NCEES Annual Meeting Actions

Among the actions taken during the recent (August 21-22) NCEES annual business meetings, three are of particular interest to the surveying profession. Two of the three are reported on the NCEES website, and are related to the NCEES Model Law prerequisite education and experience requirements for licensure as a professional engineers. The third action (unfortunately not reported on the NCEES website) relates to a motion which was briefly discussed during the Surveyors Forum, but introduced individually during the business meeting by Richard Smith who sits on the New Jersey licensing board. The basic gist to the motion is that the NCEES Model Law should not include an “exception” for what are known as “engineering surveys”. Smith argued that in order for licensed professional engineers to perform “incidental” surveying that is related to engineering projects they undertake, they must meet the education, experience, and examination requirements for licensure as a professional surveyor. Several other surveyor board members spoke on the issue, and a couple of amendments were offered. Some of the comments pointed out that education leading to licensure as a professional engineer includes virtually no components related to the practice of surveying. In the end, though, the concept failed by a significant margin.

NSPS News & Views hopes to be able to provide more in depth information about this matter in future editions.

GPS Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment Workshop

The Department of Transportation's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology has posted a Federal Register Notice (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-08-12/pdf/2014-18971.pdf) of its intent to hold a "GPS Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment Workshop" on September 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

This workshop is open to the general public by registration only.  For those who would like to attend the workshop in person or via WebEx, registration is requested no later than September 4, 2014. Please send the registration information to stephen.mackey@dot.gov providing: Name; Organization; Telephone number; Mailing and email addresses; Attendance method (WebEx or on site); Country of citizenship.

The physical location for the meetings is the U.S. Department of Transportation, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142.  Identification will be required at the entrance of Volpe Center facility (Passport, state ID, or Federal ID).

Discussion at this workshop will focus on the various implementation steps of the GPS Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment, including development of GPS receiver use cases, identification of representative GPS receivers, and development of a test and analysis program. In particular, emphasis will be placed on the information needed from GPS receiver and antenna manufacturers, and the logistics of procuring and handling that information to safeguard manufacturer proprietary data.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen M. Mackey, U.S. Department of Transportation, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, RVT- 75, Cambridge, MA 02142, Stephen.Mackey@dot.gov, Telephone: 617-494-2753.

Michigan Flood Event a Reminder of NSPS Foundation Disaster Relief Fund NSPS – Provided by Wendy Lathrop, NSPS Representative on FEMA’s Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC)

The Michigan August event (a week ago) was some major flooding, due to the intensity of rainfall rather than overbank flooding. There just was no way the water could run off, and areas well outside of the Special Flood Hazard Areas in several counties were flooded.  The highways were flooded so people could not leave, and those on the highway were in grave danger.  There was no way out.  Here are a few articles to fill you in (there is a lot more out there, but this gives you an idea of the extent):

http://www.weather.com/news/commuter-conditions/detroit-flooding-historic-freeways-closed-20140812

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/12/detroit-flooding-michigan-freeways-photos_n_5671147.html

 

http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2014/08/12/detroit-area-hit-by-severe-flooding-1-woman-dies

Survey the world, get a $50 discount

The United States is just 2 percent of the land area of the Earth, 4 percent of the world's population, and 27 percent of the global economy.  So why are you only surveying in the United States?  Learn about the global market for geospatial and engineering services at a special conference, September 25-26 in Alexandria, VA.  NSPS members get a special member rate, AND a $50 discount. Register today for the Geospatial and Engineering International Conference.

Federal Contractors Subject to New Executive Order on Labor Laws

On July 31, 2014, the Obama Administration issued a new “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order” that will lead to regulations requiring contractors competing on procurement contracts in excess of $500,000 to disclose violations of various labor laws (including the FLSA, Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, NLRA, OSHA, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and others, as well as "equivalent" state laws) occurring within the preceding 3-year period, make similar representations with regard to certain subcontractors, and provide updated information on a continuing basis after award.

NSPS Radio Hour — Aug. 11, 11 a.m. EDT

 Host Curt Sumner continues his interviews with Lisa Isom with Assurance Risk Managers, the NSPS Insurance Program provider. More insurance issues that affect the survey profession will be discussed.

Be sure to also join Curt for the remaining shows in August. August 18 will be on the topic of International Property Measurement Standards, and August will be an interview with the NSPS TrigStar Committee discussing the recently completed 2014 national competition, and details for participating in the program.

NSPS Radio Hour — Aug. 11, 11 a.m. EDT

 Host Curt Sumner continues his interviews with Lisa Isom with Assurance Risk Managers, the NSPS Insurance Program provider. More insurance issues that affect the survey profession will be discussed.

Be sure to also join Curt for the remaining shows in August. August 18 will be on the topic of International Property Measurement Standards, and August will be an interview with the NSPS TrigStar Committee discussing the recently completed 2014 national competition, and details for participating in the program.