Point of Beginning articles from September 2003

Point of Beginning archives from September 2003

Fear factor.(Editor's Note)(rivalry between land surveyors GIS practitioners)(geographic information systems)(Editorial)
September 1, 2003... The popular reality show titled "Fear Factor" is nothing new to surveyors; it's been alive in their profession for years. Much of the public has never really known the true job that land surveyors do. Then this awesome new technology called GPS...

Editor's note.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... June 2003 I too believe we need to do something to educate children [about] our profession. Last March, I was invited to give a presentation [about] my profession at a local junior high school's job fair. I was asked to keep it short and...

Call before you dig.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... June 2003 Although I am not against one call [systems] as [they apply] to excavators, I strongly object to the concept that a surveyor automatically becomes an excavator once he picks up a shovel to search for property corners. I...

Erratum.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2003... In the article titled "Real-Time Reality" in the August issue, the headquarters of Surveyors Service Co. was cited as Apex, N.C. The company's headquarters are actually in Costa Mesa, Calif.

On the Geospatial one-stop portal.(Geospatial one-stop )
September 1, 2003... The reality of the Internet Age and the efforts of true collaboration have rendered the first web-based portal for all things geospatial. A new government initiative aimed at creating "one-stop" access to geospatial information and resources...

Technology for the tribe: how the Gila River Indian Community is preserving ancestral beginnings trhough a current irrigation project using GPS.
September 1, 2003... "The history of the Pima Indians is most interesting. Their industry and thrift, their charity and their kindness to the white man and red man alike for a period as far back as we have any record in Arizona stands out in strong contrast when...

Slick solutions: a baseline GIS serves as a model for homeland security and oil spill planning.
September 1, 2003... The impact of the September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center in New York City is broad and deep, affecting virtually everyone. It may be hard to understand that the event relates back to the March 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill accident in...

Acting on advancements: surveyors use 3D scanning to provide accurate as-builts for the renovation of an historic Denver landmark.
September 1, 2003... For nearly 100 years, the Denver Auditorium Theater has served as one of the city's key performance venues, hosting events from rodeos and country western music concerts to performances of Shakespeare and the Colorado Ballet's annual...

A step ahead: employees of a Minnesota firm take GPS one step further with the application of cell phones.
September 1, 2003... A progressive company, one that keeps up with the latest in technology and equipment, and learns new and better ways to get those "right now" projects completed, will stay ahead of the competition. Loucks Associates of Minneapolis, Minn., is...

POB 2003: GPS equipment survey--geodetic receivers.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2003... POB 2003 GPS Equipment Survey--Geodetic Receivers MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR Leica Leica Geosystems Geosystems RECEIVER MODEL SR530 ...

Tool tips.(GIAA Mailbag)
September 1, 2003... Q: We've been using digital levels successfully at our company. We get good results, and in general, are providing a better service to our clients because of them. The improvements in accuracy and speed are obtained without increasing (and in...

On Galileo, the European satellite navigation system.(The GPS Observer)
September 1, 2003... The Europeans may soon be the new providers of satellite navigation services. The European community has been considering building its own satellite navigation constellation for many years and on Feb. 10, 1999, the European Commission (EC)...

Photogrammetry, surveying and the Model Law.(From the Ground Up)
September 1, 2003... In 1995, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) modified the Model Law for surveying to add specific language regarding photogrammetry and GIS/LIS as areas covered under the licensure umbrella. While NCEES has...

Crain Enterprises Inc.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 401 Crain Enterprises Inc. launched a redesigned and updated website (www.crainent.com). A new "Discover Crain" area of the website expands on Crain's focus, and includes sections on its history, team, design, innovation, manufacturing and...

Thales Navigation introduced MobileMapper, a handheld GPS-based geographic information system (GIS) data collector with 2-3 meter accuracy.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 402 Thales Navigation introduced MobileMapper, a handheld GPS-based geographic information system (GIS) data collector with 2-3 meter accuracy. MobileMapper enables users to locate and describe features being mapped and then easily and quickly...

TrakSoft Inc. released SurveyTrak 3.5, a survey point/survey monument management system.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 403 TrakSoft Inc. released SurveyTrak 3.5, a survey point/survey monument management system. SurveyTrak 3.5 system highlights include comprehensive survey control for horizontal, vertical, ellipsoidal, geoid, mean lower low water (MLLW) and...

Topcon introduced HiPer Lite, a completely integrated, cable-free RTK GPS system, based on Topcon's HiPer integrated GPS rover.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 404 Topcon introduced HiPer Lite, a completely integrated, cable-free RTK GPS system, based on Topcon's HiPer integrated GPS rover. HiPer Lite needs no cables, no external radios and no external power supply to provide precise, mobile GPS...

Sokkia Corporation released SOKKIA G2 1.21 Graphic Field Assistant data collection software.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 405 Sokkia Corporation released SOKKIA G2 1.21 Graphic Field Assistant data collection software. This latest update includes TIN and contour creation, enhanced layer control and color support, and additional MAP screen features and...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS) released ForeSight DXM version 3.1. ForeSight DXM allows easy data transfer from Survey Pro software to a laptop or PC to display survey data graphically.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 406 Tripod Data Systems (TDS) released ForeSight DXM version 3.1. ForeSight DXM allows easy data transfer from Survey Pro software to a laptop or PC to display survey data graphically. It also aids in management of project files, checks data...

NavCom Technology Inc.'s high precision StarFire and RTK GPS receivers are now fully supported by XYZworks' FieldWorks field data collection software, which operates on PocketPCs using Windows CE.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 407 NavCom Technology Inc.'s high precision StarFire and RTK GPS receivers are now fully supported by XYZworks' FieldWorks field data collection software which operates on PocketPCs using Windows CE. The program seamlessly integrates with...

Leica Geosystems introduced SKI-Pro Version 3.0 GPS post-processing software, incorporating Leica's breakthrough CheckMate continuous ambiguity resolution technology.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 408 Leica Geosystems introduced SKI-Pro Version 3.0 GPS post processing software, incorporating Leica's breakthrough CheckMate continuous ambiguity resolution technology. Immediately after having completed the ambiguity search routine and...

Incite Technologies has introduced an all-new line of universal prism assemblies, prism poles, and prism pole bipods and tripods.(New & Notable)
September 1, 2003... 409 Incite Technologies has introduced an all-new line of universal prism assemblies, prism poles, and prism pole bipods and tripods. With 0-30 mm offsets, the prism assemblies are fully compatible with most leading instrument manufacturers....

Surveying solutions.
September 1, 2003... 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...

POP magazine promoted Daniel Murfey to the role of publisher, succeeding Diana K. Brown.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... POB magazine promoted Daniel Murfey to the role of publisher, succeeding Diana K. Brown. Brown was named group publisher. Murfey will continue to fulfill his sales role and increase his administrative duties for the magazine. Also, Emily E....

Robert Macomber, PE, PS, president and CEO of Atwell-Hicks Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., was elected senior vice chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Executive Committee.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Robert Macomber, PE, PS, president and CEO of Atwell-Hicks Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., was elected senior vice chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Executive Committee. Macomber is serving a two-year term on the...

Advance Precision Products.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Advance Precision Products, Knoxville, Tenn., announced that Bill Mowles is responsible for survey sales for eastern Tennessee. He is based in the Knoxville office. As survey sales specialist Mowles assists surveyors and contractors by...