, 2005... LOCHRANE ENGINEERING INC., Orlando, Fla., promoted Dianne Jones, PSM, to assistant division manager of the survey division's Gainesville operations and Martin Dardis, PSM, to Gainesville survey manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging.(Center of Excellence in Photogrammetry)(Remote Sensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GEOSPATIAL IMAGING, Norcross, Ga., announced a Center of Excellence in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, N.Y. As a Leica Geosystems Center of Excellence, the Chester F....

Clary & Associates Professional Surveyors and Mappers.(turningpoints)
December 1, 2005... CLARY & ASSOCIATES PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS AND MAPPERS, Jacksonville, Fla., promoted Annette Puller to mapping supervisor on projects for government and private sector clients. Her responsibilities include making large land boundary...

Spectra Precision EPOCH 10 L1 GPS system: productivity and precision in an affordable, easy-to-use, integrated GPS surveying system.(productofthemonth)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2005... The Spectra Precision EPOCH 10 offers a complete, affordable GPS surveying system. Distributed exclusively by Tripod Data Systems in the United States and Puerto Rico, the EPOCH 10 system combines an LI GPS receiver, an antenna, a Spectra...

GeoXH handheld receiver.(new & notable)
December 1, 2005... TRIMBLE introduced the GeoXH handheld receiver, a cable-free GPS field computer that delivers subfoot (30 cm) accuracy for GIS data collection and mapping. The GeoXH handheld is based on Trimble's H-Star technology, which reduces the time it...

Spectra Precision Laser HV401 Horizontal Vertical Laser.(new & notable)
December 1, 2005... Also, TRIMBLE announced the Spectra Precision Laser HV401 Horizontal Vertical Laser, an advanced laser with high accuracy and durability for construction jobsites. A simple user interface common on the transmitter and remote control provides...

Flight Planning and Evaluation Software (FPES) and the Flight and Sensor Control Management System (FCMS).(new & notable)
December 1, 2005... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GEOSPATIAL IMAGING announced Flight Planning and Evaluation Software (FPES) and the Flight and Sensor Control Management System (FCMS), a planning and a flight management solution to support its aerial sensors, including the...

Image Analysis for ESRI ArcGIS V9.1.(new & notable)
December 1, 2005... Also, LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GEOSPATIAL IMAGING released Image Analysis for ESRI ArcGIS V9.1. Image Analysis for ArcGIS is an all-in-one solution for preparing and creating GIS-ready imagery from airborne sensors; extracting information from imagery;...

Stereo Analyst for ESRI ArcGIS V9.1.(GIS data and information)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... In addition, LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GEOSPATIAL IMAGING released Stereo Analyst for ESRI ArcGIS V9.1. This stereo 3D feature collection tool enables users to create and maintain highly accurate GIS data and information. Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS gives...

Terrain Navigator Pro Version 7.0.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... MAPTECH released Terrain Navigator Pro Version 7.0. Included in the new features are: color seamless orthos at 1-meter and submeter, Shape file export, PLSS bearings and waypoints, support for geo-referenced user photos, enhanced printing...

ESRI ArcPAD Extension.(www.maptech.com)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Also, MAPTECH released ESRI ArcPAD Extension for computer handhelds. The ArcPAD Extension enables ArcPAD users who have Maptech's Terrain Navigator Pro to add thousands of topographic maps, orthophotos and elevation data to handheld Pocket PC...

POSTrack.(POSTrack system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... APPLANIX released its POSTrack system, which is designed for streamlined airborne direct georeferencing and in-flight task automation. The system is comprised of a single-mount, twin module incorporating the POS AV computer system (PCS) and FMS...

DSS 322.(digital sensor system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Also, APPLANIX launched its digital sensor system, the DSS 322. The DSS 322 is a modular, turnkey digital airborne remote sensing system designed to complete all phases of a project life cycle, from initial flight planning through digital image...

Best-Fit Computing Inc.(new & notable)
December 1, 2005... BEST-FIT COMPUTING INC. released COLUMBUS Network Adjustment Software Version 3.6, featuring the new Options Library Manager. This tool allows users to create and save customized sets of options (setting requirements for instrument types, field...

Surveying solutions.(fun and games)
December 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...

Vintage ads.(funandgames)
December 1, 2005... Courtesy of The Museum of Surveying. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]