Category Archives: Surveying
Drones in Construction
For decades the construction industry didn’t change much-and then UAV technologies came along Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, as they are commonly called, are mostly electric-powered aircraft, which do not require a pilot onboard and are used to perform tasks that are either too dangerous for humans to do or too expensive with other...
The Dog Whisperer — Not Me
Surveying in the field exposes all of us to various threats from flora and fauna, not to mention the two-legged threats. It just comes with the job. Depending on location, we learn to identify and respect the diverse threats to our beings while conducting the course of our mission. They are just part of the...
Citizen Geodesist
A GPS on Bench Marks odyssey Philip Melcher of Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group in Visalia, California, has submitted GPS on Bench Marks observations on an incredible 650 Bench Marks all up and down California in the last three years. We will ask Philip a few questions to find out how he has accomplished this,...
Rewriting Legal Descriptions
What’s up with rewriting legal descriptions? There seems to be a growing push from the title companies to have legal descriptions rewritten for little or no good reason. In my 38 years as a licensed surveyor I can remember but a few instances when rewriting a metes and bounds description was truly warranted and recommended,...
3D Models Above and Below
Aerial, terrestrial, and underground data tell the whole story Millions of miles of underground utilities provide U.S. communities with vital services, such as telecommunications, water, electricity, and natural gas. During construction projects, accidental damage occurs frequently due to inaccurate or non-existent documentation, a situation that can be exacerbated by inadequate research before excavation begins. Safety...
The New Datum and Real-Time GNSS Networks
We asked U.S. RTN what their plans are for the upcoming changes to the National Spatial Reference System. When it comes to geodetic reference frameworks, “shift happens.” Surveyors (and others) have been through this before, like changes from NAD27 to NAD83, NGVD29 to NAVD88, from NAD83(CORS96) to NAD83(NSRS2007), and to the current NAD83(2011). Remember the...
