Category Archives: Professional Surveyor Archives
The Political Surveyor: Defining “Geospatial” for Today’s Education and Tomorrow’s Workforce
The traditional surveying and mapping profession, which today is more commonly known as “geospatial,” has an identity crisis. While the profession was long considered part of the broad field of engineering, the geospatial community today lacks a common and accepted definition and classification. This could adversely affect its future workforce and hundreds of millions of...
History Corner: John Wasson: Surveyor General in Apache Land, Part 2
Part 1 in the January 2013 issue introduces John Wasson as a veteran newspaperman, beginning the role of surveyor general of Arizona Territory when it was made a separate survey district in 1870. Wasson’s political appointment stirred controversy; his early tenure included editing one of the most important newspapers in the territory and conducting his job...
Web Waypoints: Web Mapping for Canada
This month’s Web Waypoints column is by a federal geomatics officer from Canada who has had success implementing a national web map. Last year, the Surveyor General Branch of Natural Resources Canada released a web application that provides public land survey information on Canada Lands to any interested party, the Canada Lands Survey System –...
Guest Editorial: Space-age Metamorphosis
It’s an exciting time to be a surveyor. When I consider where the profession is today, it is amazing how much we have evolved from where surveying was when I started 18 years ago. Things that seemed space-age back then are now the backbone of our industry, and we have barely scratched the surface. I...
Feature: Reducing Complexity with Lidar
A helicopter-mounted lidar system helps in selecting a pipeline route in the complex terrain of Colombia, South America.By Oscar Fernando Parada and Taylor Davis Pipelines are the safest and most efficient way of transporting oil and gas resources. However, pipelines present multi-disciplinary challenges, as they represent expansive and expensive elements of infrastructure that require careful...
Feature: Carpe Caelum! (Seize the Sky!)
A successful UAS project in North America tests the mettle of crew and craft as they gather high-resolution aerial imagery in both forested and swampy terrain, sandwiched between two active military facilities. By John Stenmark, LS Editor’s Note: Yes! Private surveying firms can use UAS on real projects (at least in Canada). We bring you...