Point of Beginning articles from May 2004

Point of Beginning archives from May 2004

Techno fret-no.(Editor's Note)(technology advancement)(Editorial)
May 1, 2004... When I was in middle school, I recall a day when my brother came home after work looking quite upset. "What's wrong?" my mother asked him. "I lost my job to a stupid machine," he replied. My brother was the victim of a technology...

Offsets.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... January 2004 I agree 100 percent with the article [The surveyor's new clothes]. He [Dennis Mouland] has hit the nail on the head. The testing questions [of the NCEES] are being brought upon us by people who have no concept of what it takes...

Back to basics.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... February 2004 I just finished reading the February issue and had a few comments on the Back to Basics article, "Using base line offset layout." This method requires a lot of instrument setups, and short backsights will be hard to avoid....

A case of give and take.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... January 2004 I read [Ian] Wilson's article on adverse possession with a great deal of cynicism. Here's how it's done in my little corner of Pennsylvania. The plaintiff finds a tract of ground that appears to be unaccounted for. He may or...

Editor's notes.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... January/February 2004 I presently work as an instrument operator and have read your last two articles on the recruiting of new surveyors and the future shortage of qualified surveyors. My suggestion is [to] up the salary. I only make...

GPS in the spotlight.(The Latest News)(Global Positioning System)
May 1, 2004... 50th GPS Satellite Launched The 50th Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite was successfully launched on March 20, 2004. The satellite, known as GPS 2R-11, departed from Florida's Cape Canaveral at 12:53 p.m. EST. GPS 2R-11 was...

Smart & streamlined: training and technology channel success for a pacific northwest firm.(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... Many surveying firms have cut spending on new equipment and training while they wait for the economy to recover. Triad Associates, a 29-year-old, mid-sized land development consulting firm with 90-plus employees (41 in the surveying department)...

A return to value: reflecting on how the changing profession is increasing the surveyor's worth.(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2004... The surveying profession has seen a rise and fall in its worth to society throughout history. The first surveyors are believed to be those who set out the great pyramids and those who chartered new lands. The value of these surveyors' efforts...

CSI Wireless Inc.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... The PowerMAX receiver provides a high level of performance, delivering submeter positioning using either its built-in SBAS demodulator, built-in DGPS beacon module or external corrections, at up to 5 Hz output. The PowerMAX features wireless...

Leica Geosystems.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... Leica Geosystems offers numerous wireless devices for surveying, construction, reference station networks, machine automation, etc. The current offering includes: spread spectrum and UHF/VHF radio modems, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, CDPD cellular modems...

NavCom Technology.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... Safari Network is a multi-port broadband wireless wide-area network designed specifically for mobile applications covering greater than 15 miles radius. The system offers a broad range of mobile communication services, such as roaming,...

Pacific Crest Corporation.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... Pacific Crest Corporation's Positioning Data Link for Robotic Total Stations (PDLRTS) is the perfect complement for most RTS systems. Its unique design puts everything "on the pole," reducing the hassle of hauling equipment to the field. The...

Satel.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... In GPS systems the base station sends position corrections data to the rover. Lightweight SATELLINE radio modems are an excellent choice for datalink between the base and the rover. The rover is normally a few kilometers from the base, but the...

SOKKIA.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... SOKKIA's GSR2650 LB is a survey-grade, L-Band GPS receiver for GIS and RTK applications. When utilized with OmniSTAR HP corrections, it is capable of delivering decimeter-level DGPS positioning without a base station. The autonomous stand-alone...

Thales Navigation.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... The Z-Max GPS surveying system from Thales Navigation features a unique combination of wireless communication devices. The modular design of Z-Max enables a completely wireless RTK rover using Bluetooth, GSM and UHF technology. Thales...

Topcon.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... Topcon offers a revolutionary wireless GPS+ system, the HiPer Lite+. The popular HiPer Lite+ system is a completely cable-free base and rover RTK GPS system that incorporates wireless Bluetooth communication technology between the graphical...

Trimble.(Special Product Focus: Communications Equipment)
May 1, 2004... Wireless innovation in the Trimble R8 GPS system offers not only cable-free GPS surveying, but also cell phone technology options to make your work easier and more productive. Trimble R8 support for GPRS cell phone networks provides...

Navigating the wireless world: a look at how wireless technology affects surveyors.
May 1, 2004... Wireless? Cable-free? Cellular? Bluetooth? What is all this? How does it impact the surveyor? And how can a surveyor be prepared for the wireless world? Travel with us to a world without cables and judge for yourself. You may never return to...

Latest developments.
May 1, 2004... We are pleased to present the latest developments in the long tradition of reliable innovation that has characterized the SMI field survey product family for over 20 years. Here's an overview of all the details in this year's product guide. ...

SMI software.(New Features)(Surveyors Module International)
May 1, 2004... SMI VERSION 8 Eagle Point is pleased to announce the release of Version 8 of the SMI field survey software product line. It is the first version of SMI software that is dedicated to Windows CE devices. The list of supported Windows CE...

Desktop software.
May 1, 2004... EAGLE POINT 2004 The following products can be purchased individually (Eagle Point Graphics Engine, AutoCAD, or MicroStation required--call for details) to visualize, design, and analyze your field survey work. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Allegro CE[TM].(Allegro Enterprises Inc.)
May 1, 2004... ALLEGRO CE[TM] FROM JUNIPER SYSTEMS Rugged, Field-Ergonomic Case Design Do not let the attractive design fool you. The Allegro is built to withstand the harshest field environments. It is lightweight, comfortable to hold, and easy to...

Pentax total stations.(transit)
May 1, 2004... PENTAX R-300 SERIES The versatile new R-300 series total stations are available in several configurations, including the popular R-323 and R-325 with angle accuracies of 3" and 5" respectively. Specify the Reflectorless (N) configuration...

SMI Flex GPS.(Surveyors Module International)(Global Positioning System)
May 1, 2004... EXTRAORDINARY POWER Over the years, clients have come to know SMI field survey technologies as supremely reliable and of the highest quality. The all-new SMI Flex GPS[TM] solution is no exception. RTK GPS Technology from NavCom ...

NavCom GPS receivers.(NavCom Systems Inc.)
May 1, 2004... NAVCOM RT-3010S AND RT-3020S SURVEY-QUALITY RTK GPS RECEIVERS NavCom's RT-3010S and RT-3020S survey-quality RTK GPS sensors provide the highest level of accuracy and response available from a dual-frequency GPS instrument, easily capturing...

StarFire Network.(GPS system)
May 1, 2004... STARFIRE NETWORK DECIMETER-LEVEL DIFFERENTIAL GPS CORRECTIONS--ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, ANY TIME, IN REAL-TIME The StarFire[TM] Network is the world's first Global Satellite Based Augmentation System (GSBAS) capable of real-time...

Extended communications.
May 1, 2004... EXTERNAL RADIOS AND CELLULAR MODEMS Satel Radios Satel's SATELLINE radio modems meet your most demanding data transfer applications, in particular, those demanding high speed and precision. Extend your GPS receiver baseline distances...

Post-processing.(POST-PROCESSING SOFTWARE)
May 1, 2004... GPS POST-PROCESSING GrafNav/GrafNet by Waypoint Consulting, Inc. This static baseline processor/network adjustment package GPS post-processing software delivers an easy-to-use graphical interface and an extremely precise GPS processing...

Flex GPS packages.
May 1, 2004... RTK GPS PACKAGE Now you've got it all--power, simplicity, service, and unbelievable value all in one complete RTK GPS solution. The SMI Flex RTK GPS Package * 2 RT-3010S Pole Mount GPS Receivers each with: * 2 Rechargeable...

Additional products.(cables informations)
May 1, 2004... The cables on this page allow your collector to communicate with an IBM-compatible computer or most total stations that have been manufactured in the past fifteen years. If you aren't sure which cable you need, we will gladly assist you with...

3D application at the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.(Technology Profile)
May 1, 2004... As 3D laser scanners decrease in cost and as accompanying processing software improves, surveyors are taking notice of this new technology. Laser scanning technology is being used to solve certain application projects for more and more...

Between the pages: a POB book review; A look into the Manual of Aerial Survey by Roger Read and Ron Graham.(Book Review)
May 1, 2004... Imagery acquisition has changed significantly over the last few years, and aerial acquisition has taken on an even more important role in the mapping industry. Writing a book on the acquisition of aerial imagery is a challenging task thanks to...

Tool tips.(GIAA Mailbag)(electronic compensator uses)
May 1, 2004... Q: What, if anything, can I adjust on the electronic compensator on my total station? A: Mechanically, there is nothing that the user can (or should) adjust on a total station's electronic compensator. Just as the plate vial does, the...

LiDAR's incredible evolution.(From the Ground Up)
May 1, 2004... LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a term commonly used in today's surveying and engineering community. The increase in the capabilities of LiDAR technology over the last 10 years has been astounding. In the early years of commercial LiDAR,...

Tool chests.(Professional Topography)(Technology development)
May 1, 2004... For centuries, surveyors have had a limited set of tools to do their jobs. In the field, for horizontal position, this was the compass and chain, later replaced by the transit and steel tape, theodolite and EDM, and, finally, the...

Topcon Corporation.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, announced an agreement with Komatsu Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, to allow new Komatsu motor graders and bulldozers to be purchased with the desired Topcon automated machine control system as a factory-installed,...

Carlson Software.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Carlson Software, Maysville, Ky., added three new staff members to its team: Ken Trent, Butch Herter and Mark Bellamy. Trent is a software engineer and designer with more than 15 years of experience. Herter is a technical sales and support...

Surveyors Service Company.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Surveyors Service Company, Costa Mesa, Calif., appointed Bob Elliott to the position of construction products division manager. Elliott oversees all sales and support activities related to construction products. Elliott joined Surveyors Service...

Pacific Crest Corporation.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Pacific Crest Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif., welcomed Werner Kozel as director of engineering. Kozel holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and advanced studies in industrial engineering with emphasis in quality...

Burgess & Niple Inc.(Turning Points)
May 1, 2004... Burgess & Niple Inc., Chantilly, Va., named Richard E. Ziems, LS, as survey division director. Ziems joined Burgess & Niple in 1976. He is responsible for managing project operations, training, and administrative and marketing tasks supporting...

Surveying on the construction site.(The Business Side)
May 1, 2004... Numerous surveying companies perform construction survey services. A small number of educational programs are available that focus on this important subject. Some of you may remember that POB magazine sponsored numerous seminars nationwide...

Surveying solutions.
May 1, 2004... 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 beside the problem, in a shaded box. We hope you enjoy...

Comic corner.
May 1, 2004... Submitted by Wade Powell, Ozark, Ark. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Topcon Positioning Systems.(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 401 Topcon Positioning Systems announced eight new products, promoted as the Elite-8. Leading the line-up is Lazer Zone, a new technology that can be combined with any Topcon RTK GPS system to generate a vertical accuracy to within a few...

Trimble.(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 402 Trimble announced SCS900 Site Controller System Version 1.1, a field software solution specifically designed for the earthworks contractor doing site measurements, stakeout, monitoring and quantification of earthmoving, grading and...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS).(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 403 Tripod Data Systems (TDS) released SOLO Field 3.3. This latest version of TDS GIS mapping software allows users to add GPS metadata to the GIS database, classify basemap data based on attributes including an on-screen legend, and...

Pacific Crest Corporation.(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 404 Pacific Crest Corporation unveiled its improved website at www.pacificcrest.com. The new site features an interactive dealer locator with access to all of Pacific Crest's resellers worldwide. Visitors to the site can find increased...

Tyler Akins.(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 405 Independent creator, Tyler Akins, released Marco, construction/survey software for Palm OS devices. Programs in Marco include: intersect (line-line, line-circle, circle-circle), center line for lines and curves, proportion, inverse,...

Geotango International.(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 406 GeoTango International released SilverEye V2.0 for Windows 2000/XP/NT platforms. SilverEye enables users to extract 3D models from one commercial high-resolution satellite image and eliminates the need for stereo pairs in 3D...

SOKKIA.(New & Notable)
May 1, 2004... 407 SOKKIA created SDR Level 5 V5.51 software. SDR Level 5 offers topographic survey, stakeout, roading and coordinate geometry (COGO) capabilities, along with the ability to switch between GPS and terrestrial sensors. Version 5.51 has...