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NSPS Radio Hour — Jan 19, 11 a.m. EDT
NSPS
Paul Carey, President-Elect for the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, will join host Curt Sumner to discuss his research on the long history of the John McMullen Grant.
If you are unable to listen to the show when it is being broadcast, listen to the archive of the show at http://www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/ACSM.php. Archives for each show are typically available for listening within a few days after the show airs.
During the show, listen for the "key question" and be the first to email the correct answer to quikstakescontest@americaswebradio.com to win a $50 gift certificate from our sponsor, Parker Davis Quik Stakes. No purchase is required to receive the gift certificate. Winners limited to once every three months.
Geospatial bill passes U.S. House in first week
NSPS
The U.S. House of Representatives convened for the 114th Congress on January 6 and in its first week in session passed a bill affecting mapping and geospatial activities. H.R. 34, the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015, passed January 7 by a voice vote. The bipartisan bill will authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and includes use of mapping and geospatial data and systems. The bill is now pending in the U.S. Senate.
UAV debate heats up
NSPS
Unmanned aerial vehicles, for use in mapping and other commercial activities, continues to receive media attention, and the long-awaited Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) still has not been released.
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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“We use the RTK Bridge-X to grab a correction through the Internet where a typical cell phone won’t connect,” says Chuck Hutchins, Vectors, Inc. “Since the RTK Bridge-X can be put in a truck, it serves as a mobile platform to maintain crew’s connections when no other options exist.” MORE
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NOAA 'RESTORE Act grants availability announced
NSPS
Interested parties in the Gulf Coast can apply for grants under the RESTORE Act, which passed Congress in 2011 following the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Grants will assist with coastal restoration projects in TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, including mapping.
Congress looks to consider transportation bill in 2015
NSPS
Debate over the content of legislation reauthorizing highway, infrastructure and transportation systems is growing in Washington, DC and across the nation. The nation's governors joined President Obama in urging Congress to boost spending this year on highways, bridges, power grids and other infrastructure to meet the growing demand and help keep the economic recovery alive. In fiscal 2014, transportation spending overall grew by more than four percent. State funds increased more than 10 percent while federal funds dropped by more than one percent, according to National Governors Association figures. The Obama Administration announced an outline of its proposal, but passing it in Congress will be difficult.
House natural resources panel signals strong oversight
NSPS
The House Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over several Federal surveying and mapping, public lands, and related agencies, will exercise stronger oversight of the government’s activities under its new Chairman, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT). Bishop has been a principal co-sponsor of the NSPS-supported Federal Land Asset Inventory reform (FLAIR) Act.
Judy Hite retires as Virginia Association of Surveyors (VAS) Executive Secretary
NSPS
Having served the Virginia Association of Surveyors (VAS) as Executive Secretary since 1982, Judy Hite is retiring.
"Judy has been a legend in the Virginia surveying community and it has been my pleasure to work with her for many years. She leaves a remarkable legacy that we hope to build upon," said John Palatiello whose firm has been announced as being selected to provide association management services.
NSPS CST program goes military
NSPS
As one participating in surveying activities while serving in the military, Rigoberto Chacon discovered the NSPS Certified Survey Technician (CST) program. Now SMSgt Chacon, Engineer (3E5X1) Force Development Manager, USAF, is working with the CST Board to implement his vision for how CST can benefit others in military service.
In its January 6, 2015 letter to SMSgt Chacon, NSPS has confirmed the establishment of the program, and begun the process to, along with SMSgt Chacon, identify qualified proctors to administer the CST Level 1 exam at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Ultimately, Level II CST exams will be administered at other military installations.
Exams will be offered in paper form, and online.
Employment opportunities
NSPS
Employment opportunities are posted on the NSPS website.
Employers interested in posting job opportunities on the NSPS website should contact John D. Hohol at jhohol@gmail.com.
Upcoming seminars/conferences
NSPS
Due to the volume of requests we received to publish information about State Society conferences, use this link to access the information from the NSPS website.
Top mobile apps for local governance and planners
GIS User
A recent survey of planners by Planetizen looked at mobile apps that enhance public participation in local governance and planning to improve efficiency and data collection for planners. A number of fine productivity tools were mentioned in the findings, many of which can possibly be useful to some of you.
Multi-GNSS precise positioning
Inside GNSS
The availability of carrier phase tracking — counting the cycles of GNSS signals between satellites and a receiver — has long enabled high-precision users to achieve greater accuracy than using the navigation messages or pseudoranges. Improvements in high-end receivers and techniques such as real-time kinematic and precise point positioning have made once inconceivably accurate results almost routinely accessible.
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Are GIS and BIM converging?
Sensors & Systems
Many speak of the impetus of building information modeling as the application of geographic information systems thinking to buildings. There are definitely parallels to the two approaches, with features and classifications cataloged and the ongoing maintenance of the model leading to better management practices.
Now that many GIS tools have added city-scale modeling, even down to building details, there's a convergence taking place.
CNN signs UAV research agreement with the FAA
GPS World
CNN has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to advance efforts to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles into newsgathering and reporting.
The cooperation arrangement will integrate efforts from CNN's existing research partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Coordination between and among CNN, GTRI and the FAA has already begun.
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