 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
Flickr Photostream
Posts Tagged ‘Surveying’
3-D Laser Scanning Technology
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Blog by John V. Mettee III, Prof. LS
In a recent magazine publication called “811 – Damage Prevention Professional” Fall 2011 issue (click for article), is found an article entitled “As-built Surveys: The Benefits of 3-D Laser Scanning” under the Mapping & Technology Section. This article highlights the declining role of field surveyors on construction sites due to the proliferation and increased sophistication of today’s technology. The article goes goes on to say that 3-D Laser Scanning technology is a cost-effective way to assist with construction monitoring and verification as well as providing a means for capturing data for as-built surveys. I certainly agree that this is the reality of this technology. One is able to gather much more data in the same amount of time it takes for conventional means to gather just a few points. Even better yet, with this technology you can acquire a background photograph that is geo-referenced to further visualize where the data was gathered. The article discusses how the technology works and shares a sample project. It also goes on to highlight the benefits of using this great technology. However, it did not speak to the drawbacks.
After personal experience with this technology, I have found that the amount of data found in the “point cloud” can be overwhelming. With conventional technology, one would be concerned with having enough data and having the data in the right areas. With 3-D laser scanning technology, the concern is having too much data and the need to properly filter out unneeded or bad information. The data can be analyzed and filtered, but one needs to exercise care. Furthermore, in my experience a 3-D laser scanning project will require more instrument set ups than conventional technology. This is primarily due to items being hidden from the scope of the instrument by something blocking the view. Again this is not a problem, it just requires additional instrument set ups to gain the data that was not in view from the previous set up. The fact that this technology acquires data so quickly; certainly there is ample time in the day to make more set ups than usual.
Lastly, what was pictured in the article was a 3-D Laser Scanning Instrument that is manufactured by Leica. There are other manufacturers for this technology. Trimble makes a 3-D laser scanner. In fact, Trimble integrated the technology with conventional total-station technology in an instrument known as the Trimble VX Spatial Station (click for article).
admin
Surveying
Surveying
No Comments »
Frederick Ward Associates Celebrates National Surveyor’s Week
Saturday, March 19th, 2011
National Surveyor’s Week will be celebrated between March 20th and 26th this year. NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors) states that National Surveyor’s Week is “an occasion for professional surveyors throughout the US to bring attention to their profession.” This certainly is needed, as the roles of surveyors are so misunderstood in today’s society. When the word surveyor is mentioned, many might simply think of someone standing in a mall with a clipboard annoying customers with questions. Others think of someone standing on the roadside standing behind a tripod looking equipment taking pictures. So what is the role of a surveyor and what makes a good surveyor?
Yes, a surveyor works outdoors, but there is much that is done in the office as well and sometimes leads to the courthouse where he becomes an expert witness in a dispute. A surveyor at times is a mathematician, an investigator, and a historian as he attempts to resolve boundary lines of property. Land disputes have almost existed in society since the beginning of time. He deals with land law, works with computers and technology, and solves puzzles as he pieces different property boundaries together. A surveyor makes maps and drawings that many times are recorded in the Land Records Office.
Two famous surveyors by the name of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon delineated the famous “Mason-Dixon” line between 1763 and 1767. They were charged with the resolution of the border dispute between British colonies in colonial America. This demarcation line involved four states: PA, DE, WV, and MD. This line also symbolized a cultural boundary between the northeast US with that of the southern US (Dixie).
Two of the most famous surveyors in American history were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Between 1804 and 1806, their commission by President Thomas Jefferson was an expedition mission to explore the Louisiana Purchase ascending the Missouri River, crossing the highlands, and following the best water communication to the Pacific Ocean.
What do Lewis and Clark have to do with Maryland? Well, as a way to kick the National Surveyor’s Week, NSPS (National Society of Professional Surveyors) created a surveying event that is expected to eclipse the work of Lewis & Clark by its size. Surveyors across America will occupy and collect GPS data simultaneously (on Saturday, March 19, 2011 between 1 and 5 pm) on survey monuments. This data will be submitted to NGS (National Geodetic Surveys) through its OPUS portal (Online Positioning User Service) and a map of all the surveyed locations will be visible across the US. Now that’s the biggest survey ever!
We can’t discuss famous surveyors without including the Presidents of our nation that contributed to the tradition of surveying, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Many surveyors, like our Presidents, were bi-vocational, such as the famous author, poet and surveyor Henry David Thoreau. Even the founder of Frederick Ward Associates, the late Frederick Y. Ward, left behind a legacy of giving back to the community in addition to his profession. In most cases, our lives will be summed up in one sentence. So I leave you this challenge, what will be your “life’s sentence?”
jmettee
Frederick Ward, Surveying
Surveying
No Comments »
February 23 Is A Day To Celebrate Boundaries
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
February 23rd marks a day of celebration that many have completely lost sight of. Should anyone review the history of the Roman Empire, one would find that very similar to the Greeks, the Romans created and worshipped many gods. One god in particular arouses the interest of many surveyors. He is the Roman god known as “Terminus”, the Roman god of boundaries. “Terminus” is the Latin word for a boundary stone. Surveyors still today retrace boundaries that refer to ancient monuments, stone, and markers. It is only fitting then that the most recent ALTA/ACSM Standards for Land Title Surveys goes into effect on February 23, 2011.
As history is examined, the honor associated with the Roman god Terminus was celebrated annually with a festival celebrated on February 23 called “Terminalia.” This celebration involved practices that brought individuals to a place of reflection or “yearly renewal.” Neighboring families would come together at boundary markers and would garland their respective sides of their markers. They would worship Terminus and make offerings of crops, honeycombs and wine to him at an altar. Many ancient authors agree that the motivation for the worship of Terminus was to prevent of violent disputes over property. So in keeping with his character of peace, his earliest worship did not involve blood sacrifices. But then later, these markers became drenched in the blood of a sacrificed lamb or pig. And in the end, it was followed by a communal feast and the singing of hymns to his praise.
Surveyors throughout history have dealt with boundary disputes. People have been disputing boundary lines since the beginning of time. Ovid, a Roman poet, wrote: “O Terminus, whether thou art a stone or a stump buried in the field, thou hast been defied from days of yore…thou dost set bounds to peoples and cities and vast kingdoms; without thee every field would be a root of wrangling. Thou courtest no favour, thou art bribed by no gold; the lands entrusted to thee thou dost guard in loyal good faith.” Like Terminus, a good and prudent land surveyor marks boundaries fairly while taking into consideration all evidence found from their client’s deed and parcel as well as the neighboring properties.
Even Old Testament scriptures in the Bible speak to the importance of boundary markers and not moving them. It says in Deuteronomy 19:14: “Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land…” Also, Deuteronomy 27:17 states, “Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.”
Another old custom relevant to boundary lines and markers is something called “beating the bounds.” This tradition, still kept in some parts of Britain, of marking the boundaries of a church parish by marching round them and hitting the ground, or certain boundary marks, with long sticks. The ceremony is performed once a year, usually on Ascension Day or before Easter. Thereby a tradition came about where boundaries were walked and a child beaten at corner points so as for him to remember where they were. This became popular during the transfer of lands from one generation to the next.
The ceremonies and traditions surrounding boundaries have gone by the wayside in our culture, but we can still value knowing where the boundaries of your property are. There is no need for beatings or sacrifices – simply walk your boundaries frequently. Sadly, many purchase property without much thought to where their corners are, but this February 23 is a great time to give it some extra thought.
jmettee
Surveying, Uncategorized
Surveying
No Comments »
