Point of Beginning articles from May 2007

Point of Beginning archives from May 2007

Comma, credentials.(editor'spoints)(Editorial)
May 1, 2007... For every editorial piece published in POB, I enquire about any possible credentials of those mentioned in stories. I believe it's important--mandatory--to include those Ps, Ls and Ss after names. They mean something--they mean a lot. My...

The business side.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... December 2006 It is always a pleasure to read articles such as the not-so-distant article by Milton Denny, PLS [titled] "Technology Clash." In the past few years, I have attended several seminars [that] bring pin farms out of the closet....

Technology benchmark.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... March 2007 I agree [that] getting to know your clients is the way to ensure business. Build trust, prove to them you are in town for the long haul. One way I found to do that was joining my local Chamber of Commerce and attending the...

GIAA mailbag tool tips.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... March 2007 The major fallacy with Saarloos' trigonometric topography technique is that the rod height must remain constant to utilize it. I change the rod height dozens of times during a topographic survey to see over cars, through trees,...

Museum of Surveying Relocates and gets new name: on March 1, 2007, plans were finalized to establish the National Museum of Surveying (NMoS), a new museum piggybacking on the foundation of the Lansing, Mich.-based Museum of Surveying.(newsline)
May 1, 2007... The improved National Museum of Surveying will be located in downtown Springfield, Ill., the area of the Prairie State that was once home to Abraham Lincoln, an historical surveyor. The new museum follows in the footsteps of the pioneering...

Calendarofevents.(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... MAY 14-17 2007 GeoTec Event: Visualization Energizes Action Calgary, Alberta, Canada 303/355-2450 / eventinfo@geotecevent.com www.geotecevent.com 21-24 Intergraph 2007 Nashville, Tenn. 256/730-2007 /...

Remembering ACSM 2007: a few snippets from the annual conference and technology exhibit in St. Louis.(American Congress on Surveying and Mapping )(Conference news)
May 1, 2007... Embracing St. Louis' roots as the "Gateway to the West," more than 1,400 attendees gathered on March 9-12 for the annual American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) Conference and Technology Exhibit. This year's conference, themed "The...

Industry Scan: a review of SPAR 2007, the fourth annual conference on laser scanning.(Conference news)
May 1, 2007... Just outside of Houston, a varied group of professionals gathered for the fourth annual SPAR conference on laser scanning from March 25-27, 2007. Organized by Spar Point Research of Danvers, Mass., the conference grew this year to host 575...

POB'S 2007 biennial salary and benefits survey; A sample of surveyors compensation across the country.
May 1, 2007... Since our December 2006 website poll revealed that 47 percent of pollers do not outsource their work, the expectation for surveyors' compensation was that it would be favorable in most circumstances. Our biennial collection of annual salaries,...

School and the money pool: how education influences the licensure and wages of professional land surveyors and surveying technicians.
May 1, 2007... The 2007 field season is fast approaching and already in full swing in many areas of the country. College and university surveying and mapping students are preparing to begin their new summer jobs as productive members of survey crews, ready to...

On-the-Spot training: new online searchable training source provides users with as-needed instruction.
May 1, 2007... As an independent consultant I have access to a lot of information and quality colleagues to turn to when needed. Many surveying employees, however, find themselves spending hours online sifting through blogs and websites for solutions to...

GLOBAL Connections GNSS: networks speed national infrastructure development worldwide.
May 1, 2007... Like electrical systems were a century ago, or cellular networks are today, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks have become essential components of national and regional infrastructures. While the initial advantage of instant,...

A grave endeavor: A volunteer mapping project locates and honors civil war veterans.
May 1, 2007... While studying for my land surveyor's exam in 2004, I came up with an idea to combine my professional experience with a favorite hobby. As a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), an organization that aims to preserve...

Your fellow surveyor as your friend.(thebusinessside)(Conference notes)
May 1, 2007... I have written a number of times about thinking of your client as your friend. This column's topic is about the next logical step: thinking of your fellow surveyor as your friend. I saw this scenario develop recently when I attended a state...

Fees, claims and the economy.(onthelevel)
May 1, 2007... In "The Business Side" column of the February 2007 issue of POB, Milt Denny drew our attention to the beginning of a slowdown in the economy. By the time this issue of POB comes out, we'll have a better idea of the extent of a slump in the land...

Disability income and long-term care insurance.(insuranceforesight)
May 1, 2007... One of the most frequent insurance topics my clients enquire about is disability insurance. Clients want to know whether it is the same as long-term care insurance. The answer is very simply NO. Disability income insurance and long-term care...

Is the professional status of surveying in jeopardy?(capitolgains)
May 1, 2007... A vigorous debate is brewing in the geospatial community over issues of licensure, government procurement of services, training and education for those entering the field, accreditation of college programs, and the classifications and...

OPUS rapid static.(fromthegroundup)(Online Positioning User Service )(Column)
May 1, 2007... I have written several columns over the years about the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and its importance to the surveying and mapping professions. I don't hide the fact that I am a big fan of the NGS. This agency is incredibly important to me...

The ambulatory nature of water boundaries.(traversingthelaw)
May 1, 2007... Continuing with our water theme, this month we are going to examine another aspect of water boundaries that is often misunderstood by the land surveyor: the ambulatory nature of water boundaries. What do I mean by ambulatory? Simply put--they...

Magellan.(new&notable)(global positioning system)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... MAGELLAN introduced the ProMark3 RTK, designed to provide surveyors with centimeter accuracy in a realtime solution. ProMark3 RTK includes new real-time capabilities in addition to its existing complete post-processing and mapping features. It...

Spectra Precision.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... SPECTRA PRECISION introduced the EPOCH 25 RTK GPS system for the U.S. survey market. The EPOCH 25 includes highly accurate GPS technology for cadastral, topographic, control, stakeout and other precision survey applications. The complete RTK...

Topcon positioning systems.(new&notable)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS announced the first GNSS receiver with digital UHF radio design. Topcon's GR-3 now has universal satellite tracking (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) and UHF/spread spectrum radio options. The digital radio design provides a...

Topcon.(new&notable)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Also, TOPCON released version 6.11 of TopSURV field software. The new version includes: Windows Mobile 5 operating system; support for both the PanAM and Anik WAAS satellites; L2C s/n to view the new modernized GPS signal; support for new G24...

Topcon.(new&notable)(Topcon Positioning Systems Inc.'s geographic information system)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Additionally, TOPCON released version 6.11 of Topcon Tools office software. The new version includes: a post processing/advanced module with raw data plot and Epoch View, a Troposphere Model, multiple new antenna calibrations and 7-parameter...

Applanix.(new&notable)(geographic information system)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... APPLANIX introduced a new GNSS receiver option for POS AV, its airborne vehicle position and orientation system. The new receiver option supports GPS and GLONASS signals. Raw data can be logged from the receiver along with IMU data for...

Lo Ink Specialties.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... LO INK SPECIALTIES introduced the new Quick Draw Leather Data Collector Case designed to fit most large data collectors on the market today. The case is made of thick leather for durability and is small enough to fit on a belt or tripod. It has...

Optech Incorporated's Industrial & 3D Imaging Division.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... OPTECH INCORPORATED'S INDUSTRIAL & 3D IMAGING DIVISION and APPLIED IMAGERY released Version 6.0.0 Quick Terrain Modeler software. In an ongoing strategic partnership, Optech will continue to provide Applied Imagery's Quick Terrain Modeler...

Optech Incorporated.(new&notable)(laser scanner)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Also, OPTECH INCORPORATED released the ILRIS-3DVP (value package). The ILRIS-3DVP option provides the same accuracy, durability and expediency as the ILRIS-3D but in an economy package. The ILRIS-3DVP features dynamic scanning at ranges from 3...

Faro Ttechnologies INC.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... FARO TECHNOLOGIES INC. released FARO Scene v4.1. Enhancements in FARO Scene v4.1 include: new Wi-Fi/WLAN scanner connection, enabling users to control scanning from their PDA, mobile phone, laptop or other Internet Explorer-equipped devices;...

Faro Technologies.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... Also, FARO TECHNOLOGIES announced a new color Laser Scanner LS. When combined with the specially calibrated color bracket, the new Nikon D200 and FARO Scene v4.1 software, the Laser Scanner LS provides: high-speed capture of 50 million color...

Intergraph Corporation.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... INTERGRAPH CORPORATION released version 5.1 of ImageStation suite and introduced ImageStation XE. ImageStation suite enables users to process digital photogrammetry workflows from project creation to orientation and triangulation, 3D feature...

Eagle point corporation.(new&notable)
May 1, 2007... EAGLE POINT CORPORATION released the Pinnacle Series software and services solution. Pinnacle Series provides the ability to integrate design processes with the technology that engineers and designers currently use everyday by cataloging...

Topcon corporation.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2007... TOPCON CORPORATION, Tokyo, agreed upon a basic agreement of a combination between Topcon and SOKKIA COMPANY LIMITED, Tokyo. The combination is expected to be in the form of Topcon acquiring the shares of Sokkia and then Sokkia becoming a...

Fugro NV.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2007... FUGRO NV, Leidschendam, Netherlands, announced an agreement to acquire EARTHDATA group of companies, Frederick, Md., including HORIZONS INC., Rapid City, S.D. The agreement culminates years of planning to ensure the long-term growth and...

Carlson Software INC.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2007... Karen Cummings joined CARLSON SOFTWARE INC., Maysville, Ky., as director of marketing and public relations. Cummings has more than 20 years of experience in writing, marketing and public relations. Her position was created due to the more than...

Allen precision equipment.(turningpoints)(appointment of Bo Hadley )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... ALLEN PRECISION EQUIPMENT, Duluth, Ga., named Bo Hadley as production supervisor of its service department. Hadley joined Allen Precision in 2001 and has 27 years of surveying instrument repair experience. He manages the workflow of incoming...

Airborne 1 corporation.(turningpoints)(expansion)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... AIRBORNE 1 CORPORATION, El Segundo, Calif., expanded the office space of its headquarters to accommodate the company's rapid growth over the last year. In response to market demand for its LiDAR products and services, Airborne nearly doubled...

WilsonMiller.(turningpoints)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... WILSONMILLER, relocated its Fort Myers, Fla. office to the Westlinks Business Park. For more than 20 years, WilsonMiller's Fort Meyers office has provided a full complement of professional consulting services, including planning, design, civil...

Wilsonmiller Inc.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2007... Also, WILSONMILLER INC., Naples, Fla., named David S. Rivera, PE, as the head of transportation services. Rivera has 28 years of experience and oversees traffic planning and engineering services for private and public sector infrastructure...

Central Colorado professional surveyors (CCPS).(turningpoints)
May 1, 2007... John Doty, PLS, and Bill Buntrock, PLS, were elected to serve for the CENTRAL COLORADO PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS (CCPS), Denver, a chapter of the Professional Land Surveyors of Colorado (PLSC), for the 2007-2009 term. Doty is field operations...

Lochrane Engineering.(turningpoints)
May 1, 2007... LOCHRANE ENGINEERING, Orlando, Fla., hired Eric C. Raynor, PSM, as project surveyor for the survey division. Raynor has re than 23 years of experience on a variety of projects involving boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction layout...

Psomas.(turningpoints)(appointments of Matthew Clark, Andrew Gust and Thomas Herbel)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... PSOMAS, Los Angeles, appointed five new principals to its firm: Matthew Clark, Andrew Gust, Thomas Herbel, Thomas Lodge and Robert Olson. Clark is the public works team leader in Psomas' Tucson, Ariz. office, and has 14 years of experience...

RBF consulting (RBF).(turning points)
May 1, 2007... RBF CONSULTING (RBF), Irvine, Calif., announced a new management team for its Palm Desert, Calif. office. William L. Green, senior vice president, was promoted to regional manager of the firm's Palm Desert and Temecula offices. Mike Sutton,...

ASPRS Florida Region Board.(American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing appointed Brian E. Murphy )(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... ASPRS FLORIDA REGION BOARD, Fairfax, Va., elected 3001's Brian E. Murphy as director for the ASPRS Florida Region. Murphy has more than six years of experience in the GIS and remote sensing industry, and has been with 3001's Gainesville, Fla.,...

Hancock Associates.
May 1, 2007... HANCOCK ASSOCIATES, Danvers, Mass., hired Daniel C. MacRitchie, PE, as engineering manager for its Salem, N.H. office. MacRitchie has earned a variety of licenses, including professional engineer licensure in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and...

Katie Perkins, EIT, joined BAY DESIGN GROUP P.C.
May 1, 2007... Katie Perkins, EIT, joined BAY DESIGN GROUP P.C., Gloucester, Va., as an engineer in the Middle Peninsula office. Perkins has experience in land development design and utility system projects. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

V3 Companies.
May 1, 2007... V3 COMPANIES, Woodridge, Ill., promoted Andrew Heinen, PE, to commercial services leader. Heinen has more than eight years of experience with the management of commercial projects from the feasibility stage through design, permitting and...

V3 Companies.
May 1, 2007... Also, V3 COMPANIES, Woodridge, Ill., promoted Patrick Kennedy, PE, Tomas Valaitis, PE, and Louis Gallucci, PE. Kennedy is president of V3 Companies of Illinois and oversees the delivery of its multi-faceted services, including civil...

EPOCH 25:.high quality at an affordable price.(productofthemonth)(Spectra Precision Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The Spectra Precision EPOCH 25 L1/L2 GPS System is a multipurpose surveying tool designed to meet the everyday needs of surveyors. The EPOCH 25 offers high-quality measurement results in several modes including RTK and Static by using advanced...