SaLIS, vol. 62, no. 1

March 2002

 

Special Content

U.S. National Report to the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)

Washington, D.C., April 2002

 

The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping

 

The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) has represented the surveying and mapping community in the United States since 1941. The association has about 7,000 members who belong to one or more of its four member organizations. As a national association of U.S. surveyors and cartographers, ACSM speaks on behalf of the two professions at the federal level and in international forums. Historically, ACSM has strived to strengthen the professions by supporting the implementation of holistic surveying and mapping college education that reflects the new professional requirements facing the industry. Continuing education to assist those already licensed as professionals is another strong component of ACSM’s education initiatives, providing opportunities to members to remain current on technology and other issues relevant to their profession.

 

 

 

Bureau of Land Management Cadastral Survey: The History, the Program, and the Partnerships

Donald A. Buhler and Jason G. Racette

 

The rectangular system of surveys, known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), is an historic part of the United States. Beginning with the Land Ordinance of 1785, the PLSS has been modified, managed by various agencies, and challenged in courts of law. However, the fundamental principles upon which the PLSS is based have remained practically unchanged.

 

 

 

Activities of the National Geodetic Survey  (1998-2001)

Charles W. Challstrom

 

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), a component of the National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), develops and manages the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) by using advanced geodetic, photogrammetric, and remote sensing techniques. The National Spatial Reference System is a consistent national coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the Nation, and how these values change with time. This information is essential to ensure the reliability of transportation, communication, and defense systems, boundary and property surveys, land record systems, mapping and charting, public utilities, coastal zone management, natural resource mapping, and other scientific and engineering applications. 

 

NCEES Participates in Ongoing Surveying Discussion

Rita M. Lumos, P.L.S.

 

While 2001 was a quiet year in terms of survey-related actions at the Annual Business Meeting of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the past few years have seen great activity on the part of surveyors, particularly in regard to the Model Law for Surveying and the surveying licensure examinations. The Council is committed to producing the highest-quality examinations for use by engineering and surveying licensing boards across the nation. In addition, NCEES provides a forum in which licensing boards can collaborate to address issues of mutual interest.

 

NAFTA and Surveying

Steven Frank and Robert Prescott

 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provides for the free exchange of surveying services across the Canadian, United States, and Mexican borders. The governments of these three countries have turned to the professional surveying societies within these countries to develop criteria and standards necessary to implement NAFTA. The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in the United States are working with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts to study and overcome the problems and barriers that stand in the way of mutually acceptable standards for surveying across North America.

 

 

Appraisal Institute Worldwide

Bill Endsley

 

Educating real estate appraisers for over 60 years, the Appraisal Institute is the acknowledged worldwide leader in residential and commercial appraisal education, research, publishing, and professional designation programs. The organization is proud to be one of the sponsors of this year’s FIG Congress as it looks to partner with other international organizations to foster a global real estate profession. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the Appraisal Institute and its predecessor organizations have been at the forefront of the real estate appraisal profession for more than 60 years. Appraisal Institute members are identified by their experience and knowledge of real estate valuation and adhere to a strictly enforced code of professional ethics and standards of professional practice. The Appraisal Institute has more than 18,000 members, with a steadily growing international membership.

 

 

Geomatics Engineering California State University, Fresno

 “Helping People By Measuring and Mapping the World”

James K. Crossfield

 

Exciting career opportunities, an enhanced learning environment, exceptional student support, and a large enrollment of motivated students combine to make geomatics engineering at California State University, Fresno, an unqualified success.  The program, created by Edward F. Kulhan in 1971, was the first of its kind to be initiated in the United States. Engineering accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has been maintained since 1979, also a national first. 

 

 

New Mexico State University

Steven Frank

 

The Surveying Engineering Program at New Mexico State University (NMSU) began in 1990.  Dr. James P. Reilly was hired as Department Head and soon the program had two more full-time professors (Dr. Steven Frank and Professor Earl Burkholder) and one adjunct instructor (Thomas Maestas, Bureau of Land Management, Cadastral Division).  The program has over 80 graduates, most living and working in New Mexico or the Southwest region.

 

 

Geomatics Engineering at the Ohio State University

N.W.J. Hazelton

 

In this paper the fundamental philosophy of the Ohio State University Geomatics Engineering program is discussed, in the context of the Ohio surveying profession, the U.S. geoinformation industry, international trends, and the program’s history. Operational considerations are discussed and the current core curriculum is presented.

 

Geomatics Education  at the Oregon Institute of Technology Civil Engineering and Geomatics Department

Jack A. Walker

 

Geomatics education has been offered for over 50 years at the Oregon Institute of Technology.  In 2001 the baccalaureate Surveying degree was renamed Geomatics. This recent name change reflects the revolutionary changes that have occurred in the geomatics professions, and in the geomatics curriculum. This paper describes the history of the university and the geomatics program.

 

 

The Penn State Surveying Program:  2001 Status Report

Charles D. Ghilani

 

With the acquisition of faculty, accreditation, and a stable student enrollment, the Penn State Surveying Program has moved from infancy to adolescence. This paper focuses on the program’s achievements and future directions.

 

Land Surveying and Geomatics Engineering at Purdue University

Steve Johnson

 

The land surveying and geomatics engineering programs at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana include undergraduate and graduate degree programs and research in the broad topics of geomatics.

 

SUNY College of Technology

Arthur P. McLaughlin

 

The State University of New York, College of Technology at Alfred (Alfred State College), New York State, now has an accredited Bachelor of Science degree program in Surveying Engineering Technology. This article describes the program, which has evolved out of the Associate’s degree program in Surveying Technology which was the subject of a 1990 article appearing in the predecessor to Surveying and Land Information Systems.

 

Geographic Information Science Program, Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences College of Science and Technology, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Gary A. Jeffress

 

The mission of the Geographic Information Science Program at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is to prepare graduates for a variety of career paths, which are related to the acquisition, analysis, and management of spatial data and information. These career paths include education towards advanced degrees and employment in the fields of geomatics or the rapidly expanding field of geographic information systems.

 

Surveying the Surveying Profession:  Preliminary Results from the First Survey of Registered Professional Surveyors in Ohio

Jerry R. Headings and N.W.J. Hazelton

 

A total of 2,952 surveys were distributed to every professional surveyor registered in Ohio, of which 670 usable replies were received. The questionnaire consisted of 37 questions, some with multiple parts, some providing choices, others requiring a written answer. The questionnaire’s purpose was to explore the state of the profession in Ohio, the potential for student recruitment, and the needs of the profession. The last NCEES national professional practice survey indicated ethics was the highest concern among surveyors. Our survey showed a similar level of concern, but revealed other serious concerns relating to numbers entering the profession and surveyors’ standard of work. This latter point was one of the largest concerns (over 40 percent of respondents) and something that was not directly addressed (i.e., prompted) in the survey. Comments made by respondents painted a poor picture of professional standards of practice, as perceived by the respondents.

 

 

A Working Relationship between a Baccalaureate Degree Program and a Professional Society

John Fuehrer and Charles Ghilani

 

Over the past twelve years, the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors has strongly influenced the development of the Penn State Surveying Program. This paper demonstrates some of the positive aspects of having a strong relationship between a surveying program and the profession. Professional support for the program has come in the form of leadership in developing academic programs, participation in improving academic programs, financial support, and scholarships. As with all relationships, disagreements have occurred, however both parties are best served by continued communication and compromise where necessary.