Point of Beginning articles from November 2004

Point of Beginning archives from November 2004

Are we giving it away?(Editor's Note)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... This fall, Robert Taylor will be the first graduate of the Surveying/Geographical Information Systems program at Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) in Cleveland, Tennessee. He will also be the last. The program is expected to be canceled...

A note on survey "engineering".(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... The battle over surveying education rages on. As a survey educator I have a problem with schools referring to the programs they offer as "survey engineering" or "geomatics engineering." I have the utmost respect for our engineering brethren,...

The Great Sage Stone Expedition.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... September and October 2004 I write as a privileged member of "The Great Sage Stone Expedition," profoundly documented by Ian Wilson, LS, in the September and October issues. My involvement was instigated by the foresight of the late Mark...

NSPS foundation calls for disaster relief donations.(The Latest News)(National Society of Professional Surveyors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The National Society of Professional Surveyors Foundation (NSPSF) Inc. announced that, as of Sept. 11, 2004, all of the foundation's disaster relief funds had been given to the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society in response to the hurricanes...

USGS establishes National Geospatial Programs Office.(The Latest News)(U.S. Geological Survey)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In August the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) created a National Geospatial Programs Office (NGPO) to consolidate its geospatial data programs and to strengthen its research efforts. The creation of this office came as part of a reorganization...

USGS stops photographic production.(The Latest News)(United States Geological Survey)
November 1, 2004... The USGS Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center has transitioned from providing traditional photographic products from its historical film archive to providing only digital products from which paper prints can be generated by...

ABET accredits Metro State Surveying Program.(The Latest News)(Applied Science Accreditation Commission)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited the Metropolitan State College of Denver's Surveying and Mapping Program on Aug. 10, 2004. The accreditation is...

NGS upgrades User Friendly CORS web service.(The Latest News)(National Geodetic Survey, continously operating reference stations)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) revised its User Friendly CORS web service at www.ngs.noaa.gov/CORS/download1/ to allow users to get data for the current day. This upgraded capability allows users to collect field data and process it using...

Bridging the Gap II: an overview of the second ESRI-hosted Survey and GIS Summit.
November 1, 2004... In August, sunny San Diego once again hosted surveyors from around the globe--26 countries and 46 U.S. states--at the second annual ESRI Survey and GIS Summit. The summit, held August 7-10 at the Omni Hotel and San Diego Convention Center,...

Channeling the oceans: modernizing the Panama Canal with GPS.(global positioning systems)
November 1, 2004... Called one of the greatest engineering achievements the world has known, the Panama Canal officially opened in August of 1914. This transcontinental canal was the most expensive construction project in U.S. history to that time and cost around...

Learning what works: robotic technology and good communication help to build a school in rural Connecticut.(Spath-Bjorklund Associates Inc., Dalling Construction)
November 1, 2004... In the quaint, quiet town of Easton in Fairfield County, Conn., surveyors and contractors are learning what works to build a large-scale school facility. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The construction of Easton Elementary is part of a...

Soaring solo style: 'how GPS has helped a Texas surveyor to keep up with demand in his rural area.(Global Position System)
November 1, 2004... The survey business is booming in rural Texas and in recent months I've been taking on more jobs than I've ever handled in my brief time as a go-it-alone surveyor. Luckily, I've also found an affordable and highly capable GPS survey system to...

Savvy solutions: one company's proprietary solutions improve surveying processes and protect its employees.
November 1, 2004... With 42 years of surveying and engineering experience, The Schneider Corporation of Indianapolis has generated many unique ideas to improve work processes. Schneider, a multi-discipline firm with a staff of 250 employees, has consistently built...

Optical surveying data collection software.(Data Collector Software Survey)(Illustration)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR Carlson Software Carlson Software MANUFACTURER (ENTER SAME UNLESS Same Same ABOVE IS A DISTRIBUTOR) PRODUCT NAME OR MODEL NUMBER Carlson SurvCE Carlson Tsunami ...

GPS data collection/mapping software.(Data Collector Software Survey)(Illustration)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR Carlson Software Carlson Software MANUFACTURER Same Same PRODUCT NAME OR MODEL NUMBER Carlson SurvCE Carlson Tsunami SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (MSRP)...

Tool tips.(GIAA Mailbag)
November 1, 2004... Q: When I was taught to use automatic levels, I was told to tap the instrument lightly before taking a reading. Why? Isn't there a possibility that I could disturb the reading and affect the accuracy of the survey? A: Automatic levels work...

A legal look: limiting your liability.
November 1, 2004... There is one sure way to limit your liability as a land surveyor: don't make any mistakes. Since none of us can follow this sound piece of advice, let's explore a few other options. Three areas of business where you can make significant strides...

Readjustment of the National Spatial Reference System.(The GPS Observer)
November 1, 2004... If you looked on the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) home page at www.ngs.noaa.gov/ in July 2004, you would have seen a statement about the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude,...

Construction control.(Back to Basics)
November 1, 2004... Before a field surveyor can lay out any type of construction structure, control must be established on the jobsite. This includes horizontal control as well as vertical control. What are the types of horizontal control, how are they monumented...

Surveying solutions.(Brief Article)
November 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...

Topcon.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... 401 Topcon introduced CE-CDU software for Windows CE operated field controllers and hand-held computers. CE-CDU enables the Topcon FC-100, FC-1000 and other devices to perform many GPS+ functions. CE-CDU allows the user to check or change...

SECO Manufacturing Co. Inc. and SubSurface Instruments.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... 402 SECO Manufacturing Co. Inc. and SubSurface Instruments finalized an agreement that will allow SECO to distribute SubSurface Instruments' ML-1 and ML-1M magnetic locators. The strong, durable ML-1 and ML-1M magnetic locators sport...

Leica Geosystems.(New & Notable)
November 1, 2004... 403 Leica Geosystems introduced System 2000 series total stations: the TCA1800, TC2003 and TCA2003. The System 2000 total stations are ideal for applications such as bridge and tunnel building, structural work above and below ground,...

Intuicom.(New & Notable)
November 1, 2004... 404 Also, Leica Geosystems introduced a license-free spread-spectrum integrated radio module, which has been developed by Intuicom specifically to provide a high-performance RTK data link for the Leica System 1200 series of GPS surveying...

Trimble 3D Scanning Solutions.(New & Notable)
November 1, 2004... 405 Trimble 3D Scanning Solutions released PocketScape V2 software, which allows users to control Trimble GS-series scanners with a Pocket PC. PocketScape has an easy-to-use graphic interface that allows users to view z-pics and...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS).(New & Notable)
November 1, 2004... 406 Tripod Data Systems (TDS) released the TDS Locator accessory package, which consists of TDS Locator software, a Recon Extended CF-Cap and a Holux CompactFlash GPS WAAS-capable receiver. The package helps surveyors find the corners of...

Nikon-Trimble Co. Ltd.(New & Notable)
November 1, 2004... 407 Nikon-Trimble Co. Ltd. introduced the Nikon DTM-362 and NPL-362 total stations. The Nikon DTM-362 and NPL-362 models offer a long-lasting battery, and feature onboard software, a full alphanumeric keyboard and a large configurable...

College/university programs.(Directory)
November 1, 2004... The colleges and universities listed below offer one or more of the following degree programs in geomatics: A -- Associate B -- Bachelor M -- Master D -- Doctoral degrees I -- Independent Study Program To find out details about...

3D laser scanning service firms.(Directory)
November 1, 2004... Grimes Surveying & Mapping Inc. 5248 Huntington Dr. Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA 90032 323-223-1011, Fax 323-223-0265 Email: david@grimes-surveying.com www.grimes-surveying.com Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co. 50 Park...

GPS services firms.(Directory)
November 1, 2004... The vendors listed below offer one or more of the following types of GPS services: A -- Consulting B -- Equipment Rental C -- Field Work D -- Mission Planning E -- Postprocessing of Data F -- Training ...

Photogrammetric services firms.(Directory)
November 1, 2004... A -- Aerial Photography B -- Photographic Processing C -- Ground Control D -- Analytical Aerial Triangulation E -- Photogrammetric Mapping and Digital Data Acquisition F -- Orthophotography G -- Data Conversion H...

This month's candidate: Larry Phipps, PLS.(Meet Sam the Surveyor)
November 1, 2004... Owner/President, Phipps Surveying and Land Surveyors Workshops (LSW), Jefferson, N.C. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Credentials: BS Forestry and BS Wildlife Biology, North Carolina State University Other professional credentials: NC Real...

Technology & more.(Trimble Geomatics & Engineering)
November 1, 2004... Welcome to Trimble's first international edition of Technology & more. Initially launched in Europe, the publication received such positive response that we've expanded our coverage to include exciting user projects from around the globe....

Scanning the Columbia.(Technology & more)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Shortly after the Space Shuttle Columbia accident, Boeing, NASA, United Space Alliance, Trimble (MENSI) and other Shuttle vendors began digitally scanning more than four hundred debris pieces of Shuttle Columbia wreckage at the Kennedy Space...

Precision is everything: Ohio's Maumee River Crossing Project.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... Designated an Ohio State Scenic River in 1974, the Maumee runs more than 130 miles (209 km) from Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Lake Erie; 105 (169 km) of these miles are in Ohio. Close to the river mouth at Lake Erie, the waterway named by the Miami...

Japan's 2003 super quake: fear and quaking in Hokkaido.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... Two powerful earthquakes struck the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on September 26, 2003, injuring more than 400 people. The quake, which hit at about 4:50 am local time on a Friday, sparked off a fire at an oil depot, shook buildings...

CORS & COMET--measuring the way the earth moves.(Technology & more)(Continuously Operating Reference Station)(Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes and Tectonics)
November 1, 2004... UK scientists are using Trimble 5700 Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) receivers to investigate the earthquake cycle in southern Greece and continental deformation in Turkey. The five-year project is the work of The Centre for...

Hangzhou Bay Transoceanic Bridge.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... The Zhejiang Province, located on the eastern coast of China, is the site of a RMB$14 billion (US$1.7 billion) construction project: building the longest "ocean-crossing bridge" in the world. And Trimble positioning technology is helping to...

Creating a digital bridge between field and office.(Technology & more)(CDS/Muery Services)
November 1, 2004... The San Antonio International Airport asked the Texas surveying firm CDS/Muery Services (CDS/MS) to devise a process for surveying obstructions around the airport and outlining areas. To make things more challenging, the project included...

Does VRS mean "very rich surveyors"? Ordnance Survey creates Great Britain's first virtual reference station network.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... In recent years, Global Positioning System (GPS) surveying technology has been the subject of intense research and development that has led to improvements in practicality and efficiency benefiting surveyors everywhere and encouraging many to...

Integrated surveying.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... In today's fast-paced and challenging business environment, surveyors--whether small one-man operations or large companies--are continually searching for ways to increase their productivity and profitability. A key factor in maintaining...

GPS aids energy project: New Zealand has one of the best--though underutilized--wind resources in the world. That's not to say the country is full of hot air either.(Technology & more)(Global Positioning System)
November 1, 2004... Currently the Pacific island nation accounts for only 0.3 percent of the world's installed wind energy capacity. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But that's about to change. State-owned electricity generator and retailer Meridian Energy is...

Surveying on the Internet.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... The Internet has transformed our world forever. If you had told people just 10 years ago they would spend most of their working day connected to an electronic world of information and communication they would have found it difficult to imagine....

What's surveying got to do with it? It's a complex issue. And surveyors are helping to resolve it.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... With centuries of migration helping to create the rich and diverse ethnicity the Philippines enjoy, determining land ownership has not been straightforward. From the initial Negritos who migrated to the 300,000 sq km Southeastern Asian...

Centuries old water mystery uncovered with modern technology.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... Mission Santa Ines, near Santa Barbara, California, is one of the best-known of 21 California missions built by Franciscan priests between 1769-1823. Rich in history and tradition, Mission Santa Ines has been a popular source for research and...

Returning to K2.(Technology & more)
November 1, 2004... On July 31, 1954, the Italian expedition led by Professor Ardito Desio became the first ever to reach the summit of K2 in Pakistan. The local name of K2 is Chogori, which in the Balti language means the King of mountains. At 8,611 meters above...