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NSPS
Due to the circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSPS 2020 General Membership meeting and NSPS Board of Directors meetings initially scheduled for earlier this month in Arlington, VA will be held electronically beginning at Noon EDT on April 17, 2020. Other meetings (Committees/Foundation/etc.) which typically take place onsite just prior to Board of Directors have been held electronically during past week. There is limited electronic access available for the upcoming meetings. If you wish to observe those meetings, please contact Trish Milburn for availability.
Also From NSPS:
A Message to Our CST Applicants, Proctors, and Company Sponsors The Certified Survey Technician Board of Directors recognizes that COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact everyone. With schedules disrupted, restrictions on travel implemented, gatherings limited, and shelter-in-place mandates in many states, our normal routines have been severely disrupted.
The activities of the CST Board are no exception. While the board continues to operate, grading of exams, consideration of question challenges, and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Paper exams will not be available until further notice. Only online exams are available. For those trying to schedule an online exam, consultation with your proctor is strongly advised.
The CST Board appreciates your continued support and interest in the program.
A Message to Our Hydrographer Certification Participants
During these uncertain times and the importance of following CDC guidelines for social distancing, the Hydrographer Certification Board has decided to suspend exams starting today until July 1st at this time but there is a possibility to extend this as required. We understand that there may be applicants that are on a time frame to take the exam and we will extend that time frame for the extent of months that we have suspended examinations.
A Message to Our Trig-Star Participants
The Trig-Star Committee has decided to extend the deadline for NSPS to receive State Winners until to June 15. With the amount of school systems that are closed we thought extending the deadline would be better than canceling the Local Tests since some states have already given it. NSPS will still recognize all state winners by awarding them a first place state medal, recognition on the Trig-Star website, and a write up in our weekly eNewsletter, NSPS News and Views. We have decided to cancel the 2020 National Exam portion of the competition due to the uncertainty that this virus has caused, and not knowing what will happen, has forced this decision.
Trig-Star is very important to NSPS, and the Committee. We hope you understand our decision. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Trish or Jerry Juarez, NSPS Trig-Star Chair.
NSPS
During this time of uncertainty, it may worth your while to contact your local bank to find out if it provides SBA loans. If so, you may be able to take advantage of the Payroll Protection Program (sba.gov/document/sba-form--paycheck-protection-program-borrower-application-form).
Many thanks to NSPS President-elect Mark Sargent for sharing plain-language information regarding how this program works.
NSPS
As a result of the restrictions enacted due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), is your state licensing board offering a “grace period” for your next scheduled deadline before which you must accumulate the required number of CEUs prior to your next license renewal date. The Maryland Society of Surveyors reached out to ask this question, and has forwarded to NSPS the following notification it received:
Because renewing expiring permits or licenses often requires the public to enter public buildings and interact with state employees; all licenses, permits, registrations, and other authorizations issued by the state, its agencies or any political subdivision that would expire during the current state of emergency will be extended until the 30th day after the state of emergency is lifted. Read Governor Hogan's executive order.
You can access the website for your state licensing board by “clicking on” the image of your state on a map posted on the NCEES website.
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NSPS
Earlier this week NSPS joined a coalition of 18 design and construction-related professional societies and trade associations in a letter to President Trump urging further guidance to clarify “essential Infrastructure” and “essential businesses and services.” The letter seeks an update to a Department of Homeland Security memo, updated on March 28, providing guidance on essential infrastructure designations. The letter stated, "...we want to encourage the issuance of exemptions for operations and maintenance of 'essential infrastructure' that allows individuals to provide such services that are impossible to perform from home. Such infrastructure should include essential design, construction and related services of public works, including airport operations, roads and highways, public transportation, energy, and of critical importance today, expanding, retrofitting, and rehabilitating structures to meet healthcare and other systems and facilities related COVID-19 production needs." The DHS guidance is being used by several governors to define the essential infrastructure workforce permitted to continue operations during the stay at home orders to abate the Coronavirus pandemic.
Nadeau Land Surveys
Education: Nadeau Land Surveys to Offer First Continuing Education Webinar
In the News: "An Examination of Federal Flood Maps in a Changing Climate" and "FEMA Extends Grace Period for Flood Insurance Renewal Premiums"
Resources: "Updated FEMA Technical Bulletins Have Been Published!"
Real Estate Corner: "Homes in U.S. Flood Zones Are Vastly Overvalued"
NFIP Guidance: "April 1, 2020 Program Changes"
History Corner: "The Origins of April Fools' Day"
Read Full Text
NSPS
In a follow-up discussion to a popular article in 2019 in NSPS News & Views, this installment of the NSPS “Surveyor Says!” podcast is a discussion with Brian Anderson, “The Tick Terminator” and how to protect yourself from ticks while surveying. Brian shares his knowledge on the variety of ticks, how and where they populate, and the best practices for prevention. He also explains various techniques for removing ticks and symptoms for Lyme disease onset. For more information about The Tick Terminator, visit their website at https://www.thetickterminator.com/.
NSPS
NSPS Government Affairs Committee Chairman Pat Smith, together with Government Affairs Consultant John Palatiello and lobbyist John “JB” Byrd last week provided a webinar update to the committee and NSPS Board last week. The report highlighted legislative and regulatory state issues on which NSPS is engaged in Congress, the White House, and agencies of the Federal government. Hot button issues included increased Federal funding for the U.S. Geological Survey 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), the Digital Coast Act which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, the appointment of NSPS member Brent Birth to the FCC Task Force working group on mapping for improved rural broadband mapping and connectivity issues, and President Trump's letter to NSPS last month celebrating National Surveyors Week, among other key issues and developments.
NSPS
In 2013, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) created a 10-year strategic plan, aimed at “positioning America for the future” and replacing the administration’s prior 2008 version of the coordinate system. In order to modernize and improve the NSRS, the 2013 plan focused on paying close attention to both accuracy and time-changes. The plan was fully vetted by the American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). The plan’s mission statement is: to define, maintain, and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) to meet the nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs. The plan itself outlines five individual goals the National Geodetic Survey aims to achieve, each partnered with a number of objectives. The first objective aims to reduce all definitional and access-related errors to 1 centimeter when using 15 minutes of GNSS data. It was given the short nickname of, “replace NAD 83.” According to the plan, North American Datum of 1983 needs improvements in its definition, as well as the services NGS provides for its access. Since the mid-1990s, NAD 83 has repeatedly been defined by its relationship with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) of the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS). One of the ways the ITRF is realized is through the analysis of data from GNSS, among other space-geodesy observation networks. Because of this, the NGS has a duty for upkeep of the ITRF, which they’ve done by restating the IERS Site Survey program and by acting as both an analysis center and coordinator of the International GNSS Service (IGS), which represents the GNSS arm of the ITRF. Because of poor geographic coverage of the IGS-tracking network in the United States, NGS will propose installation of new GNSS sites, which will be called “Foundation CORS.” There will be approximately 20 when the set is finished.
NSPS
NSPS lobbyist John "JB" Byrd met with Jay Obernolte (R), a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th Congressional District of California. This is an open seat caused by the decision of current Congressman Paul Cook (R) to retire at the end of this Congress. As a successful high-tech businessman and pilot, Obernolte has fifteen years of experience in public service. He was first elected to a local airport board in 2005, followed by four years of service on a city council and two terms as Mayor of the City of Big Bear Lake. In 2014 he was elected to the California State Assembly and has represented 65% of the 8th Congressional District in Sacramento since then. With the primary in California now behind him, his next test is the general election scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
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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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CST Exams are available during the COVID-19 shutdown — Contact Sara Maggi for information.
Inside GNSS
Though the pandemic impacts federal workers and contractors across the country, the early-March testing of GPS backup technologies finished on time and the analysis is expected to be completed on schedule.
“Analysis of the data has begun,” the U.S. Department of Transportation said in a statement sent to Inside GNSS, “and USDOT expects the analysis phase to remain on schedule for completion in May.”
READ MORE
xyHt
As hundreds of millions of eyes stay glued to the rising toll and reach of COVID-19, map-based dashboards have become a compelling, near real-time way to monitor the outbreak. They’ve also substantiated the message that everyone must take precautions and alter daily interactions.
When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the situation would worsen.
READ MORE
Point of Beginning
Per Florida Statute 472.013, licensed professionals in the state must have a degree in surveying and mapping of four years or more from an accredited college or university program. A 48-year-old man arrested in Jacksonville partly explains why.
Gary Paul Rogers was charged with multiple counts of forgery after unlicensed surveys were conducted in the surrounding counties.
READ MORE
Geospatial World
Facebook has announced its decision to provide anonymous data on users movements and relationships. This will help researchers to better anticipate places where COVID-19 might spread.
According to a post by Facebook head of health KX Jin and Laura McGorman, the company is enhancing map on “population movement” with tools, while maintaining ways to protect privacy.
READ MORE
Directions Magazine
Esri announced they will provide a COVID-19 Response Package for Ministries of Health and Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network partners which will enable these organizations to have access to Esri’s geospatial platform and tools that can be used for reporting and analysis of cases and deaths, public health and response activities at the national level, in addition to managing testing sites, community activities and impact, and much more at the local level.
READ MORE
GPS World
The Maptitude 2020 U.S. Census Blocks Groups data is now available for the entire United States, according to software provider Caliper.
The small-area Census Summary Level is packed with neighborhood information essential for making accurate geography-based decisions. Maptitude users can explore locations by income, income growth, daytime population, age, race, gender, ethnicity, buying power, occupation, employment status, housing characteristics, citizenship counts and more.
READ MORE
| 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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