Point of Beginning articles from March 2005

Point of Beginning archives from March 2005

On giving.(editor's points)
March 1, 2005... In times of need, the consideration of those who come forward to help--whether it be individuals or groups--is often immeasurable. Volunteer work and cash donations to support charitable efforts are a true sign of human generosity. Oftentimes,...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... January 2005 Regarding Mr. Ken Ramsay's comments in the January 2005 issue, the HP21 was not the first HP handheld calculator with trig functions. The HP35 was the leader of the pack in this respect. If I can remember that far back. I...

Letters to the editor.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... May 2004 I just finished reading "Letters to the Editor" in the May 2004 issue and feel I must add my experiences to those printed in that issue. I have [more than] 25 years of surveying experience and am a PLS in the state of Arizona. My...

SBA extends deadline for size standard comments.(newsline)
March 1, 2005... The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) extended the deadline for advance comments from the general public on key issues relating to its small business size standards from Feb. 1, 2005 to April 3, 2005. Over the years, SBA's size...

USGS provides satellite data for tsunami disaster relief efforts.(newsline)(United States Geological Survey)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In response to the tsunami destruction in Southeast Asia, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) contributed to the disaster relief efforts by supplying before and after satellite images of the region through its National Center for Earth Resources...

URISA welcomed as an FGDC partner.(newsline)(Urban and Regional Information Systems Association)(Federal Geographic Data Committee)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) was accepted in January as a stakeholder on the Steering Committee of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). The FGDC is a long-standing national consortium working to...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... MARCH 6-9 GITA Annual Conference 2005 Geospatial Information & Technology Association Denver, Colo. 303/337-0513 www.gita.org 7-10 Machine Control Data Prep Training Topcon and OutSource Inc....

Evolution on the jobsite: advanced GPS technology puts a Florida site work contractor at the forefront.(Global Positioning System)(Steven Counts Inc)(Column)
March 1, 2005... As general superintendent and survey manager at Steven Counts Inc. (SCI), site work contractors based in Summerfield, Fla., I have the unique opportunity to see the direct result of new technologies as they are applied. Because of my...

Clearing the beautiful blue Danube: GPS and geomagnetic surveying makes the Danube River safe again.(Global Positioning System)
March 1, 2005... In 1999, in response to the unsettling conflict between the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians of Kosovo over control of the southern province, NATO aircraft destroyed three bridges across the Danube River at the city of Novi Sad in Serbia....

Scanning Old Ironsides.(industry scan)(Meridian Associates Inc)
March 1, 2005... In October 2004, Meridian Associates Inc., a planning, civil engineering, land surveying and landscape architecture firm in Danvers, Mass., laser scanned the spar deck (the upper deck) and the deck's 33 supporting beams of the USS Constitution....

Outlook 2005.(industryscan)
March 1, 2005... Last year 3D laser scanning had its best year ever. Preliminary results from Spar Point Research LLC's annual survey of the laser scanning market indicate that more scanners were sold last year than ever before. The anecdotal evidence also says...

A call for membership: ACSM's largest member organization, NSPS, highlights the benefits of membership.
March 1, 2005... For 25 years, the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), a member organization of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), has been the national voice and advocate for the surveying profession in the United States. In...

Markers & monuments.(productfocus)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Information for POB's special focus on makers and manufacturers has been provided by the respective manufacturers of the products. For more specifications, visit the websites listed under each entry. Berntsen International Inc. ...

Professionalism (or the lack thereof) in surveying.(future perspectives)(Column)
March 1, 2005... I've heard a lot about professionalism in surveying--or rather, the lack thereof. As a student in the Ferris State University Surveying Engineering curriculum, I find it troubling to see that the profession I have chosen has a hard time...

The S6 total station series by Trimble.(product profile)(Column)
March 1, 2005... With the launch of the new S6 total station series by Trimble last month, I visited the Westminster, Colo., facility. The S6 is a new servo-driven total station that can be upgraded to target tracking (Autolock) and robotic functionality. This...

Tool tips.(giaa mail bag)(Column)
March 1, 2005... I was talking to my instrument dealer about the accuracy of my total station, and he asked me if I do maintenance on my tripod regularly. I confess I don't know what I should be doing to maintain my tripod. Can you help? Tripod maintenance...

A new standard for spatial data accuracy.(The National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy)(Federal Geodetic Data Committee)
March 1, 2005... What does accuracy as related to surveying and mapping deliverables mean to you? Merriam-Webster defines accuracy as: I freedom from mistake or error: 2 conformity to truth or to a standard or model: 3 degree of conformity of a measure to a...

GPS modernization.(the gps observer)(Global Positioning System)
March 1, 2005... The planned modernization program on the next generations of GPS satellites is one of interest and importance to surveyors, particularly the addition of the new civil signal on L2 and the addition of a new civil signal called L5. ...

Rewriting the BLM manual.(traversing the law)(Bureau of Land Management)
March 1, 2005... In March 2003, POB magazine ran a news story titled "Land Surveyors' 'Bible' Gets Update." My immediate reaction was, "Why?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Just exactly what is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Manual of Instructions for...

Education and training for surveyors.(thetechnologybenchmark)
March 1, 2005... In recent years, the education and training for field- and office-based surveyors have become increasingly important issues for the profession and for the business of surveying. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the industry transforms, the...

2005 Advanced Total Station Offerings: as an addition to our tabulated survey, information for POB's Advanced Total Station Offerings has been provided by the respective manufacturers. For more total station specifications, visit the websites listed under each entry.
March 1, 2005... FOIF [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Because of market demand, FOIF launched the new reflectorless total station OTS600 series with alphanumeric keyboard. Total stations in this series can upload and download data easily with a PC or data...

The new Trimble S6 Total Station--not evolution, revolution.(optical surveying solution)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2005... The new Trimble S6 Total Station--for servo, Autolock or robotic surveying--is truly revolutionary. It is the most technologically advanced optical surveying solution ever produced. Silently spinning at 115 degrees per second and changing face...

Topcon.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... TOPCON announced the TopNET CORS GNSS Reference Station System, the only complete system that offers 24-hour satellite coverage with GPS+ technology (dual constellation tracking of both GPS and GLONASS satellites). TopNET CORS supports a wide...

Data Tree LLC.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... DATA TREE LLC launched DocEdge.com, a web-based product offering instant, 24/7 access to the Data Tree imaged document database. Requiring no software installation or training. DocEdge.com is ideal for mortgage servicers, real estate attorneys,...

Pentax.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... PENTAX introduced two new series of total stations based on the current R-300 series: the R-300NX and R-300EX series. The PENTAX R-300X series of total stations comprises 11 models, giving a choice of 2", 3", 5" or 6" angular accuracy and a...

Eagle Point.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... EAGLE POINT released SMI Flex GPS System Version 8. A signal-to-noise advantage allows for reliable masking angles in RTK to 7 degrees and RTG to as low as 5 degrees. This lower masking angle adds two to three additional satellites the entire...

AMC Inc.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... AMC INC, released GPS2CAD Version 3.5, which enables design professionals to use recreational-grade GPS units to collect field information and plot it in a CAD program. The program also plots the points on aerial photos and topographic maps...

DotSoft.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... DOTSOFT announced GridWorks 1.0 for AutoCAD and MicroStation. GridWorks is an edit, import/export, and conversion tool for Digital Elevation Model (DEM) files. Gridworks supports grid files from major sources such as USGS DEM and ESRI, along...

BAE systems.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... BAE SYSTEMS released SOCET SET version 5.2, a robust digital photogrammetric software application. The new version delivers increased productivity through several innovative processes, including the SOCET for ArcGIS module, which provides 3D...

Airborne 1 Corporation.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... AIRBORNE 1 CORPORATION now offers QT Modeler and QT Reader, an affordable and powerful 3D visualization package that enables laser terrain mapping professionals and their clients to quickly visualize high-resolution LiDAR data. The software was...

Graphic Enterprises Inc.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... GRAPHIC ENTERPRISES INC., a North American third-party service provider, introduced the COLORTRAC SmartLF scanner, which is designed to provide sharp, fast, large format document scans for professional users in any size of enterprise. Contact...

Quantapoint Inc.(new & notable)
March 1, 2005... QUANTAPOINT INC. released PRISM 3D 5.0 software for managing, sharing and extracting critical information from as-built laser documentation using patented interactive 3D visualization technology from NGRAIN. PRISM 3D provides customers with a...

Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services.(turningpoints)(G. Michael Ritchie appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... G. Michael ("Mike") Ritchie, PE, PLS, PSM, CP, was elected chairman of the COUNCIL ON FEDERAL PROCUREMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES (COFPAES) for 2005. Ritchie is president and CEO of PHOTO SCIENCE INC., a full-service...

Photo Science Inc.(turningpoints)(partnership with GIS Solutions )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... PHOTO SCIENCE INC. (PSI), Lexington, Ky., and GIS SOLUTIONS INC. (GSI), a provider of GIS products and services, jointly announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership agreement. Included in the agreement was PSI's purchase of...

Geoshack North America.(turningpoints)(partnership with Spectra Products Inc. and C.R.S. Survey Equipment & Supplies Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In an effort to expand its service and product offering to customers, GEOSHACK NORTH AMERICA, Dayton, Ohio, added four partner companies: C.R.S. SURVEY EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES LTD. Ontario. Canada: INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION...

GeoShack was appointed a Leica Geosystems distributor in Ohio and Michigan.(turningpoints)(distribution agreements)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Also, GEOSHACK was appointed a LEICA GEOSYSTEMS distributor in Ohio and Michigan. In Ohio, GeoShack represents Leica Geosystems in construction lasers, surveying, engineering and construction machine automation systems. In Michigan, GeoShack...

The Surveying and Engineering Division of Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, announced the establishment of its new Singapore subsidiary, Leica Geosystems Technologies Pte Ltd.(turningpoints)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Surveying and Engineering Division of LEICA GEOSYSTEMS, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, announced the establishment of its new Singapore subsidiary, LEICA GEOSYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES PTE LTD. In addition to being the competence center for development...

Leica Geosystems announced Pete Tuftee, CAD technician and crew chief with Welch Hanson Associates of Delafield, Wis., as the winner of the 2004 System 1200 Sweepstakes.(turningpoints)(awards)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Also, LEICA GEOSYSTEMS announced Pete Tuftee, CAD technician and crew chief with WELCH HANSON ASSOCIATES of Delafield, Wis., as the winner of the 2004 System 1200 Sweepstakes. The grand prize, a 2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew pick-up truck, was...

Woolpert LLP.(turningpoints)(appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... WOOLPERT LLP, Dayton, Ohio, became incorporated on Jan. 1, 2005. Due to sustained growth over the past decade, the privately held partnership transitioned to a privately held corporation under the name WOOLPERT INC. All Woolpert Inc....

AERO-METRIC Inc.(turningpoints)(Roger E. Crystal appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... AERO-METRIC INC., Sheboygan, Wis., named Roger E. Crystal, CP, as contracts manager for federal programs. Working from his Portland, Ore. office, Crystal interacts with leaders of geospatial programs within the federal government to ensure that...

North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council and Oregon Geographic Information Council.(turningpoints)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The NORTH CAROLINA GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COORDINATING COUNCIL (NCGICC) and the OREGON GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COUNCIL (OGIC) became the first state associations to endorse the certification program for GIS professionals offered by the GIS...

BAE Systems.(turningpoints)(Mark E. Sarojak appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BAE SYSTEMS, San Diego, Calif., named Mark E. Sarojak as sales director for the Americas, representing the company's Geospatial eXploitation Products (GXP) line of business, which consists of the VITec, SOCET SET and SOCET GXP products, Sarojak...

Clary & Associates Professional Surveyors and Mappers.(turningpoints)(appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... CLARY & ASSOCIATES PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS AND MAPPERS, Jacksonville, Fla., added three new members to its team of survey technicians: Tyreese Lee, Stephen Speaks, SIT, and Michael Brent. Lee's duties include data collection and map preparation,...

Geodecisions.(turningpoints)(Kinetic Solutions L.L.C. acquired)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... GEODECISIONS, Harrisburg, Pa., acquired the St. Louis-based KINETIC SOLUTIONS, a full-service application development and data integration company specializing in GIS. Kinetic Solutions delivers a broad spectrum of services including...

Surveying solutions.(problem solving)(Brief Article)
March 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...

Comic corner.
March 1, 2005... Copyrighte 1988, P.O.B. Publishing Co. Thomas McDougall, W. Carrollton, OH [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Copyrighte 1987, P.O.B. Publishing Co. D. Wilson, Crawfordsville, IN