Point of Beginning articles from September 2004

Point of Beginning archives from September 2004

Staying linked.(Editor's Note)
September 1, 2004... In surveying, the links that relate one survey to another survey are vital to understanding and completing a project. In the early days, these links were chain links. Today, software links bridge collection data from program to program....

July 2004: the academic angle.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... The article by Mickie Warwick ("Formal education versus experience") presents some interesting material. One of the controversial statements she made was that a four-year degree should be a minimum requirement for licensure as a professional...

Illinois marks Center of Population.(The Latest News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) dedicated the State of Illinois Center of Population on July 10, 2004, in the village of Mazon. The Center of Population, as defined by the U.S....

U.S. and EU agree on GPS-Galileo Cooperation.(The Latest News)
September 1, 2004... On June 26, 2004, after more than four years of negotiation, the United States and the European Union (EU) formally agreed to make their global navigation satellite systems interoperable. The U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and Europe's...

The great sage stone expedition: a story of history, friendship and determination.(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... The morning of May 29, 1880, was already warm as William Minto, D.C. Hall, Jonathan Hastings, D.J. Miller and Aloysius Nicholson began to run the line west from the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 8 South, Range 1 West, San Bernardino...

Surveying: then and now; A progressive firm in Indiana proves that advanced technology is the future.
September 1, 2004... When a county's population increases by 19 percent in three short years, construction projects increase as well to accommodate new residents. Indiana's Hamilton County, northern neighbor of Indianapolis, has experienced such a population...

All the birds in the sky: a review of the evolution of the Russian GLONASS system.
September 1, 2004... For a few years, the United States cornered the market on global navigation satellite systems with its Global Positioning System. However, Russia quickly caught up with its own constellation. The system is known as GLONASS (GLObal Navigation...

A legal look: whose documents are they, anyway? Part 3 of 3.
September 1, 2004... The question of "Whose documents are they, anyway?" has a complex answer, one that requires the consideration of several areas of law. In Parts 1 and 2, we discussed case law and contract law in relation to this question. We are now going to...

A forum of its own: the growing arena of laser scanning technology is showcased at SPAR2004.
September 1, 2004... SPAR2004 wasn't a fighting event, but it certainly ended in a victory. Imaging processes, specifically the use of laser scanning for existing conditions assessment, have come such a long way since their introduction to the surveying and plant...

POB 2004 GPS equipment survey--geodetic receivers.(Point of Beginning )(Global Positioning System )(Illustration)
September 1, 2004... POB 2004 GPS Equipment Survey--Geodetic Receivers Allen Osborne Leica Leica MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR Assoc. Inc. Geosystems Geosystems RECEIVER MODEL Rascal-8 GX1210 ...

POB 2004 GPS equipment survey--mapping/positioning receivers.(Point of Beginning)(Global Positioning System )(Illustration)
September 1, 2004... POB 2004 GPS Equipment Survey--Mapping/Positioning Receivers MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR Leica Geosystems Leica Geosystems RECEIVER MODEL GS5 GS5+ Manufacturer's Phone Number 800/367-9453 ...

POB 2004 GPS post-processing software survey.(Point of Beginning)(Global Positioning System )(Illustration)
September 1, 2004... POB 2004 GPS Post-processing Software Survey Product Name TurboSurvey Software 2 SKI Pro Version 3.0 Manufacturer/Distributor Allen Osbome Assoc. Leica Geosystems Inc....

Bobcat.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... Bobcat Company has updated its compact equipment lineup with the debut of the Bobcat 2200 Utility Vehicle--the company's first 4X4 utility vehicle. An Intelli-Trak drive system on the 2200 features automatic 4X4 and locking differentials. The...

Bombardier Recreational Products.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... Bombardier Recreational Products has radically redesigned the Rally 200, offering increased rider protection, comfort and aggressive good looks. It boasts a powerful, cleaner, liquid-cooled Rotax 4-TEC engine with four-valve design for great...

John Deere.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... The John Deere Gator High-Performance (HP) Utility Vehicle is designed for customers needing the highest levels of performance, durability and versatility. The HP Series includes five new models--the Gator HPX, HPX 4X4, HPX Diesel, HPX 4X4...

Kawasaki.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... The quiet-running four-stroke engine of the Kawasaki Mule 3010 4X4 Utility Vehicle produces exceptional torque at low engine speeds. The Mule's fully automatic transmission features high and low ranges plus reverse. Selectable four-wheel drive...

Polaris industries.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... Polaris ATVs are even tougher for 2005 as the Sportsman platform has been infused with numerous improvements that make these ATVs more durable, better looking and smoother riding. The totally revamped Sportsman family--including the powerful...

Suzuki.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... Suzuki's KingQuad features a powerful 695cc, DOHC, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine designed for a wide powerband and high durability. Its convenient handlebar-mounted push-button controls allow the rider to easily select the right setting...

Unison Motorsports.(Special Product Focus: ATVs and Utility Vehicles)
September 1, 2004... Unison Motorsports is a subsidiary of the largest OEM transmission and engine manufacturer in Taiwan with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Unison's Desert Cat 50cc and 90cc quads have a very aggressive look and are easy to...

Tool tips.(GIAA Mailbag)
September 1, 2004... Q: We have been told that GPS antenna phase center error is one of the causes of uncertainties in GPS measurements. What is this? A: When surveying with optical instrumentation, a physical point in a total station is plumbed using a plumb...

The North American datum of 1983 outside of North America, Part 2 of 2.(The GPS Observer)
September 1, 2004... In Part 1 of this series (April 2004) I discussed plate tectonics and the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). We concentrated on geodetic control on the North American plate. In this second and final part of the series, I will...

CORS: still a national asset.(From the Ground Up)(Continuously Operating Reference Station)
September 1, 2004... When I last wrote about the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network in this magazine in August 1998 (see "CORS--A National Asset"), I felt that the leadership of the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), and the professionalism and...

Rochester & Associates Inc.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... B. Keith Rochester Jr., founder of Rochester & Associates Inc., Gainesville, Ga., died June 24, 2004. Rochester started his company in 1966, and today the firm specializes in mixed-use, master-planned communities. A scholarship fund has been...

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS).(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Friends and colleagues of Kenneth J. Osborn (1952-2004) have helped establish the Kenneth J. Osborn Memorial Scholarship as a tribute to him from donated funds administered by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)....

Pentax Corporation.(Turning Points)(PENTAX Industrial Instruments Co. Ltd)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Pentax Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, merged its business systems division with PENTAX Precision Co. Ltd., its surveying instruments division, to create a new subsidiary: PENTAX Industrial Instruments Co. Ltd. This move has been made to further...

W. Koo & Associates (WKA).(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... PBS & J, Orlando, Fla., acquired W. Koo & Associates (WKA), Orange, Calif. PBS & J is an employee-owned firm that provides infrastructure planning, engineering, construction management and program management services to public and private...

SECO Manufacturing Inc.(Turning Points)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... SECO Manufacturing Inc., Redding, Calif., hired Tim Koceski as regional sales representative. Bringing nearly 15 years of experience to SECO, Koceski is a field liaison between SECO dealers in the U.S. and Canada and the California factory....

URISA's GISCorps.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... URISA's GISCorps, a volunteer-based GIS professional entity with the goal of providing short-term GIS expertise to less developed countries and communities around the world, launched a new website. The site, located at www.giscorps.org,...

Robinson Aerial Surveys Inc.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Keith Woodruff is the first certified photogrammetric technologist in the new ASPRS certification program. Woodruff, a photogrammetric CAD specialist, is a compiler and editor for Robinson Aerial Surveys Inc., Hackettstown, N.J.

NovaLIS Technologies.(Turning Points)(ESRI Federal General Services Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... NovaLIS Technologies, Charlotte, N.C., became an authorized reseller for the ESRI Federal General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule. GSA Schedules, also referred to as the Federal Supply Schedules, provide authorized federal government...

MSA.(Turning Points)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... MSA, Virginia Beach, Va., a regional consulting firm specializing in environmental sciences, development planning, land surveying, civil engineering and landscape architecture, announced new and returning personnel. MSA hired Michael Slider as...

Trimble.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 401 Trimble introduced two new wireless communications options for the L2C signal-ready Trimble R8 GPS system--an internal transmit/receive 450 MHz radio module and an internal GSM mobile phone module. Both options enable the Trimble R8...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS).(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 402 Tripod Data Systems (TDS) released Survey Pro 3.8.2 data collection software. This maintenance release includes software improvements and function enhancements for Trimble, Topcon and Leica instruments. Registered Survey Pro users can...

Traverse PC.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 403 Traverse PC released Traverse PC Desktop Land Surveying Version 8. Version 8 features the addition of True Least Squares Network Adjustments in a four-step process, providing a tool with pre-analysis, blunder detection and an undo...

Pacific Crest Corporation.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 404 Pacific Crest Corporation announced upgraded features for its Positioning Data Link Low Power Base (PDLLPB) kits. These kits provide complete data communications systems tailored specifically for RTK GPS systems. The upgraded kits...

Maptech.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 405 Maptech created a Terrain Navigator Pro web page for surveyors to learn and communicate uses for this software. Terrain Navigator Pro combines USGS topographic maps with aerial photos (DOQQs) at 1-meter resolution. Detailed comments...

UCLID Software.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 406 IcoMap for ESRI ArcGIS v3.0 is now available from UCLID Software. IcoMap converts survey measurements on a scanned document into parcel layer geometry. Version 3.0 incorporates voice-recognition technology and software-based licensing...

Bentley Systems Inc.(New & Notable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 407 Bentley Systems Inc. unveiled ProjectWise V8 2004 Edition, the latest release of the company's flagship collaboration server. With its new capabilities, ProjectWise V8 2004 Edition enables high-performance multisite collaboration among...

Surveying solutions.(The PZS Triangle)(Brief Article)
September 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...

Classic POB.
September 1, 2004... Copyright[c] 1989, P.O.B. Publishing Co. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leslie B. Scott, North Chicago, IL

This month's candidate: Ray C. Carlson, PLS.(Meet Sam the Surveyor)(Ray Carlson & Associates Inc.,)(Interview)
September 1, 2004... Name: Ray C. Carlson, PLS President, Ray Carlson & Associates Inc., Santa Rosa, Calif. State where you reside: California Registered/licensed in: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado Year started in profession: 1964 How you...