Point of Beginning articles from June 2008

Point of Beginning archives from June 2008

A great day.(editor'spoints)
June 1, 2008... "In the minds and eyes of the volunteers, 3 April 2008 was, in fact, a great day for the populace and professional surveyors of Indiana and Michigan." --Norman C. Caldwell, PS, recording secretary, Indiana-Michigan State Line Committee ...

Editor's Note: Time for action: April 2008.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... I am in full agreement with what you wrote in the April 2008 edition of POB magazine. I have an Associate of Science degree in land surveying from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and have been a registered professional land surveyor...

European Space Agency successfully launches second Galileo IOV satellite.(newsline)
June 1, 2008... On April 27, the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched its second Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element satellite, GIOVE-B, carrying the most accurate atomic clock to be flown in space. "With the successful launch of GIOVE-B, we...

FHWA confirms new safety vest standard meets class II requirements.(newsline)
June 1, 2008... In response to inquiries, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials announced in February that the ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 public safety vest standard complies with federal regulation 23 CFR 634, which becomes effective Nov. 24, 2008. "We...

BLM makes old Oklahoma survey records available online.(newsline)(Bureau of Land Management)(Oklahoma. Department of Transportation)(www.glorecords.blm.gov)
June 1, 2008... In March, the Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States (BLM-ES) made its entire collection of historic surveyors' field notes for the Indian Territory--present-day Oklahoma--available online to the public. "The joint project between the...

Clear Seas Research attains CASRO membership.(newsline)(Council of American Survey Research Organizations)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Clear Seas Research, a division of POB's parent company, BNP Media, has been accepted as a member of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO). Clear Seas Research provides research to the architecture/construction,...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2008... JUNE 2-3 GeoGathering 2008 Conference Estes Park, Colo. info@geogathering.com www.geogathering.com 4-5 4th International Optech Terrestrial Laser Scanning User Meeting Munich,...

Bridging the horizons: annual ASPRS conference delves into geospatial collaboration.(conferenceRECAP)(Conference notes)
June 1, 2008... The 2008 annual conference of the American Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing (ASPRS) included an interesting conference program, a well-populated exhibition and deep regional attention to the conference theme, "Bridging the...

Highlights in surveying: announcing our fourth annual highlights in surveying project contest winner.
June 1, 2008... In its fourth year running, our exclusive contest was the best so far. And with four times more entries than last year, our judges were definitely challenged in their task to choose only three winners. Our contest and its winners are proof of...

No small potatoes: Idaho survey crew proves that advanced positioning technology is not just for ultra-urban areas.
June 1, 2008... In just eight months, the city of Idaho Falls, Idaho, population 50,000-plus, proved that it's no small potatoes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Between February and October 2007, a three-person city survey crew completed phase three of the...

Dodging the curve: survey technology helps transform a New York baseball field from artificial to natural turf.(Cover story)
June 1, 2008... When Paul Young, project superintendent for Clark Companies, stepped up to the plate last fall to give Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y., a facelift from AstroTurf to natural grass, he met some unique challenges. [ILLUSTRATION...

A model entrepreneur: experience and perseverance propel professional into data modeling world.
June 1, 2008... Thad Glankler may sound laid back with his Southern drawl, but those who work with him know better. Many clients and colleagues, he admits, call him "anal." But this meticulous characteristic is precisely what Glankler needs in his line of...

A metallic past: a GPS solution helps teams confirm and clear unexploded ordnance in New Brunswick.
June 1, 2008... A long a large swath of remote northeastern New Brunswick land, a handful of men stand still. Their expectant eyes fixed on the same point. Then it happens. A deep sound like the forceful downbeat of a drum cracks the air, and the dirt-caked...

GSR2700 ISX GNSS system by Sokkia: a flexible, scalable, cable-free solution that suits small to large companies.(inREVIEW)
June 1, 2008... The Sokkia GSR2700 ISX GNSS solution is advertised as being flexible, efficient, simple to operate and scalable. As a surveyor for more than 20 years, I agree that the ISX delivers on all of these promises. Ready, Set and Go One...

The surveyor and pro bono services.(onthelevel)
June 1, 2008... Many law offices have formal policies whereby they offer legal services without fee--so-called pro bono services. Many surveyors also contribute their expertise to worthy projects free of charge. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But where...

Three-wire leveling on the construction site.(backtobasics)
June 1, 2008... When you hear "three-wire leveling," do you think of a precise leveling method used only by government surveyors or performed as an academic exercise at universities? This is a misconception held by some who work in construction surveying. ...

OSHA myth busters.(safetysense)
June 1, 2008... I find myself migrating to the Discovery Channel whenever there isn't anything totally mind-numbing on one of the major networks. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I use the broadcast networks to get my veg-out time and the Discovery and History...

Applying math instead of professional judgment.(traversingthelaw)
June 1, 2008... As we continue to traverse the law, I am constantly amazed at the land surveyor's confusion over relatively straightforward and uncomplicated issues involving property boundaries. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Instead of applying judgment and...

Higher education for surveyors.(thetechnologybenchmark)
June 1, 2008... Education requirements for licensure are always a hot topic of discussion for surveyors. As a professor at George Mason University (GMU), I have learned about some changes afoot in the education requirements for professional engineers,...

Topcon Positioning Systems Inc.(turningpoints)(appointment of Steve Briggs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS INC., Livermore, Calif., named Steve Briggs as national sales manager-GIS and OEM. Briggs joined TPS in 2004 as a product manager for network software. Prior to the promotion, he was TPS sales manager for networks and...

Allen Precision Equipment Inc.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2008... ALLEN PRECISION EQUIPMENT INC., Duluth, Ga., expanded its Southeast coverage into the state of Tennessee and appointed Wiley Heard as technical sales representative for Tennessee. Heard has been in the construction and surveying industry since...

Bentley Systems Incorporated.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2008... BENTLEY SYSTEMS INCORPORATED, Exton, Pa., appointed Christopher Barron to vice president of corporate marketing. Barron is responsible for all corporate marketing strategies and campaigns along with public relations initiatives. He has more...

Applanix.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2008... APPLANIX, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, promoted Eric Liberty to director of sales. Liberty is responsible for developing and executing the corporate sales strategies as Applanix implements and communicates its new mission and vision through...

Geospatial Experts.(turningpoints)(appointment of Ralph Spiegleman)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... GEOSPATIAL EXPERTS, Thornton, Colo., hired Ralph Spiegleman as customer relationship manager. Spiegleman is a 35-year veteran of the surveying and mapping industry. In his new position, he provides technical support for customers, assumes sales...

Midwest Technical Consultants Inc.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2008... MIDWEST TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS INC., Naperville, Ill., appointed Emilio Barbieri to vice president and director of sales. Barbieri manages the firm's sales activities for public and private surveying. He joins MTC with extensive experience in...

MAPPS.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2008... MAPPS, Reston, Va., announced that George Southard has been elected chairman of the newly formed MAPPS Associate Members Committee. Southard has worked for Leica Geosystems since 1993 and is vice president of Americas Digital Imaging of Leica...

Ayres Associates.(turningpoints)(appointment of Fred Halfen)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... AYRES ASSOCIATES, Madison, Wis., selected Fred Halfen to lead its energy corridors initiative. Halfen joined Ayres Associates in 1977. He was promoted to production manager in 1982 and became vice president of the photogrammetry division in...

Ayres Associates.(turningpoints)(promotion of Kirk Contrucci)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Also, AYRES ASSOCIATES promoted Kirk Contrucci to vice president of its photogrammetry operations at the company's Madison, Wis., office. In his new position, Contrucci serves as principal-in-charge responsible for cost estimates, contract...

Land Surveyors' Association of Washington.(turningpoints)
June 1, 2008... LAND SURVEYORS' ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON elected Ben V. Petersen, PLS, as state president and named him 2007 Surveyor of the Year. Petersen is the vice president and director of surveys for PLS Inc. in Issaquah, Wash.

Psomas.(turningpoints)(appointments)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... PSOMAS, Los Angeles, appointed Brian Bullock, PLS, Tim Hayes, PE, Scott Rocke, PE, and Carl Wallace, PE, as principals. Bullock is a vice president of land surveying in the Roseville, Calif., office and has nearly 30 years of experience in all...

Trimble.(new&notable)(Trimble Navigation Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... TRIMBLE introduced the new Trimble GNSS Choke Ring geodetic antenna. The traditional choke ring's ground plane has been widely adopted by the scientific community due to its effectiveness in reducing the strength of multipath signals before...

Trimble.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... Also, TRIMBLE introduced Trimble Coastal Center software to continuously monitor and control Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) broadcast sites for marine navigation. Trimble Coastal Center software is scalable and adaptable to meet...

Leica Geosystems.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS released Leica GNSS Spider V3.0. The Leica Geosystems solution for GNSS Infrastructure and Network RTK incorporates comprehensive GPS and Glonass network RTK services with capabilities to capture future GNSS signals such as GPS...

Leica.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Also, LEICA released Leica SpiderWeb Version 2.2. The GNSS Internet network distribution solution makes presenting GNSS station or network data for public or internal access via standard Web browsers easier for service users and providers....

Leica.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Additionally, LEICA released the latest version of Leica GNSS QC software. Leica GNSS QC V2.0 offers greater GNSS quality control and data analysis, including real-time analysis of residual ionospheric and tropospheric/geometric error across an...

Leica.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... Additionally, LEICA released Leica GeoMoS Version 4.0. The multipurpose automatic deformation monitoring software now features the ability to gather, store and analyze data recorded by Campbell Scientific datalogger geotechnical devices, such...

SECO Manufacturing Company Inc.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... SECO MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC. introduced two ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant safety utility vests. The Class 2 (#8265) and Class 3 (#8365) safety vests feature texturized polyester, YKK zippers and Outlast phase-change material. Additional...

SECO.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Also, SECO introduced a 12-ft (3.66-m) robotics pole. The 25-mm O.D. pole (#5802-20) features the newest SECO locking mechanisms: Quick Lever (QL) and Quick Lever with Vial (QLV). These new locks have a tension-adjustable lever that can be used...

SECO.(new&notable)(Quick Lever with Vial)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Additionally, SECO offers its QLV pole in 12-ft (3.66-m) versions. The American-made poles feature a completely accessible QLV locking mechanism with built-in 40-minute vial, which is adjustable from the top for quick calibration. The pole's...

SECO.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Additionally, SECO introduced the DE laser rod bracket for Apache Technologies' Storm laser detector. The anodized aluminum bracket (#5079-070) holds the detector securely while keeping the front and back window exposed for viewing. The 0.42-lb...

SECO.(new&notable)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Additionally, SECO introduced a nodal point prism assembly. The new assembly (#6400-10) offers a 62 mm silver-coated canister. The prism has a [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Riegl.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... RIEGL introduced the Riegl LMS-Z620 terrestrial laser scanner system. The rugged and fully portable sensor is capable of scanning from 2,000 m at 8,000 points per second with 10 mm accuracy combined with a high-resolution digital camera. RiScan...

Magellan.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... MAGELLAN announced that DIGITERRA EXPLORER's mobile GIS and field mapping software is now available pre-installed on an SD card with the Magellan Mobile Mapper CX hand-held GPS/GIS receiver. (pro.magellangps.com) (www.digiterra.hu/en) ...

Carlson Software Inc.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... CARLSON SOFTWARE INC. added the ability to run on IntelliCAD (ICAD) to its 2009 software releases, including Carlson Civil 2009, Carlson Survey 2009, Carlson Hydrology 2009, Carlson Mining 2009, Carlson Takeoff 2009 and Carlson GIS 2009. The...

Carlson.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... Also, CARLSON now provides support for the all-new receiver technology developed by JAVAD GNSS. Carlson SurvCE 2.0 is compatible and works seamlessly with all JAVAD GNSS products, including JAVAD's Victor hand-held controller....

Applanix.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... APPLANIX announced that the Trimble BD960 GNSS receiver module is now available for its POS AV airborne position and orientation system. POS AV is a hardware and software system specifically designed for the direct georeferencing of sensors...

Optech Incorporated.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... OPTECH INCORPORATED announced the availability of APPLANIX CORPORATION's POSPac Air 5.0 with Optech's ALTM (Airborne Terrain Laser Mapper). POSPac Air 5.0 incorporates GNSS network data and more tightly integrated inertial processing methods....

Pointspotter LLC.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... POINTSPOTTER LLC introduced its new PointSpotter temporary paint marker. The device, which attaches to the lower end of a survey rod and uses standard inverted aerosol marking paint, enables the operator to place a 1-inch diameter paint spot at...

Knaack LLC.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... KNAACK LLC introduced WEATHER GUARD Hi-Side Truck Boxes with a three-point latching system that secures each side of the box with a strong seal against theft, vandalism and weather. A picture-frame body design provides for maximum storage space...

PCI Geomatics.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... PCI GEOMATICS released ProLines, highly automated image processing chains used to correct, mosaic and enhance imagery and extract elevation data derived from satellite and airborne sensors. Built using the PCI Geomatics Professional Software...

Intergraph.(new&notable)
June 1, 2008... INTERGRAPH introduced enhancements to its end-to-end earth imaging portfolio, including digital aerial cameras, flight-management and post-processing systems, photogrammetric workstations and a full photogrammetric data exploitation software...

Surveying solutions.(funandgames)
June 1, 2008... Each month, we present a surveying problem from the second edition of 1001 Solved Surveying Fundamentals Problems by Jan Van Sickle, PLS. The answer will appear below the problem in a shaded box. We hope you enjoy these exercises for the mind....

Surveying shots.(funandgames)
June 1, 2008... Jack, 5-year-old son of Michael Bouffard, PLS, of Maine, loves to explore what's inside his dad's business van. "He's always asking if he can survey today," Bouffard says. "So, here he is in action." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]