Point of Beginning articles from November 2006

Point of Beginning archives from November 2006

A season to be generous.(gift giving)
November 1, 2006... A season will be upon us next month that is renowned worldwide as an opportunity to display our generosity to others. Some look at it as a holiday season and others simply as a good opportunity for a tax break at the end of the year. Either...

On licensure: September 2006.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... I have a simple solution to NCEES' calculator problem: write a test that doesn't require the use of calculators. Or is that too simple? Picking a certain brand and type of calculator will be very time-consuming for NCEES as the computer...

Traversing the law: August 2006.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... When I receive the latest issue of POB, I always turn to Jeff Lucas' column first, and enjoy each commentary. I applaud him for saying what needs to be said about the two camps of land surveyors: the problem finders and the problem solvers....

ABET accredits Idaho State geomatics and civil engineering programs.(Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc. accredits Idaho State University)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... This past August, the geomatics technology and civil engineering technology programs at Idaho State University (ISU) received accreditation from the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc., the recognized accreditor of college and...

ASPRS doubles funding for three scholarships.(ASPRS Foundation Inc.)
November 1, 2006... The ASPRS Foundation Inc., an independent organization established by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, increased prize amounts for three ASPRS scholarships to be awarded in 2007. The Robert N. Colwell Memorial...

St. Louis hosts final Lewis and Clark Bicentennial event.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... On September 20-24, 2006, the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial hosted "Currents of Change," the final event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The nationwide series of commemorative events...

GPS satellite launched from Cape Canaveral.(newsline)
November 1, 2006... On September 25, 2006, the second modernized GPS Block IIR-M satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Designated GPS IIR-15(M), this...

Florida society recognizes Indian River County's Surveying Chapter.(Florida Surveying and Mapping Society)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... This past summer, the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) announced that the Indian River County's Surveying and Mapping Chapter received the 2006 Professional Development Award. The Florida society recognized the Indian River County's...

Calendar of events.
November 1, 2006... NOVEMBER 5-8 Trimble Dimensions Conference 2006 Trimble Las Vegas * 888/371-1742 www.trimbleevents.com 6-8 2006 Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide User Conference Leica Geosystems San Ramon,...

Solutions for skyrocketing data storage: a variety of options are available to store the rapidly growing amount of data produced by surveying and engineering firms.
November 1, 2006... Data is the lifeblood of today's professional firms. Data and file-storage needs for surveying, engineering and environmental consulting firms continue to grow at an impressive rate. According to a recent survey by ZweigWhite, an information...

The evolution of the data collector: a look at the history and progression of data collection hardware.
November 1, 2006... Electronic data collection is so commonplace today that it is an exception when it isn't used. Early surveyors spent a lot of time in the field, sometimes even to the extent of processing their data and making maps in the field. Rising labor...

2006 web-exclusive Data Collector Hardware and Software Surveys: POB rolls out its Data Collector Surveys in a searchable, user-friendly online format.
November 1, 2006... This month, POB's focus on data collection solutions extends beyond the printed page. We've taken it one step further on our website, and we're excited to announce the 2006 Data Collector Hardware and Software Surveys are available in an online...

The latest in laser scanners: today's laser scanners offer even more benefits for surveyors.
November 1, 2006... Laser scanning, also known as 3D imaging, terrestrial LIDAR, high-definition scanning and 3D laser scanning, is becoming less of a specialized service and more a part of everyday surveying. Part of the reason behind the growing acceptance of...

Combating survey equipment theft: surveyors must employ precautions and technology to safeguard valuable tools.
November 1, 2006... Although it was almost unheard of 20 years ago, today survey equipment and instrument theft is a growing problem. And the cost--in terms of insurance premiums, replacement equipment and wasted hours of labor--is staggering. In my home state of...

Safety equipment.(productfocus)
November 1, 2006... Information for POB's special product focus on safety equipment has been provided by the respective manufacturers and distributors. For more information on the variety of safety products available, visit the websites listed under each entry....

Sokkia introduces new SRX robotic total station.
November 1, 2006... This fall, Sokkia Corporation introduced the SRX, a fully robotic total station with several market-leading features. On Sept. 19, 2006, President Hitoshi Ito of Sokkia Co. Ltd. unveiled the instrument at the North American headquarters in...

Understanding horizontal control datums.(thegpsobserver)
November 1, 2006... This past spring, I became a professor again when I was asked to teach "Satellite Geodesy" for the Department of Surveying Engineering at New Mexico State University. To prepare myself for the two hours of lecture and the three-hour lab I...

Mistakes in traffic safety.(safetysense)
November 1, 2006... The importance of traffic safety in the surveying profession cannot be overemphasized. At every seminar I present, I always devote as much time as possible to information from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and OSHA...

The surveyor as expert evaluator of evidence, Part II.(traversingthelaw)
November 1, 2006... In this continuation of the discussion we began last month on our case-in-chief, Dykes v. Arnold, (1) we will continue to explore this example of the land surveyor's misunderstanding of boundaries and misapplication of the rules of surveying....

Tool tips.(using optical theodolites and gobal positioning system)
November 1, 2006... Q When I used optical theodolites, I checked and adjusted the horizontal and vertical collimation myself. I noticed in my new total station's instruction manual that I only have 30 arc seconds or so of adjustment I can use. The manufacturer...

Point Inc.(turningpoints)
November 1, 2006... POINT INC., Olathe, Kan., announced Shigeyuki Sawaguchi as its new president. Sawaguchi provides his extensive product knowledge, international business experience and new vision to further the development of SOKKIA GPS products around the...

Woolpert Construction Services LLC.(Robert Compton appointed)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WOOLPERT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LLC (WCS), Columbus, Ohio, named Robert Compton, PE, as its new president. Compton leads Woolpert's Columbus office and is responsible for developing the firm's national and international clientele. He brings more...

Topcon Positioning Systems.(turningpoints)
November 1, 2006... TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS (TPS), Livermore, Calif., named Dale Jefferson as software business development manager. Jefferson is based at the Topcon Technology Center in Columbus, Ohio. His primary responsibility is to develop software business...

Topcon.(Peter Wallace, Murray Lodge, and Steve Briggs promoted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Also, TOPCON announced several key promotions. Peter Wallace, former national sales manager of survey, was promoted to director of survey sales. Murray Lodge, former national sales manager of construction, assumed the position of director of...

Surdex Corporation.(new office opened in Texas)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... SURDEX CORPORATION, St. Louis, Mo., opened a new office in Houston, Texas. Staff at the new Houston location include: Randy Burkham, vice president of customer solutions; Jeff Tippen, senior project engineer; and Karen Burkham, Southwest office...

Frontier Surveying Company.(appointments and promotions)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... FRONTIER SURVEYING COMPANY, Corpus Christi, Texas, announced additions and staffing changes. James B. Gillis, NSLS, CLS, RPLS, joined Frontier as survey operations manager. Gillis has more than 30 years of experience in surveying and mapping,...

RETTEW.(David Andros, Donald Schmalzle appointed and Michael Rielly promoted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... RETTEW, Lancaster, Pa., announced staffing additions and promotions at the firm's Liberty and Margaretville, N.Y. offices. David Andros joined RETTEW with more than six years of experience as a design engineer. As a project engineer for the...

Coleman Engineering Company.(Tom Gordon appointed)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... COLEMAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, Iron Mountain, Mich., announced the return of Tom Gordon, PE, to its Iron Mountain office. Gordon was with Coleman Engineering Company from 1978 to 1988 and rejoins the firm as the civil engineering department...

Greenhorne & O'mara Inc.(turningpoints)
November 1, 2006... GREENHORNE & O'MARA INC. (G & O), Laurel, Md., appointed Hugh H. Hughes, RLS, LS, as project director of surveys. Working from the Fairfax, Va. office, Hughes oversees survey projects and operations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for...

Tripod Data Systems.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS (TDS) announced the Ranger NX, a low-cost version of the Ranger data collector. The Ranger NX features a 312 MHz Intel XScale processor, 128 MB of Flash storage and an alphanumeric keypad (but does not come with CompactFlash...

Topcon Positioning Systems released the GTS-900A and GPT-9000A total station series.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS released the GTS-900A and GPT-9000A total station series. Designed as complete robotic systems, the new total station series include Topcon's new FC-200 field controller and RC-3 tracking system. The GPT-9000A robotic...

Topcon Positioning Systems updated TopNET CORS and TopNET RTK networking software.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... Additionally, TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS updated TopNET CORS and TopNET RTK networking software. New features of Version 6.02 of the TopNET CORS software include: support for new meteorological devices (Paroscientific MET 3/3A Sensor) and...

Leica Geosystems.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS released new firmware for the Sprinter 100M electronic levels with line-leveling applications and onboard GSI (Grid Security Infrastructure) commands. The new line-leveling applications cover the most common field leveling...

Autodesk Inc. released Autodesk Topobase 2007.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... AUTODESK INC. released Autodesk Topobase 2007, an infrastructure design and management solution. Built on Autodesk Map 3D and Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise software, Autodesk Topobase 2007 addresses the challenges faced by organizations that...

Autodesk Inc. announced its Civil3D Community Site.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... Also, AUTODESK INC. announced its Civil3D Community Site. The new website, available at http://civilcommunity.autodesk.com, helps surveyors and engineers stay informed on the latest Civil 3D-related developments, interesting projects and other...

LO Ink.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... LO INK introduced a deluxe leather case for the HP-49 and HP-50. The leather case is custom designed to fit the HP-49 and HP-50 series handheld calculators, and is made of heavy-duty leather with with a double backing for extra stiffness. It...

Blue Marble Geographics.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... BLUE MARBLE GEOGRAPHICS announced that Microsoft Corporation licensed the GeoCalc.NET software developer toolkit to enhance and expand the data processing capabilities required to create Virtual Earth. GeoCalc 6.2 is an object-oriented, cross...

Faro Technologies Inc.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... FARO TECHNOLOGIES INC. released seven specialized software packages that enhance the capability of its Laser Scanner LS product line. The new industry-specific software packages enable users to process and present their results quickly and more...

Airborne 1 Corporation.(service introduction)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... AIRBORNE 1 CORPORATION launched a Southwest LiDAR program offering reduced fees and improved turnaround times for projects in the Southwestern United States. For projects within a 500-nautical-mile radius from Airborne's Oxnard, Calif, flight...

Global Imaging Technologies.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... GLOBAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES (GIT) announced its GIT G2010 sensor series. At 20 kg (44 lbs) and a tenth of the weight of current digital systems, the G2010IMU model incorporates a highly accurate inertial measurement unit (IMU) is coupled to...

Precision Surveying Solutions.(new & notable)
November 1, 2006... PRECISION SURVEYING SOLUTIONS announced the DC50 data collector. The DC50 is based on Hewlett Packard's HP50g and has an intuitive graphical interface and direct keyboard access for all field work functions. The DC50 is weather-proof,...

Hayes Instrument Co.(BanTam X Series Hayes Communication System launched)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... HAYES INSTRUMENT CO. released the new BanTam X Series Hayes Communication System. The communication system consists of two small, lightweight Bluetooth radios that compete with the heavier UHF radio used with robotic total stations. The BanTam...

Surveying solutions.(tests, problems and exercises)
November 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 beside the problem, in a shaded box. We hope you enjoy...

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