During its Spring 2013 Business Meetings NSPS heard a report
on the results of a questionnaire conducted by its government affairs
consultant John M. Palatiello and Associates (JMP&A). Following the report,
a planning session was conducted with the NSPS Board of Governors, NSPS Board
of Directors, State Executives Forum members, NSPS media consultant Flatdog
Media, and others in the audience.
The questionnaire asked surveyors to rate several broad
concepts. The most popular
response was “requiring the use of surveying and mapping data and services
requirements in federal program legislation (e.g Endangered Species Act, Corps
of Engineers Water Resource Development Act, etc.)” with 48% saying it was most
important, edging out “elevating the status, stature and classification of
surveyors” with 47.5%, followed by “create a requirement for use and
application of geospatial/place/location/survey-based data in all federal
programs” with 45.9%.
An overwhelming 87.4% of surveyors said the threat of
interference with GPS by systems such as LightSquared is an issue of importance.
Similarly, 87% said it is very important that the image of professional
surveyors and the professional surveying community be improved and enhanced.
86.4% of the surveyors responding to the questionnaire said
that qualifications-based selection (QBS) is the preferred method for
government procurement of surveying and mapping activities. 41.1% of surveyors
said unfair competition from universities or government agencies a problem or
concern. More than half (53.7%) of
surveyors have not participated in a “design-build” project, while 25.2% said
they have worked on such projects and found it worked well, 11.9% competed
using design-build but were not selected, and 9.2 percent said they do not like
design-build and refuse to participate in such projects.
Results of the questionnaire will be used by NSPS to
determine government relations priorities and key aspects of the strategic
plan. The questionnaire was distributed to NSPS members and surveyors
throughout the United States during a two-month period to gain feedback.
Following the report on the questionnaire, a facilitated
two-hour session was held to collect views and ideas for NSPS strategic
objectives. Issues similar to those garnered in the legislative questionnaire
were offered by the audience.
Areas where NSPS leaders and grass roots representatives said the most
attention should be focused include:
- communication with members, clients and targeted groups, and the general public;
- education for currently practicing surveyors, workforce development and attracting young people into the profession, 4-year degree requirements and university programs to prepare the next generation of surveyors;
- enhancing the public and professional image of surveyors and establishing NSPS as an effective voice for the surveying community;
- growing and strengthening NSPS as a national professional society and improving its value to the members; and
- strengthening the government affairs program to advocate for surveyors and to increase legislators’ awareness of the importance of surveying and mapping in programs and projects intended to solve global, national, state, and local problems; increasing NSPS member activity in building relationships with members of Congress; and building a stronger liaison between NSPS and state societies on legislative affairs, including revisions to state surveyor licensing laws to cover newer, emerging, and non-traditional markets and services.
Conducting the analysis of the initial input from the surveying
community and NSPS membership is part of a process that will span the remainder
of the year to provide NSPS with a new strategic plan. NSPS leadership will continue
to work with JMP&A and Flatdog Media to engage NSPS members and the
surveying community at large to gain input for the plan.
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