Point of Beginning articles from January 2005

Point of Beginning archives from January 2005

The start of somethin' good. Well, it's the start of a new year, and that means much promise! Many of us celebrated the coming of another year with time spent with friends and family, festive parties, "good luck" foods--perhaps there was even the welcome of a Baby New Year for one of you!(editor's points)(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... The common practice of making resolutions is beginning, along with promises for betterment and planning for the coming months. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For me personally, I look forward to a wedding, a new home, cherished journeys to new...

The end of an era: October 2004.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I'm sure every surveyor who has been working these last 25-plus years will identify with the image of a surveyor and the HP calculator. I'm also sure many will want to give you their testimonials about the calculator that they took a shine to...

The end of an era: October 2004.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Just a line to let you know [I] enjoyed your article on the HP48 era. We use the HP48 and SMI DCE card. We are saddened by its end because we found it very user-friendly. Is there another calculator that will accept and run this SMI card? If...

The end of an era: October 2004.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I enjoyed your article on the HP48 and agree with the comments regarding HP setting the standard for surveying calculators. I purchased an HP21 handheld in the '70s, which I understand was the first HP calculator with built-in trigometric...

The end of an era: October 2004.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Just read your neat article. I, too, grew up in the era of HP calculators in my surveying career and remember when my dad bought the HP35 in 1974. The HP line of calculators is not dead! The HP48 is no different than the HP41 when it was...

The business side: October 2004.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I always try to read articles by Milton Denny; he is usually right on. I agree, land surveyor does define who we are! I am also a professional engineer, but when asked I usually tell people I am a land surveyor first! Early in Milt's...

Celebrating the sixth annual GIS Day: hundreds of events were held in 73 countries around the world on Nov. 17, 2004, to celebrate the sixth annual GIS Day.(news line)(Geographic information systems)
January 1, 2005... Visitors and students wandering around the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello found helium-filled balloons printed to look like globes with trivia cards attached. After finding the balloons, visitors brought them to the university's GIS...

Calendar of events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... JANUARY 2005 10-13 Machine Control Data Prep Training Topcon and OutSource Inc. Elk Grove Village, Ill. 888/VRREALITY 18-21 World of Concrete www.worldofconcrete.com Technology for...

Flying over the freeway: construction of the world's longest runway bridge gets precision attention.
January 1, 2005... With more than 79 million passengers departing and arriving each year, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world--and it's going to get busier. By 2015, airport representatives estimate the...

Fortifying Fort Pike: an ambitious monitoring and restoration effort at one of Louisiana's oldest sites calls for creative supplies.
January 1, 2005... In response to attacks on our nation's capital and New Orleans, President James Monroe ordered the placement of an extensive coastal defense system following the War of 1812. The seacoast fortifications protected ports along New Orleans and...

Laser scanning aids deformation evaluation of Britain's railway tunnels.(technology profile)
January 1, 2005... In a project to monitor Britain's railway tunnels, Halcrow Group Limited in London employed 3D laser scanning technology to efficiently evaluate deformations in the tunnel walls. The acquired data will aid Halcrow's client, Network Rail, the...

Allen Precision Equipment.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)(Company Profile)
January 1, 2005... When Allen Precision Equipment was begun at Warner Allen's kitchen table in 1975, the goal was to build a company strong enough to support the surveying profession with a choice of quality products, a large inventory for immediate delivery, and...

Carlson software: Carlson Explorer: a data collector combining time-tested hardware and software.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... "Carlson Explorer provides an excellent balance between low-cost handheld devices without environmental protection and higher-end products that will work in the harsh environments rarely encountered by the majority of surveyors. It is price...

I-SiTE Pty Ltd: I-SiTE 4400 Laser Imaging System integrates scanning, surveying and photography.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... The I-SiTE 4400 is fast proving to be more than just another modern surveying tool. This combination laser scanner and panoramic digital camera goes far beyond providing the routine measurements of the surveying world. By capturing everything...

Leica Geosystems HDS: leading the way for high-definition surveying.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)(High Definition Surveying)
January 1, 2005... Leica Geosystems High Definition Surveying (HDS) continues to raise the standard for 3D laser scanning. Focusing on industry requirements, the HDS division of Leica Geosystems serves the specific needs for: * industrial facility *...

Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL): MDL launches LaserAce 150: heights and distances in one compact unit.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... The LaserAce 150 is the latest handheld laser survey system from Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL), the Scotland-based laser systems manufacturer. LaserAce 150 incorporates the very latest state-of-the-art laser and microelectronic...

MicroSurvey Software: introducing OfficeSync.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... In the early days of world exploration, governments sent explorers into uncharted lands to return with reliable maps, charts and surveys of far-off discoveries. Of course, they had to wait many months for the explorers to sail home from their...

Optech: ILRIS-3D.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)(Intelligent Laser Ranging and Imaging System )
January 1, 2005... Optech's ILRIS-3D Intelligent Laser Ranging and Imaging System is the most functionally versatile laser scanner in the world. ILRIS-3D is a compact, fully portable and highly integrated package with digital image capture and sophisticated...

POINT Inc.: bringing you SOKKIA GPS.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT; Global Positioning System)
January 1, 2005... POINT Inc., as part of the worldwide SOKKIA network, is proud to bring high-precision SOKKIA GPS surveying products and quality service to the North American market. POINT specializes in system integration for the geomatics industry. We...

RIEGL USA.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Located in Orlando, Florida, RIEGL's 3D terrestrial laser scanner business is founded on the company's 25-year heritage in research, development and manufacture of time-of-flight-based optical radar systems. In addition to 3D scanners, RIEGL...

Silver Shield: do we measure up to the expectations of our raving fans? You be the judge ...(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... There are few products that enjoy the fanatic customer loyalty of Mercedes Benz, Harley-Davidson... or Silver Shield. Today, the company counts hundreds of thousands of end users in its ranks of raving fans. More than 90 percent of the people...

Sokkia Corporation: Sokkia introduces Remotocatcher--reliable remote target acquisition.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... Sokkia Corporation is proud to introduce the new Series 110MC Auto Pointing Total Stations with Remotocatcher system, which enables one-touch target acquisition from the prism pole. It is a new-concept remote control system designed to make...

South Surveying Instrument Inc.: South under progress.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)(Company Profile)
January 1, 2005... South Surveying Instrument Inc., the U.S. representative office and service center of South Surveying & Mapping Instrument Co. Ltd., was established to provide products and services to distributors and customers in the U.S. market. South...

SubSurface Instruments Inc.: SubSurface Instruments' outstanding performance and service: lifetime warranty on the "ML" magnetic locators (ML-1 and ML-1M). Three-year warranty on pipe & cable locators and water leak detectors.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... * First and only lifetime warranty on the "ML" locators. "Lasts a lifetime, and then some." * First five-year warranty on metered units (April 1998). (Now replaced by "Lifetime Warranty.") * "Lifetime Warranty" introduced in early 2003...

Topcon: a history of innovation.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... Topcon develops and manufactures precision measuring and positioning technology for the engineering, surveying and construction industries. For more than 75 years, Topcon has been an industry leader in the design and innovation of time-saving...

Trimble: how to make the right decision when choosing a GPS infrastructure solution.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... Ten years ago it was hard to imagine a time when surveyors might pick up their all-in-one rover and connect to an RTK reference network and the Internet--no cables and no extra base station required. But today it's happening: like electricity,...

Leica Geosystems.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)
January 1, 2005... LEICA SYSTEM 1200 WITH X-FUNCTION TECHNOLOGY Leica Geosystems offers the world's first survey system that seamlessly integrates GPS and total station technologies with standardized operating and data concepts. Developed from the ground...

Tripod Data Systems: a company that has been there for you since 1987--and will be down the road, too.(2005 EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT)(Interview)
January 1, 2005... AN INTERVIEW WITH TOM STEVENS, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING, SURVEY PRODUCTS DIVISION Surveyors need a company they can rely on for both good products and long-term support. We interviewed Tom Stevens to find out how TDS has provided...

Imaginary reference stations. A new level of technology built upon the foundation of GPS has been quietly under construction and is rapidly maturing into the next generation of GPS usage.(the technology benchmark)(global positioning systems)
January 1, 2005... In some places now, the user of a GPS rover can perform centimeter level positioning without a dedicated RTK GPS base station. This next-generation RTK GPS user is accessing RTK corrections made available through a network of GPS reference...

Tool tips.(giaa mailbag)
January 1, 2005... I have just started using RTK (Real-time Kinematic) GPS. Why is it important to pay attention to latency? I understand that this is the lag between the time the GPS measurement is made and the time the result is shown on my display. But isn't...

Herman Kahrs passed away on Oct. 24, 2004.(turning points)(utility and municipal mapping)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2005... Herman Kahrs passed away on Oct. 24, 2004. His many friends and business associates will remember Kahrs for his long career in the utility and municipal mapping profession. Born in New York and a long-time resident of Connecticut, Kahrs was the...

Surveying And Mapping Inc. (SAM Inc.).(turning points)
January 1, 2005... SURVEYING AND MAPPING INC. (SAM INC.), Austin, Texas, announced that Roger Wheat, RPLS, joined the firm as senior staff. Wheat has more than 35 years of surveying and management experience, including 14 years of experience with the Texas...

PSOMAS.(turning points)(merged with MMLA)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... PSOMAS, Los Angeles, Calif., announced a merger with MMLA, Tucson, Ariz. The new entity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Psomas, will be known as MMLA PSOMAS. Blake Murillo remains CEO of Psomas: Tom McGovern, founder and president of MMLA,...

Lochrane Engineering Inc.(turning points)(ames K. Ekern appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LOCHRANE ENGINEERING INC., Orlando, Fla., announced the addition of James K. Ekern, PSM, as project manager for the survey division of the Orlando office. Ekern has more than 33 years of survey knowledge and experience in Florida. His project...

Intec Americas Corp., Denver, Colo., acquired a controlling interest in the assets of Land Info International LLC.(turning points)
January 1, 2005... INTEC AMERICAS CORP., Denver, Colo., acquired a controlling interest in the assets of LAND INFO INTERNATIONAL LLC Operations of the two companies are integrated into a new company doing business as LAND INFO WORLDWIDE MAPPING LLC. Nick Hubing,...

NavCom Technology, Torrance, Calif., added GPSWest Inc., Anaheim, Calif., to its U.S. dealer network.(turning points)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... NAVCOM TECHNOLOGY, Torrance, Calif., added GPSWest Inc., Anaheim, Calif., to its U.S. dealer network. GPSWest has chosen to use NavCom Technology GPS receivers for their machine control systems and their construction survey solutions. GPSWest's...

Sanborn.(turning points)(Michael Villarreal, David Carter and Bill Claveau appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SANBORN, Colorado Springs, Colo., announced three new additions to its team. Michael Villarreal joined Sanborn as senior product manager, and is responsible for product innovation and extension. David Carter joined the company as project...

Carter & Burgess.(turning points)(Jeffery Garcia appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Jeffery Garcia joined CARTER & BURGESS Sacramento, Calif., as a senior survey technician. Garcia has 18 years of experience in surveying, including construction staking, preparation of legal descriptions, boundary work, topography and mapping....

Paul Cuomo Press Inc., Huntington Beach, Calif., acquired Landmark Enterprises.(turning points)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... PAUL CUOMO PRESS INC., Huntington Beach, Calif., acquired LANDMARK ENTERPRISES, a mail-order surveying and surveying-related book dealer, and created a new website to serve customers online at www.pcpressinc.com.

Games and ethics. January is a good time to look back at the just-completed year. The year 2004 had the usual collection of high and low points, all with more or less importance depending on where one stands.(on the level)
January 1, 2005... Massachusetts' residents, for example, recently balanced the euphoria of a World Series victory (after 86 years) against the disappointment of the defeat of yet another favorite son. Senator John Kerry follows former Governor Mike Dukakis,...

Product surveys.(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... 2005 3D Laser Scanner Hardware Survey MANUFACTURER 3rdTech 3rdTech PRODUCT DeltaSphere-3000 DeltaSphere-3000IR PERFORMANCE Laser Wavelength (in nm) 670 ...

Innovmetric Software.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... INNOVMETRIC SOFTWARE announced a new PolyWorks software feature: a data set import methodology to handle super-large data sets that cover thousands of square meters. This feature enables surveyors to handle data sets consisting of hundreds of...

Innovmetric released PolyWorks/IMView software, a free application that enables the visualization of point cloud-based survey projects.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... Also, INNOVMETRIC released PolyWorks/IMView software, a free application that enables the visualization of point cloud-based survey projects. PolyWorks/IMView allows users to: visualize extracted elements in 3D by browsing through extracted...

LEICA Geosystems.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS introduced the SR20, a single-channel GPS receiver for surveying applications. The SR20 incorporates a 12-channel L1 GPS engine that delivers centimeter-level accuracy in post-processing mode. With tracking features such as...

LEICA Geosystems.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... Also, LEICA GEOSYSTEMS introduced the TPS800 series of total stations for a variety of surveying and construction applications. The standard TC800 models provide extended-range electronic distance measuring up to 3,000 meters using an infrared...

Geoteck Systems.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... GEOTECK SYSTEMS released GeoProject, web-based software for tracking research on parcels of land as well as planning and managing land development projects. GeoProject alerts management to scheduling and budgeting issues with land development...

Maxstream.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... MAXSTREAM announced the 9XTend-PKG-R, a one-watt modem that offers long-range communications for wireless data applications. It features AES 256-bit encryption and frequency hopping on 50 channels to ensure data remains secure. The 9Xtend...

Digital Map Products (DMP).(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... DIGITAL MAP PRODUCTS (DMP) announced CityGIS5 application software, which deploys maps and related data across an organization to provide a fast, visual profile of any property or location through a web browser. CityGIS5 is deployed from DMP's...

Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A.(new&notable)
January 1, 2005... KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. U.S.A. announced three new utility vehicles for 2005. The all-new Mule 3010 Trans4X4 is a four-passenger off-road utility vehicle that can be transformed into a two-passenger vehicle with an extended cargo bed. The MULE...