March 2013 Archives
Guest Essay: Leaders in the Geospatial Community
In the eyes of Dr. Sunil Bisnath, research scientist and educator in the fields of geodesy and precise GNSS, surveyors are uniquely poised to assume leadership roles in our geospatially aware world—if we are proactive. Dr. Bisnath is currently an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering at York University […]
Guest Essay: Vision, Education, and Excitement!
Over the course of more than four decades as a surveyor, engineer, and planner, Bill Beardslee has shared his experiences and insights through (literally) thousands of presentations and writings, including many in this publication examining business, legal, and practical elements of our profession. Bill is a tireless advocate for our profession, having served as president […]
Guest Essay: The Future of Land Surveying is Now. Are You Prepared For It?
What motivates a student to seek a career in surveying? Our profession has benefited from a growing numbers of men and women who have chosen to switch careers and pursue surveying. After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Washington, and with many years of experience in related fields, […]
GNSS Next: Do-It-Yourself Internet RTK
Editor’s note: Communications for base-rover RTK corrections can be problematic. The short leash of base-rover radios, not to mention licensing issues, can be a major source of pain for your field operations. The advent of network RTK (RTN) introduced many surveyors to the relative freedom of using cellular, broadband, or other IP- (internet protocol-) enabled […]
Rules of the Game: The Surveyor as an Expert Witness
A surveyor is often involved in litigation in the capacity of an expert witness. In this capacity, the surveyor performs three functions. First, he or she identifies, introduces, and authenticates documents and other information relevant to the disputed boundary. Second, the surveyor explains the relevancy of certain information and how the information is used to […]
Political Surveyor: “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” No Longer Works
Locating Pipelines and Other Underground Infrastructure The nation’s underground infrastructure is aging and deteriorating at a rapid rate. According to a University of Idaho study, “Much has been made, in recent years, of the potential crisis facing the nation due to our aging infrastructure. This concern is easily understood by the public as they travel […]