All posts by Gavin Schrock

Col. Stephen P. Whitney, of the GPS Directorate

The Green Monsters of GPavin

An interview with the director of the GPS Directorate Col. Steven P. Whitney recently answered questions about the mission of the directorate, and he debunked a popular myth about the GPS constellation. Colonel Steven Whitney is the director of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space...

Surveyors of Tomorrow: GIS and Families

Over the past few years, I’ve been gathering quotes and anecdotes­—from the kids of survey practitioners­—about what they think other kids might find attractive about their parent’s chosen profession and why they might (or might not) choose the same path. Here’s a sampling that represents what I hear. The three children of Brad O, the...

Action Plans: Forum on the Future of Surveying

The second meeting of the Forum on the Future of Surveying produced a plan of action and strategy. Editor’s note: This column continues to provide monthly coverage of the national initiative, Forum on the Future of Surveying (FFOS). See the first installment in our March issue. The goals of the second meeting of the Forum...

Advice for the Young Surveyor

A conversation with Muried Alvin (Al) Pepling, PLS From FN editor Scott P. Martin: Al’s advice and insight contains much wisdom that can be applied to almost any professional career, but especially ours. Reading this caused me to recollect on writing “What is a Professional Land Surveyor?” and “Mentoring: A Two Way Street.” To succeed,...

In the atomic clock laboratory with Dr. Villahermosa (left), the author (center), and Dr. James Camparo, Aerospace Fellow, Electronics and Photonics Laboratory (right)

Project Sextant

A unique research study from pioneers in the development of the GPS system yields a plan for a look into the future of PNT—improving resilience, options, flexibility, and availability. When something like GPS puts positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in the hands (and pockets) of millions, maybe even billions, of people across the world, experts...

Surveyors of Tomorrow: Following Familial Footsteps

Sometimes the most valuable and viable pool of recruits is sitting across from you at the dinner table. Some people have an affinity for surveying or a related field “in their blood,” and quite a few have it, literally, “in their bloodlines.” There are a lot of multi-generational practices. These are more common among small,...