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NSPS
Don't miss your chance to be a part of the 2015 SHS Rendezvous, September 9 - 13 in Bellingham, Washington. This event will be a great opportunity to explore the beautiful Pacific northwest with our hosts, and learn about the fascinating "Surveys and Surveyors of the Salish Sea". A focus on the International Boundary Surveys, coupled with an adventure to San Juan Island will make this year's Rendezvous a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The committee has planned an amazing event, with so much to see, learn and do! Great presenters, fascinating subjects and a chance to explore the area will provide a unique opportunity for all who attend the event. Registration is limited - Don't delay! Registration deadline is August 19. Get all the details at: http://surveyorshistoricalsociety.com/events.php.
NSPS
Inquiry:
It has been brought to my attention that in the State of New Jersey, there is an interpretation that only licensed surveyors (not engineers or architects) can determine and verify BFE and other elevations (LAG, HAG, etc). This means that only a licensed surveyor can fill out a FEMA elevation certificate, as well as Section II of the FEMA floodproofing certificate. I know also that Florida allows only a licensed surveyor to fill out the elevation certificate, but I can’t find anything regarding Florida and the elevation information in the floodproofing certificate.
Is there anyone at NSPS who has more knowledge of this that I can talk to? I am wondering if this is also the case in other states or if New Jersey is unique in this.
Some background on the New Jersey interpretation is at the following link: http://www.njspls.org/news/232493/NJSPLS-Files-Petition-for-Rulemaking.htm.
Response from Wendy Lathrop, PLS, CFM, the NSPS Representative on FEMA's Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC)
It appears that you are looking for an answer in each of the 50 states and 4 territories since you ask if New Jersey is unique. The answer to that is beyond what anyone can answer without extensive research, as it requires investigation of each jurisdiction’s definition of the practice of land surveying, and what is allowable overlap by other professions.
In New Jersey (one of the states in which I am licensed), anything that represents existing conditions is generally the purview of land surveyors, while proposed conditions can be presented by various other design professionals. While I have heard FEMA express that they would prefer only land surveyors to perform the topographic field work necessary to complete Elevation Certificates, there are some states that permit engineers and/or architects to do such work, and only in those states would they be legally authorized to complete such forms.
As for Floodproofing Certificates, they are to be completed by the engineer or architect who designed the structure, to assure compliance with floodplain management regulations. This is not surveying work. More information on this form is posted on FEMA’s website: https://www.fema.gov/floodproofing-certificate. I understand what you are saying regarding Section II of this form, which has not been addressed by FEMA in its requirement that this section be completed by the individual responsible for the actual floodproofing. But this is similar to the NJ situation for site plans where a surveyor provides the field measurements; here the engineer/architect utilizes that information to determine if the structure is compliant with his/her design, leading to the certification in Section III. Certainly for construction drawings an engineer or architect would be able to complete Section II in NJ.
NSPS
Are you, or do you know someone under the age of 40 who is a leader within our profession? Among other things, Neil Sandler and Gavin Schrock with xyHt magazine will be talking about their plan to profile 40 such geospatial practitioners as the magazine formerly known as Professional Surveyor celebrates it first anniversary. Join host Curt Sumner for his interview with Neil and Gavin.
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.
NSPS
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce last week held a hearing on pipeline safety, with Stacy Cummings, Interim Executive Director of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) as a key witness. In testimony before the panel, Ms. Cummings said, “PHMSA has consistently requested additional funding to support enhancing our risk management, analytical frameworks and mapping capabilities. Through PHMSA grants, state pipeline safety programs are funded up to 80 percent, but PHMSA has limited insight into state data on where interstate pipelines actually exist, their conditions, and the inspection reports performed by our state partners.” The current Federal pipeline safety law expires on September 30, and Congress is working on reauthorization legislation. Pipeline and underground utility location legislation was one of the issues NSPS members brought to Congress in April of this year.
NSPS
A bi-partisan bill to create a current, accurate Federal inventory or "cadastre" of all Federal real property was introduced this week in the U.S. House of Representatives. The "Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform (FLAIR) Act of 2015", H.R. 3121, was introduced on July 21 by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Since 2003, and as recently as February 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly designated 'Managing Federal Real Property' one of the high-risk areas within the Federal government most prone to waste, fraud and abuse. One of the reasons cited by the GAO is the fact that the government does not have a current, accurate inventory of the land it owns. A national cadastre has also been recommended by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, and the FLAIR Act has been endorsed by its Committee on Land Parcel Databases. The FLAIR Act will provide all agencies owning Federal real property an improved accounting of their land assets. The bill will also conduct an inventory of existing inventories to eliminate duplicate or obsolete activities, and save tax dollars. Such a consolidated system will assist in improved Federal land management, resource conservation, environmental protection and utilization of real property, as well as identify property the Federal government no longer needs to own. NSPS members promoted the FLAIR Act in Congress during the National Surveying and Mapping Conference hosted jointly with MAPPS during April 15. Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV), Alan Grayson (D-FL), and David Price (D-NC) are also cosponsors. S. 1225, the Senate companion to this legislation, was introduced in May by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which Senator Murkowski chairs.
NSPS
NSPS lobbyist John "JB" Byrd recently met with Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. That panel has broad jurisdiction over operations of the Federal government, including Federal procurement and acquisition legislation. Last month, this Committee held a hearing on unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and Chairman Chaffetz provided an opening statement. When JB met the Chairman and asked about UAS as the next wave of commerce, the Chairman replied that UAS technology will help promote and enhance commerce of many kinds, but cautioned that privacy concerns need to be addressed.
NSPS
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comment on the recently released draft 2015 edition of the U.S. Arctic Nautical Charting plan. The plan, a major effort to improve Arctic chart coverage that is inadequate for modern needs, was originally released in 2011. Comments are due by midnight, October 1, 2015. The U.S. Arctic Nautical Charting Plan provides information about existing, recently added, and proposed new electronic navigational chart coverage in U.S. Arctic waters. Additionally, it provides information about progress on publishing new Arctic charts and specifications for eleven proposed new charts.
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.
Inside GNSS
In sharp contrast to the strong support given to the military's satellite navigation programs in the next fiscal year, Congress is considering cutting every GPS-related programs supported by the Department of Transportation. The Senate appropriations committee has approved language matching a House decision to slash $17 million from the $27 million requested for the civil contribution to the GPS program.
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Government Health IT
When it comes to public health, and identifying the events and behaviors that affect it, agencies charged with protecting the health and welfare of citizens need to leverage every available tool at their disposal to quickly and effectively respond to growing threats. Data mapping is a tool to answer the call. Data mapping isn't a new technique in the healthcare spectrum. The earliest use of mapping for public health was in the 1850s by John Snow when he used hand-drawn maps to determine and show the locations of cholera deaths.
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National Defense Magazine
The word "open" is not often used to describe U.S. intelligence services. But that is the buzzword at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency since its new director Robert Cardillo took over in 2014. "Openness" has two meanings at the agency which is best known for its thousands of analysts who pour over imagery collected by spy aircraft and satellites in order to determine the intent of rivals.
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Directions Magazine
If "knowledge is power" as Sir Francis Bacon once said, then it's no surprise that Big Data means big empowerment for enterprises all over the world. AccuWeather understood the challenges and strength of Big Data long before it became a buzzword. After all, making forecasts with superior accuracy is a process that demands great amounts of data on an ongoing basis.
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