Point of Beginning articles from June 2006

Point of Beginning archives from June 2006

Prestige and satisfaction.(editor'spoints)
June 1, 2006... Pride is a tricky word. While it can mean satisfaction, gratification or dignity, it can also mean conceit and self-importance. Being proud of something is usually looked upon as a good and admirable quality. But when pride gets in the way of...

Rights of title versus rights of possession.(letters)
June 1, 2006... I have been following with interest the ongoing series on possession rights versus deed rights in POB magazine. It seems that thinking on this subject is sometimes cyclical. First, I am sorry to hear the oft-repeated complaint of...

From the Ground Up.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... March 2006 I found the juxtaposition of articles in the March 2006 issue of POB to be interesting and ironic. One article titled "How to be Safe" starting on page 28 discusses a new safety training video being prepared by NSPS. Another...

Central New Mexico Community College announces new geomatics program.(newsline)
June 1, 2006... The governing board of Central New Mexico Community College (CNMCC) approved a new two-year certificate program in geomatics on April 11, 2006. The college, formerly known as the Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute, intends to launch the...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2006... JUNE 1-3 SCSPLS Annual Convention and Trade Show South Carolina Society of Professional Land Surveyors Myrtle Beach, S.C. 803/750-7524 www.scspls.com 11-15 BE Conference - Europe 2006 Bentley Systems Inc. ...

Highlights in Surveying and the winner is ...: announcing our second annual Highlights in Surveying Project Contest winner selection.(Midwestern Consulting L.L.C.)
June 1, 2006... In its second year running, we at POB have come to enjoy our exclusive Highlights in Surveying (and Mapping) Project Contest. Entries from impressive surveying and mapping firms come to us, along with the challenge to evaluate their potential...

Supporting a dream design: from coast to coast, a surveying firm supports the installation of a complex architectural structure using today's advanced technology.
June 1, 2006... It has been said that "if you can dream it, you can build it." The architects who came up with the design for the new Station Place Building in downtown Washington, D.C., must have been doing a lot of dreaming. The new home of the Securities...

A foundation for the future: Bureau of Land Management strives to recruit surveyors with CFedS program for Indian lands.
June 1, 2006... When Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet tribe in Montana, began her aggressive class-action lawsuit against the federal government in June 1996, she probably didn't realize what effects it would have on the country--and on the surveying...

Mapping Luther Forest.(nanotechnology industry growing)
June 1, 2006... Around the world today, the nanotechnology industry is producing smaller, more efficient and more powerful microprocessing chips that are used in everything from watches to supercomputers. This growing industry is constantly searching for new...

Industry scan: a review of the third annual conference on laser scanning, SPAR 2006.
June 1, 2006... Boasting increased attendance and more sponsors, SPAR 2006, the third annual conference for the laser scanning industry, showcased the latest technology in this field and provided a robust forum for learning about its applications. The...

Achieving excellence: surveying programs across the nation are dedicated to finding and educating tomorrow's surveyors.
June 1, 2006... "I'm known for being a grade point average wrecker," says Roy Frank, PLS, an assistant professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, which offers 27 credits of surveying courses....

At the head of the class.
June 1, 2006... Since 1957, the surveying engineering program at Ferris State University (FSU) in Big Rapids, Mich., has been setting standards for educating future professional survey engineers. Having formed a close relationship with private sector surveyors...

How to make a profit.(pointofview)
June 1, 2006... From my perspective as a longtime land surveyor and business owner, I fear that the future of land surveying will be in danger if our profession cannot attract the best and brightest to fill our aging ranks. It is becoming increasingly...

Rules of thumb.
June 1, 2006... When I was a young boy, I recall many times hearing the phrase "the rule of thumb is..." or "as a rule of thumb." I'm sure I originally looked at my thumb and wondered what a "rule of my thumb" could mean. As with many of us who are now...

Applying OSHA regulations to land surveyors.(safetysense)
June 1, 2006... After my last article ("How Much Safety Training is Enough?" March 2006), I received several calls that inspired me to write this column. There seems to be some confusion as to exactly which OSHA regulations apply to surveyors. I want to...

The third world surveying profession.(International Federation of Surveyors)
June 1, 2006... The International Federation of Surveyors, known as FIG, organizes regional conferences in order to bring the Federation to members who cannot ordinarily participate in its activities. In March this year we visited Accra, Ghana in West...

Optech Incorporated.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... OPTECH INCORPORATED, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, added Dario Conforti to its international applications support team. Conforti provides customer support to Optech's European client base.

Halff Associates.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... HALFF ASSOCIATES, Houston, Texas, hired Douglas Turner, RPLS, as the survey department manager for its Houston office. Turner has been actively involved in surveying for the past 32 years in the Houston area and throughout the state of Texas....

Halff Associates.(appointed Gary Bowes)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Also, HALFF ASSOCIATES named Gary Bowes, RPLS, LSLS, as regional surveying manager in the Houston office. He is responsible for ensuring that best practices are followed and quality assurance goals are obtained related to land surveying. Bowes...

Cannon Associates.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... Lester E. Carter Jr., PLS, joined CANNON ASSOCIATES, San Luis Obispo, Calif., as the new director of surveying. Carter brings more than 29 years of land surveying experience working with both private and public entities.

Design Professionals Inc.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... DESIGN PROFESSIONALS INC., South Windsor, Conn., promoted Anne A. DeMallie from comptroller to chief financial officer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

RBF Consulting.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... Karen Underhill, PhD, joined RBF CONSULTING, Irvine, Calif., as project manager and associate in the firm's GIS department. Underhill brings more than 14 years of experience in GIS strategic planning, database design, data conversion, systems...

Giffels-Webster Engineers Inc.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... GIFFELS-WEBSTER ENGINEERS INC., Rochester Hills, Mich., named Sheila Monohon to the newly created position of director of client relations. Monohon has been with Giffels-Webster for five years, previously serving as a senior project manager...

Clary & Associates Professional Surveyors and Mappers.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... CLARY & ASSOCIATES PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS AND MAPPERS, Jacksonville, Fla., hired Darron Pustam as technology director. Pustam brings 16 years of experience to his position. His duties include: gathering and analyzing current business processes;...

Timmons Group.(appointment of Dave Gardy, Greg Smith, Corey Garyotis )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... TIMMONS GROUP, Richmond, Va., announced four additions to its staff. John Bennett, PE, joined as a senior project manager in the commercial group. Dave Gardy, LS, joined the survey sector as a group leader for the Richmond area. Greg Smith, PE,...

James W. Sewall Company.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... JAMES W. SEWALL COMPANY, Old Town, Maine, announced that Bruce Oswald joined the firm as vice president for public sector geospatial solutions.

Woolpert Inc.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2006... Pamela Cote joined the GIS team of WOOLPERT INC. Atlanta, Ga., as a project manager. Cote manages GIS projects in Georgia, Alabama and eastern Tennessee. She also provides business development assistance in the GIS/IT market and land records...

BitWyse Solutions Inc.(turningpoints)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... TRIMBLE acquired the assets of privately held BITWYSE SOLUTIONS INC. of Salem, Mass. BitWyse is a leading data management company specializing in 2D and 3D software applications for engineering and construction plant design. Mark Klusza,...

Information showcase.
June 1, 2006... ALLEN PRECISION EQUIPMENT In-house Service Department Experience, Knowledge and Skill--trust Allen Precision for all repairs [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1-800-241-6223 FOIF FOIF has introduced the new RTS700 total station...

U.S. Saws.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... U.S. SAWS introduced the Magnetic Manhole Lift System, which is designed to to eliminate the use of pry bars and reduce injuries caused by the handling of heavy covers. The new lift system uses a locking mechanism created with a series of...

Riegl USA.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... RIEGL USA introduced the LMS Z390 terrestrial laser scanning system, which consists of a 3D scanner, RiScan Pro associated operating and processing software, and a calibrated and definitely oriented high resolution digital camera. The system...

Optech Incorporated.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... OPTECH INCORPORATED announced a strategic partnership to provide APPLIED IMAGERY's QT Modeler software with automated alignment functionality as a standard tool in Optech's line of Intelligent Laser Ranging and Imaging Systems (ILRIS). This...

XYZworks.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... XYZWORKS announced the Fieldbook XL data collector based on a 624 MHz Intel processor. Fieldbook XL includes 128 MB SDRAM and 512 MB built-in CF Card storage. It also features a CF card slot to add additional storage, a 9-pin serial port and a...

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GEOSPATIAL IMAGING announced a strategic development agreement with GEOCUE CORPORATION (formerly NIIRS10) to produce the Leica Ortho Accelerator, an enterprise-enabled geospatial process management system for digital orthophoto...

Leica Geosystems HDS.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS HDS announced Leica CloudWorx supports AUTODESK INC.'s AutoCAD 2007 design software. Advanced navigation and expanded collaboration tools in AutoCAD 2007 provide new capabilities for dealing with large projects involving point...

Carlson Software.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... CARLSON SOFTWARE announced Carlson Survey 2007, Carlson Civil 2007 and Carlson Mining 2007 support AUTODESK INC.'s AutoCAD 2007 design software. Customers using Carlson 2007 products with AutoCAD 2007 can take advantage of many new tools,...

Thacker Manufacturing.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... THACKER MANUFACTURING announced the HercuLoc Secure Bed Cover. Developed in consultation with fleet managers, the patented cam locking system holds the cover and tailgate securely closed. There are no external locks or latches; when closed it...

Victor O. Schinnerer & Company.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... VICTOR O. SCHINNERER & COMPANY announced its Intro to Professional Liability Guide, which provides the parameters of what is and what is not covered by a professional liability policy. Highlights of the guide include: clarifications of commonly...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS).(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS (TDS) announced a new rebate promotion for the TDS Ranger X-Series data collector with Survey Pro software. Customers who trade in their old data collectors may receive the following rebates on these purchases: Ranger with...

Listech.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... LISTECH released a LISCAD update now available for download from www.liscad.com. Some of the new features in this latest update are: fast data exports (including Leica System 1200 and various XML exports); enhanced block functionality when...

ADW Software.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... ADW SOFTWARE released Pythagoras GIS+CAD software designed for local authorities, utility companies, urban planners, scientific researchers, and for cadastral services. Pythagoras GIS+CAD allows users to create and update geographical...

Strata Software.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... STRATA SOFTWARE launched Penmap.NET as a multi-platform .NET compliant surveying software system. Penmap.NET allows field data collection on most systems connected to major GPS receivers or other surveying equipment, and is compatible with all...

Bentley Systems Inc.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... BENTLEY SYSTEMS INC. announced the Municipal License Subscription (MLS) program, which offers municipalities the software they need for the mapping and engineering of all their infrastructure for a fixed annual fee, based on population. The...

RDV Systems.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... RDV SYSTEMS announced the availability of its "Publish to Google Earth" functionality in its line of products. Google Earth publishing capabilities enhances RDV's core functionality support of advanced visual analyses, animation, texturing and...

PCI Geomatics.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... PCI GEOMATICS released Geomatica 10 for Linux and Solaris users. The latest version of the company's image-centric geospatial software emphasizes automation, productivity and support for more than 100 geospatial data formats. New features and...

Cary and Associates.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... Marketing firm CARY AND ASSOCIATES now offers the Product Management Lifecycle Process for businesses in need of assistance in managing geotechnology products. The Product Management Lifecycle Process serves as the foundation for identifying...

upFront.eZine Publishing LTD.(new&notable)
June 1, 2006... UPFRONT.EZINE PUBLISHING LTD. released two e-book titles for AUTODESK's AutoCAD 2007 software: the updated 5th edition of Tailoring AutoCAD 2007 and the new Tailoring Visual Styles. Tailoring AutoCAD 2007 shows step-by-step how to customize CAD...

Surveying solutions.(funandgames)
June 1, 2006... 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...