California Land Surveyors Association – East Bay Chapter

At the September meeting we will hold our annual elections. We are still accepting nominations for the positions of Chapter Secretary and Chapter Treasurer. The Nominees are as follows: President: John T. May Vice- President: Frank Borges Secretary: Craig Roberts Treasurer: Dave Murtha If you are interested, contact either John May or Frank Borges. Thanks.

August 2010

And the Nominee’s are… 2 0 1 0 O F F I C E R S

Traverse Notes from the Initial Point

Fireworks and Baseball…

President Michael Cusick (650) 637-9500 ext. 103 mcusick@rserail.com Vice-President Vacant Secretary John May (925) 476-2345 jmay@aliquot.com Treasurer Frank Borges (925) 682-6976 ext. 205 frank.borges@towill.com Immediate Past President Susan Jackson (925) 283-3771 ext. 123 susan.jackson@tetratech.com

C H A P T E R R E P S Steve Martin

Hal Davis

Janine Hampton

Christine Parks (Alternate)

Gwen Gee (Alternate)

C O M M I T T E E C H A I R S

Education/Scholarship Jim Swanson

TrigStar Aundrea Tirapelle

Bylaws Michael Foley

CSRC Steve Martin

Legislative Hal Davis

Membership Frank Borges

Seminar Brain Spore

JPPC John Poore

vs

Fireworks night on Friday Sept 3, 2010 at the Oakland Coliseum, $25 per ticket to support our scholarship fund.

Hurry! Tickets are limited! Contact Frank Borges to get yours! Frank.borges@towill.com

Also in September, our own chapter member Dave Murtha will be our guest speaker, discussing his surveys for the cranes moving under the Bay Bridge. Lastly, our September meeting is also when we begin signups for the Bay Bridge Boat tour.

Article taken from "Backsights" Magazine published by Surveyors Historical Society

Of the varied forms of plumb bobs, one of the most unusual designs, the plummet-lamp, was adapted for use in underground mining and tunnel surveys. The purpose of the plummet-lamp was to provide an illuminated target for the surveyor/engineer conducting his work underground. Unlike above-ground surveying, backsight and forsight stations in underground surveys were placed in the ceiling (as constant work would obliterate points in the floor). In use, the plummet-lamp was suspended from a station spad in the ceiling and the wick (fed from a fuel font within the hollowed body of the plummet) was ignited. The instrument man then had an easily sightable illuminated point.

The conventional plummet-lamp incorporated a heavy inverted brass cone with an internal fuel font and exposed wick, suspended in a gimbaled ring, the latter held at two points of attachment by a suspension chain. This from exposed the lamp wick and flame, to wind currents and dripping ceilings; its operation is not too efficient in some mine surveying applications.

A unique design of plummet lamp evolved from the shop of San Francisco instrument manufacturer John Roach (1813-1891). Roach's design incorporated a brass hood and a mica or glass chimney that protected the flame from both wind currents and water drips from the ceiling; a lantern atop a plummet. The design evolved sometime in the late 1870's and in 1883 was awarded a silver metal from the Mechanics' Institute. It was patented by Roach on October 30, 1883 and continued being marketed by Roach's successor J. C. Sala until at least 1894. This from of plummet-lamp is very rare today. Possibly because Roach and Sala were the only maker/suppliers of this patent form. We are aware of only one example of this patent plummet-lamp. It is a pre-patent example signed, "J. Roach S. F. Cal., Pat. Appl'd for".

UPCOMING EVENTS 

 

CLSA A’s Game Friday, Sept 3, 2010

Vs LA ANGELS

And Fireworks Night $25 per ticket

Sept. 8, 2010

CHAPTER MEETING Dragon 2000 Walnut Creek

$30 per person EAST BAY OFFICER

ELECTIONS & Sign-ups for Bay

Bridge Tour

October 8, 2010 CLSA East Bay

Chapter Bay Bridge Boat Tour Please, be advised to attend the September meeting to assure your spot.

Oct 13, 2010

CHAPTER MEETING Brass Door in San

Ramon $35 per person

Thanks

CLSA East Bay NewsletterPage 2

Port of Oakland Calibration Base Line…. "Thanks to all the volunteers who helped perform the initial measurements for a new CBL at the Port of Oakland that is safer and more accessible than the two existing CBL's in the East Bay."

Marti Ikehara, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey  Dave Murtha, Port of Oakland  John May, Aliquot Associates  Dan Bustamante, RBF Consulting  Rick Erskine, Caltrans  Kenen Pierce, City of Oakland  Duncan Marshall, East Bay Regional Park District  Bruce Bodenhofer, East Bay Regional Park District  Tim Case, RBF Consulting  Ed Kennedy, East Bay Regional Park District  Sabrina Taaning, East Bay Municipal Utility District   Dave Murtha is looking  to post his results soon. 

There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way. -Christopher Morley

CLSA East Bay Newsletter Page 3

1) How many people actually read this?

a) nobody

b) Two, the editor and me

c) everybody

d) only those who really matter

Surveyor’s Trivia

A leader is a dealer in hope. -Napoleon Bonaparte

2) How many states can a LS in California practice in?

a) 6

b) 1

c) 5

d) 3

3) When is the next meeting?

a) never

b) September

c) January

d) New Year’s

Answers are on Page 4

Congratulations to all those LSIT and PE’s that passed the LS examinations this year. I would like to single out Mr. Craig Roberts for our East Bay Chapter, who passed. Great job.

CLSA East Bay NewsletterPage 4

Quiz Answers 1)b 2)b 3)b

Do you have a new service you want to share with your

fellow surveyors?

Want to see your company name in your chapter

newsletter?

Rates are very affordable, starting at $10 per month.

Are you hiring? Job announcements are FREE!!!!

Contact John May at jmay@aliquot.com

THREE DAY F.L.S. (L.S.I.T.) REVIEW WORKSHOP

Fall 2010 Schedule Dates and Locations CONCORD, CA ORANGE, CA FRI-SUN OCT 1-3, 2010 FRI-SUN OCT 8-10, 2010 HILTON CONCORD HOTEL SANTIAGO CANYON COLLEGE 1970 DIAMOND BLVD. 8045 CHAPMAN AVE CONCORD, CA 94520 ORANGE, CA 92869 925/827-2000 714/628-4900 SUBJECTS INCLUDE: A.L.T.A SURVEYS HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL CURVES BOUNDARY LAW LAND DESCRIPTIONS CONSTRUCTION STAKING MATH DATA ACQUISITION & REDUCTION PHOTOGRAMMETRY ERROR THEORY PROBABILITY & STATISTICS ETHICS STATE PLANE COORDINATES FIELD PROCEDURES SURVEY & BUSINESS LAW GEODESY TRAVERSE THEORY G.I.S. & COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY TRIGONOMETRY G.P.S. THEORY U.S. PUBLIC LANDS WATER BOUNDARIES GENERAL INFORMATION: INSTRUCTOR - ANTHONY "TONY" CUOMO, P.L.S. SCHEDULE - 7:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. ON FRI; 8:00 A.M. TO 5:00 PM. ON SAT; 8:00 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M. ON SUN. FEE - INCLUDES REFRESHMENTS AND EXTENSIVE HANDOUT MATERIAL (LUNCH ON YOUR OWN) FEE AND DISCOUNTS: REGISTRATION FEE - $465.00 REGISTER PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 TO RECEIVE THE “EARLY BIRD” DISCOUNT. SEMINAR CANCELLATION POLICY: NO REFUNDS WILL BE HONORED WITH LESS THAN A SEVEN DAY NOTICE PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT tony@pacificland.com

TELEPHONE 562/431-1656 FAX 562/795-1791

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT tony@pacificland.com

TELEPHONE 562/431-1656 FAX 562/795-1791

__________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED FROM PCPI PUBLISHERS WWW.PCPRESSINC.COM. EXPRESS SHIPPING IS NOT AVAILABLE AND SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED, SO ORDER EARLY!! PACIFIC LAND SEMINARS DOES NOT SELL BOOKS. BOOKS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE WORKSHOPS.

__________________________________________________________________________ SUGGESTED STUDY MATERIALS IN OUR 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH TEST PREPARATION WE HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE TYPES OF BOOKS THAT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST AND BROADEST FOUNDATION FOR STUDYING FOR THIS CHALLENGING EXAM. ALTHOUGH THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT ‘REQUIRED’ FOR THE WORKSHOP, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TO PASS THIS EXAM, THESE BOOKS SHOULD BE ON YOUR PERSONAL ‘MUST HAVE’ LIST. L.S.I.T. STUDY PACKAGE THIS BASIC STUDY PACKAGE COMBINES 4 ‘MUST HAVE’ TITLES INTO ONE PACKAGE:

FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING SAMPLE EXAMS - COLE SOLVED SURVEYING PROBLEMS - VAN SICKLE DEFINITIONS OF SURVEYING AND RELATED TERMS - ACSM BASIC SURVEYING COMPUTATIONS - ZIMMERMAN

LAND SURVEYOR'S REFERENCE MANUAL - HARBIN

THIS IS BY FAR, THE BEST AND MOST POPULAR F.LS. STUDY BOOK ON THE MARKET RECOMMENDED BOOKS FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING SAMPLE EXAMS – COLE SOLVED SURVEYING PROBLEMS -VAN SICKLE DEFINITIONS OF SURVEYING AND RELATED TERMS – ACSM BASIC SURVEYING COMPUTATIONS – ZIMMERMAN SURVEYING SOLUTIONS FOR THE HP 35s RESTORATION OF LOST CORNERS BOOKLET - BLM BOUNDARY CONTROL AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES - BROWN BLM MANUAL OF INSTRUCTIONS - BLM LAND SURVEYOR'S REFERENCE MANUAL - HARBIN

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT tony@pacificland.com

TELEPHONE 562/431-1656 FAX 562/795-1791

ANTHONY C. "TONY" CUOMO, P.L.S.., HAS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SINCE 1988. HE HAS BEEN A MAPPING SUPERVISOR AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR SEVERAL MEDIUM SIZED FIRMS IN LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL SURVEYING AND MAPPING FIRM IN IRVINE, CA. HE PRESENTLY OWNS HIS OWN CONSULTING COMPANY PROVIDING VARIOUS LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. TONY HAS EXPERIENCE IN CADASTRAL, BOUNDARY, GEODETIC, TOPOGRAPHIC, HYDROGRAPHIC, SUBDIVISION, CONSTRUCTION, AND A.L.T.A. SURVEYS. HE HAS REVIEWED AND PREPARED THOUSANDS OF MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS FOR CLIENTS AND NUMEROUS PUBLIC AGENCIES. THROUGH PACIFIC LAND SEMINARS, TONY HAS DEVELOPED AND TEACHES THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED THREE-DAY ‘FUNDAMENTALS OF LAND SURVEYING WORKSHOP’. HE ALSO PRESENTS A ONE-DAY PRACTICE EXAM & WORKSHOP FOR THE N.C.E.E.S. NATIONAL P.L.S. EXAM, AND HE HAS PRESENTED SEMINARS ON VARIOUS TOPICS INCLUDING A.L.T.A. SURVEYS, LAND DESCRIPTIONS, AND ERROR THEORY THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES INCLUDING ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, IDAHO, NEVADA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON.

ABOUT THE F.L.S. WORKSHOP PACIFIC LAND SEMINARS HAS PRESENTED THE F.L.S. WORKSHOP SINCE 1985. IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO TOUCH ON ALL THE MAJOR TOPICS FOUND ON THE N.C.E.E.S. EXAM. THIS IS A HANDS ON, INTERACTIVE SEMINAR UNLIKE ANY THAT YOU HAVE ATTENDED. INSTRUCTIVE LECTURE TOPICS AND TEST GRADE PROBLEMS, GIVEN IN A TIMED ENVIRONMENT, SIMULATE TEST CONDITIONS. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A PROBLEM BY PROBLEM GUIDE TO THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS WHICH ARE ALL BASED ON SOUND SURVEYING FUNDAMENTALS. 

In an old storage cabinet, on a lower shelf, all the way in the back. A ragged cardboard box, dimensions maybe 5” x 5” x 10” It looked really old. As I turned it over, I read the address on the mailing label. The package was addressed to Paul A. Cuomo, 8118 Cantaloupe Ave., Panorama City, California, and was sent from International Correspondence Schools, Scranton 15, Pa., U.S.A…….. One of the duties that fell to me once my father had passed away was to clean up his office a bit, to go through drawers, folders, cabinets and miscellaneous stacks of stuff, and look for any important files that might contain current projects or any other sort of critical data that should be attended to. I didn’t really find a lot of that sort of thing, but I did find the old box…. At the time he passed I had already been teaching with him, through Pacific Land Seminars, since 1990. And, as one would expect, I had also attended many of his classes and seminars in my own effort to pass “THE TEST”. Over the years, I had heard him reply to questions about the origins of Pacific Land Seminars many times. He would always mention the basic facts about how he started teaching at the Jr. College survey classes, and that how, as an off-shoot of that, he thought it would be a good idea to create a vehicle wherein test candidates could round out their preparation with a strong review course. He would often relate how the review seminar started out as a two-day course, and that over the years, it has evolved to the current six-day format. But every now and then he would allude, in some cryptic way, to the ‘educational materials’ that he himself had utilized those many years ago during his quest for licensure. And, of course, the ‘obscure-factor’ of his veiled reference would depend as to whether or not he was actually teaching the ‘day portion’ of the seminar, or the all important ‘evening session’ of the seminar. Since the early 1980’s, Pacific Land Seminars has been providing the type of review class my dad had envisioned from the start. The classes were often lively, interactive sessions, designed to keep the student engaged. Lots of teaching, lots of problems, and lots of solutions – that seemed to be the formula that worked for him. And judging from the number of California surveyors who have credited, in part, Pacific Land Seminars, as a portion of their successful efforts in passing “THE TEST”, that formula seemed to work for a great many others, too. Since the beginning, I estimate that nearly 4,000 people have attended the Pacific Land Seminars L.S. Test Prep courses, and since 1990, there have been close to 2,000 attend our L.S.I.T. Test Prep course. My dad was always very proud of the fact that basically wherever he travelled within California, he was bound to run into someone who had taken a class from him. And the same can be said for John Pavlik, who has been there with Pacific Land Seminars from the beginning. Along with many other fantastic and dedicated professionals who have stepped in over the years, John has

been essential to the early success and popularity of the courses as well as the long term achievements that Pacific Land Seminars has been a part of. As for the future, John and I are continuing Pacific Land Seminars tradition. We are very proud of our success rate for the 2009 California L.S. exam. For the upcoming fall 2010 California L.S.I.T. test, we’ll be holding the three-day review course in both southern and northern California, as well as a one-day National N.C.E.E.S. L.S. Practice Exam. In addition, I’ll be conducting a two-day course in southern California geared for the potential and practicing California L.S. and, come spring, we will schedule the Series I and Series II California L.S. Test Prep seminars, both in northern Cal and southern Cal. All of this good info – schedules, locations, times, dates, and other specifics - can be found on our website at www.pacificland.com. I asked my mom about the box, and she had no idea, initially. When I inquired about the address, she told me that’s where her and my dad lived in the late ‘50s / early ‘60s. As I opened the box and pulled out the contents, she remembered. “Oh, your father spent hours with those things”, she said. What I found was nothing short of wondrous, for from inside this 50 year-old, ragged, beat-up and battered cardboard box spilled out a series around 40 pamphlets, each about 35 to 70 pages long, with titles like “Logarithims”, “Compass Surveying”, “Elements of Photogrammetry”, “U.S. Land Surveys”, “Circular and Parabolic Curves”, “Fundamentals of Law for Surveyors”, and on and on. I had found what my dad had been mysteriously alluding to all those years! It was his own version of a Professional Development Program, which consisted of a correspondence course on the various surveying topics contained in those little pamphlets, and he had kept it with him for nearly 50 years! So, the next time I hear someone pine away for the fact that there just aren’t that many opportunities for preliminary or continuing survey education these days, I think I’ll send them the address for the International Correspondence Schools, Scranton 15, Pa., U.S.A. That’s where one of the greatest surveyors I’ve ever known got his start – maybe it will work for them, too. I don’t know, what do you think?