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As 2019 comes to a close, NSPS would like to wish its members, partners and other industry professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year for our profession, we would like to provide the readers of News & Views a look at the most accessed articles from the year. Our regular publication will resume Wednesday, Jan. 8.
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CNBC
From June 5: This study analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and identified 15 occupations that it noted as offering "freedom to work outdoors, connections to the natural world, and a chance to answer age-old questions about our planet and solar system."
The study projected job growth through 2026 for the 15 respective occupations to be between -1% to 19%. Surveying was shown as having a projected job growth of 11%, which tied as the 4th highest among the group. All of the 15 occupations were noted as offering salaries well above the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 median salary ($46,800) of U.S. workers.
Among the text related to Surveyors was included the following, "to become one, you typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a license in order to certify legal documents and provide surveying services to the public."
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Michael Kulish, Professional Land Surveyor
From Nov. 27: It seems that the proposed deprecation of the US Survey foot has had very little discussion within the profession. I believe the issue will have a far greater impact on the community, and on the US generally, than is being recognized. No doubt you are aware of a proposal by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to “Deprecate the US Survey Foot” as a unit of measure. This action would have the effect of declaring the “International Foot” as “The Standard Foot” regarding the measurement of land and all things relative to it. This is an issue of significant concern to professional surveyors and all geospatial practitioners in the United States. It has been noted in the discussion thus far that the issue raises strong emotions. That is true. However, having strong emotion – in fact, passion – regarding a subject does not dictate that clear and objective thinking regarding that subject is unachievable.
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Reply from Curt Sumner
From Aug. 21: I have been contacted by a few NSPS members about a recent article in which were included comments attributed to me that were provided in response to specific questions about surveying. In fact, both Tim Burch (NSPS VP) and I were contacted by the author of the article and we agreed on the answers that I had crafted. To clarify any questions about NSPS participation in the preparation of the article, I wanted to provide to readers of NSPS News & Views the questions that we were asked, and our responses.
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NSPS
From April 24: The judges have done their work, and the results are in for the annual NSPS/AAGS Scholarship program. See the results here.
NSPS
From April 3: The NFIP has recently been in the news. The Washington Post recently ran a feature in which a university professor debunks myths on floods and the paper ran an editorial that urges Congress to reform NFIP. Additionally, a new National Academy of Sciences report calls for different approaches to predict and understand urban flooding. Meanwhile, a report anticipates gravity surveys conducted by aerial acquisition by NOAA/NGS could eliminate the need for elevation certificates by land survey.
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No matter what the future holds, prepare to meet challenges head on. Future-proof your resume by becoming a Certified Survey Technician (CST). This unique four-level certification program indicates official recognition by NSPS that a person can perform surveying tasks at a specific technical level.
Show what you can do! Decide between the field or office track. Visit http://www.cstnsps.com for details.
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Survey Technicians! Give yourself a Christmas present! Become Certified — https://cstnsps.com/
Brian Portwood, is a licensed professional land surveyor, federal employee and historian of land rights law
From Aug. 21: 
This article is part of a quarterly series on the wide variety of issues associated with boundary and easement disputes which arise in the federal context, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical origin of federal land rights, from the perspective of a professional land surveyor. This 18th edition takes us to the High Desert country of Mohave County, Arizona to examine a controversy over mineral rights, which arose upon the picturesque landscape not far east of Kingman. Those who have experienced the grandeur of Arizona, either in person or as vividly displayed since 1925 in Arizona Highways, perhaps our nation's most impressive magazine, are invited to partake of this short diversion to the Copper State.
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November 26, 2019 - Reprinted with permission from the American Land Title Association
From Dec. 4: The Docket is a monthly TitleNews Online feature provided by ALTA’s Title Counsel Committee which reviews significant court rulings and other legal developments and explains the relevance to the title insurance industry.
Sean Holland, an underwriter for the Fidelity National Financial family of companies, provided today’s review of a decision by the Washington Court of Appeals that addressed an insurer’s liability under a general survey exception.
Citation: Haley v. Hume, 448 P.3d 803, 2019 WL 4253828
Facts: Purchaser of real property sued the seller for breach of warranty for abandoning an appurtenant easement for access and parking several years prior to the sale. He also sued his title insurer for breach of the duty to defend against the neighbor’s litigation to quiet title to the former easement area. The seller had agreed with the neighbor to abandon her easement rights, but no document terminating her rights was recorded. The neighbor’s improvements, including daylighting a stream that was previously in a culvert, rendered the easement area unsuitable for continued use for access and parking. The trial court granted the seller’s summary judgment motion to dismiss the breach warranty claim. It also granted summary judgment to the title insurer. The purchaser appealed to the Washington Court of Appeals.
Holding: The purchaser’s claims against the seller were filed seven years after his purchase and were barred by the six-year statute of limitations. A discovery rule did not apply. The insurer had no duty to defend because the claim was subject to the general exception for “matters which would be disclosed by an accurate survey or inspection of the premises.” A survey prepared pursuant to the 2005 ALTA/NSPS minimum standard detail requirements (referred to as an ALTA/ACSM survey prior to 2016) would have shown both the recorded easement benefitting the seller’s property and indicated that the easement area was exclusively possessed by someone other than the seller. The survey would also have indicated that there was a stream in the middle of the access and parking easement area.
Importance to the title industry: This is the first published case involving a general survey exception where a court has looked to the ALTA/NSPS survey standards for guidance regarding what matters would be shown by an accurate survey. The court quoted extensively from the 2005 ALTA/NSPS standards with respect to the requirements regarding: (a) character and evidence of possession, (b) easements appearing in recorded documents, (c) evidence of use by other than occupants of the property and (d) bodies of water and waterways bordering on or running through the property being surveyed. Court use of the ALTA/NSPS standards to resolve coverage issues will provide more reliable guidance to those handling and litigating claims.
Read a perspective by ALTA/NSPS Standards Joint Committee Chair Gary Kent
Brian Couts 11/30/17
From Sept. 18: The article linked herein was published in 2017, but still raises questions as the role of the Surveying profession struggles to draw the attention of those preparing to enter the working world. Read Mr. Couts. comments on the matter from this link.
Brian Portwood is a licensed professional land surveyor, federal employee and historian of land rights law
From Nov. 6: 
This article is part of a quarterly series on the wide variety of issues associated with boundary and easement disputes which arise in the federal context, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical origin of federal land rights, from the perspective of a professional land surveyor. On December 7th we will bow our heads in remembrance of the valiant Americans who lost their lives on that date in 1941 defending Pearl Harbor, but on the following day, let us also pause to reflect upon the importance of our own work. December 8, 2019, marks the 100th anniversary of the formal inauguration of the most intensive land rights litigation in our nation’s history. This 19th edition, documenting the historical events which made the Red River of the South a major focal point of controversy a century ago, has been split into 4 parts, due to its extensive length. Please enjoy Part One at this time, the 3 subsequent parts, carrying the subject matter forward through the last century and on up to the present time, will be forthcoming for your enjoyment over the next 3 weeks.
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Sensors & Systems
From July 31: Louisiana is officially sinking. It has been 29 years since the National Geodetic Survey measured the state's subsidence. After completing four absolute gravity observations this past year, with the help of LSU's Center for GeoInformatics, the NGS's most-recent findings show the state's change in elevation.
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| President, Lisa Van Horn (WI) |
Director, Cotton Jones (WY) |
| President-Elect, Mark Sargent (NH) |
Director, Thomas Brooks (AL) |
| Vice President, Tim Burch (IL) |
Director, Bob Neathamer (OR) |
| Treasurer, Bob Miller (PA) |
Director, Danny Martinez (NE) |
| Secretary, Craig Amey (MI) |
Executive Director, Curt Sumner (MD) |
| Immediate Past President, Kim Leavitt (ID) |
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Note: NSPS members may receive calls from MultiView sales associates regarding advertising opportunities in News & Views. MultiView, a partner of NSPS, produces the News & Views newsbrief each week.
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