Category Archives: Surveying
Who Is a Professional Land Surveyor?
A few months ago I wrote a piece titled, “What is a Professional Land Surveyor?” Now I will take a crack at “Who is a professional land surveyor?” I started in this business when I was 17, not even graduated high school yet. I was a hot shot architectural draftsman in high school, or so...
Right-sized? Taking the Surveying Profession to the Future
Verb -Gerund or present participle: right-sizing. As in reducing the size of (a company or organization) by eliminating staff positions, specifically when business conditions necessitate such a reduction Editor’s note: We asked esteemed Nevada surveyor and editor of the Nevada Traverse (journal of land surveying in Nevada) Carl C. de Baca to weigh in on...
Methods of Analyzing Data, Part 2: Blunders!
Elementary Statistical Procedures In this article, I assume that a least squares adjustment has been performed. Unfortunately, many novices believe that their work is done because they now have a solution to the unknown station coordinates. However, nothing is farther from the truth. It is at this point that the real work begins in analyzing...
NSPS Candidates 2016
This year’s upcoming NSPS elections feature four eminently qualified candidates running for national vice president. To encourage participation by surveyors in both the NSPS and the election of national officers, xyHt reached out to all candidates and offered space in this month’s Field Notes for a bio and candidate statement. Their statements reflect their respective...
The Essential Carlson
A new pair of reference and self-study books gives the self-starter everything you need to know to get up to speed in Carlson software. Even if you’re not a current Carlson user, you’re probably familiar with the name and company. Founded by Bruce Carlson, a civil engineer, his namesake company has produced civil engineering and...
Cross-Pacific Ties and A Disturbed Monument
Above: The surveyor who set the original stake in Hyu-ga, Japan shows the spot in the Zenrin map book of the Miyazaki Prefecture. Located 28,280,841 feet +/- from original location. Editorуs note: A chance discovery by an Oregon beachcomber has forged cross-Pacific ties between two coastal cities–and their respective surveying communities. A few months ago,...
