NSPS Announces Winner(s) of Earle J. Fennell Award

In honor of Earle J. Fennell, ACSM President 1966-1967 and ACSM Executive Director 1968-1971, ACSM created this award to be presented for distinguished educational contributions to the surveying and mapping profession. Persons who have worked in any aspect of surveying and mapping education may be nominated. The nominee may or may not be a professional educator, but should have a sustained record of superior performance in surveying and mapping education for more than ten years at the local, state, or national level.

Subsequent to the ACSM/NSPS merger, NSPS continues the tradition of presenting this award annually.

The seven (7) member judging committee has decided that the 2015 award should go to two equally qualified, and deserving, candidates. They are John J. Doody, LS/PE, long-time educator in Connecticut (currently serving as part-time faculty at Central Connecticut State University), and Kurt B. Wurm, Ph.D., P.L.S., Associate Professor –Surveying Engineering, New Mexico State University.

NSPS extends its congratulations and sincere appreciation to John (Jay) and Kurt.

ALTA/ACSM Question

Question:

Our title blocks have a signature block which we utilize for any survey plan that warrants a signature.  We have received a request to sign and place our seal directly below the ALTA certification, in addition to the title block seal. There is not really a good reason to say no, other than the extra ink and minute to sign, but is this an ALTA requirement?

Answer:

Some states regulate exactly where the seal and signature needs to go; ALTA/ACSM doesn't specify, but logically it would go somewhere in the vicinity of the certification. I personally don't think it matters; the signature and seal cover everything on the plat/map, including the certification wording, but I have no doubt that some lenders would be picky!

POB Top 100 to be Highlighted at MAPPS/NSPS Conference

Ever wondered where a company ranks among others in the geospatial market? In an effort to answer that question, POB magazine is conducting a surveying and mapping market study that will include the first-ever ranking of the top 100 companies based on total geospatial revenue for 2014.

http://www.pobonline.com/articles/97552-pob-top-100-to-be-highlighted-at-mappsnsps-conference

NSPS explores “one-call”, “miss utility” systems

Are “one-call” or “miss utility” systems adequately serving the surveying profession?  That is the subject of a study NSPS is launching.  A brief questionnaire has been developed.  Input from NSPS members in all 50 states is requested.  Take a few moments and share your knowledge and experience.  To complete the questionnaire, click here.

Did You Miss the NGS Webinar on 'GPS on Bench Marks Campaign'

On March 5, NGS held the webinar “GPS on Bench Marks” to inform constituents about the campaign being held in conjunction with National Surveyors Week (March 15-21). More than 400 people participated. The webinar took place on a day when the Federal Government was closed due to heavy snowfall in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and all moderators and presenters were remotely connected.

For more information, contact: Brian.Shaw@noaa.gov

View the webinar:
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/corbin/class_description/GPS_on_benchmarks.shtml

More information about the campaign at:
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GPSonBM/

Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, has officially proclaimed Land Surveyor's Week!

  

  

Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, has officially proclaimed that the week of March15-21, 2015 will be......

  

  Land Surveyor's Week!

  

Click the link below to view the governor's proclamation.  

Land Surveyor's Week Proclamation

NSPS PAC launches 'Jefferson Club', plans April 14 dinner

The NSPS Political Action Committee (PAC) has created the “Jefferson Club,” a group of committed and dedicated NSPS members who contribute $500 per year to the NSPS PAC. Jefferson Club members are provided special benefits, including free admission (PAC contributor and spouse) to an event in April in Washington, DC, during the NSPS-MAPPS joint conference. That event is a special dinner on Tuesday, April 14 at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC which will also include members of the MAPPS PAC “Inner Circle” and special guests from Congress.
To join the Jefferson Club, please complete the on-line form. On that form, indicate “PAC Fund” on the drop-down menu for “Fund:” and contribute $500 or more.

Notice: Please make your contribution on a personal check or pay by credit card. Corporate contributions are prohibited by law. U.S. citizens only. Contributions to the NSPS PAC are not deductible as charitable donations on Federal income tax returns. Authorized by NSPS PAC.

You can send a personal check (payable to NSPS PAC) to the NSPS headquarters office, NSPS, 5119 Pegasus Court, Suite Q, Frederick, MD 21704, or pay by credit card by calling: 240-439-4615, ext. 112.  Pledges for installment contributions will be accepted.

NSPS discusses surveying issues with Rep. Moolenaar

NSPS lobbyist John "JB" Byrd recently met with newly elected Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI). Representing Michigan's 4th Congressional District, Rep. Moolenaar serves on the Committees on Agriculture; Budget; and Science, Space, and Technology, where he oversees issues such as farm and rural programs, Federal spending, and research and development. 

NSPS PAC launches 'Jefferson Club', plans April 14 event

NSPS Political Action Committee (PAC) chairman Thomas W. Brooks, Jr., LS has announced the establishment of the “Jefferson Club,” a group of committed and dedicated NSPS members who contribute $500 per year to the NSPS PAC. Jefferson Club members are provided special benefits, including free admission (PAC contributor and spouse) to an event in April in Washington, DC, during the NSPS-MAPPS joint conference. That event is a special dinner on Tuesday, April 14 at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC which will also include members of the MAPPS PAC “Inner Circle” and special guests from Congress.

To join the Jefferson Club, please complete the on-line form. On that form, indicate “PAC Fund” on the drop-down menu for “Fund:” and contribute $500 or more, or, send a personal check (payable to NSPS PAC) or credit card information to a member of the NSPS staff at its headquarters office, NSPS, 5119 Pegasus Court, Suite Q, Frederick, MD 21704, phone: 240-439-4615.

Please make your contribution on a personal check or credit card. Corporate contributions are prohibited by law. U.S. citizens only. Contributions to the NSPS PAC are not deductible as charitable donations on Federal income tax returns. Authorized by NSPS PAC.

NSPS meets with Rep. Gary Palmer

NSPS lobbyist John "JB" Byrd recently met with Representative Gary Palmer (R-AL). Representing Alabama's 6th Congressional District, Rep. Palmer serves on the Oversight
and Government Reform Committee, as well as the committees on Budget, and Space, Science and Technology. These panels oversee Federal spending, procurement and research and
development.

GPS Observations on Bench Marks Webinar March 5, 2015 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET

NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey encourages anyone with survey-grade Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers or GPS-enabled phones and hand held devices to help collect GPS on Bench Marks.  This webinar will provide guidance to collect GPS observations at any time, including during National Surveyors Week (March 15–21, 2015). Joining the 2015 effort will help raise awareness about professional surveying while improving the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).

This webinar will cover the following topics:

Recover

• Perform desktop reconnaissance for finding bench marks in the field using NGS Data Explorer - Brian Ward, Arkansas Geodetic State Advisor
• An overview of the new GPS on Bench Marks web page and how to use the ArcGIS Maps Package or the ArcGIS Online Web Map to investigate bench marks in your area and perform analysis - Brian Shaw, NGS

Observe

• How to submit data to OPUS-Share and looking up what has been submitted in the past - Joe Evjen, NGS Branch Chief

Report

• Using DSWorld for reconnaissance and submitting a mark recovery using DSWorld - Malcolm Archer-Shee, NOAA Contractor

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/corbin/class_description/GPS_on_benchmarks.shtml