Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS...

28
Summer/Fall 2010 Issue 3 President’s Message Parol Testimony Feature Ramblings by Chuck Member Spotlight NSPS News Conference Workshops Upcoming Seminars Inside 3 6 11 16 22 26 28 Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News S ave the dates January 23-26, 2011! I encourage all land surveyors to attend the PSLS conference in Hershey, Pa. It will be a great opportunity to earn the mandatory con- tinuing education (CE) credits necessary to renew your sur- veying license for 2011-2013. is year, we are pleased to offer more than 35 workshops presented in morning and afternoon sessions during the three-day conference. As posted on the PSLS website, the amended registration law clarified mandatory CE requirements and eliminated the need for the Reg- istration Board to pre-approve courses—this makes it easier for surveyors to meet the requirements. e Registration Board has the final decision on wheth- er a course is acceptable or not, but PSLS plans to present workshops that adhere to the law’s crite- ria to “maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge” of land surveyors. If we believe a work- shop might be ineligible for CE credits, we will no- tify you as soon as possible. So you are prepared, and just in case the board rejects certain credits, you might wish to obtain more credits than they actu- ally need within a given licensing period. is ulti- mately benefits you since extra credits can be car- ried over and used in the next licensing period. Sunday evening, the conference will kick-off with a buffet dinner, followed by the PSLS Annual Meet- ing. Open to all members, this meeting offers at- tendees an opportunity to give feedback to the society so that it can better serve member needs. Monday morning will begin workshops after break- fast, and exhibits will open in the White Room of the Great American Hall by the morning break. For Monday evening, we are pleased to announce that our keynote speaker will be Jeffery N. Lucas, PLS, who will speak about Boundary Surveyor Join us for the PSLS Surveyors’ Conference in Hershey, Pa. Continued on Page 2 A message from Andrew J. Hilt, Executive Vice President

Transcript of Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS...

Page 1: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Conf

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Pennsyl

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2 11

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Issue 3

Presidentrsquos MessageParol Testimony FeatureRamblings by ChuckMember SpotlightNSPS NewsConference WorkshopsUpcoming Seminars

Inside36

1116222628

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News

Save the dates January 23-26 2011 I encourage all land surveyors to attend the PSLS conference in Hershey Pa

It will be a great opportunity to earn the mandatory con-tinuing education (CE) credits necessary to renew your sur-veying license for 2011-2013

This year we are pleased to offer more than 35 workshops presented in morning and afternoon sessions during the three-day conference As posted on the PSLS website the

amended registration law clarified mandatory CE requirements and eliminated the need for the Reg-istration Board to pre-approve coursesmdashthis makes it easier for surveyors to meet the requirements The Registration Board has the final decision on wheth-er a course is acceptable or not but PSLS plans to present workshops that adhere to the lawrsquos crite-ria to ldquomaintain improve or expand the skills and knowledgerdquo of land surveyors If we believe a work-shop might be ineligible for CE credits we will no-tify you as soon as possible So you are prepared and just in case the board rejects certain credits you might wish to obtain more credits than they actu-ally need within a given licensing period This ulti-mately benefits you since extra credits can be car-ried over and used in the next licensing period

Sunday evening the conference will kick-off with a buffet dinner followed by the PSLS Annual Meet-ing Open to all members this meeting offers at-tendees an opportunity to give feedback to the society so that it can better serve member needs Monday morning will begin workshops after break-fast and exhibits will open in the White Room of the Great American Hall by the morning break

For Monday evening we are pleased to announce that our keynote speaker will be Jeffery N Lucas PLS who will speak about Boundary Surveyor

Join us for the PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Conference

in Hershey Pa

Continued on Page 2

A message from Andrew J Hilt Executive Vice President

The Pennsylvania Surveyor is published quarterly by the Pennsylvania So-ciety of Land Surveyors (PSLS) Articles or opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of PSLS but are published as a service to its members the general public and for the bet-terment of the surveying profession Articles may be reprinted with due credit given We welcome submissions via e-mail in MS Word format Please forward to kshermanpslsorg or call 7175406811

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110 P 7175406811 F 7175406815 wwwpslsorg

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors

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OfficersWilliam L Lehman PLS PresidentWilliam J Beitler PLS President-ElectBrent L Birth PLS Vice PresidentMark Hummel PLS SecretaryTreasurerRichard L Phillips PLS Past PresidentRobert R Miller PLS NSPS Governor

State DirectorsAllegheny Heartlands ChapterCharles M Colony PLS amp Norman S Van Why PLSBucks ChapterDonald E Rife PLS amp Adam Crews PLSDelaware Valley ChapterKarl E Kreigh PLSHarrisburg ChapterThomas W Kimmel PLS amp Milton H Davis PLSLaurel Highlands ChapterRichard R Bourg Jr PLS amp Charles L Zelenak Jr PLSLehigh Valley ChapterDale Kulp PLS amp Stephen D Ombalski PLSMid-State ChapterFred M Henry PLS amp Horace G McAnuff PLSNorth Central ChapterJames E Pahel PLS amp Charles G Lang PLSNortheast ChapterGlenn L Johnson PLS amp Brian Naberezny PLSNorthwest ChapterJeffrey P Gilmore amp Edward E Northrop PLSPocono ChapterDuane P Bishop Jr PLS amp Paul A Waters PLSReading ChapterJohn G Fuehrer II PE PLS amp John M Huck PLSSouth Central ChapterL Bradley Foltz PLS amp Thomas Farcht Jr PLSSouth Pocono ChapterLawrence R Bailey PLSSouthwest ChapterTerry R Siefers PLSSusquehanna ChapterPeter J Uhl PLS amp Frederick J Rankinen PLS

PSLS StaffAndrew J Hilt Executive Vice PresidentShari L Taylor Assistant Executive DirectorKate C Sherman Director of Communications Member ServicesLaurie L Troutman Administrative Assistant

AdvertisingContact kshermanpslsorg or call 7175406811

EditorByron W Rimmer PLS

WANT MORE NEWS Check out the August issue of NSPS News amp Views for articles about

bull Revised ALTAACSM Land Title Survey Standardsbull Bill Benefiting Surveyors Doing LOMAs bull NCEES Position on Professional Surveyor Title AND MORE

httpwwwnspsmoorg_dataglobalimagesNSPSNews-ViewsarchiveNewsViews_Aug2010pdf

Technologies and the Law Jeff is an expert land surveyor and attorney in boundary surveying and land title surveys He has written many articles on survey-related subjects and has had his work published in state and national pub-lications Jeff will also be presenting several workshops during the conference

On Tuesday exhibits including the PSLS bookstore will be open all day until the evening reception Be sure to visit exhibitors on Monday and Tuesday to see the latest equipment and services and old friends Tuesday evening will be the raffle and auction with lots of great items up for bid By popular demand on Wednesday the final day of the conference breaks will be limited to 15 minutes al-lowing workshops to end by 4 pm

PSLS has worked hard to streamline the conference and hold costs down so we are pleased to announce that we are offering the 2011 conference registration and exhibi-tor space at 2010 prices Early PSLS member registration will be $670 and early non-member registration will be $825 if postmarked by December 23 2010

Updates and information about the conference will be posted on the PSLS website at wwwpslsorg We hope you plan to join us at the 2011 PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Confer-ence Itrsquos an opportunity to visit exhibitors obtain your CE credits and network with other land surveyors and technical specialists Donrsquot miss it

Continued from Page 1

n

Presidentrsquos Message

Continuing Education Benefits the Profession

Although opinions differ on continuing education requirements each of us must now obtain 24 CE units in order to renew our licenses in 2011 Many of our adjacent state

registrants have been dealing with this for years and we are not the only profession that requires continuing education Teachers in Pennsylvania have been required to obtain 100 units every 5 years for nearly a decade

We are obligated as professionals to stay abreast of new laws and technology so we can provide a first rate product to our clients Technology has been changing at an exponential rate since I became registered in 1979 Who knows what advances the next 5 or 10 years will bring to our profession What better way to get on top of new requirements and equip-ment than to attend a workshop where those are discussed or demonstrated

For those surveyors who are nearing retirement these requirements may seem onerous Others feel that we have been too long without the continuing education requirements I can understand both reactions

The questions that I have fielded have been mostly about the accumulation of credits and what will and will not be ac-cepted The Registration Board of Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists will have the final say in regard to what credits will be accepted They have released a notice regarding continuing education requirements It states that the CE standard is whether the course workshop conference seminar video course college course or lecture etc maintains improves or expands the skills and knowledge of a licenseersquos professional practice Making a presentation at a professional conference publishing a journal article writing a book or ob-taining a patent may qualify for CE credits

Many CE providers can be found on the Inter-net Some have been sending mailers to registrants Neighboring states have been providing workshops Some larger companies may also be putting on a workshop for their employees While PSLS does not approve credits we will however be serving as one of the providers As I see it the quickest way to obtain 21 credits would be to attend the PSLS 2011 Sur-veyorsrsquo Conference in January

It will take some effort to renew your license in 2011 I believe that we as a profession will benefit greatly from continuing education requirements

by William L Lehman PLS

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William L Lehman PLS is a planner at Somerset County Planning Commission Somerset Pa

Earn CE Credits at

Conference

2 11January 23-26Hershey Lodge

Hershey PAwwwpslsconferenceorg

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PLS Pride Congratulations to Greg Gress for gaining PLS status

Contact PSLS to sign up for a mentoring program

The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors is pleased to offer a Mentoring Program The goal of this pro-

gram is to encourage aspiring surveyors (throughout Penn-sylvania) to obtain licensure by helping them determine an appropriate professional path to follow based on their cur-rent experience level and educational background

Please contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg for the Step-by-Step guide and Journal to get started

Need a PLS Mentor

Greg Gress senior project manager for Bursich Associates has suc-cessfully completed his Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam The

PLS is a professional license issued through the Pennsylvania State Regis-tration Board for Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists Gress initially obtained the Surveyor in Training (SIT) designation which is a prerequisite to the PLS

Gress has been working in Bursichrsquos Land Surveying Division since 2002 and his experience includes all aspects of surveying including boundary and topographic surveys to construction stakeout on sites from one to 3000 acres for public and private sector clients He also heads up the firmrsquos high-definition 3D laser surveying projects

ldquoWersquore very proud of Gregrsquos accomplishment and recognize the time and effort that he has dedicatedrdquo said President Scott Exley ldquoAs a company we are happy to welcome him into the ranks of our registered professionals Itrsquos a testament to the value that he already brings to Bursichrdquo

Greg Gress PLS is a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of PSLS

Share YOUR member news with us Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 News amp Notes

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Parol Testimonyby Knud E Hermansen PLS PE PhD Esq

Parol testimony or verbal testimony is an impor-

tant source of information for retracing boundaries Few surveyors would ig-nore a landowner who de-scribes how to find the corner monument or the elderly resident who shows where the corner tree once stood Yet not all parol tes-

timony should be considered There are four hurdles to be considered before relying on parol testimony

Useful

The first hurdle is that the parol testimony be useful The testimony should advance the surveyorrsquos efforts at arriving at an opinion

Of course there is often parol information that is not use-ful All surveyors are familiar with landowners who want to talk but do not provide useful information Most survey-ors have experienced a landowner who tags along with the survey crew and maintains a constant flow of questions and gossip about the neighborhood This later parol testimony is not useful and not helpful

Acceptable

The second hurdle is that the parol testimony be acceptable The parol testimony must be of a source and circumstance that the testimony would more likely than not be used by other competent surveyors in the same or similar situation This hurdle is codified in the federal and many state rules of evidence as the following sample illustrates

The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or be-fore the hearing If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject the facts or data need not

be admissible in evidence in order for the opinion or inference to be admitted Facts or data that are oth-erwise inadmissible shall not be disclosed to the jury by the proponent of the opinion or inference unless the court determines that their probative value in assist-ing the jury to evaluate the expertrsquos opinion substan-tially outweighs their prejudicial effect Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 703

It is important for the surveyor to understand that the standard for acceptance is measured against what other reasonable surveyors would do not what one particular surveyor would do Put in other words if most surveyors would readily use the testimony it is acceptable to use If only a few (minority) of surveyors would use the testimony it is not acceptable to use under the rules of evidence

Admissible

As the last part in the underline portion of the previous quote states not all parol testimony the surveyor finds use-ful and acceptable to aid in retracing a boundary will be admissible in court (nor does it need to be) However parol testimony that is not admissible yet forms the basis of the surveyorrsquos opinion could place the surveyor in a difficult positionmdashthe surveyor has an opinion but canrsquot disclose how the opinion was reached The result is the surveyor on the witness stand can provide an opinion but the founda-tion of the opinion is deemed inadmissible and therefore the surveyorrsquos opinion is suspect

As a general rule parol testimony will not be admissible where parol testimony will contradict vary or change the written terms of the contract agreement or deed (known as the parol evidence rule) Conversely parol testimony is generally admissible to aid in the construction clarifica-tion or interpretation of an ambiguity in the deed or when a deed description is applied to the site Parol testimony may be used to explain that which is not clear or a latent ambiguity such as the meaning of words and site condi-tions at the time of conveyance

For example parol testimony is not admissible to prove the corner tree is a maple contrary to the deed description that

Feature Article

Useful

Acceptable

Admissible

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Feature Article

Custom orders your way hellip when you need them

When your name is on it our name is behind it

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The professionalrsquos choice in survey products bull wwwberntsencom bull 8772652290

areour

cites an oak to be a monument to the corner On the other hand parol testimony is acceptable to show which of two oaks is the one intended by the deed to mark the corner

Therefore parol testimony is generally admissible to iden-tify the monument cited in the deed explain its disappear-ance show its former location and show a replacement is in the position of the original to name a few applications of parol testimony Also parol testimony can be used to show elements of equitable claims or defenses such as ac-quiescence practical location and adverse possession

Credible

The final hurdle is that the parol testimony be credible Credibility does not prevent the information from being accepted as evidence The credibility affects how the infor-mation is perceived by the judge jury arbiter etc

The lack of credibility I believe is the most common defi-ciency of parol testimony used by surveyors Many survey-

Credible

ors claim not to be an advocate for their client yet accept rely and adopt parol statements from the client or the cli-entrsquos witnesses that lack credibility Therefore the surveyor becomes an extension of the advocacy of their client or cli-entrsquos attorney

There are three elements involved in determining the cred-ibility of parol statements 1) The person making a state-ment would be unaffected by the outcome of the decision 2) The person would or has some basis for the knowledge sufficient to ldquosearrdquo the knowledge into memory 3) When the memory of the witness was formed or the memory re-counted there was no actual or an appearance of bias at the time

Unaffected The first element of credibility requires that the person making a statement be unaffected by the outcome of the decision This element would generally make any statements by the client or neighboring property owner suspect Both the client and neighbor stand to gain if their statements were accepted and relied upon Even prior

Continued on Page 8

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Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

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ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

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Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

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Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

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Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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The largest Realtime Network in the Mid Atlantic andNortheast USA From Virginia to Maine See currentcoverage map at httpvrskeynetgpscom

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KeyNetGPS adKeyNetGPS-PA Surveyor 31510 437 PM Page 1

Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

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MMC06222 606

For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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Intr

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be

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Pe

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of

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e M

od

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rs

Bla

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P

ag

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n

De

ve

lop

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nt

for

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urv

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r S

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Pri

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2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 2: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

The Pennsylvania Surveyor is published quarterly by the Pennsylvania So-ciety of Land Surveyors (PSLS) Articles or opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of PSLS but are published as a service to its members the general public and for the bet-terment of the surveying profession Articles may be reprinted with due credit given We welcome submissions via e-mail in MS Word format Please forward to kshermanpslsorg or call 7175406811

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110 P 7175406811 F 7175406815 wwwpslsorg

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors

2Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

OfficersWilliam L Lehman PLS PresidentWilliam J Beitler PLS President-ElectBrent L Birth PLS Vice PresidentMark Hummel PLS SecretaryTreasurerRichard L Phillips PLS Past PresidentRobert R Miller PLS NSPS Governor

State DirectorsAllegheny Heartlands ChapterCharles M Colony PLS amp Norman S Van Why PLSBucks ChapterDonald E Rife PLS amp Adam Crews PLSDelaware Valley ChapterKarl E Kreigh PLSHarrisburg ChapterThomas W Kimmel PLS amp Milton H Davis PLSLaurel Highlands ChapterRichard R Bourg Jr PLS amp Charles L Zelenak Jr PLSLehigh Valley ChapterDale Kulp PLS amp Stephen D Ombalski PLSMid-State ChapterFred M Henry PLS amp Horace G McAnuff PLSNorth Central ChapterJames E Pahel PLS amp Charles G Lang PLSNortheast ChapterGlenn L Johnson PLS amp Brian Naberezny PLSNorthwest ChapterJeffrey P Gilmore amp Edward E Northrop PLSPocono ChapterDuane P Bishop Jr PLS amp Paul A Waters PLSReading ChapterJohn G Fuehrer II PE PLS amp John M Huck PLSSouth Central ChapterL Bradley Foltz PLS amp Thomas Farcht Jr PLSSouth Pocono ChapterLawrence R Bailey PLSSouthwest ChapterTerry R Siefers PLSSusquehanna ChapterPeter J Uhl PLS amp Frederick J Rankinen PLS

PSLS StaffAndrew J Hilt Executive Vice PresidentShari L Taylor Assistant Executive DirectorKate C Sherman Director of Communications Member ServicesLaurie L Troutman Administrative Assistant

AdvertisingContact kshermanpslsorg or call 7175406811

EditorByron W Rimmer PLS

WANT MORE NEWS Check out the August issue of NSPS News amp Views for articles about

bull Revised ALTAACSM Land Title Survey Standardsbull Bill Benefiting Surveyors Doing LOMAs bull NCEES Position on Professional Surveyor Title AND MORE

httpwwwnspsmoorg_dataglobalimagesNSPSNews-ViewsarchiveNewsViews_Aug2010pdf

Technologies and the Law Jeff is an expert land surveyor and attorney in boundary surveying and land title surveys He has written many articles on survey-related subjects and has had his work published in state and national pub-lications Jeff will also be presenting several workshops during the conference

On Tuesday exhibits including the PSLS bookstore will be open all day until the evening reception Be sure to visit exhibitors on Monday and Tuesday to see the latest equipment and services and old friends Tuesday evening will be the raffle and auction with lots of great items up for bid By popular demand on Wednesday the final day of the conference breaks will be limited to 15 minutes al-lowing workshops to end by 4 pm

PSLS has worked hard to streamline the conference and hold costs down so we are pleased to announce that we are offering the 2011 conference registration and exhibi-tor space at 2010 prices Early PSLS member registration will be $670 and early non-member registration will be $825 if postmarked by December 23 2010

Updates and information about the conference will be posted on the PSLS website at wwwpslsorg We hope you plan to join us at the 2011 PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Confer-ence Itrsquos an opportunity to visit exhibitors obtain your CE credits and network with other land surveyors and technical specialists Donrsquot miss it

Continued from Page 1

n

Presidentrsquos Message

Continuing Education Benefits the Profession

Although opinions differ on continuing education requirements each of us must now obtain 24 CE units in order to renew our licenses in 2011 Many of our adjacent state

registrants have been dealing with this for years and we are not the only profession that requires continuing education Teachers in Pennsylvania have been required to obtain 100 units every 5 years for nearly a decade

We are obligated as professionals to stay abreast of new laws and technology so we can provide a first rate product to our clients Technology has been changing at an exponential rate since I became registered in 1979 Who knows what advances the next 5 or 10 years will bring to our profession What better way to get on top of new requirements and equip-ment than to attend a workshop where those are discussed or demonstrated

For those surveyors who are nearing retirement these requirements may seem onerous Others feel that we have been too long without the continuing education requirements I can understand both reactions

The questions that I have fielded have been mostly about the accumulation of credits and what will and will not be ac-cepted The Registration Board of Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists will have the final say in regard to what credits will be accepted They have released a notice regarding continuing education requirements It states that the CE standard is whether the course workshop conference seminar video course college course or lecture etc maintains improves or expands the skills and knowledge of a licenseersquos professional practice Making a presentation at a professional conference publishing a journal article writing a book or ob-taining a patent may qualify for CE credits

Many CE providers can be found on the Inter-net Some have been sending mailers to registrants Neighboring states have been providing workshops Some larger companies may also be putting on a workshop for their employees While PSLS does not approve credits we will however be serving as one of the providers As I see it the quickest way to obtain 21 credits would be to attend the PSLS 2011 Sur-veyorsrsquo Conference in January

It will take some effort to renew your license in 2011 I believe that we as a profession will benefit greatly from continuing education requirements

by William L Lehman PLS

n

Sum

merFall 2010

3PA

Surveyo

r

William L Lehman PLS is a planner at Somerset County Planning Commission Somerset Pa

Earn CE Credits at

Conference

2 11January 23-26Hershey Lodge

Hershey PAwwwpslsconferenceorg

5Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PLS Pride Congratulations to Greg Gress for gaining PLS status

Contact PSLS to sign up for a mentoring program

The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors is pleased to offer a Mentoring Program The goal of this pro-

gram is to encourage aspiring surveyors (throughout Penn-sylvania) to obtain licensure by helping them determine an appropriate professional path to follow based on their cur-rent experience level and educational background

Please contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg for the Step-by-Step guide and Journal to get started

Need a PLS Mentor

Greg Gress senior project manager for Bursich Associates has suc-cessfully completed his Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam The

PLS is a professional license issued through the Pennsylvania State Regis-tration Board for Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists Gress initially obtained the Surveyor in Training (SIT) designation which is a prerequisite to the PLS

Gress has been working in Bursichrsquos Land Surveying Division since 2002 and his experience includes all aspects of surveying including boundary and topographic surveys to construction stakeout on sites from one to 3000 acres for public and private sector clients He also heads up the firmrsquos high-definition 3D laser surveying projects

ldquoWersquore very proud of Gregrsquos accomplishment and recognize the time and effort that he has dedicatedrdquo said President Scott Exley ldquoAs a company we are happy to welcome him into the ranks of our registered professionals Itrsquos a testament to the value that he already brings to Bursichrdquo

Greg Gress PLS is a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of PSLS

Share YOUR member news with us Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 News amp Notes

6Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Parol Testimonyby Knud E Hermansen PLS PE PhD Esq

Parol testimony or verbal testimony is an impor-

tant source of information for retracing boundaries Few surveyors would ig-nore a landowner who de-scribes how to find the corner monument or the elderly resident who shows where the corner tree once stood Yet not all parol tes-

timony should be considered There are four hurdles to be considered before relying on parol testimony

Useful

The first hurdle is that the parol testimony be useful The testimony should advance the surveyorrsquos efforts at arriving at an opinion

Of course there is often parol information that is not use-ful All surveyors are familiar with landowners who want to talk but do not provide useful information Most survey-ors have experienced a landowner who tags along with the survey crew and maintains a constant flow of questions and gossip about the neighborhood This later parol testimony is not useful and not helpful

Acceptable

The second hurdle is that the parol testimony be acceptable The parol testimony must be of a source and circumstance that the testimony would more likely than not be used by other competent surveyors in the same or similar situation This hurdle is codified in the federal and many state rules of evidence as the following sample illustrates

The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or be-fore the hearing If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject the facts or data need not

be admissible in evidence in order for the opinion or inference to be admitted Facts or data that are oth-erwise inadmissible shall not be disclosed to the jury by the proponent of the opinion or inference unless the court determines that their probative value in assist-ing the jury to evaluate the expertrsquos opinion substan-tially outweighs their prejudicial effect Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 703

It is important for the surveyor to understand that the standard for acceptance is measured against what other reasonable surveyors would do not what one particular surveyor would do Put in other words if most surveyors would readily use the testimony it is acceptable to use If only a few (minority) of surveyors would use the testimony it is not acceptable to use under the rules of evidence

Admissible

As the last part in the underline portion of the previous quote states not all parol testimony the surveyor finds use-ful and acceptable to aid in retracing a boundary will be admissible in court (nor does it need to be) However parol testimony that is not admissible yet forms the basis of the surveyorrsquos opinion could place the surveyor in a difficult positionmdashthe surveyor has an opinion but canrsquot disclose how the opinion was reached The result is the surveyor on the witness stand can provide an opinion but the founda-tion of the opinion is deemed inadmissible and therefore the surveyorrsquos opinion is suspect

As a general rule parol testimony will not be admissible where parol testimony will contradict vary or change the written terms of the contract agreement or deed (known as the parol evidence rule) Conversely parol testimony is generally admissible to aid in the construction clarifica-tion or interpretation of an ambiguity in the deed or when a deed description is applied to the site Parol testimony may be used to explain that which is not clear or a latent ambiguity such as the meaning of words and site condi-tions at the time of conveyance

For example parol testimony is not admissible to prove the corner tree is a maple contrary to the deed description that

Feature Article

Useful

Acceptable

Admissible

7Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Custom orders your way hellip when you need them

When your name is on it our name is behind it

Berntsen delivers

Your deadlines deadlines

The professionalrsquos choice in survey products bull wwwberntsencom bull 8772652290

areour

cites an oak to be a monument to the corner On the other hand parol testimony is acceptable to show which of two oaks is the one intended by the deed to mark the corner

Therefore parol testimony is generally admissible to iden-tify the monument cited in the deed explain its disappear-ance show its former location and show a replacement is in the position of the original to name a few applications of parol testimony Also parol testimony can be used to show elements of equitable claims or defenses such as ac-quiescence practical location and adverse possession

Credible

The final hurdle is that the parol testimony be credible Credibility does not prevent the information from being accepted as evidence The credibility affects how the infor-mation is perceived by the judge jury arbiter etc

The lack of credibility I believe is the most common defi-ciency of parol testimony used by surveyors Many survey-

Credible

ors claim not to be an advocate for their client yet accept rely and adopt parol statements from the client or the cli-entrsquos witnesses that lack credibility Therefore the surveyor becomes an extension of the advocacy of their client or cli-entrsquos attorney

There are three elements involved in determining the cred-ibility of parol statements 1) The person making a state-ment would be unaffected by the outcome of the decision 2) The person would or has some basis for the knowledge sufficient to ldquosearrdquo the knowledge into memory 3) When the memory of the witness was formed or the memory re-counted there was no actual or an appearance of bias at the time

Unaffected The first element of credibility requires that the person making a statement be unaffected by the outcome of the decision This element would generally make any statements by the client or neighboring property owner suspect Both the client and neighbor stand to gain if their statements were accepted and relied upon Even prior

Continued on Page 8

8Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

your risk management connection

Dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of architects engineers environmental consultants surveyors and construction managers

Call Paula M Selvaggio RPLU800-975-9468 STASSOCIATESNET

ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

ldquoBack and forthrdquo Easily two of the most hated words for any surveyor Except perhaps ldquoagainrdquo

Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

Trimble VISION is the latest in a long line of innovations designed to make surveying more productive in the fi eld in the offi ce and wherever the next opportunity takes you

TRIMBLE S8 TOTAL STATION

08340833 0835

0905

copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR

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Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

Precision Laser amp InstrumentAmbridge PA724-266-1600

11Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

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Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

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erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

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Sum

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17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

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erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

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Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

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23Su

mm

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Surveyo

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Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

SL

S S

UR

VE

YO

RS

CO

NF

ER

EN

CE

WO

RK

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term

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ha

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ill W

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nd

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ce

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rt 1

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rt 1

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I-6

Sta

te P

lan

e C

oo

rdin

ate

Syste

ms P

art

1 amp

2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 3: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Presidentrsquos Message

Continuing Education Benefits the Profession

Although opinions differ on continuing education requirements each of us must now obtain 24 CE units in order to renew our licenses in 2011 Many of our adjacent state

registrants have been dealing with this for years and we are not the only profession that requires continuing education Teachers in Pennsylvania have been required to obtain 100 units every 5 years for nearly a decade

We are obligated as professionals to stay abreast of new laws and technology so we can provide a first rate product to our clients Technology has been changing at an exponential rate since I became registered in 1979 Who knows what advances the next 5 or 10 years will bring to our profession What better way to get on top of new requirements and equip-ment than to attend a workshop where those are discussed or demonstrated

For those surveyors who are nearing retirement these requirements may seem onerous Others feel that we have been too long without the continuing education requirements I can understand both reactions

The questions that I have fielded have been mostly about the accumulation of credits and what will and will not be ac-cepted The Registration Board of Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists will have the final say in regard to what credits will be accepted They have released a notice regarding continuing education requirements It states that the CE standard is whether the course workshop conference seminar video course college course or lecture etc maintains improves or expands the skills and knowledge of a licenseersquos professional practice Making a presentation at a professional conference publishing a journal article writing a book or ob-taining a patent may qualify for CE credits

Many CE providers can be found on the Inter-net Some have been sending mailers to registrants Neighboring states have been providing workshops Some larger companies may also be putting on a workshop for their employees While PSLS does not approve credits we will however be serving as one of the providers As I see it the quickest way to obtain 21 credits would be to attend the PSLS 2011 Sur-veyorsrsquo Conference in January

It will take some effort to renew your license in 2011 I believe that we as a profession will benefit greatly from continuing education requirements

by William L Lehman PLS

n

Sum

merFall 2010

3PA

Surveyo

r

William L Lehman PLS is a planner at Somerset County Planning Commission Somerset Pa

Earn CE Credits at

Conference

2 11January 23-26Hershey Lodge

Hershey PAwwwpslsconferenceorg

5Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PLS Pride Congratulations to Greg Gress for gaining PLS status

Contact PSLS to sign up for a mentoring program

The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors is pleased to offer a Mentoring Program The goal of this pro-

gram is to encourage aspiring surveyors (throughout Penn-sylvania) to obtain licensure by helping them determine an appropriate professional path to follow based on their cur-rent experience level and educational background

Please contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg for the Step-by-Step guide and Journal to get started

Need a PLS Mentor

Greg Gress senior project manager for Bursich Associates has suc-cessfully completed his Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam The

PLS is a professional license issued through the Pennsylvania State Regis-tration Board for Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists Gress initially obtained the Surveyor in Training (SIT) designation which is a prerequisite to the PLS

Gress has been working in Bursichrsquos Land Surveying Division since 2002 and his experience includes all aspects of surveying including boundary and topographic surveys to construction stakeout on sites from one to 3000 acres for public and private sector clients He also heads up the firmrsquos high-definition 3D laser surveying projects

ldquoWersquore very proud of Gregrsquos accomplishment and recognize the time and effort that he has dedicatedrdquo said President Scott Exley ldquoAs a company we are happy to welcome him into the ranks of our registered professionals Itrsquos a testament to the value that he already brings to Bursichrdquo

Greg Gress PLS is a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of PSLS

Share YOUR member news with us Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 News amp Notes

6Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Parol Testimonyby Knud E Hermansen PLS PE PhD Esq

Parol testimony or verbal testimony is an impor-

tant source of information for retracing boundaries Few surveyors would ig-nore a landowner who de-scribes how to find the corner monument or the elderly resident who shows where the corner tree once stood Yet not all parol tes-

timony should be considered There are four hurdles to be considered before relying on parol testimony

Useful

The first hurdle is that the parol testimony be useful The testimony should advance the surveyorrsquos efforts at arriving at an opinion

Of course there is often parol information that is not use-ful All surveyors are familiar with landowners who want to talk but do not provide useful information Most survey-ors have experienced a landowner who tags along with the survey crew and maintains a constant flow of questions and gossip about the neighborhood This later parol testimony is not useful and not helpful

Acceptable

The second hurdle is that the parol testimony be acceptable The parol testimony must be of a source and circumstance that the testimony would more likely than not be used by other competent surveyors in the same or similar situation This hurdle is codified in the federal and many state rules of evidence as the following sample illustrates

The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or be-fore the hearing If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject the facts or data need not

be admissible in evidence in order for the opinion or inference to be admitted Facts or data that are oth-erwise inadmissible shall not be disclosed to the jury by the proponent of the opinion or inference unless the court determines that their probative value in assist-ing the jury to evaluate the expertrsquos opinion substan-tially outweighs their prejudicial effect Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 703

It is important for the surveyor to understand that the standard for acceptance is measured against what other reasonable surveyors would do not what one particular surveyor would do Put in other words if most surveyors would readily use the testimony it is acceptable to use If only a few (minority) of surveyors would use the testimony it is not acceptable to use under the rules of evidence

Admissible

As the last part in the underline portion of the previous quote states not all parol testimony the surveyor finds use-ful and acceptable to aid in retracing a boundary will be admissible in court (nor does it need to be) However parol testimony that is not admissible yet forms the basis of the surveyorrsquos opinion could place the surveyor in a difficult positionmdashthe surveyor has an opinion but canrsquot disclose how the opinion was reached The result is the surveyor on the witness stand can provide an opinion but the founda-tion of the opinion is deemed inadmissible and therefore the surveyorrsquos opinion is suspect

As a general rule parol testimony will not be admissible where parol testimony will contradict vary or change the written terms of the contract agreement or deed (known as the parol evidence rule) Conversely parol testimony is generally admissible to aid in the construction clarifica-tion or interpretation of an ambiguity in the deed or when a deed description is applied to the site Parol testimony may be used to explain that which is not clear or a latent ambiguity such as the meaning of words and site condi-tions at the time of conveyance

For example parol testimony is not admissible to prove the corner tree is a maple contrary to the deed description that

Feature Article

Useful

Acceptable

Admissible

7Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Custom orders your way hellip when you need them

When your name is on it our name is behind it

Berntsen delivers

Your deadlines deadlines

The professionalrsquos choice in survey products bull wwwberntsencom bull 8772652290

areour

cites an oak to be a monument to the corner On the other hand parol testimony is acceptable to show which of two oaks is the one intended by the deed to mark the corner

Therefore parol testimony is generally admissible to iden-tify the monument cited in the deed explain its disappear-ance show its former location and show a replacement is in the position of the original to name a few applications of parol testimony Also parol testimony can be used to show elements of equitable claims or defenses such as ac-quiescence practical location and adverse possession

Credible

The final hurdle is that the parol testimony be credible Credibility does not prevent the information from being accepted as evidence The credibility affects how the infor-mation is perceived by the judge jury arbiter etc

The lack of credibility I believe is the most common defi-ciency of parol testimony used by surveyors Many survey-

Credible

ors claim not to be an advocate for their client yet accept rely and adopt parol statements from the client or the cli-entrsquos witnesses that lack credibility Therefore the surveyor becomes an extension of the advocacy of their client or cli-entrsquos attorney

There are three elements involved in determining the cred-ibility of parol statements 1) The person making a state-ment would be unaffected by the outcome of the decision 2) The person would or has some basis for the knowledge sufficient to ldquosearrdquo the knowledge into memory 3) When the memory of the witness was formed or the memory re-counted there was no actual or an appearance of bias at the time

Unaffected The first element of credibility requires that the person making a statement be unaffected by the outcome of the decision This element would generally make any statements by the client or neighboring property owner suspect Both the client and neighbor stand to gain if their statements were accepted and relied upon Even prior

Continued on Page 8

8Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

your risk management connection

Dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of architects engineers environmental consultants surveyors and construction managers

Call Paula M Selvaggio RPLU800-975-9468 STASSOCIATESNET

ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

ldquoBack and forthrdquo Easily two of the most hated words for any surveyor Except perhaps ldquoagainrdquo

Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

Trimble VISION is the latest in a long line of innovations designed to make surveying more productive in the fi eld in the offi ce and wherever the next opportunity takes you

TRIMBLE S8 TOTAL STATION

08340833 0835

0905

copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR

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Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

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11Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

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r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

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r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

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Sum

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17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

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In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

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Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

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Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

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23Su

mm

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Surveyo

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Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

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ow

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ou

nd

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term

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ha

t W

ill W

in in

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rt 1

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nu

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V

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ind

ing

amp P

rio

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g B

ou

nd

ary

Re

tra

ce

me

nt

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en

ce

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rt 1

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V-2

amp V

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MA

Ele

va

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ert

ific

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OM

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Pa

rt 1

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I-6

Sta

te P

lan

e C

oo

rdin

ate

Syste

ms P

art

1 amp

2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 4: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

5Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PLS Pride Congratulations to Greg Gress for gaining PLS status

Contact PSLS to sign up for a mentoring program

The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors is pleased to offer a Mentoring Program The goal of this pro-

gram is to encourage aspiring surveyors (throughout Penn-sylvania) to obtain licensure by helping them determine an appropriate professional path to follow based on their cur-rent experience level and educational background

Please contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg for the Step-by-Step guide and Journal to get started

Need a PLS Mentor

Greg Gress senior project manager for Bursich Associates has suc-cessfully completed his Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam The

PLS is a professional license issued through the Pennsylvania State Regis-tration Board for Professional Engineers Land Surveyors and Geologists Gress initially obtained the Surveyor in Training (SIT) designation which is a prerequisite to the PLS

Gress has been working in Bursichrsquos Land Surveying Division since 2002 and his experience includes all aspects of surveying including boundary and topographic surveys to construction stakeout on sites from one to 3000 acres for public and private sector clients He also heads up the firmrsquos high-definition 3D laser surveying projects

ldquoWersquore very proud of Gregrsquos accomplishment and recognize the time and effort that he has dedicatedrdquo said President Scott Exley ldquoAs a company we are happy to welcome him into the ranks of our registered professionals Itrsquos a testament to the value that he already brings to Bursichrdquo

Greg Gress PLS is a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of PSLS

Share YOUR member news with us Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 News amp Notes

6Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Parol Testimonyby Knud E Hermansen PLS PE PhD Esq

Parol testimony or verbal testimony is an impor-

tant source of information for retracing boundaries Few surveyors would ig-nore a landowner who de-scribes how to find the corner monument or the elderly resident who shows where the corner tree once stood Yet not all parol tes-

timony should be considered There are four hurdles to be considered before relying on parol testimony

Useful

The first hurdle is that the parol testimony be useful The testimony should advance the surveyorrsquos efforts at arriving at an opinion

Of course there is often parol information that is not use-ful All surveyors are familiar with landowners who want to talk but do not provide useful information Most survey-ors have experienced a landowner who tags along with the survey crew and maintains a constant flow of questions and gossip about the neighborhood This later parol testimony is not useful and not helpful

Acceptable

The second hurdle is that the parol testimony be acceptable The parol testimony must be of a source and circumstance that the testimony would more likely than not be used by other competent surveyors in the same or similar situation This hurdle is codified in the federal and many state rules of evidence as the following sample illustrates

The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or be-fore the hearing If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject the facts or data need not

be admissible in evidence in order for the opinion or inference to be admitted Facts or data that are oth-erwise inadmissible shall not be disclosed to the jury by the proponent of the opinion or inference unless the court determines that their probative value in assist-ing the jury to evaluate the expertrsquos opinion substan-tially outweighs their prejudicial effect Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 703

It is important for the surveyor to understand that the standard for acceptance is measured against what other reasonable surveyors would do not what one particular surveyor would do Put in other words if most surveyors would readily use the testimony it is acceptable to use If only a few (minority) of surveyors would use the testimony it is not acceptable to use under the rules of evidence

Admissible

As the last part in the underline portion of the previous quote states not all parol testimony the surveyor finds use-ful and acceptable to aid in retracing a boundary will be admissible in court (nor does it need to be) However parol testimony that is not admissible yet forms the basis of the surveyorrsquos opinion could place the surveyor in a difficult positionmdashthe surveyor has an opinion but canrsquot disclose how the opinion was reached The result is the surveyor on the witness stand can provide an opinion but the founda-tion of the opinion is deemed inadmissible and therefore the surveyorrsquos opinion is suspect

As a general rule parol testimony will not be admissible where parol testimony will contradict vary or change the written terms of the contract agreement or deed (known as the parol evidence rule) Conversely parol testimony is generally admissible to aid in the construction clarifica-tion or interpretation of an ambiguity in the deed or when a deed description is applied to the site Parol testimony may be used to explain that which is not clear or a latent ambiguity such as the meaning of words and site condi-tions at the time of conveyance

For example parol testimony is not admissible to prove the corner tree is a maple contrary to the deed description that

Feature Article

Useful

Acceptable

Admissible

7Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Custom orders your way hellip when you need them

When your name is on it our name is behind it

Berntsen delivers

Your deadlines deadlines

The professionalrsquos choice in survey products bull wwwberntsencom bull 8772652290

areour

cites an oak to be a monument to the corner On the other hand parol testimony is acceptable to show which of two oaks is the one intended by the deed to mark the corner

Therefore parol testimony is generally admissible to iden-tify the monument cited in the deed explain its disappear-ance show its former location and show a replacement is in the position of the original to name a few applications of parol testimony Also parol testimony can be used to show elements of equitable claims or defenses such as ac-quiescence practical location and adverse possession

Credible

The final hurdle is that the parol testimony be credible Credibility does not prevent the information from being accepted as evidence The credibility affects how the infor-mation is perceived by the judge jury arbiter etc

The lack of credibility I believe is the most common defi-ciency of parol testimony used by surveyors Many survey-

Credible

ors claim not to be an advocate for their client yet accept rely and adopt parol statements from the client or the cli-entrsquos witnesses that lack credibility Therefore the surveyor becomes an extension of the advocacy of their client or cli-entrsquos attorney

There are three elements involved in determining the cred-ibility of parol statements 1) The person making a state-ment would be unaffected by the outcome of the decision 2) The person would or has some basis for the knowledge sufficient to ldquosearrdquo the knowledge into memory 3) When the memory of the witness was formed or the memory re-counted there was no actual or an appearance of bias at the time

Unaffected The first element of credibility requires that the person making a statement be unaffected by the outcome of the decision This element would generally make any statements by the client or neighboring property owner suspect Both the client and neighbor stand to gain if their statements were accepted and relied upon Even prior

Continued on Page 8

8Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

your risk management connection

Dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of architects engineers environmental consultants surveyors and construction managers

Call Paula M Selvaggio RPLU800-975-9468 STASSOCIATESNET

ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

ldquoBack and forthrdquo Easily two of the most hated words for any surveyor Except perhaps ldquoagainrdquo

Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

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Trimble VISION is the latest in a long line of innovations designed to make surveying more productive in the fi eld in the offi ce and wherever the next opportunity takes you

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copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

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Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

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Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

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r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

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erFall 2010PA

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r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

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Sum

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17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

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In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

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Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

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Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

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717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

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23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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ill W

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nt

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oo

rdin

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ms P

art

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2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 5: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

6Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Parol Testimonyby Knud E Hermansen PLS PE PhD Esq

Parol testimony or verbal testimony is an impor-

tant source of information for retracing boundaries Few surveyors would ig-nore a landowner who de-scribes how to find the corner monument or the elderly resident who shows where the corner tree once stood Yet not all parol tes-

timony should be considered There are four hurdles to be considered before relying on parol testimony

Useful

The first hurdle is that the parol testimony be useful The testimony should advance the surveyorrsquos efforts at arriving at an opinion

Of course there is often parol information that is not use-ful All surveyors are familiar with landowners who want to talk but do not provide useful information Most survey-ors have experienced a landowner who tags along with the survey crew and maintains a constant flow of questions and gossip about the neighborhood This later parol testimony is not useful and not helpful

Acceptable

The second hurdle is that the parol testimony be acceptable The parol testimony must be of a source and circumstance that the testimony would more likely than not be used by other competent surveyors in the same or similar situation This hurdle is codified in the federal and many state rules of evidence as the following sample illustrates

The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or be-fore the hearing If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject the facts or data need not

be admissible in evidence in order for the opinion or inference to be admitted Facts or data that are oth-erwise inadmissible shall not be disclosed to the jury by the proponent of the opinion or inference unless the court determines that their probative value in assist-ing the jury to evaluate the expertrsquos opinion substan-tially outweighs their prejudicial effect Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 703

It is important for the surveyor to understand that the standard for acceptance is measured against what other reasonable surveyors would do not what one particular surveyor would do Put in other words if most surveyors would readily use the testimony it is acceptable to use If only a few (minority) of surveyors would use the testimony it is not acceptable to use under the rules of evidence

Admissible

As the last part in the underline portion of the previous quote states not all parol testimony the surveyor finds use-ful and acceptable to aid in retracing a boundary will be admissible in court (nor does it need to be) However parol testimony that is not admissible yet forms the basis of the surveyorrsquos opinion could place the surveyor in a difficult positionmdashthe surveyor has an opinion but canrsquot disclose how the opinion was reached The result is the surveyor on the witness stand can provide an opinion but the founda-tion of the opinion is deemed inadmissible and therefore the surveyorrsquos opinion is suspect

As a general rule parol testimony will not be admissible where parol testimony will contradict vary or change the written terms of the contract agreement or deed (known as the parol evidence rule) Conversely parol testimony is generally admissible to aid in the construction clarifica-tion or interpretation of an ambiguity in the deed or when a deed description is applied to the site Parol testimony may be used to explain that which is not clear or a latent ambiguity such as the meaning of words and site condi-tions at the time of conveyance

For example parol testimony is not admissible to prove the corner tree is a maple contrary to the deed description that

Feature Article

Useful

Acceptable

Admissible

7Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Custom orders your way hellip when you need them

When your name is on it our name is behind it

Berntsen delivers

Your deadlines deadlines

The professionalrsquos choice in survey products bull wwwberntsencom bull 8772652290

areour

cites an oak to be a monument to the corner On the other hand parol testimony is acceptable to show which of two oaks is the one intended by the deed to mark the corner

Therefore parol testimony is generally admissible to iden-tify the monument cited in the deed explain its disappear-ance show its former location and show a replacement is in the position of the original to name a few applications of parol testimony Also parol testimony can be used to show elements of equitable claims or defenses such as ac-quiescence practical location and adverse possession

Credible

The final hurdle is that the parol testimony be credible Credibility does not prevent the information from being accepted as evidence The credibility affects how the infor-mation is perceived by the judge jury arbiter etc

The lack of credibility I believe is the most common defi-ciency of parol testimony used by surveyors Many survey-

Credible

ors claim not to be an advocate for their client yet accept rely and adopt parol statements from the client or the cli-entrsquos witnesses that lack credibility Therefore the surveyor becomes an extension of the advocacy of their client or cli-entrsquos attorney

There are three elements involved in determining the cred-ibility of parol statements 1) The person making a state-ment would be unaffected by the outcome of the decision 2) The person would or has some basis for the knowledge sufficient to ldquosearrdquo the knowledge into memory 3) When the memory of the witness was formed or the memory re-counted there was no actual or an appearance of bias at the time

Unaffected The first element of credibility requires that the person making a statement be unaffected by the outcome of the decision This element would generally make any statements by the client or neighboring property owner suspect Both the client and neighbor stand to gain if their statements were accepted and relied upon Even prior

Continued on Page 8

8Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

your risk management connection

Dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of architects engineers environmental consultants surveyors and construction managers

Call Paula M Selvaggio RPLU800-975-9468 STASSOCIATESNET

ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

ldquoBack and forthrdquo Easily two of the most hated words for any surveyor Except perhaps ldquoagainrdquo

Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

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08340833 0835

0905

copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

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Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

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Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

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(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

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r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

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17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

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In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

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Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

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Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

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Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

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23Su

mm

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Surveyo

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Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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ill W

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ce

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nt

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rt 1

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te P

lan

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oo

rdin

ate

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ms P

art

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2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 6: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

7Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Custom orders your way hellip when you need them

When your name is on it our name is behind it

Berntsen delivers

Your deadlines deadlines

The professionalrsquos choice in survey products bull wwwberntsencom bull 8772652290

areour

cites an oak to be a monument to the corner On the other hand parol testimony is acceptable to show which of two oaks is the one intended by the deed to mark the corner

Therefore parol testimony is generally admissible to iden-tify the monument cited in the deed explain its disappear-ance show its former location and show a replacement is in the position of the original to name a few applications of parol testimony Also parol testimony can be used to show elements of equitable claims or defenses such as ac-quiescence practical location and adverse possession

Credible

The final hurdle is that the parol testimony be credible Credibility does not prevent the information from being accepted as evidence The credibility affects how the infor-mation is perceived by the judge jury arbiter etc

The lack of credibility I believe is the most common defi-ciency of parol testimony used by surveyors Many survey-

Credible

ors claim not to be an advocate for their client yet accept rely and adopt parol statements from the client or the cli-entrsquos witnesses that lack credibility Therefore the surveyor becomes an extension of the advocacy of their client or cli-entrsquos attorney

There are three elements involved in determining the cred-ibility of parol statements 1) The person making a state-ment would be unaffected by the outcome of the decision 2) The person would or has some basis for the knowledge sufficient to ldquosearrdquo the knowledge into memory 3) When the memory of the witness was formed or the memory re-counted there was no actual or an appearance of bias at the time

Unaffected The first element of credibility requires that the person making a statement be unaffected by the outcome of the decision This element would generally make any statements by the client or neighboring property owner suspect Both the client and neighbor stand to gain if their statements were accepted and relied upon Even prior

Continued on Page 8

8Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

your risk management connection

Dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of architects engineers environmental consultants surveyors and construction managers

Call Paula M Selvaggio RPLU800-975-9468 STASSOCIATESNET

ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

ldquoBack and forthrdquo Easily two of the most hated words for any surveyor Except perhaps ldquoagainrdquo

Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

Trimble VISION is the latest in a long line of innovations designed to make surveying more productive in the fi eld in the offi ce and wherever the next opportunity takes you

TRIMBLE S8 TOTAL STATION

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copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR

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Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

Precision Laser amp InstrumentAmbridge PA724-266-1600

11Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

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r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

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erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

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Sum

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17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

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erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

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Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

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23Su

mm

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Surveyo

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Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

SL

S S

UR

VE

YO

RS

CO

NF

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EN

CE

WO

RK

SH

OP

S

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lan

e C

oo

rdin

ate

Syste

ms P

art

1 amp

2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 7: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

8Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Feature Article

Parol Continued from Page 7

owners are suspect if they gave a warranty deed and may be called upon to defend their warranty should the boundar-ies not reside where they claim the boundaries reside

There is one exception to this element of credibility The exception is when the statement of the witness is against the interest of the witness For example if the client were to agree with the neighborrsquos assertions regarding the for-mer location of a boundary stone the clientrsquos testimony re-garding the stonersquos location would be judged credible since it is a statement against their interest

Basis for Knowledge The second element affect-ing the credibility of a parol statement requires the witness have some basis for their knowledge sufficient to ldquoburn the knowledgerdquo into their memory The basis for the knowl-edge must be such that logic and experience would compel a reasonable person to believe the witness would remember the facts they testify about Was there something unique or noteworthy that would cause the witness to remember or retain the knowledge in their memory In the instance of a corner location it is often insufficient for a witness to merely state they remember there was a corner pin at a cer-tain location The witness must be able to relate their mem-ory gained in the past to an existing location on the ground in a manner that is logical reasonable and trustworthy

your risk management connection

Dedicated to serving the insurance and risk management needs of architects engineers environmental consultants surveyors and construction managers

Call Paula M Selvaggio RPLU800-975-9468 STASSOCIATESNET

ldquoThe pin was right at the top of the ditch and the ditch hasnrsquot movedrdquo ldquoI watched my dad put a stone right on the old stump and after the stump decayed that stone was still thererdquo

Consider an 83-year-old witness who insists that she re-members the location of a pin she saw in her cousinrsquos yard when she was 12 years old That statement without some other supporting information is not credible because log-ic and experience suggest that 12-year-old children have trouble remembering to feed the dog that day let alone the location of a corner pin the elderly witness saw 70 years earlier However it is believable that the 85-year-old wit-ness can remember the location of the corner pin if she recounts that the pin was under a tree branch she fell out of when playing in the tree at age 12 and the corner pin injured her very badly when she landed on it The tree and severe injury is something that a reasonable person would believe someone could remember many decades later Since the tree and the branch the witness climbed on still stands the witness is able to accurately place where the pin stood 70 years previously

Of course knowledge gained last week does not need the same intensity of experience (if any) in order to accurate-ly recount the knowledge On the other hand knowledge gained a decade ago would require some extraordinary ex-perience to retain a credible memory

Impartial The disposition tem-perament or bias of the person when the memory was created or the state-ment is made also forms an element of credibility Statements by close friends and family of the client or neighbor are suspect Also witnesses who were angry or emotional to the extent their judgment may be impar-tial or biased against or for a party may hurt the credibility of the wit-ness

Documenting parol testimony using an affidavit should incorporate the criteria that was discussed previously

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

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Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

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The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

Trimble VISION is the latest in a long line of innovations designed to make surveying more productive in the fi eld in the offi ce and wherever the next opportunity takes you

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copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR

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Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

Precision Laser amp InstrumentAmbridge PA724-266-1600

11Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

KeyNetGPS is designed to provide Surveying Construction and Mapping professionals with trueNetwork RTK solutions It currently provides high-accuracy positioning in real time across eastern Virginia Maryland Washington DC Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey New York ConnecticutRhode Island Massachusetts Vermont New Hampshireand southern Maine KeyNetGPS provides the highestlevel of RTK performance achievable from a networkof base stations The results are centimeter accuracyand shorter initialization times

The largest Realtime Network in the Mid Atlantic andNortheast USA From Virginia to Maine See currentcoverage map at httpvrskeynetgpscom

Over 145 Reference Stations as of January 2010

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KeyNetGPS adKeyNetGPS-PA Surveyor 31510 437 PM Page 1

Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

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For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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nt

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rt 1

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rt 1

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Sta

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oo

rdin

ate

Syste

ms P

art

1 amp

2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 8: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

This article has focused on parol testimony yet many of the criteria would also apply to other forms of extrinsic evidence The age loss of information over time and unreliability of the surviving information often do not allow the surveyor to be very discriminating as to the information the surveyor uses Yet where there is conflicting information including parol testimony the surveyor must be prepared to critically examine the parol testimony before relying on it or making it superior to other possibly more reliable evidence n

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

9

Knud Hermansen is a surveyor engineer and attorney He teaches surveying at the University of Maine and operates a consulting firm providing services in title land development boundaries and easements

Affidavit of Leroy Cameron

My name is Leroy F Cameron I am 62 years old I reside at 3049 Ames Lane in the town of Lincolnville

From the age of 9 until I was 18 years old and went into the service I lived at what is known as the Wooster farm The Wooster farm was owned by my grandparents during the time I lived there

At the southeast corner of the farm there was a large oak tree with three blazes I spent hours sitting in a tree stand that I built in this tree to hunt deer I spent countless hours in this tree and shot several deer that came to eat acorns at this tree From this tree I could see down a woods lane in one direction and along a fence-row in another direction

Recently I returned to the location of the oak tree From the alignment of the woods lane and remains of a fence-row I was able to determine the former location of the oak tree A month ago I placed a pile of six to 12 inch diameter stones at the location of the oak and indicated this location to Sarah Kener a surveyor

While I have often met the person who owns the Wooster farm and the neigh-boring property I am not related or know them outside this occasional meeting that occurs while hunting I continue to hunt on this farm and the neighboring property

Dated the 3rd day of August 2010

Leroy Cameron

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

ldquoBack and forthrdquo Easily two of the most hated words for any surveyor Except perhaps ldquoagainrdquo

Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

Trimble VISION is the latest in a long line of innovations designed to make surveying more productive in the fi eld in the offi ce and wherever the next opportunity takes you

TRIMBLE S8 TOTAL STATION

08340833 0835

0905

copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR

TRIMBLE DEALER

Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

Precision Laser amp InstrumentAmbridge PA724-266-1600

11Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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KeyNetGPS adKeyNetGPS-PA Surveyor 31510 437 PM Page 1

Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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In case of an accident or illness itrsquos reassuring to know that you have a poised and compassionate

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seems to take it away Cash benefits hellip personally owned and managed hellip to help you get back on

your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

rising deductibles and copayments out-of-network charges daily living costs and out-of-pocket

expenses as well as the loss of income

A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

yourself why more than 40 million people worldwide are turning to Aflac for greater control and

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Aflac We pay You decide

Company Statistics (May 2005)

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)

180099AFLAC (18009923522)En espantildeol 1800SIAFLAC (18007423522)

Worldwide Headquarters bull 1932 Wynnton RoadColumbus Georgia 31999 bull aflaccom

MMC06222 606

For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 9: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

The shortest distance between two points is not a trip back to the tripod

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Trimblereg VISIONtrade technology brings new levels of productivity to the Trimble S8 Total Station by dramtically reducing trips back to the tripod Now you can see everything the instrument sees from your controller

Why walk back With the longer range EDM you can stay put and use your controller to aim acquire and capture measurements to refl ectorless surfaces ndash at more than twice the distance yoursquore used to

The Trimble S8 also gives you live video streaming with surveyed data on the screen to confi rm your task list With photo documentation you have visual verifi cation for all data before leaving the site Eliminating an even costlier form of back and forth

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TRIMBLE S8 TOTAL STATION

08340833 0835

0905

copy 2010 Trimble Navigation Limited All rights reserved Trimble and the Globe amp Triangle logo is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States and in other countries Trimble Access is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners SUR-185

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR

TRIMBLE DEALER

Keystone Precision Whitehall PA 800-833-9250

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11Su

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erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

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erFall 2010PA

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

KeyNetGPS is designed to provide Surveying Construction and Mapping professionals with trueNetwork RTK solutions It currently provides high-accuracy positioning in real time across eastern Virginia Maryland Washington DC Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey New York ConnecticutRhode Island Massachusetts Vermont New Hampshireand southern Maine KeyNetGPS provides the highestlevel of RTK performance achievable from a networkof base stations The results are centimeter accuracyand shorter initialization times

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

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Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

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717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

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n

23Su

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Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 10: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

11Su

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erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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Ramblings by Chuck

Continued on Page 12

of Coordinatesby Charles D Ghilani PhD

Part 2=

TRANSformationp

q

Introduction

Often surveyors have the task of performing a GPSglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) survey using local coordinates The local coordinate system may involve some

recognized systems such as state plane coordinates and orthometric heights or an arbitrary coordinate system such as (5000 5000 100) Either way your GPSGNSS system is using a global coordinate system such as WGS84 or the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) The bottom-line here is that your GPSGNSS receiver is not working in any local co-ordinate system but rather in the one defined by the ephemeris used to process its data

So what is the difference Letrsquos assume that your survey is using state plane coordinates and elevations (aka orthometric heights) NAD83 is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid whose origin differs from WGS84 and ITRF by about 722 ft In addition the axes of the GRS80 el-

lipsoid are slightly misaligned with those of the WGS84 ellipsoid Thus the (NE) coordinates derived from NAD83 will not match those obtained from a GPSGNSS receiver unless something is done to correct these differences Additionally the GPSGNSS receiver only computes the height of your point above the ellipsoid Presently the NGS has a hybrid ge-oid model (GEOID09) that has a purported standard deviation of about plusmn005 ft However this model is not necessarily this accurate in regions where there is a lack of gravity observations such as in much of Pennsylvania But cheer up it is worse in states like Oregon and Arizona due to the mountains and lack of gravity data Additionally when we setup our GPSGNSS receiver with respect to gravity the deflection of the vertical at that setup will cause a tilt in the level plane Thus as you move farther from your base station the errors in vertical will become greater Of course if the local coordinate system is arbitrary such as (5000 5000 100) there is no relationship between the local coordinate system and any published coordinate system

Handling These Differences8These differences in the coordinate systems must be taken into account to ensure that the GPSGNSS receiver is truly in the local coordinate system Manufacturerrsquos of GPSGNSS software have several options some which have been dis-cussed in previous articles These options include a Molendenski transformation Helmert transformation and a two-step processing option They are commonly referred to as localization or site calibration of the survey by the software manu-facturers Of the first two options research has shown that the Helmert transformation typically yields better results

than the Molendenski How-ever both of these transfor-mations require that the lo-cal coordinates be in some recognized published coor-dinate system such as state plane coordinates and el-evations with a geoid mod-el Software manufacturers recognize that this is not always the case in practice since truly arbitrary coordi-nates such as (5000 5000 100) are commonplace in the surveying community

12Su

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Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 11: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

12Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Ramblings Continued from Page 11

Thus to accommodate the possible use of arbitrary coordinates the software often uses a two-step approach dividing the problem into its horizontal and vertical components In this approach it first converts all GPSGNSS horizontal coor-dinates to a localized oblique stereographic map projection coordinate system What does this mean Stated in a lon-ger way it first converts the geocentric (XYZ) coordinates into geodetic coordinates of latitude longitude and height (φλh) Thus it creates GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates based on the ephemeris used in the processing of the data Fol-lowing this it takes a midpoint or your project-area and calls this the origin of an oblique stereographic map projection Using the equations shown in Table 1 it converts all of the GPSGNSS geodetic coordinates into oblique stereographic map projection coordinates of northing (N) and easting (E) These map projection coordinates are temporal (only exist-ing for the transformation) that is they are northing and easting horizontal map projection coordinates which only ex-ist for transformation purposes and are never displayed or published for the user to see With the GPSGNSS map pro-jection coordinates known for project control points the software can now transform the GPSGNSS coordinates into the localarbitrary coordinate system If only one point has common coordinates then the translations in N and E are computed This handles the largest difference in the two coordinate systems However if two or more common points are known a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be performed This transformation computes the scale differences between the coordinates rotates the GPSGNSS coordinates into the local system and translates the coordinates to closely match the local coordinates Why do I say closely match Well it is because both sets of coor-dinates contain some errors Thus some small disagreements in the coordinates can and will occur (I will go into detail on this transformation with an example in the third section of this article) Once this process is completed the GPSGNSS software can take any GPSGNSS observed point and transform it into your localarbitrary coordinate system This process is the first step in localization

The second step is to transform the GPSGNSS-derived heights into the local heights This is necessary whether the vertical system is known such as NAVD88 or arbitrary such as 100 In this transformation the software must account for the translation differences between the two systems as well as the rotational differences caused by the deflection of the vertical at the origin of the oblique stereographic map projection system This transformation requires at least

three points be known in vertical If only one point is known then a translation is computed which may be sufficient for a small survey but definitely not for a large proj-ect Once a complete transforma-tion is determined any additional GPSGNSS-derived heights will be transformed into the localarbi-trary vertical system

This entire process is known as localization or site calibration de-pending on the manufacturer of your software It may seem com-plicated but it can be performed in the blink of an eye in the field once the control points known in the localarbitrary coordinate sys-tem are observed with your GPSGNSS receiver

Figure 1 Project control for localization where (a) is well designed and (b) is poorly designed

p

q

Continued on Page 13

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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KeyNetGPS adKeyNetGPS-PA Surveyor 31510 437 PM Page 1

Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

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e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 12: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Sum

merFall 2010

PA Su

rveyor

13

Continued on Page 15

Field Procedures - Dorsquos and Donrsquots8The first step in any real-time kinematic GPSGNSS sur-vey is to perform the localizationsite calibration This in-volves observing control points with known coordinates in the localarbitrary coordinate system If available and it should always be available the current geoid model (GE-OID09) should be applied to the observations so that or-thometric heights (elevations) are determined for these points The location of the common control is important in this entire process For instance if the project area is the shaded region in Figure 1 then both horizontal and vertical control should be well-dispersed throughout the project area as shown in Figure 1(a) Control should nev-er be located in only one portion of the project area as shown in Figure 1(b) The reasoning for this is error propa-gation Since both the GPSGNSS-derived coordinates and the localarbitrary coordinates contain errors extrapolat-ing the transformations will significantly increase the re-sulting errors on the additional points observed in the up-per portion of the figure For example in Figure 1(b) the small discrepancies that are present in the lower-portion of the project will extrapolate to significantly larger errors in the upper-part of the project area

One other cautionary note involves significant features in the project If the project involves a highway alignment for example where one or several bridges are to be recon-structed the benchmarks on each bridge should be part of the localization process Failure to do so may result in large vertical errors in these vertically critical structures Additionally the localizationsite calibration process should only be performed once for the entire project Why is this last step important Well GPSGNSS-derived elevations are only as good as the geoid model and the GPSGNSS solution for height Unfortunately GPSGNSS has its weakest solution in the height being typically reported to between plusmn1ndash2 cm Add in the error in the geoid model and you can now see that GPS-derived elevations could be off by a few tenths of a foot Now add in the fact that the horizontal positioning is only accurate to about a 01 ft and you may understand that if the entire process is performed a second time a second en-tirely different solution will be determined resulting in a different coordinate system These errors in the control obser-vations will then propagate to any additional points surveyed in this new coordinate system I am aware of one situation where the second localization resulted in a foot difference in one benchmark This may or may not be typical but it is possible Once the localizationsite calibration is performed the transformation parameters should be shared with all other GPSGNSS equipment working in the project so that all receivers are working in the same coordinate system With all this stated you can sleep easy since if this process is performed correctly the survey will match the localarbitrary coordinate system As an aside the process is not responsible for any future surveying mistakes

Table 2 Satellite and local coordinates of control in project

Satellite Coordinates LocalArbitrary CoordinatesStation E (m) N (m) H (m) E (m) N (m) H (m)A 49916 minus141948 339845 441616 1807534 340500B minus387185 410711 291690 223893 2022852 292354C 311626 279250 312076 532227 2003068 312731D 25655 minus547996 350268 452616 1631044 350935

p

q

Ramblings Continued from Page 12

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Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

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24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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p

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g

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ea

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in amp

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aw

n

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bia

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ga

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su

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lls

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ea

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rils

of

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ern

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rld

S

pe

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ir amp

P

ag

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Co

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uctio

n

De

ve

lop

me

nt

for

the

S

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r S

pe

ake

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La

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oe

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estn

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Y

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MU

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llo

win

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red

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I-

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we

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III-

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ow

to

Ma

ke

a B

ou

nd

ary

De

term

ina

tio

n T

ha

t W

ill W

in in

Co

urt

Pa

rt 1

amp 2

III-

3 amp

IV

-3 B

MP

Ma

nu

al P

art

1 amp

2

V

-1 amp

VI-

1 F

ind

ing

amp P

rio

ritizin

g B

ou

nd

ary

Re

tra

ce

me

nt

Evid

en

ce

Pa

rt 1

amp 2

V-2

amp V

I-2

FE

MA

Ele

va

tio

n C

ert

ific

ate

amp L

OM

Crsquos

Pa

rt 1

amp 2

V-6

amp V

I-6

Sta

te P

lan

e C

oo

rdin

ate

Syste

ms P

art

1 amp

2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 13: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

KeyNetGPS is designed to provide Surveying Construction and Mapping professionals with trueNetwork RTK solutions It currently provides high-accuracy positioning in real time across eastern Virginia Maryland Washington DC Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey New York ConnecticutRhode Island Massachusetts Vermont New Hampshireand southern Maine KeyNetGPS provides the highestlevel of RTK performance achievable from a networkof base stations The results are centimeter accuracyand shorter initialization times

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KeyNetGPS adKeyNetGPS-PA Surveyor 31510 437 PM Page 1

Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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Company Statistics (May 2005)

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)

180099AFLAC (18009923522)En espantildeol 1800SIAFLAC (18007423522)

Worldwide Headquarters bull 1932 Wynnton RoadColumbus Georgia 31999 bull aflaccom

MMC06222 606

For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 14: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Ramblings Continued from Page 13

An Example of the Transformation Process8When writing the fifth edition of Adjustment Computations I asked my former students if they could provide me with real data to demonstrate the localization process Fortunately two students were able to provide such data Many thanks go to Preston Hartzell and Ned Connolly for their help in this matter In this example four control stations were observed in a local arbitrary coordinate system with coordinates shown in Table 2 The satellite (GPSGNSS) coordinates were then transformed using an oblique stereographic map projection with its origin at the middle of the project area This explains the negative coordinates in Table 2 Table 2 also lists localarbitrary control coordinates in the last three columns

As discussed earlier a two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation is performed on the horizontal compo-nent of the control The two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformation can be expressed in matrix form as

where []Local and []GPS are the horizontal coordinates in the localarbitrary and GPSGNSS systems respectively S the scale factor θ the rotational difference between the two coordinate systems and TN and TE the translations in northing and easting respectively This equation can be simplified as shown on the second line of Equation (1) where a = S cos θ and b = S sin θ For the four points listed in Table 2 the following eight equations can be written

where v are the residual errors for each equation Since the Equation set (2) involves only four unknowns and 8 equations a least squares solution is used to determine the unknown parameters Its solution is a = 043139044 b = 005283832 TN = 1866123 m and TE = 412587 m With these four parameters (a b TN TE) Equation (1) is used to trans-form any additional GPSGNSS observed points into the local horizontal coordinate system

The second step is to take the GPSGNSS heights and convert them to their equivalent local heights As stated earlier this involves solving for the a translation and the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projec-tion The equation used in this process is

where rE is the rotation in easting of the level plane rN the rotation is northing of the level surface T the translation between the two level surfaces and v the residual error In this equation rE and rN represent the deflection of the verti-cal components at the map projection origin Note that Equation (3) uses the orthometric heights of the points Thus the current geoid model should always be applied to the GPSGNSS heights While it might work it is incorrect to use the geodetic heights (h) of the points Substituting the observations from Table 2 into Equation (3) yields the following four equations

15Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

(2)

49916a minus 141948b + TN = 1807534 + v1 minus141916a minus 49916b + TE = 441616 + v2 minus387185a + 410711b + TN = 2022852 + v3 410711a + 387185b + TE = 223893 + v4

311626a + 279250b + TN = 2003068 + v5 279250a minus 311626b + TE = 532227 + v6 25655a minus 547996b + TN = 1631044 + v7 minus547996a minus 25655b + TE = 452616 + v8

(1)

p

q

(3)

Continued on Page 16

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

MMC0089B1 506

In case of an accident or illness itrsquos reassuring to know that you have a poised and compassionate

friend in Aflac Immediate and responsive our insurance policies help give you control when life

seems to take it away Cash benefits hellip personally owned and managed hellip to help you get back on

your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

rising deductibles and copayments out-of-network charges daily living costs and out-of-pocket

expenses as well as the loss of income

A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

yourself why more than 40 million people worldwide are turning to Aflac for greater control and

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Aflac We pay You decide

Company Statistics (May 2005)

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)

180099AFLAC (18009923522)En espantildeol 1800SIAFLAC (18007423522)

Worldwide Headquarters bull 1932 Wynnton RoadColumbus Georgia 31999 bull aflaccom

MMC06222 606

For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 15: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

16Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

minus141948rE + 49916rN + T = 340500 minus 339845 + v1 410711rE minus 387185rN + T = 292354 minus 291690 + v2 (4) 279250rE + 311626rN + T = 312731 minus 312076 + v3 minus547996rE + 25655rN + T = 350935 minus 350268 + v4

Equation set (4) involves four equations with only three unknown parameters (rE rN T) and thus a least squares solu-tion is developed resulting in the transformation parameters of rE = minus1574rdquo rN = minus3205rdquo and T = 0660 m The rotations represent the deflection of the vertical components at the origin of the map projection coordinate system Going back to the placement of the control in the project area one can see how having control in only a small portion of the project area can cause significantly large errors in the other portions of the project The residuals from the two transformations are displayed in Table 3 Once these transformation parameters are derived they can be used to transform any addi-tional GPSGNSS heights into the localarbitrary vertical control system

Table 3 Residuals from transformations

Station N (m) E (m) H (m) A minus0009 0004 0006 B minus0010 minus0035 minus0001 C minus0014 0038 minus0002 D 0034 minus0007 minus0003

Conclusions8As has been stated previously a properly performed localizationsite calibration will ensure that your GPSGNSS-de-rived coordinates will agree with your localarbitrary project coordinates The mathematics of these transformations may seem daunting to those who are unfamiliar or have forgotten the mathematics of matrices and least squares ad-justments However as professionals we should understand what our software is doing behind the scenes Simply push-ing the SOLVE button and relying on the results is not satisfactory This article hopefully enlightens you on the internal workings and processes that occur every time a localizationsite calibration is solved It is important to remember that your (1) local control should surround your project area (2) significant features be in-cluded as control in the process and (3) the current geoid model be incorporated using the GPSGNSS-derived heights Assuming that these guidelines are followed and that the control is free of gross errors the result should be a GPSGNSS survey that matches your localarbitrary coordinate system

In my next series of articles I will begin to discuss the statistics of our observations least squares adjustments and how we can analyze the residuals shown in Table 3 to isolate poor quality control

Charles Ghilani PhD is a professor of engineering in the BS Surveying Engineering and AS Surveying Technology programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre He holds a PhD and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee He has been involved in education since 1974 teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school

n

Ramblings Continued from Page 15 p

q

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

MMC0089B1 506

In case of an accident or illness itrsquos reassuring to know that you have a poised and compassionate

friend in Aflac Immediate and responsive our insurance policies help give you control when life

seems to take it away Cash benefits hellip personally owned and managed hellip to help you get back on

your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

rising deductibles and copayments out-of-network charges daily living costs and out-of-pocket

expenses as well as the loss of income

A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

yourself why more than 40 million people worldwide are turning to Aflac for greater control and

financial security and why you should be one of them

Aflac We pay You decide

Company Statistics (May 2005)

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)

180099AFLAC (18009923522)En espantildeol 1800SIAFLAC (18007423522)

Worldwide Headquarters bull 1932 Wynnton RoadColumbus Georgia 31999 bull aflaccom

MMC06222 606

For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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ea

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esle

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6

Oil

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Pip

elin

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g

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ea

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d N

ort

hro

p

Oil

amp G

as W

ell

Pe

rmittin

g

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ea

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im

Fa

lke

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in amp

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aw

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bia

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ga

l Is

su

es f

or

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as

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lls

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ea

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al M

ars

ico

OS

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pe

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ale

Gla

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rils

of

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yin

g in

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e M

od

ern

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rld

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pe

ake

rs

Bla

ir amp

P

ag

an

Co

nstr

uctio

n

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ve

lop

me

nt

for

the

S

urv

eyo

r S

pe

ake

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me

r

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se

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ing

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ake

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ctica

l A

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ns o

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ca

nn

ing

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pe

ake

rs

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nik

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hri

s

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ch

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ntr

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ea

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be

rla

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Pra

ctica

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ach

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ea

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oe

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er

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of

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llo

win

g t

o r

ec

eiv

e c

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tin

uin

g e

du

ca

tio

n c

red

it

I-

3 amp

II-

3 S

torm

Se

we

r D

esig

n P

art

1 amp

2

I-

4

II-4

II

I-4

IV

-4

V-4

amp

VI-

4 E

SR

I G

IS P

rese

nta

tio

n P

art

1

2

3

4

5

amp 6

III-

1 amp

IV

-1 H

ow

to

Ma

ke

a B

ou

nd

ary

De

term

ina

tio

n T

ha

t W

ill W

in in

Co

urt

Pa

rt 1

amp 2

III-

3 amp

IV

-3 B

MP

Ma

nu

al P

art

1 amp

2

V

-1 amp

VI-

1 F

ind

ing

amp P

rio

ritizin

g B

ou

nd

ary

Re

tra

ce

me

nt

Evid

en

ce

Pa

rt 1

amp 2

V-2

amp V

I-2

FE

MA

Ele

va

tio

n C

ert

ific

ate

amp L

OM

Crsquos

Pa

rt 1

amp 2

V-6

amp V

I-6

Sta

te P

lan

e C

oo

rdin

ate

Syste

ms P

art

1 amp

2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 16: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

PA Su

rveyor

Sum

merFall 2010

17

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight Shines OnThomas B Ludgate PLS PE LEED AP

ldquoI remember being 17 or 18 years old and being called the lsquonew kidrsquo while out in the field with seasoned sur-

veyorsrdquo said Thomas Ludgate PLS PE Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration

ldquoIt made me laugh a bitrdquo he added ldquoand I usually countered that comment by turning around and immediately prepar-ing to give the crew a back site without being instructed to do so The guys were always surprised that I would take that initiative What they didnrsquot realize is that I was being primed to be a surveyor since I was a kidmdashunbeknownst to me at the timerdquo

Reaching back in his memory to age 10 Thom recalls that he and his family would go on ldquohikesrdquo together on Sat-urdays and Sundays While carrying ldquostuff rdquo was his main duty he was actually on a job site learning the business ldquoWe really didnrsquot know anything differentrdquo Thom said ldquoIt was one way for our family to spend time together while Dad got some work done It was just fine with us Little did I know I would follow in Dadrsquos footstepsmdashliterallymdashand end up working for his company years laterrdquo

As the Principal-In-Charge of Ludgate Engineering Cor-poration Thom is responsible for overall project management and the day-to-day operations of the firm His expertise is in land development and subdivision planning As the chief surveyor he is also an expert in producing ALTA topographic and boundary surveys as well as construction stakeouts

That was not Thomrsquos original plan though After high school he enrolled at Drexel University and graduated in 1990 with a bachelorrsquos degree in civil engineering While there he maximized his experience by taking ldquoevery sur-veying course Drexel offeredrdquo and in the midst of it all he worked part-time for a surveying firm in Philadelphia All of those puzzle pieces were coming together to forge a path to his ultimate workplace destination

Eager to carve out his niche in the world and explore the West Coast Thom traversed to California to work for an engineering firm While there he put his surveying knowl-edge to work doing field notes and cut sheets ldquoThe survey-ing experience was handy since I could read cut sheets and not a lot of engineers had experience with that so I did itrdquo

A year later Thom boarded a plane bound for the East Coast so he could put his experience to work in helping grow Ludgate Engineering He has been employed there for 21 years

Because of his management duties overseeing five survey-ors Thom doesnrsquot get out in the field as much as he would like However he said when he does get that opportunity one of his favorite surveying tasks has always been review-ing old documents and trying to pull them apart to trans-late information from 40-100 years ago into usable data for todayrsquos world He also misses the unusual and unexpected events that can occur while out in the field

Recently though Thom had his share of excitement when the survey team at Ludgate completed an ldquoextremerdquo task The firm provided all surveying (more than 30 man hours) for Extreme Makeover Home Edition The Extreme team partnered with the Home Builders Association of Berks County to build a new home in one week for the Urban family of Tilden Township Ludgate Engineering was also responsible for the site design The show is expected to air in late September

What advice would Thom give to new surveyors ldquoThey canrsquot underestimate the field experiencerdquo he said ldquoMath-ematics is important but the aspects that require judgment are more valuablerdquo

Thom lives in Limerick with his wife Jen and their three children Together they enjoy traveling to Disney World and hiking in Maine and Massachusetts

Member 7 YearsChapter ReadingHome Limerick PaEmployer Ludgate Engineering Corporation Reading PaTitle Vice President of Surveying amp Land Development and Chief Operating Officer

n

We want to see YOU in the Member Spotlight Contact Kate at kshermanpslsorg or 717-540-6811 to be featured

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

MMC0089B1 506

In case of an accident or illness itrsquos reassuring to know that you have a poised and compassionate

friend in Aflac Immediate and responsive our insurance policies help give you control when life

seems to take it away Cash benefits hellip personally owned and managed hellip to help you get back on

your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

rising deductibles and copayments out-of-network charges daily living costs and out-of-pocket

expenses as well as the loss of income

A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

yourself why more than 40 million people worldwide are turning to Aflac for greater control and

financial security and why you should be one of them

Aflac We pay You decide

Company Statistics (May 2005)

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac)

180099AFLAC (18009923522)En espantildeol 1800SIAFLAC (18007423522)

Worldwide Headquarters bull 1932 Wynnton RoadColumbus Georgia 31999 bull aflaccom

MMC06222 606

For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

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art

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2

2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 17: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

18Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

In the photo left to right John Boyd Brian Yorkiewicz Donald Rife and Adam Crews

B ucksJohn Boyd of Boyd Instru-

ments Horsham Pa showed off his truck-mounted Inte-grated Positioning System for 3D Mobile Mapping at a recent meeting of the Bucks Chapter PSLS

Chapter News

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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friend in Aflac Immediate and responsive our insurance policies help give you control when life

seems to take it away Cash benefits hellip personally owned and managed hellip to help you get back on

your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

rising deductibles and copayments out-of-network charges daily living costs and out-of-pocket

expenses as well as the loss of income

A brief overview of our major insurance policies is featured on the back of this flyer Find out for

yourself why more than 40 million people worldwide are turning to Aflac for greater control and

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For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

SL

S S

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VE

YO

RS

CO

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 18: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

19Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

rWinners

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards The Trig-Star Committee met on July 17 2010 to determine the three top high

school students from the national examinations submitted by state winners This year there were 34 state winners submit-ted A past president of NSPS Richard Lomax was the driving force behind the elevation of the local Trig-Star program to the national level In October 1994 board action named this high school trigonometry skill award in his honor

The student winners receive $2000 1st place $1000 2nd place and $500 3rd place The teachers receive $1000 1st place $500 2nd place and $250 3rd place The Trig-Star Policy states that ldquothe National Student and Teacher Awards be given to the winning students at or before the next state professional land surveying organization conference of the studentrsquos home staterdquo

This is the list of the remaining state winners (ranked by finishing order) Zachary Garcia Virginia Forrest Csuy Mary-land Laura Vonessen Montana Samuel Wesley Hicks Georgia Libby Jean Aldosa Hawaii Tyler Chenhall Iowa Jacob Kelley Michigan Bufang Liang New Jersey Kevin Freese Kansas Chris Hazel Illinois David Brann Maine David Gaston Connecticut Alan Landers Missouri Sam Wu Nevada Dillon Yost Tennessee Eric Whitmire North Caro-lina Gustavo Hornedo Cruz Puerto Rico Jacob Pruitt Indiana Kaelee Noorda New Hampshire Brad Peck Idaho Michael Scheetz Wyoming Jacob Chaney Oregon Pingbo Yang Minnesota Yeonjoo Kwon Utah Hongkai Pan Wis-consin Robert Cordiak Ohio Andrew Wise Pennsylvania Zalra Dhanji Florida Kevin Barry South Dakota Jacob Saracino New York and Christopher John Washington

The Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star and Teaching Excellence Awards are a few of several annual NSPS awards For more information about NSPS awards and scholarship programs please contact

NSPS6 Montgomery Village Ave Suite 403

Gaithersburg MD 20879

Phone 240-632-9716 Ext 105Trishamilburnacsmnet

wwwnspsmoorg

Richard E Lomax National Trig-Star Awards

1st Place Jiyong Shim Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Tyler Fugere Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Nikhil Das Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

Richard E Lomax National Teaching Excellence Awards

1st Place Mrs Dotty Dady Cherokee Trail High School Aurora Colo2nd Place Mrs Mary Walker Flower Mound High School Flower Mound Texas3rd Place Ms Linda Van Solkema Rancho Buena Vista High School Vista Calif

National Committee Selects

Winners of Lomax Teaching Excellence Awards

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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your feet hellip thatrsquos the real Aflac difference Use the money to help reduce the financial impact of

rising deductibles and copayments out-of-network charges daily living costs and out-of-pocket

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For additional information contact Michael AndersonRR 4 Box 262 bull Mifflintown PA 17059

e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

SL

S S

UR

VE

YO

RS

CO

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 19: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

20Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

24th Annual Surveyorsrsquo Shoot Hits the Mark at Heller Memorial Range by J Frederick Friden PLS (Northeast Chapter)

UPS Savings ProgramSave up to 28 on UPS shipping with your Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors membership

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors members can save up to 28 off UPS Express air international and ground shipments Thatrsquos a significant savings over FedEx published rates All this with the peace of mind that comes from using the carrier that delivers outstanding reliability greater speed more service and innovative technology UPS guarantees delivery of more packages around the world than anyone and delivers more packages overnight on time in the US than any other carrier including FedEx

Simple shipping Special savings Itrsquos that easy Use promo code NER239 to enroll For complete details or to sign up click here

Members currently enrolled in the UPS Savings Program must re-enroll to take advantage of this new exclusive offer

PA Society of Land Surveyors members can save bull Up to 28 on UPS Next Day Airreg and Worldwide Expressreg services bull Up to 28 on UPS 2nd Day Airreg 3 Day Selectreg and Worldwide Expeditedreg services bull Up to 14 on UPS Ground services

Use promo code NER239 to enroll today or call 1-800-325-7000

See Rates and Services Chart for detail of Savings and Discounts which depend on total weekly gross shipping charges incurred

Members

n

62610mdashErnest E Heller Memorial RangemdashIt was a hot and steamy day but a cooling breeze wafted through our sylvan setting making it bearable We had many of the usual gang Bill Heller Frank Grabowski Fred Friden (and his son Phil son-in-law Mark and his grandsons Brent and Gord) the Johnson clan (grandpa Glenn mdashhe brought his brand new 7 mm mag rifle that hersquos taking to Colorado for an elk hunt this fall his son Thom and his family Karen (NONO Carol) and their son Cody (pushing 11) and a new kid Jim Fisher who claimed to have not fired a gun since the M-1 Garand in the army Since we havenrsquot used the Garand in 55 years Jim ainrsquot much of a kid is he

Things started off with a bang (sorry) Results on the targets were Pistolmdash1st Grabo 2nd Thom 3rd Gord 50-yard Rifle mdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Brent Groundhogmdash1st Grabo 2nd Mark 3rd Cody (darn good work for 10 years on this planet) Turkeymdash1st Grabo (now wait a minute this match is offhand at 50 yards Grabo put 3 shots into a space you could cover with a quarter before inflation Excellent performance) 2nd Thom 3rd Phil 22 Riflemdash1st Mark 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo (at last Grabo was bested) ldquo100rdquo-yard Xmdashhersquos back Grabo with scope and Thom without one

On to the trap range Jim Fisher and the Johnsons had time constraints and thus left the hard core clay birdmen to slug it out We had a new hand thrower for the birds which resulted in quite a few laughsmdashldquoPULLrdquo resulted in a no bird b left to the vehicle park c right into the woods and d a variety of high low up and down deliveries Through 6 rounds Brent and Grabo were tied for first Gord was 2 back Mark and Fred trailed and Phil and Bill failed Then Brent went on a streak missing none Grabo faded and Gord caught fire Mark Bill and Phil hit a few and Fred couldnrsquot take the heat and dropped out Final results 1st Brent 2nd Gord 3rd Grabo

We enjoyed good food cooked by Bill and Markmdashsome supplied by the Johnsonsmdashand best of all it was a safe outing with good fellowship A brief chapter meeting was called by Frank Grabowski and I ended up with someonersquos pair of Silencio ldquoear muffsrdquo in bright blue Rangemaster JFF

so does AflacToday matters

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e-mail mba_trinityhotmailcomAn independent agent representing Aflac

717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

2011 P

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YO

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 20: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

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717436297818004368847

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 21: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

NSPS News

The report also recommended ldquothe formation of a single industry-wide membership organization that included all the MOs as well as the state and local pieces of NSPSrdquo The Ad-Hoc committee reported this to the ACSM Con-gress where a motion was passed to charge a committee to study a possible structure of a unified member organiza-tion Their report is due on September 1 2010

Given the state of membership the current financial situ-ation and the findings of the commissioned report NSPS and the other MOs have reached a critical juncture and there is no luxury of extra time to move this in the right di-rection whatever that direction may be The work that will be done by both the NSPS and ACSM committees will be extremely valuable in the discussions about the future The two-year time frame keeps the importance of this issue where it belongs at the top of the list

What is needed is everyonersquos input on the possible sce-narios If you have a doubt about whether there needs to be a national voice for the surveying profession you need to think again Just as state issues do national issues touch all surveyors Public private topographic boundary lay-out and many others all have the national tones ALTA standards Qualification Based Selection academic accred-itations real estate settlement survey issues GPS height modernization letters of map amendments (LOMAs) and many more issues are all dealt with at the national not the state or local level

These issues wonrsquot go away and some organizations will deal with them nationally for the surveying community The question is which one The American Society of Civil Engineers the American Council of Engineering Com-panies the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing the Management Association of private Photogrammetric Surveyors or a true national voice of the Surveying Profession This is the question being dealt with today and over the next several months There will be many opportunities for input and when they present themselves take the time to share your input and counsel Together the result will be the best option possible for the entire survey-ing profession

The recent NSPS meeting in Phoenix was probably one of the most emotional since NSPS was incorporated in

1981 A motion was introduced at the Board of Governors to request the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separating from the umbrella organization of ACSM This certainly got everyonersquos attention and the discussion started It was emotional at times rightfully so bringing many comments and suggestions forth The end result was a motion passed by the Governors 35 yes 5 no and 7 ab-stentions requesting the Board of Directors to initiate the process of separation while charging a committee to study and make a report by September 14 2010 on the financial and membership impacts of this action if it were to go full term This motion was then passed by the NSPS Board of Directors by a vote of 11 yes and 5 no

A previous agreement with ACSM spells out a two-year term of separation for any of the member organizations (MOs) which can be reversed at any point along the way The motion that passed holds a lot of wisdom and keeps all options open for NSPS but it does start the clock and provides a two-year window to work on the future of NSPS and its relationship with ACSM

Why is this process so important The answer to that ques-tion may be found in the marketing report commissioned by ACSM and all of the MOs to help improve the health of the ACSM and the MOs An ACSM committee made up of members from all the MOs worked very hard to read through and understand the report The report gathered in-formation from various sources including association lead-ers current and past members various government agency heads related association executives and publishing-ori-ented contacts There were also online surveys conducted with over 4100 current and former MO members and state affiliate members The results werenrsquot especially surprising but were very significant The primary challenges identified were

bull Lack of awarenessbull Lack of perceived valuebull Perception of ACSM and MOs as an outdated

group that is behind the timesbull Negative stereotype of the term surveyorbull High levels of competition amongst the state

affiliates MOs and other associations

The Evolution of a National Voice

by

The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors

Wayne Harrison NSPS PresidentCurt Sumner NSPS Executive DirectorJohn Matonich NSPS Immediate Past President

22Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

n

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 22: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

23Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

Jeffrey Horneman was appointed by PSLS as a liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (PA DEP) for working on existing and proposed regu-lations and how they relate to the professional surveying field There have been recent PA DEP regula-tions proposed that would have the net effect of eroding the practice of land surveying and it is important that we guard against this

Mr Horneman is putting together a team of PSLS members who would like to volunteer for this committee Work would include reg-ular teleconferences review of proposed and existing DEP regulations research of pro-posed regulations and the PA state law co-ordination with the PSLS and attendance of DEP meetings To date there are two other surveyors from Southwest PA on the team with Mr Horneman He would like to extend this coverage to all parts of the state and find someone in Harrisburg especially for contacts with the PA DEP main office

If you are interested in joining this team please contact Mr Horneman

Will You Raise Your Hand Seeking volunteers for PA DEP Committee

4Jeffrey Horneman PLSOffice 412-521-3000 x3838Mobile 412-592-4126jhornemanpennonicom

contact

Educational Outreach ProgramVolunteer to Speak to Students About a Career in Surveying

PSLS is committed to educating high school students about the benefits of choosing a career in surveying To ac-complish that goal we are asking for volunteers to speak to schools throughout Pennsylvania this spring and beyond

We have contacted high schools to gauge interest however we need your talents to provide the presentations

A speakersrsquo kit including talking points a PowerPoint presenta-tion a video and brochures is available through PSLS and if you would like to participate in the program please contact Kate Sher-man via e-mail at kshermanpslsorg or call 717-540-6811

PSLS extends thanks to Robert Garlitz PLS Public Relations Committee chair and all who serve on the committee for making this kit possible

Volunteer Opportunities

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 23: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Use the PA One Call System for FREE

Contact Fax e-mail or mail your annual invoice to Laurie at

PSLS Member BenefitsYour PSLS membership can save you some cash on these products and services

Insurance protection for surveyors amp engineers including annual review of exposures loss control support

contract review and driver evaluation

Contact Mark Amirault Phone 4108327600 or 8882842574 Fax 4108321849

mamiraulteakagencycom PO Box 219 Timonium MD 21094

pa1callorgPOCSindex16aspx

Contact Michael B Anderson An independent associate representing Aflac

Phone 7174362978 Fax 7174362295 Michael_Andersonusaflaccom RR 4 Box 262 Mifflintown PA 17059

Fax 7175406815 E-mail lauriepslsorgPSLS 2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200 Harrisburg PA 17110

kleinagencyllccom

aflaccom

KLEIN Agency LLC

Aflac

Pennsylvania One Call System Inc

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 24: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

25Su

mm

erFall 2010PA

Surveyo

r

PSLS Website Getting NEW

Big changes are coming to the PSLS

website this fall A new look and new

features will help you find information

faster and easier Stay tuned for details

in the next few months

lookCheck back this

Continuing Education Notice The State Board of Professional Engineers Land Survey-ors and Geologists has issued a notice that clarifies con-tinuing education credit requirements

Read Notice

Link to Registration Board Site

Read the Bill

Information is available on the PSLS website

certified survey technician (cst) program

ask the question

are you a cst

increase your opportunities by becoming a certified survey technician

Provide a Career Ladder for Technicians

Provide Credentials to Technicians

Provide a Standard Way to Evaluate Staff and New Applicants

Can be Used as an Assessment Tool in Conjunction with Survey Education Programs

raquo

raquo

raquo

raquo

For more information contact Trish Milburn at (240) 632-9716 ext 105E-mail ltcstinfoacsmnetgt

Visit our website at wwwnspsmoorgcstget_certifiedshtml

NSPS 6 Montgomery Village Avenue Suite 403 Gaithersburg MD 20879

44

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 25: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

2011 P

SL

S S

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2011 Conference Workshop Matrix(Tentative schedule subject to change)

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 26: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Sum

merFall 2010

27PA

Surveyo

r

Membership Application

Name Address City State ZIPIf Student CollegeUniversityBusiness or School Address Home Phone w area code Business Phone w area code Fax E-mail

Preferred Mailing Address q Home q Business Professional Registration If ApplicableState Number State Number

Please list any other professionaltechnical society membership

Please indicate the membership grade for which you qualifyq Memberhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$190 per year (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania)q Associate helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$115 per year (Not presently licensed)q Correspondinghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip $105 per year (Member of another state society where you reside)q Sustaininghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$385 per year (Firms having an interest in land surveying)q Studenthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip$15 per year (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university)

Chapter Affiliation Requested (Not applicable for Corresponding or Sustaining membership) Please list names of two PSLS members if you know any who are acquainted with your qualifications and will sponsor your application

Primary Sponsor Sponsor

I hereby apply for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and in doing so agree that I will actively support the Bylaws aims and objectives of the organization Signature of Applicant Date

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors2040 Linglestown Road Suite 200Harrisburg PA 17110P 7175406811 F 7175406815wwwpslsorg

Become a member today

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg

Page 27: Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors News · Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Brian Naberezny PLS Northwest Chapter Jeffrey P. Gilmore, & Edward E. Northrop, PLS ... a testament to the value

Moderniza

tion of the National Spatial Reference System

Date Wednesday November 17 2010 (deadline November 5)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Harrisburg PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 11510) $100 Member (after 11510) $150 Nonmember

Overviewbull Continued analysis of the 2007 national read-

justment of approximately 67000 GPS stations in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

bull International densification and completion of a multi-year solution for the Continuously Operat-ing Reference Station (CORS) network

bull Release of a new geoid model (GEOID09) ad-ditions to the On-Line Processing User Service (OPUS) suite of programs and utilities and

bull Efforts to develop and adopt new national hori-zontal and vertical reference systems consist-ent with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) to replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88 as outlined in the NGS 10-year plan

Presenter David R DoyleChief Geodetic Surveyor National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of

Right-of-Way Plansamp

Acquisition

I M P A C T

PresentersDavid ReynoldsRight-of-Way Administrator PennDOT District 8-0

John T Kimport PLSChief of Surveys PennDOT District 8-0

bull How to present right-of-way plans that con-form to PennDOTrsquos Design Manual 3 and the Survey and Mapping Manual (Pub 122)

bull Current internal departmental policy con-tained in strike-off letters

bull Strengths and weaknesses of departmental records as they pertain to verifying existing right-of-way widths and alignment geometry and

bull PennDOTrsquos right-of-way acquisition process and the impact of right-of-way plans on clear-ing transportation projects

Overview

q

qDate Wednesday October 20 2010 (deadline October 1)Time 9 am - 12 pmPlace US Geological Survey Water Science Center New Cumberland PACost $75 PSLS Members (by 10110) $100 Member (after 10110) $150 Nonmember

PSLS Surveyorsrsquo Seminar SeriesVisit wwwpslsorg to see brochures and registration forms

For questions contact Shari Taylor at 717-540-6811 or staylorpslsorg