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NSPS
Question: I am a sole practitioner and I've recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that has made me think about planning for an unexpected illness. Do you have any suggestions about how to set up a system that assures continuity if I am out for a prolonged period of time due to an unplanned absence?
Answer: Professional service firms are increasingly separated into large firms employing many surveyors and small firms that are ...
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NSPS
Click Here to view the names of those who passed in June, July or August 2015.
NSPS
Question: One interpretation of Item 15 in Table A is that this item does not require rectified orthophotography, etc. but rather it allows the surveyor to use alternative methods to locate certain features (i.e. parking stripes) relative to a boundary as long as he provides an adequate discussion of the methodology and its ramifications. Withstanding that interpretation, if the surveyor elects to "hand shoot" all features on a property, he or she has met the requirements of Item 15. Is this a proper interpretation, or does checking #15 require the surveyor to include these technologies? Thanks for your opinion.
Answer:
The idea on item 15 was to provide a way under the standards for a surveyor to save a client some time and money on locating some features that all parties — title company, lender and client — agree can be adequately addressed without fieldwork ...
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NSPS
A recent article in GPS World magazine addresses an Aug. 18 Federal Register notice which proposes shutting down the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) in January 2016 because of a decline in its use, except for sites in coastal areas. When asked about the potential impact, a couple of NSPS members familiar with the system's importance to the overall surveying community both indicated that it would likely have little effect on most day to day surveying activities. Dave Doyle, recently retired from NGS noted, "While I lament the issue, the bottom line is that few in the surveying community actually use the NDGPS broadcast correctors. While those stations contribute to the overall health of the NGS CORS network, with only a few exceptions such as Whitney, Nebraska, the loss of these sites probably won't present a significant impairment to the CORS network. As stated in the FRN 22, coastal sites will remain operational and those would cover the areas of concern for most surveyors along the east coast. The bottom line for the rationale is cost. There are any number who want the system to stay as it is, but when asked to pony up the funds to keep it going, they are quick to back away. It would be nice if the CORS portion of these sites could be preserved but I suspect the plan is all or nothing." As Dave further indicated, NSPS will have a discussion with NGS about this issue.
NSPS
NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner attended the NCEES Annual Meeting held last week in Williamsburg, VA. Among items of particular interest to the surveying community is the approval by the Board of Directors of a couple of motions presented on behalf of the Future of Surveying Task Force. One motion authorizes the implementation of the NCEES Professional Surveying Program of Distinction award for a trial period of five award cycles, with the first award to be made prior to the 2017 annual meeting. The award structure will conform to recommendations of the Task Force, and would recognize up to 10 surveying education programs per cycle which meet the criteria. The estimated annual funding is $125,000. The second motion approved by the Board allocates an estimated $32,000 to fund and facilitate a meeting which will include representatives from selected organizations interested in the future of surveying. The purpose of the meeting is to consider and recommend additional outreach opportunities to promote the value of a surveying license.
In other NCEES news, NSPS Past President Gary Thompson (NC) was re-elected as Treasurer of NCEES for a second term.
NSPS
The Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors, US Forest Service, University of Arkansas at Monticello, the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and History Helpers are all working with the Arkansas Department of State Parks to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the setting of the Initial Point of the Louisiana Purchase.
NSPS Foundation
Plenty of tickets remain for the NSPS Foundation "Cruise" raffle, but time is running short. The winning ticket will be drawn during the NSPS 2015 Fall meetings in early October. Check out information about the three options from which the winner will choose for an exciting adventure in July 2016.
NSPS
River and Lake Boundaries, Surveying Water Boundaries – A Manual, Second Edition, authored by the late James A. Simpson is well referenced, and often cited in court cases. It is being offered on behalf of the Public Land Survey System Foundation.
Surveyors and Statesmen by Sarah S. Hughes is a history of the development of the surveying profession in Colonial Virginia, and its impact on the Chesapeake economy and society. It is being offered on behalf of the Virginia Surveyors Foundation.
Although the NSPS Bookstore has closed as a provider of multiple texts, we are offering these two books and select group of others.
NSPS
In a recent list of some of the most interesting careers that are "under the radar," AOLJobs has included "Geomatics engineering/Land surveying," noting that the average annual salary as $60,310.
Quote from one reader:
"Most surveyors are old. For instance, the average age of a surveyor in the state of California is in the mid to late fifties, which means you will definitely get a job out of college and you can quickly work your way up to a decent six figure income once you get your professional license."
NSPS
Join host Curt Sumner for a discussion on relevant topics for the surveying profession.
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 National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) meets next week at a USDA property in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The role of the NGAC is to advise the Federal Geographic Data Committee on national geospatial policy. The agenda for September 1-2, 2015 includes updates on the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), USDOT's national address database, and privacy as part of the NTIA stakeholder session. Documents from the June NGAC meeting in Washington, DC are now available.
NSPS
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that total sales through the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) program of the General Services Administration (GSA) was $33.1 billion in fiscal year 2014. This includes purchases by federal, state, and local agencies through a cooperative purchasing program. Federal procurement through the FSS program declined from $31.8 billion in 2010 to $25.7 billion in 2014—a 19 percent inflation-adjusted decrease, consistent with the decline in overall federal contracting. Surveying and mapping, defined as architectural and engineering services under the Federal government's "Brooks Act," are prohibited by law from being procured through the GSA schedule contracts.
NSPS
A recent Congressional Research Service report found serious shortcomings between the highway funding and the Senate's highway bill, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act (S. 1647). The U.S. House and Senate extended the current highway and transit law to October 29 and will attempt to reach agreement on a long term bill when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.
Employment opportunities
NSPS
Employment opportunities are posted on the NSPS website.
New listings:
AE2S, multiple locations in North Dakota - Professional Land Surveyor and Land Surveyor
Sigma Network Services, Ohio/Michigan area - Professional Surveyor
Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, Gainesville, FL - County Engineer
George William Stephens, Jr and Associates, Belcamp, MD - CADD Operator
George William Stephens, Jr and Associates, Belcamp, MD - Landscape Architect
George William Stephens, Jr and Associates, Belcamp, MD - Party Chief
George William Stephens, Jr and Associates, Georgetown, DE - Party Chief
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.
GIS User
According to Euroconsult's newly released report, "Satellites to be Built & Launched by 2024," 140 satellites with launch mass over 50 kg will be launched on average each year over the next decade for governments and commercial companies. In comparison with last year's forecast, the number of satellites is due to grow more than the market value over the decade.
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Directions Magazine
Geographic information systems and location based services have the power to change the world through significant commercial and socioeconomic initiatives, so it is ironic that their global application and economic value are severely limited by the world's constant change. Decades of research and development have proven, purportedly beyond doubt, that true spatiotemporal map data — current, complete and accurate — is incompatible with low cost, and therefore, "impossible;" but new technology has emerged that demands we change our thinking and embrace change.
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Directions Magazine
Not long ago, obtaining data for a GIS-based project was an arduous task. Because great time and effort was involved with either creating your own data or obtaining data that someone else created, you had to think carefully about the quality of the data that would go into your project. While it can still be cumbersome to obtain data at specific scales for specific areas, cloud-based data services, crowdsourced maps and databases and real-time streaming make it easy for anyone to obtain vast amounts of data in a short amount of time.
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Crain's New York Business
Every day, according to IBM, the world produces 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. That's a 2 and a 5 followed by 17 zeroes. Last year, Chris Whong took 50 gigabytes out of this avalanche and translated it into an interactive map that explained why the reams of information being produced daily are more easily understood across time and space — and why mapmaking will soon be a $100 billion business.
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