Category Archives: Professional Surveyor Archives
Beyond the Scope: Client Communication, Part 2
In my last article (June 2013, “Business Is Still about Relationships”), I encouraged surveyors to make the next year the “Year of the Talk.” You have always walked the walk with your knowledge and skills. But now, let’s discuss ways to “talk the talk” without feeling out of your comfort zone.Everyone is aware that it...
Picks and Clicks: Assorted CAD Tips and Tricks
Here’s a selection of CAD applications and features that I find a lot of people aren’t aware of but can save picks and clicks, time and money. DWG Convert in DWG True View DWG TrueView is a very, very stripped-down version of AutoCAD that allows you basically to open and plot DWG and DXF files....
Conference Recap: Legacy of Lidar
This was my directive from the PSM editorial team: “There are great stories at Optech; go find them.” I have enjoyed writing for professional association and trade publications for many years, but this was my first “correspondent” gig for PSM.Lidar is all the rage these days. I knew that Optech’s Imaging and Lidar Solutions Conference (ILSC 2013)...
Guest Essay: Cadastral Matters
A senior in the Geomatics Engineering Program at Fresno State, Claudia Barrueta sees a future in land surveying where a solid foundation in cadastral and professional excellence must be maintained while keeping technological advances in perspective. Already deeply committed to the surveying profession and community, Claudia has served as president, NSPS – Fresno State chapter...
Where Theory Meets Practice: Grid versus Ground
In this article, I demonstrate the proper computations used when working with conventional surveys that use state plane coordinates. I purposefully selected a traverse in Pennsylvania that climbs about 1100 ft in its 2-mi length. By examining this particular site as an example, the reader can see the effects of elevation on the computations and...
Guest Editorial: A New Brand of Expert – The Role of the Surveyor in the Geospatial World
Over time, the practice and processes of surveying have generally changed slowly. Since the 1950s, however, progress in technology and methodology has accelerated. Today, this progress is changing—and expanding—the scope of the surveyor’s work. With no end in sight for this increasing pace of advancement, the change is affecting more than technology; the role of the...