Point of Beginning articles from October 2007

Point of Beginning archives from October 2007

Acquiring and inspiring.(editor's points)
October 1, 2007... Numerous students--many of whom were helping hands to survey crews over the summer--have gone back to school to prepare for their futures. Will the survey crews see them again? Will any of these students enter the surveying profession in...

Technology benchmark.(letters)
October 1, 2007... June 2007 I have read your article and have sympathy for the engineers and surveyors who lose business because of new practices by construction companies. I have been involved with, takeoffs and/or model-king since the late '80s; I started...

URISA promotes GIS in K-12 education.(newsline)
October 1, 2007... In August, the Urban and regional information systems association (URISA) debuted a new educational track during its 45th annual conference in Washington, D.C. The initiative, titled "K-12 GIS Education," was developed to help GIS...

EU and U.S. announce common GPS-Galileo signal.
October 1, 2007... On July 26, the European Union and the United States announced an agreement to adopt a common GPS-Galileo signal for civilian use called MBOC (multiplexed binary offset carrier). According to the European Commission, this will allow receivers...

Calendarofevents.(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... OCTOBER 10-14 TSPS Annual Meeting Texas Society of Professional Surveyors Arlington, Texas 512/327-7871 anneg@tsps.org www.tsps.org 18-19 PESI Surveying and Real...

Design for the departed: with robotics and advanced software, one Texas surveyor develops a niche as a "cemetery development specialist".
October 1, 2007... Floyd Ward knows how to benefit from land development. A professional land surveyor registered in Texas and Colorado with 37 years of surveying experience under his belt, Ward started his firm, Accutex Survey Systems Inc., in Austin in 1981. He...

Linked without baselines: GPS reference stations fulfill expectations while delivering a network of opportunity.
October 1, 2007... When you read a road map, you see a network of interconnecting highways with the interstate system providing the backbone. When you think of the Internet, you imagine a huge cloud of magically linked data that moves through space from server to...

A fast-track solution: virtual survey network helps satisfy clients who need that survey done yesterday.
October 1, 2007... Clients of Wood Rodgers--like clients everywhere--demand steadily faster turnaround on their surveying projects. For them the old adage is true: "We need it yesterday!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wood Rodgers, an engineering and surveying...

RTK: Behind the scenes: the specifics on managing.
October 1, 2007... Today, thousands of users around the world access highly precise correction data on hundreds of Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) networks ranging in size from a few reference stations to hundreds of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers....

On common ground: real-time GNSS network solution rolls out in Albuquerque in time to support a huge city development project.
October 1, 2007... A real-time GNSS network has gone online in Albuquerque, N.M., just in time to support the surveying requirements of the huge Mesa del Sol development project on the city's south side. The Albuquerque Real Time GNSS Network (ARTGN) will give...

Controlling the CHAOS: calgary firm uses advanced surveying solutions to generate a seamless workflow a chaotic construction backdrop.
October 1, 2007... Mention Calgary, Alberta, and people tend to think of oil and long, frigid winters--and even the Calgary Stampede annual rodeo event. But in recent years, Calgarians have noted another characteristic prominent in its region, one that has been...

A geospatial marriage.(Company overview)
October 1, 2007... A land surveying company, a geographic information system (GIS) company and a title insurance company: Is there a more obvious marriage of businesses? John Teale, PLS, and Troy Hayes, PLS, don't think so. They've been striving toward...

Insuring risky business: assessing liability and insuring for risk in laser scanning.
October 1, 2007... What do service providers, EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) providers and asset owners involved in 3D laser scanning need to know about assessing liability and insuring against risk? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For service...

Easy Drives' RTK network.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... Now, Easy Drives' RTK network is central Texas' first and only Leica wide-area, high-accuracy, real-time GPS reference station network. Perform centimeter -accurate RTK surveys with one rover, eliminating a base station. Regardless of equipment...

Leica Geosystems.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... Leica Geosystems would like to introduce the newest member of the System 1200 family TPS 1200+. With this new family member, Leica Geosystems has doubled the EDM accuracy replaced the CCD camera with a CMOS sensor and extended the...

Carlson Software Inc.(informationshowcase)(Company overview)
October 1, 2007... Founded in 1983, Carlson Software specializes in CAD software design, field data collection and machine control products for the civil engineering, surveying, construction and mining industries worldwide, providing its customers with one-source...

Hayes instrument.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... Buying survey supplies and accessories has never been easier, thanks to HayesInstrument.com. With a plethora of products available, field-relevant organization, pictures and descriptions; everything you need can be found quickly and easily. The...

SOKKIA GIR1450 L1 DGPS System.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... The SOKKIA GIR1450 is an ideal solution for mining, navigational, agricultural and hydrographic applications. The system features a high-performance, 12-channel L1 DGPS receiver offering beacon, OmniSTAR, WAAS/EGNOS and other SBAS technologies...

Positioning solutions company.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... Positioning Solutions Company has been providing our customers with a complete package of survey and construction equipment, including GPS solutions, total stations, lasers, estimating tools, software, positioning optical instruments, supplies...

TDS Nomad.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... The new TDS Nomad packs even more functionality into the most powerful and full-featured data collector available. Featuring popular, field-proven Survey Pro software with all the capabilities land surveyors need, the Nomad is powered by an 806...

Trimble GX 3D scanner: capture all the points you need, not just all the points.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... Equipped with innovative Trimble SureScan technology, the new-generation Trimble GX 3D Scanner lets you specify the exact density of points you want to capture on target objects such as roads and bridges. You won't capture too many points at...

A better way to RTK.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... The GSR2700 RSX features a high-precision GNSS reference station offering GPS + GLONASS RTK corrections and raw data to an unlimited number of rover receivers in the field allowing for versatility. For high-precision RTK surveying applications...

Topcon Positioning System.(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... Topcon Positioning Systems' (TPS) popular HiPer receiver series has been expanded to include two new digital design models. The HiPer Ga and Gb models feature a completely integrated, cable-free system design with DSP radio technology. Offering...

Have you seen POBonline.com lately?(informationshowcase)
October 1, 2007... We're continuously making updates to the POB Web site to better serve you. Now we've added rotating photos to give you a quick look into current articles. Get the latest helpful information at POBonline.com while you're in the office, in order...

Physical geodesy 201.(thegpsobserver)(Column)
October 1, 2007... The previous article in this series, "Physical Geodesy 101," (POB August 2007) described the methods of collecting gravity measurements. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this article I will describe how the geoid can be determined from...

Company planning for the future, part 2.(thebusinessside)
October 1, 2007... This second installment of my series on company planning will deal with management of the company on a day-to-day basis. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every issue in business revolves around management, including clients, geographic location,...

The international versus U.S. Survey Foot.(fromthegroundup)
October 1, 2007... How long is a foot? Does it surprise you that in many surveying and mapping applications the true answer is, "it depends"? There are two definitions for the foot as used in surveying and mapping, namely the U.S. Survey Foot and the...

Developing a new GIS, part 2: some of you may have heard the ESRI catchphrase "geography connects people." Well, nowhere is it more true than in the world of Geographic Information Systems.(surveyinggis)(Geographic Information System)
October 1, 2007... In the previous installment, we established that GIS is about the data. But it is also very much about the people. It's about the people who provide the data, and about the people who use that data. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who Are The...

A question of law and fact.(traversingthelaw)
October 1, 2007... There is a line of thinking within and without the surveying community that goes something like this: The surveyor's only role is to deal with the facts as contained in the client's deed; all other issues with regard to boundaries can only be...

Rocky Mountain Transit and Laser.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRANSIT AND LASER, Sandy, Utah, and TRANSIT INSTRUMENTS, Murray, Utah, formed a partnership to sell TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS survey and construction products. For the past three years, Rocky Mountain has sold Topcon machine...

Topcon Positioning Systems.(turningpoints)(Scott Langbein appointed)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Scott Langbein rejoined TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS, Livermore, Calif., as product marketing manager for optical, scanning and imaging products. Langbein has worked in the positioning technology business for more than 10 years, and began his...

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging.(turningpoints)(Guy Perkins appointed)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS GEOSPATIAL IMAGING, Norcross, Ga., appointed Guy Perkins as vice president, Global Services. Perkins is the former CEO of the recently acquired EARTH RESOURCE MAPPING LTD. (ER MAPPER) by Leica Geosystems. With more than 20...

Lamp, Rynearson & Associates Inc.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... LAMP, RYNEARSON & ASSOCIATES INC., Omaha, Neb., acquired PICKETT ENGINEERING, Greeley, Colo. Pickett Engineering is now known as PICKETT ENGINEERING, A LAMP RYNEARSON PARTNER. Expanded services include survey, community design, planning,...

MultiVision USA.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... MULTIVISION USA, Orlando, Fla., relocated its headquarters. The new headquarters is home to MultiVision USA marketing, sales and business development support personnel, and is located at 6925 Lake Ellenor Dr., Suite 103, Orlando, FL 32809.

Trimble.(turningpoints)(appointment of Ulf J. Johansson and Nickolas W. Vande Steeg at Trimble Navigation Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... TRIMBLE, Sunnyvale, Calif., elected Ulf J. Johansson as chairman and Nickolas W. Vande Steeg as vice chairman of its board. The announcement comes after the July death of chairman Robert S. Cooper, who served on Trimble's board since 1989....

Definiens.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... DEFINIENS, Morristown, N.J., appointed Greg Calaman as vice president of its operations in North America. Calaman has been a member of the Definiens management team since April 2006.

The ASPRS foundation.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... THE ASPRS FOUNDATION, Bethesda, Md., appointed Dr. Tina Cary from CARY AND ASSOCIATES, Longmont, Colo., and Dr. Clifford Greve from SAIC, Farnham, Va., to its board of trustees. Bryan J. Logan from FUGRO-EARTHDATA INTERNATIONAL INC., Frederick,...

DRMP.(turningpoints)(Steven Kieffer appointed)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... DRMP, Panama City Beach, Fla., appointed Steven Kieffer, PSM, as the new surveying and mapping department manager. Kieffer brings 25 years of experience to the firm. His new responsibilities include project management leadership, oversight of...

Skelly and Loy Inc.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... Michael Anthony, III, PLS, joined SKELLY AND LOY INC., Harrisburg, Pa., as land surveyor of its Technical Services Group. Anthony has more than 22 years of land development experience. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Septentrio.(turningpoints)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... SEPTENTRIO, Lueven, Belgium, opened a business development office in Los Angeles, Calif., and welcomed J. Christopher Litton as business development manager to run North American operations. Litton joins Septentrio with more than 12 years...

V3 companies of Arizona Ltd.(turningpoints)
October 1, 2007... V3 COMPANIES OF ARIZONA LTD., Phoenix, added Whitney Smelser, RLS, to its team as project manager in the Survey Division, and Brent Steffenhagen, PE, to its team as project manager in the Land Development Division. Smelser brings more than 15...

Topcon Positioning Systems.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS released Topcon PI-3000 Image Modeler Software. The software allows users to generate 3D models quickly from digital images for measuring, mapping, ortho images and interpretation in a wide variety of applications....

Leica Gosystems.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... LEICA GEOSYSTEMS introduced the Leica GMX902 GG, a high-performance GPS + GLONASS receiver specially developed to monitor sensitive structures such as bridges, mines or high-rise buildings, and crucial topographies such as landslides or...

Sokkia.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... SOKKIA released the GIR1450 L1 DGPS System. The receiver features beacon, OmniSTAR, WAAS/EGNOS and other SBAS technologies for differential corrections and consistent submeter positioning. The receiver weighs .54 kg (1.2 lb), is extremely...

Subsurface instruments.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... SUBSURFACE INSTRUMENTS released the Innspector 007. The locator can detect almost all materials, including all types of pipes and cables, metallic, plastic or fiber-optic; properly or improperly installed tracer-wire; storm sewers and drains;...

Precision Surveying Solutions LLC.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... PRECISION SURVEYING SOLUTIONS LLC announced the Precision Radio, enabling wireless communication when connected to surveying instruments using a standard 9 pin serial cable. The Precision Radio provides users with increased flexibility and can...

Qcoherent Software.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... QCOHERENT SOFTWARE released LP360 v1.5 and LP360 Classify v1.5. LP360 v1.5 provides ESRI users with abilities to functionally leverage enormous LiDAR point cloud data sets into sophisticated geospatial analysis. New features in LP360 v1.5...

Carlson Software Inc.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... CARLSON SOFTWARE INC. released Takeoff 2.0. The first-ever AutoCAD-based, site-estimating solution has been enhanced with more than 30 improvements, including the addition of Carlson Civil's RoadNet. Built on the AutoCAD 2007 engine and Vista...

GENEQ Inc.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... GENEQ INC. introduced the SXBlue II, a next generation subme-ter, Bluetooth wireless GPS mapping receiver allowing users to use off-the-shelf Bluetooth-enabled PDA/ notebook computers to collect GPS map data. As the second generation in Geneq's...

Bae Systems.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... BAE SYSTEMS released SOCET GXP v2.3. Version 2.3 interacts with Google Earth in real time for quick, 3D color visualization and gives geospatial context to objects of interest, resulting in enhanced intelligence for mission planning. With...

Bricsys.(new&notable)
October 1, 2007... BRICSYS released Bricscad V8, the latest version of Bricsys' DWG compatible CAD software. The new graphical user interface of Bricscad V8 has been completely redesigned. A new drawing explorer and properties bar offer intuitive management of...

Surveying Solution.(funandgames)(Reprint)
October 1, 2007... 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...

Remember when.(Ship Curves)(Quotation)
October 1, 2007... "Do you remember using ship curves? Saw a setup in the store room yesterday. Brought back some memories." - Mark Roedel, PLS "I remember interpolating to draw contours by hand... scum-x, electric erasers, erasing shields, all that...