Point of Beginning articles from May 2006

Point of Beginning archives from May 2006

Training for success.(Editorial)
May 1, 2006... "If you don't use it, you'll lose it." Sound familiar? This may not be the case for riding a bicycle but it has reigned true for me personally in other areas. Once upon a time, I was at the head of the class in rudimentary Spanish and also in...

Letters: February 2006.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... It is an old but time-honored riddle: what is the surveyor's most important tool? The common replies might change with time. Fifty years ago, the answer might have been "the transit" or "the steel tape." Twenty-five years ago it might have been...

How to be safe: March 2006.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... As safety manager for our surveying department here in Fort Myers, Fla., I am interested in finding out more about this safety video. We have three survey crews and have accomplished much in the way of safety for our people (safety posters,...

NGS publishes state plane coordinates in feet.(National Geodetic Survey)
May 1, 2006... As of Feb. 22, 2006, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) began publishing State Plane Coordinates (SPCs) in feet on both the conventional NGS geodetic control data sheet and the OPUS extended output data sheet. This was done in...

First Galileo satellite transmits signals.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The first Galileo satellite launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in December 2005, known as GIOVE-A for Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element, began transmitting navigation signals on Jan. 12, 2006. This satellite's signals are currently...

Russia and India go forward with GLONASS.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Russian and Indian officials solidified their cooperation for future GLONASS development on March 17, 2006, in New Delhi. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) signed two accords on...

Iowa society goes online.(Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa (SLSI) launched a new website at www.slsi.org. This launch aids the society in fulfilling one of the purposes of its mission statement, which is to provide a central reference source for land surveyors. The...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... MAY 1-2 2006 ESRI Business GeoInfo Summit ESRI Boston, Mass. 909/793-2853 www.esri.com 1-3 IMAGIN 2006 Annual Conference Improving Michigan's Access to Geographic Information Networks ...

The acquisition decision: some tips on weighing the options of renting or owning surveying equipment.
May 1, 2006... Your bid on a large project for a valued client has just been accepted, and now you are concerned with the resources available to complete the work. One of the questions going through your mind most likely pertains to the equipment you have...

Tip-top training: the changing surveying profession requires efficient training to stay ahead.
May 1, 2006... Once upon a time (long ago... um, that's about five years ago), surveyors, designers, contractors and other end users of technical software, hardware and equipment could make a purchase, and with minimal outside help, be up and running in a...

Uniform survey fees--not a taboo topic.
May 1, 2006... A wizened man is ailing from a cancerous tumor on his lung. His long-term doctor says the tumor is malignant and must be removed. So the ailing man sits down and writes a scope of surgical services needed and prepares a lengthy RFP replete with...

Redefining spatial boundaries: Wisconsin firm develops new solution for survey-accurate GIS.(Geographic Information System)
May 1, 2006... One of the most common problems land surveyors face is the re-establishment of site control that has been destroyed or removed. The ability to spatially coordinate and manage surveys within a GIS environment that simultaneously unifies,...

Positioned for the future: laser scanning aids base line verification at radar site.
May 1, 2006... Keeping a watch on the entire U.S. coastline is a job of high order, one that defense and aerospace leader Raytheon has been overseeing since 1993 through its Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar (ROTHR) sites. Three continuously operating sites...

Medium-format imaging systems: the right technology at the right time.(technologyprofile)
May 1, 2006... Innovative thinking and a keen strategic perspective on the growth potential of digital aerial imaging has meant big business for a small U.S. aerial survey and remote sensing company in Nebraska. Identifying the right tool for the job has been...

The short-term, one-year company business plan.(thebusinessside)
May 1, 2006... The company planning ideas presented in this column are tailored to company owners as well as managers. This information comes from a seminar I developed titled "Treating Surveying as a Profitable Business." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Taking an inventory of federal lands.
May 1, 2006... Want to stump your friends? Ask them how much land the federal government owns. Most likely they will tell you they have no idea. Here's the kicker--the federal government has no idea either! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But with the...

Digital camera technology.(fromthegroundup)
May 1, 2006... Today's high-end digital cameras were first introduced to the mapping community in 2002. They have provided impressive gains in the quality of imagery over film and are altering the way many mapping projects are produced. [ILLUSTRATION...

Product surveys.(Table)
May 1, 2006... 2006 3D Laser Scanner Hardware Survey MANUFACTURER 3rdTech 3rdTech PRODUCT DeltaSphere-3000 DeltaSphere-3000IR PERFORMANCE Laser Wavelength (in nm) 670 ...

Leica Geosystems.(appoints Ken Mooyman as former senior vice president )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, announced that Ken Mooyman, former senior vice president of sales and support for the High-Definition Surveying (HDS) division, has been promoted to head of the Leica Geosystems laser scanning business...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS), Corvallis, Ore., named Daryl Stewart as marketing manager of the survey products division.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS (TDS), Corvallis, Ore., named Daryl Stewart as marketing manager of the survey products division. Stewart is responsible for all marketing efforts for TDS, Nikon and Spectra Precision survey products. [ILLUSTRATION...

Bay Design Group.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... BAY DESIGN GROUP, Richmond, Va., announced that James S. Leigh, LS, joined the firm. Leigh is involved in the company's commercial, residential and industrial projects, and is in charge of field operations at the Gloucester office. Leigh has 30...

The First American Corporation.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION, Santa Ana, Calif., announced that Michael T. Henney, president of First American subsidiary DATA TRACE, took on the additional role of president of First American subsidiary DATATREE LLC. Also, Robert Karraa,...

Society of Land Surveyors of Iowa.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... The SOCIETY OF LAND SURVEYORS OF IOWA (SLSI) elected new officers for 2006: Gary Brown, PLS, president; Dan Rittel, PLS, vice president; and Don Murphy, PLS, treasurer.

Giffels-Webster Engineers Inc.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... GIFFELS-WEBSTER ENGINEERS INC., Rochester Hills, Mich., named seven senior project managers as associates in the company. The associates now join the existing principals as part owners of Giffels-Webster and take on increased responsibilities...

EarthData.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... EARTHDATA, Frederick, Md., appointed Maxime Elbaz as chief operating officer of EarthData International. Elbaz manages the mapping and GIS company's aviation, data processing, GIS, and research and development divisions, and leads worldwide...

Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... TECTONIC ENGINEERING & SURVEYING CONSULTANTS, Mountainville, N.Y., received three American Council of Engineering Companies-New York (ACEC-NY) engineering excellence awards, including a Diamond Award for surveying and mapping of existing...

Givemepower Corporation.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2006... GIVEMEPOWER CORPORATION, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, hired Janeen Norman-Lando to head the company's media and public relations efforts.

SJB Group LLC.(appoints Thurlow W. Parish III as senior project manager)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SJB GROUP LLC, Baton Rouge, La., announced that Thurlow W. Parish III, PLS, joined SJB Group's land surveying division as a senior project manager. In this role, Parish manages projects and profitability, develops and negotiates proposals and...

SECO Manufacturing Company Incorporated.(new & notable)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SECO MANUFACTURING COMPANY INCORPORATED added two safety utility vests to its line. The first is a solid orange vest that, unlike other SECO vests, has no retroreflective tape. This vest is designed primarily for those who may be experiencing...

Thales.(new & notable)
May 1, 2006... THALES introduced GPSDifferential Module, a software extension for MobileMapper CE that adds postprocessing to third-party mobile GIS/mapping software applications. Behind the scenes and without interrupting normal workflow, GPSDifferential...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS) released SOLO Field 3.5.(new & notable)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS (TDS) released SOLO Field 3.5. This latest update of TDS' GIS mapping software can run on the TDS Ranger X-Series rugged handheld computer as well as PDAs with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition or Windows Mobile 5.0...

Topcon.(new & notable)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TOPCON released Pocket 3D 5.11 construction software. New features include: auto-topographical data collection by vertical offset, tape dimensioning, Topcon total station support and support for use of multiple base stations. Pocket 3D 5.11...

Innerspace Technology Inc.(new & notable)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... INNERSPACE TECHNOLOGY INC. released the Model 620 Portable Hydrographic Survey System (PHSS). The PHSS is designed to collect X,Y,Z data from a small boat; no factory training is necessary. The self-contained system consists of survey depth...

NavCom Technology Inc.(new & notable)
May 1, 2006... NAVCOM TECHNOLOGY INC. enhanced the VueStar aerial survey solution, which utilizes the global satellite-based StarFire Network to provide precise positioning worldwide without the need for RTK base stations or GPS post-processing. This system...

HubTack Inc.(new & notable)
May 1, 2006... HUBTACK INC. announced that its document acquisition service is available via TDS Ranger and Recon data collectors. Users can access HubTack's service on the jobsite using a TDS Ranger or Recon with 802.11 or Bluetooth. Where wireless service...

RuxWorks LLC.(introduces GPS Pole Transporter)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... RUXWORKS LLC launched the GPS POLE TRANSPORTER product line designed to protect and secure survey equipment, and to eliminate re-initializing throughout the day. Three models are available: Truck Bed PT-100, Rear Wheel Well PT-200 and Receiver...

Intergraph Corporation.(new & notable)
May 1, 2006... INTERGRAPH CORPORATION announced a new version of its ImageStation suite of products, which offer an enhanced user interface, improved computation performance in triangulation, automatic Digital Terrain Modeling (DTM) and improved orthophoto...

Bentley Systems Incorporated.(new & notable)
May 1, 2006... BENTLEY SYSTEMS INCORPORATED announced that it connected MicroStation to GOOGLE INC.'s Google Earth service. As a result, users can view and navigate 2D/3D models of infrastructure projects in the context of the Google Earth environment....

Wolfram Research.(introduces GeometricalGeodesy, a new Mathematica application package)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WOLFRAM RESEARCH released GeometricalGeodesy, a new Mathematica application package for solving fundamental geodesy and analytical cartography problems. Primarily intended for computing coordinates in a variety of datums and coordinate systems,...

Boeing.(new & notable)
May 1, 2006... BOEING released SoftPlotter Version 4.1 digital map production software. SoftPlotter 4.1 runs on Windows XP and 2000 operating systems. The new version provides JPEG 2000 support that allows imagery compression with fewer artifacts than JPEG....

Surveying solutions.(funandgames)(Brief article)
May 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...

Vintage ads.(funandgames)
May 1, 2006... Courtesy of The Museum of Surveying. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]