Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Newsletter The
Pennsylvania Surveyor Surveying Beyond Boundaries
Winter 2017
Inside...
Investing in the Future of the Profession
ADAPT, BUT REMEMBER By: Dru Smith, Ph.D.
Friends and colleagues, I am truly honored to have been chosen to give the keynote speech at your conference today, and I thank you sincerely for the invitation. The purpose of a keynote speech, I am told, is to set the tone for a meeting, so let me see if I can do that. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Investing in the Future of the Profession”, which is timely, since the future of surveying is frequently on my mind these days. If I were to add my own approach to that, it would have to be “Adapt, but remember.” I hope you’ll see what I mean before we’re done. When considering the future of surveying, I appear to be in good company. As I prepared for this speech, I skimmed through some back issues of American Surveyor, POB, Professional Surveyor, xyHt, Coordinates and a few other appropriate magazines. That was an eye opening exercise, as even a cursory glance at them regularly turned up articles and op-eds concerned with the future of surveying, going back almost 20 years. Topics such as the rising median age of surveyors, the rapid changes in technology and the lack of understanding by the public as to what surveyors even do all have caused surveyors angst in the last few decades. Over and over, the question is raised “What does the future hold for the surveying profession?” I think it would be egotistical for me to stand up here and proclaim any kind of answer to that question. But as my job at the National Geodetic Survey is to not only envision the future, but also try to make it happen, I am hoping that I can at least add some reasonable thoughts to the conversation. So let me begin by talking about one particular example… Consider the following companies: JVC. Orion. Panasonic. RCA. Sanyo. Sony. Zenith. They all have one thing in common. They all produce one particular type of technological device: the glorious VHS player! Continued on Page 6
Cover Feature: Adapt, But Remember President’s Message...3 Conference Sponsors...4 NSPS Report...5 Conference Recap ...11 Awards...16 My Father’s Footsteps… 18 New Members…19 Sustaining Firms...20 Conference Exhibitors...31 2017 Officers… 32 PLS Foundation ...33 Affording a Surveying Education...34 On the Lighter Side...38
Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors Officers Shaheed A. Smith, PLS, President Scott R. Reeser, PLS, President-Elect Mark E. Hummel, PLS, Vice President Brian Yorkiewicz, PLS, Secretary Michael D. Kreiger, PLS, Past President Brent L. Birth, PLS, NSPS Director State Directors
2017 Board Meeting Dates March 10, Harrisburg, PA April 21, TBD May 19, State College September 22, Camp Hill, PA
Allegheny Heartlands Chapter Joseph P. Hood, PLS & James Mostoller, PLS
October 20, Harrisburg, PA
Bucks Chapter Robert J. Snyder, PLS & Jonathan J. Tabas, PE, PLS
December 8, Harrisburg, PA
Delaware Valley Chapter Bruce E. Lewis, PLS & Richard Shewman, PLS Harrisburg Chapter John Clark, PLS & Thomas Kimmel, PLS Laurel Highlands Chapter Joseph Allegra, PLS & Randall Myers, PLS Lehigh Valley Chapter Stephen D. Ombalski, PLS & Arthur A. Swallow, PLS Mid-State Chapter David Archibald, PLS & Gregory Shufran, PLS North Central Chapter K. Robert Cunningham, PLS & Charles G. Lang, PLS Northeast Chapter Glenn L. Johnson, PLS & Christopher Vincelli, PLS Northwest Chapter Ryan Courtney, PLS & Matthew Swanson, PLS Pocono Chapter Gregg A. Davis, PLS & Brian J. Zick, PLS Reading Chapter John G. Fuehrer II, PE, PLS & John M. Huck, PLS South Central Chapter Thomas E. Farcht Jr., PLS & L. Bradley Foltz, PLS Southwest Chapter Donald R. Housley Sr., PLS & Terry R. Siefers, PLS Susquehanna Chapter Mark J. Brinkash, PLS & David A. Drumheller, PLS
PSLS Staff
Laurie L. Troutman, Business Manager Lisa Diehl, Administrative Assistant
Editor
Donald E. Rife, PLS
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Contact psls@psls.org or call 717.540.6811.
Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors 801 East Park Drive, Suite 107, Harrisburg, PA 17111 P: 717.540.6811 F: 717.540.6815 www.psls.org
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The PSLS board and staff extend condolences to the families of PSLS members who passed away. Jeffrey P. Gilmore, of Clearfield, PA, passed on December 1, 2016 after a long battle with cancer. Jeff was a member of the Northwest Chapter since 1989, and served as chapter Treasurer and State Director for many years. John Graser, PLS, of Penns Park, PA, passed on May 13, 2016. John was a member of the Bucks Chapter. Andrew S. Temmel, PLS, of Saylorsburg, PA, passed on November 11, 2016 at the age of 65. Andrew was a member since 1985.
PSLS Mission The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors, a statewide professional organization, exists for the purpose of supporting, improving and enhancing the profession, its members, and the practice of land surveying. To these ends, the critical work of the Society focuses on providing education, legislative involvement, enhancing the public awareness, and the promulgation of the ethics of the profession.
The Pennsylvania Surveyor is published by the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors (PSLS). Articles or opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of PSLS, but are published as a service to its members, the general public, and for the betterment of the surveying profession. Articles may be reprinted with due credit given. We welcome submissions via e-mail in MS Word format. Please forward to psls@psls.org or call 717.540.6811.
President’s Pen
Investing in the Future Shaheed A. Smith, PLS hen I started this journey some four years ago, I thought to W myself, “Being PSLS President, how hard could it be? You take a couple of pictures, write a couple of articles for the PA Surveyor and sign some papers and that’s it. Anyone can do this. Besides, Laurie does all the real work. Right?”
Boy, was I wrong. I quickly realized that when you pull back the curtain, there are countless moving parts that make this organization operate as smoothly as it does. There are active committees, community involvement, financial responsibilities just to name a few things. Even the success of the conference each year is a huge undertaking and dependent upon many moving parts. That is why I am both humbled and grateful as I stand before you. Humbled that you would consider me worthy to serve in this capacity and yet grateful for the opportunity. I have come to the realization that this position is less about being honored the most and more about being called to serve the most. Before I get too far ahead, there are several people that I must mention and thank because if it were not for them, I may not be standing here. Some 10 years ago, I reluctantly walked into a restaurant for a Bucks Chapter meeting and met Don Kamp and Don Rife. They welcomed me in and have since taught me, inspired me, and supported me as a Professional Surveyor. Their spirit of service convinced me that it was my responsibility to follow in their footsteps. I would also like to thank my wife Beverly and our three and a half children. They’ve been not only supportive and encouraging throughout this journey, but in many cases active participants in some of the duties. And let’s face it, if your spouse is not happy, no one is. This conference is all about investing in the future of our profession. These seven words can easily become a meaningless catchphrase, but how can we make them become a rally cry for what we can do. When we think of investing, we think of working now for something we won’t see until some point in the future. Sometimes the return of your investment is realized years later or even in the next generation. This takes both a sense of faith as well as persistence. When we couple this with what the industry has been saying for the last 20 years about the future of surveying and we can see how important this investment is. Whatever your disposition is about the future of our profession, if we want to succeed it will take all of us as surveyors to invest in the future. Continued on Page 4
Shaheed & Beverly Smith
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President’s Pen So how do we as surveyors sitting here this evening invest in the future of our profession. You may say by educating those around us of what we do. You may say by focusing on the next generation of surveyors and ensuring that they are well preparing to be leaders. You may also say by embracing technology and giving up the “old” way of doing things. All these would be true and it takes an organization such as PSLS to make this happen. We have accomplished a lot in this society of the past few years and have done some awesome things. This is thanks to my predecessors. But we are not finish and there is still a lot to be done. I’ve seen in the past how we have come together as a group to get things accomplished and it is my hope that 2017 would be the same. I call on you to join me in doing this: working together as one unit, with single focus of mind to advance the needs of our professional. So, while I now realize that being the PSLS President is more that I first thought. It’s hard work, with long hours and sometimes making difficult decision. Its traveling across the state and spending nights away from my family. But as strange as it may seem and knowing all that this position entails, I am looking forward to it. I am excited about what may lie ahead and I hope that with more of you by my side, we can do much good this year.
Shaheed A. Smith, PLS, 2017 PSLS President
2017 Conference Sponsors Badge Sponsor: Topcon Solutions Store Reception Sponsor: HAKS
Foundation Sponsors Adam Crews Richard Shewman RK & K Urban Land Surveying, LLC
Coffee Break Sponsors Carlson Software Crews Surveying, LLC Land & Mapping Services, LLC Keystone Consultants, Inc.
thank you! thank you! 4
Director's Report Brent L. Birth, PLS, NSPS Director of Pennsylvania
Not much activity has transpired to take note of that has not been in NSPS’s News and Reviews. However, there are some things to note that are being discussed and are mentioned in the end of year report from Curtis Sumner, NSPS Executive Director is below.
2016 NSPS Year End Activity Summary Report National Association of Realtors NSPS contacted the National Association of Realtors regarding its Code of Ethics, stating "NSPS urges the National Association of Realtors to add the following language to Article 13 of its Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice document: REALTORS(r) shall not engage in activities that constitute the unauthorized practice of Land Surveying and shall recommend that counsel of a professional land surveyor be obtained when the interest of any party to the transaction requires it. The NSPS proposed statement is similar to an existing statement in the NAR Code of Ethics related to activities that may constitute the unauthorized practice of law. After further interaction, and NSPS responding to a NAR request for examples of the types of activities we are concerned about, the NAR Interpretations and Procedures Advisory Board responded that it sees no reason to add the NSPS proposed statement, adding that it feels confident that NAR’s overall Code of Ethics language is sufficient with regard to "surveying activities". Of course, NSPS disagrees with this and plans to readdress the issue. Certified Floodplain Surveyor (CFS) There is rekindled interest for expanding the use of a joint NSPS/ASFPM Certified Floodplain Surveyor certification program to other states. Currently the program is available only in North Carolina. Recent discussions regarding the expansion of the program will be continued during the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors conference in March between NSPS Executive Director Sumner, members of the group (including the North Carolina Society of Surveyors) operating the CFS program in North Carolina, and some individuals in Tennessee to discuss possible implementation of the program there. Several of the state surveying societies have invited representatives of the group operating CFS in North Carolina (including NSPS Past President (2001) Gary Thompson) to make a presentation on how the program works.
Keep up with National News by reading the NSPS weekly email, "News & Views". Continued on Page 24
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Continued from Page 1
ADAPT, BUT REMEMBER As you may be aware, there’s not a lot of call for VHS players these days, and so…
distinction; and it is that distinction which properly frames the purpose of the professional surveyor.
…some of these companies have gone out of business, or been bought out by other companies. Of the seven big producers of VHS players, only Sony and Panasonic remain as independent companies.
But, and here’s the real challenge, what does the general public think surveyors do? Well, I think there’s two sides to that question. On the one hand, there are adults who need to hire a surveyor but may not even realize that they have this need. Or perhaps they are told they need a survey done and are wondering why. On the other hand, there are those young people who we would like to see become future surveyors, but perhaps they have never heard of the profession or have some mistaken ideas “You’re the guys that stand on the about it. Bear with me as we side of the road, looking through consider…. those weird telescope thingies”
So, what did these remaining guys do right, that everyone else did wrong? Well, I’m no businessman, but I can tell you that these companies did something that I hope we all are doing: They adapted, while remembering what their strengths are. Sony and Panasonic remembered that they are experts in electronics. But they adapted to a changing climate by getting out of the VHS business and getting into the business of DVD players, TVs, game systems and other electronics which people wanted. They did their same job of providing quality electronic entertainment products, but in entirely new ways than VHS. So, then, if you’ll allow me a seemingly ridiculous question: What do surveyors do? Well, when I was at The Ohio State University, taking classes toward my bachelor’s degree in Land Surveying, I took many classes focused on how to use certain surveying instruments. But each one of them could arguably have been called “How to Measure things.” So, those who don’t know much about surveying might hear that and say ”Surveyors measure things”? Is that all? Measuring may be critical to Surveying, but it is not, by itself, surveying’s purpose. Saying that “surveyors measure things” is a statement that lacks nuance. It lacks
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High School students. If someone is going to become a surveyor, they will probably do so at a fairly young age. So, what do high school students think surveyors do? Let me tell you what I know. Every year, I go to my local high school for career day. I’m surrounded by doctors, lab technicians, accountants, artists, policemen, CIA analysts…in fact a really wide variety of jobs. I set up a total station on a tripod, put a few reflectors around the room, and try to teach 10th graders about surveying. Now, the total station is key, because these kids want to push buttons. They want to play with the tech. But what first draws them in is that big yellow and orange tripod.
“You’re the guys that stand on the side of the road, looking through those weird telescope thingies”, I hear. “Yes, indeed” I will answer. “Do you know what we’re doing with it?” “It’s for construction” they’ll often say, but not really knowing how our job relates to construction. If I’m lucky, 1 student in the entire day will say “You’re measuring things”. Yes, we measure things. But that, it seems, is the outer limit of our profession’s perception to most of these prospective surveyors. And so they remain that: prospective surveyors. I do my best, in five minutes, to explain the distinction between measuring and surveying. But a growing issue is this – they don’t want to set up a tripod and measure. They want to see me do a laser scan of the room. They want to see me fly a lidar-equipped hover drone and build a digital topographic map of their lunchroom. And they want to control all that tech from their smartphone. And so, my observation of the future of surveying, in a nutshell, has to be “adapt, but remember”. Remember that surveyors do more than measure. Remember that any civilian with a tape measure can measure something. But surveyors…surveyors understand how to measure, whether to measure, who has already measured, what the measurement means, and how good that measurement is. Sure you’re trained in geometry and statistics, but also in law and history and all of the other things which come with the surveying profession. You are experts in a world that is growing increasingly full of, as Dave Doyle would call them “junior geodesists”. We live in the smartphone world now. The world of instant access to information, taken predominantly OUT of context.
With about 5 seconds of button pushing, I can have my smartphone tell me my latitude and longitude (to about 10 meters). But it will also tell me the address I’m standing at. It will show me a satellite image with my location on it. So why do I need a surveyor if I can get all of this out of my smartphone? Because of what a surveyor can tell me that a smartphone can’t. •
That smartphone won’t tell me what datum the data are on.
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It won’t tell me how well it is estimating those coordinates.
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It won’t tell me if the address it’s feeding me is correct or not.
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But what it will do is provide enough information for people to feel like they are an expert when they are not.
This isn’t just a problem with positioning technology. Consider the following example. A member of Congress actually said to Jane Lubchenco, the head of NOAA: “I don’t need your weather satellites…I have the weather channel”. This is the world of the future. It’s here now. It is full of people with half-answers and halfunderstandings and some of them are making billion dollar decisions based on that ignorance. You are experts in providing facts in a world that is increasingly forgetting that it needs such experts. In a word, you are fact finders in a world full of, as Stephen Colbert calls it, “truthiness”. Alright, so by now it seems that I’m off way off topic. What can this have to do with the future of the profession? Well, mostly it serves my point about remembering. Remember that you are providers of facts and remember that people need those facts, even when they forget.
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ADAPT, BUT REMEMBER We all must adapt to a world that seems increasingly hostile to facts and science. As surveyors, you are providers of accuracy and excellence. You know why we can’t let people stake out a property corner using their iPhone coordinates. Yet I hope you also know how useful an iPhone can be when seeking local geodetic control. What I’m saying is: adapt to the good parts, discard the bad parts, and remember what you are an expert at. This is, in fact, precisely what NGS is doing with our recent NSRS Modernization efforts Truth be told, NGS has been adapting and evolving along with the surveying community for decades. When Bilby Towers were the height of technology, we used them. When Doppler, EDMs and GPS came along, Bilby Towers were mothballed. When geodetic leveling was the only tool in our arsenal to determine orthometric height differences, we used it to level across the entire continent, coast to coast, 60 meters at a time, double run. But the times, they are a-changing. Take, for example, the 1998 Report to Congress on Height Modernization. A lot of research went into that report, and some very important findings were listed. Among those findings was this one: “America needs a reliable and efficient means to determine absolute elevations, relative only to the earth’s center” . The means of accomplishing that were 55,000 new benchmarks, at 10 km spacing.
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But since 1998, so many things have changed. We’ve identified over 50 cm of bias in NAVD 88. We’ve identified a 1 meter tilt in NAVD 88. GPS has gotten faster and more accurate. Airborne gravimetry has matured quickly, bringing geoid accuracy along for the ride. Meanwhile, line of sight leveling looks about the same as it did in 1998. When you compare the speed and accuracy of getting an absolute height out of GPS and a geoid model….. When you consider that a published height on a passive control mark begins to get stale the moment you walk away from it…. Basically this all points to the inadequacy of relying upon a leveling-based vertical datum for determining absolute heights on continental scales. And so, NGS remembers the importance of the vertical datum, but is adapting our plan. In the future, NAVD 88 will be replaced, and the source of your orthometric heights will be your GNSS receiver But let’s not think NAVD 88 alone has issues. The NAD 83 reference frames -- all three of them – have their own problems. First of all, the center of the frames are over 2 meters off from the center of mass about which all GNSS satellites orbit. If you think that’s no big deal…that it isn’t worth the trouble of replacing NAD 83, I present to you evidence that a non-geocentric national reference frame will no longer serve your purposes. Trimble RTX, TOPCON TopNET Global, IGS Real Time Service. These are just three examples of high accuracy, publicly available geocentric positioning services. One of them, the Trimble RTX, is designed to work right off of your smartphone. Just plug in the antenna, initialize and start working. How long do you think it’ll be before non-surveyors are getting geocentric centimeters out of their smartphone? It’s just around the corner. Continued on Page 10
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Continued from Page 8
ADAPT, BUT REMEMBER And how long do you think it will take them to begin noticing a 2 meter horizontal mismatch between their “centimeter-accurate smartphone” and the official horizontal datum of the NSRS? NGS remembers that geodetic control must be more accurate than any survey or map built upon it. And we remember it is our job to provide geodetic control to the nation. So we are adapting, and that means replacing NAD 83 with a system that is geocentrically aligned to the global standard, the ITRF, in 2022. The modernization of the National Spatial Reference System is coming. It is about so many things. •
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It is about replacing the three NAD 83 reference frames with four new plate fixed terrestrial reference frames It is about replacing every source of heights, gravity, geoid undulations or deflections of the vertical with one self-consistent geopotential datum
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It is about making your lives and our lives easier by making OPUS-Projects a do-everything tool, capable of processing GPS, Leveling and more.
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It is about providing time-dependencies as a service, so you can see whether a point is subsiding or not, based on your re-surveys.
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Or showing you how fast the tectonic plate is rotating, and removing that rotation so you can see whether or not your point is actually stable, relative to the plate.
In short, NSRS modernization is about more than replacing the datums. It is about all of the improvements NGS can make to continue to remember our jobs, while adapting to the fast pace of technology.
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The future can be scary, but to stop adapting to it is to quickly become irrelevant. It’s why CORS will rule the NSRS in the future. It’s why we’ll give you not only your latitude and longitude from OPUS, but also your orthometric height and your acceleration of gravity. It’s why we’ll partner with RTN operators so that the NSRS will be available in seconds, not just hours. The National Geodetic Survey continues to serve the nation by providing world class geodetic control in the form of the National Spatial Reference System. It’s just that we’re adapting how we do it, while remembering our strengths and our core purpose. NGS is headed into the future. I hope to see you all there. This article is taken from the Keynote address given by Dr. Smith at the 2017 Surveyors' Conference. PSLS is grateful to Dru for taking the time to attend the conference and share his wisdom. Dr. Dru Smith was Chief Geodesist of NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey from 2005 until 2015, and now serves as the NSRS Modernization Manager, responsible for overseeing the replacement of NAD 83 and NAVD 88. He first entered NGS in 1995 after receiving his Ph.D. in geodetic science from The Ohio State University. He has published over 40 papers on research topics ranging from geodetic surveying to ionosphere determination to geoid modeling. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union, the International Association of Geodesy and is a Fellow of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (now the National Society of Professional Surveyors) and has previously served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geodetic Surveying. He has received the Bronze, Silver and Gold medals from the Department of Commerce for outstanding federal service.
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2017 Conference
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2017 Conference
2017 Conference Recap
The 2017 Surveyors’ Conference was a tremendous success! The weather was much better than in 2016 (no blizzard!), and we had close to 700 attendees, including presenters and exhibitors. And where would we be without our Presenters? We had several returning presenters, including (but not limited to) Dave Doyle, Bill Beardslee, John Cooke, Mike Hyman, and Aaron McWilliams. We also had new presenters this year with PSLS 2016 President Mike Kreiger presenting Boundary Disputes; Thomas Smith presenting two workshops related to FEMA and Flood Certificates; Matt Mercurio and Ben Housten presenting UAS workshops; Ashley Muir presenting Social Media for Business; and more. Of course all of our favorite regulars were there to offer their expertise in Stormwater, OPUS, Survey Math, and many other topics. But of course, the Conference is about more than the presenters. The Conference Bookstore was successful in matching books to readers, with PSLS earning a small profit. The books were an eclectic mix of new technology manuals and reproductions of original edition surveying manuals. Of course the winning element of the bookstore was once again volunteer Irene Wizon. Since Irene starting volunteering at the bookstore a few years ago, we found that it has become a hub of conversation; a place to meet old friends and new while browsing the books and logo items offered. Of course, the bookstore would be lonely in the exhibit hall without our vendors. We had 25 companies exhibiting at the conference! Exhibitors brought everything from software to wooden stakes and gave attendees information and a chance to see all of the latest and greatest toys and tools. There is a complete list of exhibitors on page 27. Please take the time to thank them for their continued support of the Society and the Profession. In addition to the presenters and exhibitors sharing their time and talents, we had a number of sponsors
sharing their money. Check out the list on page 4. Remember that anyone who wishes to support the endeavors of the Society is welcome to be a sponsor and sponsorships are priced to be accessible to all. PSLS adds an extra thanks to those who give in this manner. And speaking of giving, did you hear about the Auction and Raffle? This year, attendees raised money for the PLS Foundation, Penn State Students NSPS Student Competition trip, PAC, and general education. The top two items in the Auction were an antique level donated by Charlie Foster, and a Flat File Coffee Table donated by the talented Amy Hopkins. Of course Auctioneer Eric Zettlemoyer kept things moving along with a high level of excitement and humor. PSLS thanks all those who donated to the Auction and Raffle and those who participated. A special thank you to the organizer and brains behind the raffle, Linda Hummel. With help from husband Mark, Linda scours stores from boutiques to box stores to score the best items at the lowest prices, and puts them together in a display worthy of Bloomingdale's. The Spouse program appears to have been successful as well. On Monday, Mary Butler and Carole Sheehan led the ladies on a day of indoor fun and games including a scavenger hunt a flower arranging class. On Tuesday, the group had a tour of Lancaster County including a Magic Lantern show. A special thank you to Mary and Carol for all they do to keep the Spouse program fun and interesting. Of course, no event is perfect and we had a few small glitches here and there. For those affected, we apologize. We hope to learn from the errors and improve on the conference each year. The Education Committee works year round on this event, starting in February for the following year. If you know a member of the committee, please thank them. They put many hours of work into making this event the best you attend each year. We hope to see you all next year!
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2017 Awards
Adam Crews Honored as Surveyor of the Year Adam D. Crews, PLS of Pipersville, PA received the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors' (PSLS) 2016 Surveyor of the Year Award during the society’s annual conference in Hershey, Pa., January 23rd. It is the society’s most prestigious award presented to a surveyor who has displayed exemplary service to the society, and whose work has benefitted the land surveying profession and the public. Crews started his career as a land surveyor at a young age helping his father Thomas Crews, a Professional Land Surveyor, and found a love for the profession. Crews continued his education with Penn State University in the Surveying Engineering Baccalaureate program. He graduated in 2002 and earned his professional license in 2008. Crews is also licensed as a Professional Surveyor in New Jersey and a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sedimentation Control. In 2013, Crews started his own surveying business and became president of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors. After two years as President, Crews stepped into the advisory position of immediate past-president and took on another challenging role by volunteering to head the Public Relations Committee. He is also a member of the Industrial Advisory Committee with Penn State WilkesBarre’s Surveying program. These qualities of leadership and professionalism have proven Crews to be an outstanding asset to the profession of Land Surveying.
Crews accepts 2016 Surveyor of the Year Award
In addition to being a business owner and outstanding professional, Crews is a devoted husband and father of two. He has recently been named to the top 40 Under 40 by xyHT magazine, and continues to make an impact in the profession by mentoring young professionals and serving as an example of all that is admirable in a Professional Land Surveyor.
Crews receives the Surveyor of the Year Award from 2015 Award Recipient Amy J. Hopkins
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President Kreiger presents awards to Surveyor of the Year Nomiees John K. Seamans and Adam D. Crews. Not pictured - nominee Clark Craumer
Karl Kriegh accepts the Chapter of the Year Award on behalf of the Delaware Valley Chapter President Kreiger presents the 2016 President's Award to Mark Brinkash
Distinguished Service Award Winners: Brian Zick, Emil Bove,& Joseph Dietrick. Not pictured: Ralph Pidcock
Robert R. Miller, Trig-Star Chair, presents Charles Gerhart with an Award of Appreciation for his hard work on the TrigStar program
Greg Clark accepts the Volunteer of the Year Award from Laurie Troutman. Not pictured is Brian Naberezny who also received a Volunteer Award.
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My Father's Footsteps A Surveyor's first rule is to follow in the footsteps of the surveyor before you. For many of our members, that surveyor is their father. This feature offers those men and women a chance to honor their father by telling his story from the perspective of his child.
Fred D. Gay, PLS... as told by Zachary Gay Laurie Troutman, a PSLS institution herself, asked if I would write a short biography of my father Fred D. Gay, PLS. He is a pretty humble guy and I’m not sure how receptive he would be to “tooting his own horn” so I have not fact checked any of this with him. Any errors included are mine, not his. Fred received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Maine in 1963. That same year, he moved to State College, PA to attend graduate school at Penn State. To make ends meet, he took a job as an instructor of engineering graphics in the College of Engineering. Think 6H pencils and Leroy lettering sets - this CAD stuff was still a couple of decades away. During the 1960s, the College of Engineering encouraged their staff to acquire experience outside of academia, so Fred started working for an engineer named R.J.“Bob”Reese. Bob had a consulting firm and was working in many areas of the engineering field. Under Bob’s supervision, Fred gained experience in construction-related engineering services such as high-steel construction, compressive-concrete testing, and soil compaction testing. However, what he really liked was the boundary survey work that Bob had him working on. Bob and Fred worked out a deal whereby Fred provided his own equipment (theodolite and chain) and Bob provided the tail chainman. The turnover of chainman was quite high. Fred, who always “threw” his chain (a reel cost extra), had to educate each new helper about the brittleness of chains at frequent intervals. In 1973, Fred realized he had enough experience to take the PLS exam. He passed, got his PLS license, and hung out shingle as sole proprietor of his own land surveying business.
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Several clients have shared their anecdotes about Fred’s early years as a surveyor. One story, from 1970s, was about Fred and his long-haired German shepherd named Morris, who went everywhere with him. Fred finished running boundaries on the mountain north of Aaronsburg one day. But, when he went to leave, the dog was nowhere in sight. The client told me how Fred took off his ever-present Woolrich coat and laid it on the ground where he had last seen Morris. And guess who was sitting on the coat waiting for him the next morning. Another client told me a story about his father, an excavator, and Fred from the 1980s. Fred was working on a construction stakeout in College Township, Centre County when the excavator discovered an error in the grading plan, which had been prepared by someone else. Fred’s response to the excavator was, “Make it work…we’ll change the plans to match what you build.” Having seen this site recently during an intense rainfall, I can assure you that this was exactly the correct way to have approached the problem. Those who know Fred can attest to his gentleness and fairness. I cannot remember my father ever raising his voice. Yet, when he opens his mouth, people, and even critters, listen. One example of this occurred a couple of years ago when we retraced a boundary to settle a dispute. This project included laying out the neighbor’s farm, which had senior title, so we could establish the boundary location. Due to Fred’s diplomacy, our client paid us to survey the neighbor’s farm while the neighbor, a former client, gave us permission to locate what we needed. There was only one problem. The neighbor forgot to tell us about the bull. I was setting
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New Members
Please join us in welcoming these new members
Delaware Valley Nicholas Cirilli, PLS Harrisburg Roger Errasti Ron Lewis, PLS Laurel Highlands Cory Hoone Dennis M. Rosatti PLS
PCT Students David S. Banks Mark A. Valchar Penn State Students Kyle P. Neiswender Thomas E. Pistack Christopher A. Potoski
Member At Large Frank E. Bair, PLS Lawrence Bucar F. Van Clinkscales, LS, PE
Southwest Dustin Drost Christopher A. Klukan Richard J. McLaughlin IV David P. Mignogna, PLS Joy Scabilloni Gary A. Sheffler, Jr., PE Charles (Chad) Eric Shields, PLS Donald Trant
North Central Cody L Morningstar
Susquehanna Shane Brian Ettinger,LS
Lehigh Valley Fidel Gonzalez
Northwest Nathan Evers Mathewson
Welcome 19
2017 SUSTAINING Berntsen International, Inc. Attn: Tim Klaben PO Box 8670 Madison, WI 53708-8670 P: 608-249-8549 surveymark@berntsen.com www.berntsen.com
Cove Stake & Wood Products, Inc. Attn: Brock Kreider 1434 Carryville Rd Martinsburg, PA 16662 P: 814-793-3257 covestakewood@gmail.com www.covestake.com CivilTraining, LLC/SmartDraft
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. Attn: Shelley Speelman 369 East Park Drive Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111 P:717-564-1121 sspeelman@hrg-inc.com www.hrg-inc.com
Keddal Aerial Mapping Attn: Bradley Piper 1121 Boyce Road, #3100 Pittsburgh, PA 15241-3918 P: 724-942-2881 b.piper@keddalaerial.com www.keddalaerial.com
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Attn: John Cooke 5300 Wellington Branch Drive, Suite 100 Gainesville, VA 20155 P: 732-859-8353 john.cooke@civiltraining.com www.civiltraining.com
Keystone Precision Instruments Attn: George Allport Jr. 1670 East Race Street Allentown, PA 18109 P: 800-833-9250 sales@keypre.com www.keypre.com
Keystone Aerial Surveys Attn: John Schmitt PO Box 21059 Philadelphia, PA 19114 P: 215-677-3119 jschmitt@kasurveys.com www.kasurveys.com/index.
FIRM MEMBERS
Klein Agency, LLC Attn: Mark Amirault PO Box 219 Timonium, MD 21094 P: 410-832-7600 F: 410-832-1849 mamirault@eakagency.com www.kleinagencyllc.com KCI Technologies, Inc. Attn: Michael Burcham 1352 Marrows Rd, Suite 100 Newark, DE 19711 P: 302-318-1086 michael.burcham@kci.com www.kci.com
Nor East Mapping, Inc. Attn: Ron Henry, CP PO Box 270 Kylertown, PA 16847-0270 P: 814-345-1167 F: 814-345-1176 noreastmapping@verizon.net www.noreastmapping.com
Print-O-Stat, Inc. Attn: Kristopher Hoff 1011 West Market Street York, PA 17404 P: 717-819-4044 F: 717-846-4084 khoff@printostat.com www.printostat.com
Oswald Companies Attn: Paula M. Selvaggio, RPLU 1100 Superior Ave, Suite 1500 Beachwood, OH 44114 P: 216-839-2815 F: 216-839-2801 pselvaggio@oswaldcompanies.com www.oswaldcompanies.com
Szalankiewicz Engineering, PC Attn: James J. Szalankiewicz Box 206 Elderton, PA 15736 P: 724-354-4852 F: 724-354-4273 sellc@windstream.net
Precision Laser & Instrument Attn: Robert J. Barth 85 11th Street Ambridge, PA 15003 P: 724-266-1600 F: 724-266-8161 rjb@laserinst.com www.laserinst.com
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Continued from Page 18
My Father's Footsteps
up the total station when I heard some critter “squeaking.” Having spent youthful summers on my grandparents’ farm, I didn’t pay much attention to the sound and focused on my task instead. That was until I heard Fred yelling for help as he and the bull squared off about 25 feet apart. The only thing between them was a 6-inch diameter tree and a prism pole. Fred and the bull played peek-a-boo around the tree for several seconds while I headed over to help. Meanwhile, Fred, who was in his early seventies at the time, took a couple of steps back while brandishing the most effective weapon he had – his prism pole. Much to our relief, he had somehow diffused the situation and the bull let him back away. The critter was probably surprised that the mild-mannered surveyor would make such a show of force. Since 1973, the year he obtained his PLS, Fred has completed over 500 boundary surveys primarily in Centre County, PA, but also in many of the surrounding counties. As part of some genealogical research in the Recorder of Deeds office of Cumberland County Maine, Fred found the testimony of a relative named Ichabod Gay in a boundary dispute case from the mid-19th century. Fred’s brother Amos is also a PLS in the state of Maine. Some families may have a history of heart disease. Ours apparently has a genetic predisposition to rural boundary work. I often accompanied my father on surveying jobs as a child. Sometimes I was told to “hold this and stand still,” and fill in as a tail chainman or rodman as needed. Now the shoe is on the other foot. I took over Fred’s business in 2010 and when I need an extra hand, he takes a few hours off from “grandpappying” to help me out. Many of my clients were once clients of his. They often call me “Fred” by mistake, which I consider the ultimate compliment. Zachary L. Gay, SIT
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The Pennsylvania Surveyor Newsletter Advertising Rate Schedule
UAS EXPO Sponsored by
Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors
This three-day event will include training for the FAA Part 107 exam, vendor seminars, and information on the use of UAS’ and relevent software.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA May 7 -9, 2017
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Continued from Page 5
NAD 22
NSPS Director's Report
NSPS representatives worked with NGS and representatives from other groups to develop template legislation for use by the respective state legislatures to revise/amend their state laws dealing with datums when NAD 22 becomes effective. The template can be accessed from the NSPS website, http://www.nsps. us.com/resource/resmgr/NGS/Template_Draft_-_Final.docx. Future of Surveying Task Force During a meeting of the Task Force, June 10-11 in Baton Rouge, NSPS took the reins as the "lead organization" for future activities of the group which was originally initiated with NCEES support. Surprising, and very rewarding, is the fact that from among the 18 organizations participating in the initial Forum meeting in January 2016, sixteen (16) of those organizations sent representatives to this second meeting. It is important to note that NCEES funded travel for all groups to the initial meeting, but each organization was responsible for the expenses of its representative for the second meeting. Continued participation under this circumstance is indicative of the importance of this effort, and the dedication of so many organizations to the cause. Among the topics discussed were the results from a questionnaire, prepared (at no cost) for NSPS (and the Task Force) by Gavin Schrock and xyHt magazine. Over 2200 surveyors from across the country responded. Three committees were formed to focus on critical issues which need to be addressed. NSPS is also seeking to have the Young Surveyors Network to become more active in this effort. The NSPS 2017 budget includes money to fund the cost for the facilitator utilized during the first two meetings to provide that service during a Spring/Summer 2017 meeting of Task Force. Subsequent to the June meeting of the Task Force, three state societies (Maryland, Oklahoma, and Virginia) began Workforce Development initiatives (which are working in concert with the work of the Task Force) through their respective state governments/agencies. Workforce Development During its Spring 2016 meetings, NSPS established a Workforce Development initiative to work in concert with the activities of the Future of Surveying Task Force and the respective state surveying societies to develop a program to create the framework for insuring the perpetuation of the surveying profession. Three state societies (Maryland, Oklahoma, and Virginia) have initiated Workforce Development initiatives through their respective state governments/agencies. A page (http://www.nsps.us.com/page/WorkforceDev) has been set up on the NSPS website where information about NSPS and state society efforts can be viewed. Davis Bacon Act NSPS recently sent a letter (http://www.nsps.us.com/resource/resmgr/Davis-Bacon/NSPS_letter_to_Dept_ of_Labor.pdf ) to the Department of Labor (DoL) regarding the application of Davis Bacon prevailing wage rates to members of survey crews. The letter suggests that a recent statement by DoL related to the classification of air balance engineers also "accurately describes the standing and circumstance of a survey crew member", albeit in the performance of a different activity. The NSPS letter also requested that DoL issue a revised All Agency Memorandum reflecting this fact. In its response dated 11/28/16 DoL rejected the NSPS proposal, stating “the Department believes that its current guidance is accurate and that no additional action is necessary� With the potential impact on federal agency leadership as a result of the recent elections, NSPS will revisit this issue. NSPS outreach to American School Counselors Association (ASCA) inspires activity The success of the team from NSPS (led by President Cavell) which attended the national ASCA conference
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NSPS Director's Report
in New Orleans in early July has spurred similar participation by NSPS members and their respective states societies. NSPS will continue this effort and is encouraged that several state societies are following its lead on this. NSPS has developed a series of brochures to be used for this outreach, in conjunction with state society developed materials. NSPS Encourages more participation in the National TrigStar Competition, the NSPS Map/Plat Competition, and the NSPS Journalism Competition The 2016 national TrigStar competition included participation by 38 state winners. The TrigStar Committee continues to work for broader participation among the state societies. The recently initiated NSPS $5000 TrigStar scholarship (http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=TSScholarship) seems to have served as an incentive. Any graduating high school student who has competed in TrigStar at any time during their high school years, and can demonstrate proof of acceptance in a college program providing education applicable toward achieving licensure, is eligible to apply for the scholarship. The 2016 NSPS Map/Plat competition drew 43 total entries among its five (5) categories. Results are posted on the NSPS website (http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=MapPlat). The respective state surveying societies are urged to submit the winning plats from their annual competition. The NSPS Journalism competition among the respective state societies continues to draw participation with eight (8) state societies presenting entries in the four (4) categories in 2016. The results are posted on the NSPS website (http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=Journalism). NSPS Foundation issues $29,000 in scholarships Two new scholarships were initiated in 2016. One was created through the New Jersey Society of Professional Surveyors in the name of well-known Surveyor/Attorney/Instructor Walt Robillard. The other was initiated through NSPS, and resulted from a gift of $130,000 from the estate of Dr. Ing. Desider E. Slavoj. Learn more about the scholarship program at (http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=Scholarships). The Foundation is currently working on a Support Program through which individuals and companies can support its activities. NSPS Workshop Database NSPS is nearing completion of the first edition a workshop speaker database to be shared with the respective state societies for use in planning for their conferences and other educational activities. The list will include primarily those speakers who can be available on a nationwide basis. More than 30 speakers have responded positively to the inquiry sent by NSPS. NSPS hopes to also coordinate with other national organizations that provide workshops to their respective members, but could also be pertinent to surveyors. Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) On Wednesday March 15 during the NSPS/MAPPS 2017 Spring conference (March 12-17), NSPS and PRIA will hold a two-hour session on the concept establishing a way to link actual survey plats to property records so they are used for property information rather than relying on GIS data. Several years ago, NSPS began discussions with PRIA leaders with the goal of establishing an interactive relationship for dialog on issues of mutual interest. Recently, that dialog was rekindled when the NSPS Executive Director met with PRIA leaders during the PRIA conference in August. That meeting resulted in an agreement to establish a working group similar to the ALTA/NSPS Committee to work on common issues.
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FIG XXVII Congress and General Assembly 2022
NSPS Director's Report
NSPS has begun its research to determine whether to make a bid to host the 2022 FIG Congress and General Assembly. FIG holds an international meeting each year, but its Congress and General Assembly meets every four years, during which meeting the FIG presidency transitions. The last FIG meeting to be held in the US was sponsored by ACSM and ASPRS in 2002. John Hohol and Curt Sumner met with Colleen Campbell of Conference Managers, Disney hotel staff, and the Disney Event Group to discuss the possibility of NSPS hosting the 2022 FIG conference at Disney in Florida. NSPS Student Chapters NSPS is beginning an initiative to establish Student Chapters within the respective college programs throughout the US and Territories. Thanks to information provided from NSPS members, leaders, and affiliated state societies, NSPS has created a page (link to page) on its website listing of all the programs of which it is aware. Currently, only 12 of those programs have NSPS Student Chapters. Any assistance is appreciated in identifying programs, and in setting up Student Chapters. New NSPS Brochures New brochures related to surveying careers, NSPS benefits, and information about what NSPS does have been developed, and printed. The brochures are available to members, the state societies, and educational institutions. Samples can be viewed on the NSPS website (http://www.nsps.us.com/page/PamphletsfromStates). Brochures developed by state surveying societies can also be viewed using this link. NSPS Social Media Update Members are encouraged to take advantage of the extensive NSPS social media outlets.In addition to the very popular weekly email newsletter, NSPS News & Views, (which is sent via email) and the weekly web radio show, NSPS Radio Hour (accessible at <http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=RadioShow), members can also get current information and share in dialog by searching National Society of Professional Surveyors on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube accounts. Recent Memoranda of Understanding by NSPS 1. Young Surveyors Network (signed during the NSPS 2017 Fall meetings) 2. United States Institute of Building Documentation (USBID) (signed October 2016) 3. Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (American Society of Civil Engineers) (approved for signature) Direct Point Positioning Survey Procedure (DPPS) - BLM/Alaska A NSPS Committee, Chaired by Tim Kent, has submitted its final report related to the effect of the DPPS process proposed by BLM for the establishment of boundary line markers for the remaining lands to be ceded to the State of Alaska as a result of Alaska statehood over 50 years ago. The DPPS process, as proposed by BLM, would utilize calculated GPS positions rather than monuments placed in the ground, as was initially required in the statehood agreement. The Committee is now in the process of developing a response in opposition to a statement by a BLM official stating that the Committee found "no fundamental technical issues" related to BLM's proposed approach. (http://www.nsps.us.com/page/BLMDPPSAlaska)
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Continued from Page 26
Should Hydrographers be Licensed as Surveyors
NSPS Director's Report
In case the issue is presented to the Oregon legislature in the Spring of 2017, Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon Lobbyist Darrell Fuller has requested a position statement from NSPS regarding the question of whether hydrographers must be licensed to provide services in the state. A committee has been looking at this issue for some time, and is finalizing a position for NSPS to decide upon. International Property Measurement Standards and International Ethics Standards NSPS is a member of the international coalitions of professional organizations, agencies, and academia which have developed non-binding international standards for property measurement (what is located, not how) and ethics. Each coalition has issued a press release, <https://communities.rics.org/connect.ti/ ipmscoalitionmembers/view?objectId= 22613029#22613029> for IPMS Residential, and https://ricstest.files. wordpress.com/2016/12/international-ethics-standards-final.pdf for Ethics. The NSPS Executive Director has been an active member of both groups since their inception. NSPS Reacts to HeroX Challenge Related to ALTA/NSPS Surveys Mid-year 2016 NSPS became aware of a "challenge" set to be offered through a company called HeroX. In order to learn more about this, a representative of HeroX was invited to be a guest on the NSPS Radio Hour. During the show, it was learned that HeroX is a company which facilitates "challenges" put forth solicitating innovative solutions to perceived problems or opportunities. In this case, a company that builds storage units across the U.S. was seeking to shorten the time required to perform ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, assuming that "modern technology" should be able to resolve boundary issues and provide "feature location" more readily, thus shortening the time. During the radio show, and thereafter, Gary Kent and Curt Sumner attempted to explain that conducting "ALTA Surveys" (or any boundary related survey) is more than simply gathering data, making some calculations, and drafting a plat. Still, there is always the possibility that someone would come up with a more efficient way to gather records/data which might be of use. NSPS continues to monitor the concepts presented in response to the "challenge" in order to make comments about their validity and/or feasible. Gary Kent has agreed to participate in evaluating the entries in order to provide the surveying perspective to any proposed â&#x20AC;&#x153;solutionsâ&#x20AC;?. NSPS Seeks Financial Support for 2017 Boy Scouts Jamboree Participation In preparation for its sponsorship of the team of Merit Badge advisers for the upcoming Jamboree, NSPS is seeking donations to its ongoing fund for the project. No donations have been solicited during the past few years; however, expenses for the upcoming Jamboree are anticipated to be substantially higher. The concept is to establish an ongoing donations program. The 2017 event will be held at the Bechtel Reserve in WV. Potential donors can contact NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner (240-439-4625, ext. 106; curtis. sumner@nsps.us.com). NSPS Disaster Relief Fund assists storm victims The NSPS Foundation has approved payments from the NSPS Disaster Fund to assist individuals whose homes and families were/are affected by recent flooding. Donations fund this important endeavor. Those interested in donating to insure the future of the fund may do so via the NSPS website, <http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=DisasterRelief>
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NSPS Director's Report NSPS 2017 Election Results The NSPS Tellers Committee has confirmed the electronic voting for the 2017 NSPS elections. 2017 President Jan Fokens (MI) 2017 President-Elect Kim Leavitt (ID) 2017 Secretary Tim Burch (IL) second year of two-year term 2017 Treasurer Bob Miller (PA) second year of two-year term 2017 At-Large Director Armand Marois (CA) one-year term In the three person race for 2017 Vice President, Lisa Van Horn (WI) was elected with Henry Kuhleum (TX) and Mark Sargent (NH) finishing second and third, respectively. A Bylaws change was passed establishing that in future years, the Vice President elected each year will automatically accede to President-elect the following year, then to President and Past President is succeeding years. NSPS and MAPPS 2017 conference to feature innovative interaction opportunity The NSPS/MAPPS March 12-17 conference in Silver Spring, MD will offer an unusual concept in vendor/ participant interaction. In addition to the annual NSPS Student Competition, two all-day workshops, agency briefings, and Capitol Hill Day, the early-week program will also offer a Speed Mentoring/Speed Dating inspired "Tech Time' program in lieu of a traditional exhibit hall. This concept consists of short (10-15 minute) small-group dialog sessions between exhibitors and attendees, at the end of which each small group rotating to the next "booth". Time and accommodation is set up for follow-on one-on-one discussions. Tech-Time events will be held on Monday and Wednesday late afternoon. NSPS Committee meetings will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, with the NSPS General Membership meeting and Board of Directors meeting held on Friday. Current information can be found from the home page of the NSPS website, www.nsps.us.com. As for the upcoming Annual Meeting. Several individuals from the PSLS will be attending. Confirmed attending are Bob Miller, Brent L. Birth, Shaheed Smith, and Laurie Troutman. Bob, Brent, and Laurie will also be participating in Capital Hill day on Wednesday during the conference to meet with select Senators and Congressmen(women) to discuss issues that are relevant to our profession. Below are the talking points the NSPS with interaction from our lobbyists that will be presented. Flood Insurance Reform with Better Surveying, Mapping and Elevation Data The current statutory authority for FEMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)'s is scheduled to expire this September. Due to losses from Katrina, Sandy and other super storms, the NFIP remains roughly $24 billion in debt to U.S. taxpayers and hasn't repaid any principal on its loans since 2010. In 2017, Congress will seek to reauthorize Biggert-Waters or further reform the program. Improved surveying and mapping will help FEMA calculate its risk and put the program on a more sound financial footing. There is an important role for LiDAR technology and other mapping activities used to accurately locate structures and preparing letters of map amendment (LOMA), as well as the need for current/accurate elevation data, such as would be provided by USGS through the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). Elevation data are essential for flood mitigation, conservation management, infrastructure development, national security, and many other applications. MAPPS and NSPS respectfully urge sponsorship of provisions allowing for improved utilization of surveying and mapping technologies and applications, as well as better elevation data collection as connected to the 3DEP program, in this legislation in the 115th Congress.
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NSPS Director's Report Infrastructure President Trump and various Committees are planning a major infrastructure program of an estimated $1 trillion for roads, bridges, airports, and other types of infrastructure. All of these projects require quality and accurate surveying and mapping data, products and services. In recognizing the importance of accurate geospatial data, Congress should include legislative language calling for surveying, mapping and geospatial data for the planning, design, construction operation and maintenance for all related infrastructure projects. Data needs include: Elevation; Boundary; Topo; Planimetrics; As-Builts; Asset Management; Etc. MAPPS and NSPS respectfully urge sponsorship of provisions allowing for improved utilization of surveying and mapping technologies and applications in infrastructure legislation in the 115th Congress. Private Sector Utilization A positive public-private partnership business model is needed so that there are clearly defined roles, responsibilities and synergy between the public and private sectors, particularly in geospatial activities at the Federal level. In the 114th Congress, the Freedom From Government Competition Act (FFGCA), H.R. 2044/S. 1116, was introduced by Representative John J. “Jimmy” Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) and Senator John Thune (R-SD). There is a dangerous trend toward “in-sourcing” and building in-house government capabilities at the expense of private sector job creation, in the Federal government’s geospatial activities. Federal agencies are purchasing equipment to build their own agency capacity to conduct what are considered commercial geospatial activities in mapping, surveying, and charting. Agencies are also bringing contracted geospatial services into the government for performance by Federal employees. A robust, qualified and competent private sector exists within the mapping and surveying profession and government at all levels should utilize it, not duplicate or compete with it. MAPPS and NSPS respectfully urge co-sponsorship of the Freedom from Government Competition Act in the 115th Congress.
PSLS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors has opportunities for members to be active in the society and the profession by volunteering for a variety of tasks and programs. Different programs require a different level of commitment varying from short term as little as one day or long term over one or more years. Each of these activities offers members a chance to learn, network, and grow in the profession, while helping the profession to grow and flourish. Contact us at psls@psls.org for more information or to volunteer. Creating and Maintaining Publications •
The Boundary Retracement Principles and Procedures for PA book needs to be edited and updated for the next printing.
•
The Municipal and County Boundary Descriptions book needs to be updated and edited.
•
Brochures: Volunteers are needed to help write and maintain brochures about surveying for a variety of uses such as promoting surveying to high school students, educating the public, and educating township and municipal supervisors. Brochures written on these topics could then be used for PSLS exhibit opportunities in order to directly target the area of interest.
•
Professional Articles and Opinions: Articles written by society members make publications such as the PA Surveyor and the PSLS website more valuable to surveyors. You don't need to be a professional author or editor. Some of the best material published has been written by Surveyors for Surveyors.
There are many more opportunites for Society Members to contribute. For more information, check out the Society Opportunities page on the website at http://www.psls.org/careers, contact a committee chair , or speak to your chapter State Director.
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2017 Conference Exhibitors
AFLAC Contact: mba_trinity@hotmail.com Boyd Instrument & Supply Co., Inc. Contact: roe@boydinstrument.com Carslon Software Contact: mhyman@carlsonsw.com Caron East, Inc. Contact: johnirving@carsoneast.com Civil Training, LLC Contact: john.cooke@civiltraining.com Cove Stake & Wood Products, Inc. Contact: covestakewood@gmail.com eSurveying, LLC Contact: dpiskur@egps.net Keddal Aerial Mapping Contact: b.piper@keddalaerial.com Keystone Precision Instruments Contact: georgejr@keypre.com Klein Agency, LLC Contact: mamirault@kleinagencyllc.com Leica Geosystems Contact: frank.lenik@leicaus.com
thank you! thank you! thank you!
Aerocon Photogrammetric Services Contact: ahustosky@aerocon.com
Noreast Mapping, Inc. Contact: noreastmapping@verizon.net PA One Call System Contact: ksgoldblum@pa1call.org Pickett and Associates, Inc. Contact: ehick@pickettusa.com Precision Laser & Instrument, Inc. Contact: pli@laserinst.com Print-O-Stat Contact: khoff@printostat.com SitePro Contact: customerservice@sitepro.us.com Skelly & Loy, Inc. Contact: mcoyne@skellyloy.com Soil Services Copany, Inc. Contact: laurel@soilservicescompany.com SurveyStars Contact: megan@surveystars.com The Underground Detective Contact: dang@ugdet.com Topcon Solutions Store Contact: ccalairi@topconsolutions.com Traverse, PC Contact: sales@traverse-pc.com
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2017 Slate of Officers
Shaheed A. Smith 2017 President
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Scott R. Reeser
Mark Hummel
2017 President-Elect
2017 Vice-President
Michael D. Kreiger, Jr.
Brent L. Birth
2017 Past-President
2017 NSPS Director
Brian Yorkiewicz 2017 Secretary
PLS Foundation
Dr. Charles D. Ghilani presents the first Charles And Mary Ghilani Scholarship to Jeffrey Johnson. This new scholarship was created and funded by Charles & Mary Ghilani. This scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Surveying Engineering program (4 year). The recipient of the scholarship will receive $5000 per academic year for a period of two (2) years, or until their graduation, whichever comes first.
2016-17 PLS Foundation Scholarship Awards Recipients: Standing (L - R) Jordan Behrens, Elizabeth Keegan, Catrina Coppola, Joshua Piestrak; Seated (L - R) Theodore Frear, Wyatt McMarlin, Thomas Blasi, and Jeffrey Johnson. Not pictured: Noah Bella, Isaac Bennett, John Chapman, Joshua Harenza, & Vincent Pavill
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Affording a Surveying Education
I am a faculty member in the surveying program at the University of Maine and a parent of three college educated children. I am often asked, mostly by parents, what financial aid is available for their children. I will share the guidance I provide on the subject of how to afford a quality four-year surveying education. Apply for Surveying Scholarships —Almost every state surveying society has scholarships available for aspiring surveyors. National professional societies such as the National Society of Professional Surveyors have scholarships available to students (http://www.nsps.us.com/?page=Scholarships). Scholarship committee members often lament how few scholarship applications they receive. The fact is that a majority of surveying students do not apply for the numerous surveying scholarships that are available. In order to encourage students to apply for scholarships, I will often suggest to students that the hour or two that may be required to prepare a complete and quality application will often garner some of the best hourly pay the student will ever earn. To obtain a $2,000 scholarship for two hours of effort is equivalent to $1,000 per hour. My advice is usually ignored. (I suspect if the parents heard my advice, more scholarship applications would be forthcoming from their children.) Accordingly, those students that do apply for a scholarship have an excellent chance to obtain a scholarship. The odds of receiving a scholarship are much better than any lottery. Apply for Work Related Scholarships — Many employers offer scholarships to employees. In the past, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provided educational funding for students that worked for the BLM as summer survey interns. Several private surveying firms often provide scholarships to summer interns upon their return to college after working for the firm during the summer so long as there is a commitment to work for the firm in the future.
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By: Knud E. Hermansen, P.L.S., P.E, Ph.D., Esq.
The most notable work related scholarships available to employees are National Guard and military reserve scholarships. Serving one weekend a month and two weeks a year will often provide a student with full tuition toward a four-year degree. Apply for General Scholarships — Numerous colleges offer general scholarships to students. Scholarships are often available to students that are in certain disciplines, the residents of certain towns, members of certain minority ethnic groups, or have achieved notable academic standards. Community College — Students can save considerable tuition expense by attending a community college. Tuition is often considerably less at community colleges when compared to the tuition for similar courses at a four-year university. Students should be encouraged to take as many credits as possible at a community college. Mathematics, English, speech, physics, and many other general subject classes can be taken at a community college. These courses will usually transfer to a four-year surveying program. If there is some doubt, check on transfer credits at the four-year program before taking the course at a community college. Students that are intending to embark on a surveying career should consider getting an associate degree in surveying at a community college before transferring to a four year surveying degree program. In the alternative, the student can take almost all their general course work at a community college and take the engineering and surveying courses at a four-year college in order to complete a degree requirement leading to a bachelor of science degree in surveying. Advice to My Children — While I have given this advice to many students and parents, parents are curious and have asked me what advice I gave to my own children. How did I handle financing my children’s education? My advice to my three children was simple and direct. They could go to any college they could afford.
Member Benefits
I see so many young students enroll in university programs that have very little future for employment (not so in surveying). Students enrolled in majors without future employment prospects will pile up debt with little hope for paying off the student loans in a reasonable period, if at all. At least half of the students at the campus where I teach would have a much brighter economic future and more rewarding career had they gone to a technical school and learned a trade rather than attend a university where they majored in, for example, Medieval Literature. To further compound their future financial difficulty, many students attend expensive private colleges where the students enroll in majors with little prospect for future employment. My advice and opinions were communicated to my three children. My daughter and son became engineers. My youngest son is a nurse. All are gainfully employed without student loan debt. Two financed their education with Army scholarships. One financed her electrical engineering education with a merit scholarship that covered all four years of her education. In closing, you might ask how I funded my own education. I used the G.I. Bill (Marine Corp veteran). I followed the advice I gave. I earned a two-year degree before transferring to a four-year program. My graduate degrees were funded by my employment as a teaching assistant. I will also give credit to my wife who also worked to support the family while I attended college. I hope this advice helps prospective students and parents. We need more surveying students. In 2016, surveying graduates had at least three employment offers each. Surveying is a great major and rewarding career. Encourage more students to enroll in a surveying program and give the prospective students and parents my advice. Knud E. Hermansen P.L.S., P.E, Ph.D., Esq.
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Computational Methods in
Stormwater Management Sponsored by
Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors in partnership with Penn State Wilkes-Barre
This is a three-day short course in computer methods for stormwater management design professionals. Presentation of topics include a comprehensive array of hydrologic and hydraulic tools for stormwater management design, including detention facility design and structural BMP design.
Invited Speaker
Technical Staff
Domenic Rocco, PE Environmental Program Manager PA-DEP Southeast Regional Office Norristown, Pennsylvania
Thomas A. Seybert, PE, Conference Chair Professor Emeritus of Engineering Penn State Wilkes-Barre Lehman, Pennsylvania Clayton Hodges, PE Research Assistant Professor Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Thomas F. Smith II, PE, PLS President Bercek and Smith Engineering, Inc. Royersford, Pennsylvania
Who Should Enroll This course is intended for stormwater facility designers with previous exposure to urban runoff calculations involving NRCS (SCS) methods, channel and reservoir routing principles, and Rational methodologies. Because hands-on computer work is emphasized in the course, the fundamental concepts behind these methods will not be presented in great detail. However, specific details for each of the methods presented will be documented or referenced in the supplemental short-course notes. Each participant is encouraged to bring a hand calculator for occasional use. Each attendee will receive course handout materials that include a set of notes documenting standard stormwater computational methods, speaker presentation notes, and a copy of the VT/PSUHM version 8.3 program. Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA April 26 - 28, 2017
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Education Credits / Registration Professional Development Hours The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has enacted a law requiring Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors licensed in Pennsylvania to complete 24 hours of continuing education during each two-year license renewal cycle as a condition of renewal. The Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists has developed and published a set of proposed rules to implement the provisions of the law. Participation in this program will award you 24 PDH units. Continuing Education Units Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are based upon a standard of 1 unit per 10 hours of classroom instruction. Upon completion of this program, each participant will be awarded a certificate for the CEUs earned during this program for a maximum of 2.4 CEUs.
Return to psls@psls.org or via fax at (717) 540-6815. Late Registrations accepted until April 12, 2017 . NSPS/PSPE Code: _____________ Name ( Last, First, Middle) Badge Name Company
(Early registrations postmarked by March 24, 2017)
PSLS Member q$1,245 pp early q$1,295 pp regular NSPS/PSPE Member q$1,245 pp early q$1,295 pp regular Non-Member q$1,275 pp early q$1,325 pp regular PAYMENT INFORMATION q Check (made payable to PSLS) Charge my
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Penn State Continuing Education Information * Federal law requires that institutions of higher education gather the following information regarding the ethnicity and race of its students and employees. Your individual information will be kept strictly confidential. The law only requires institutions to report aggregate totals for each category.
Date of Birth: ** SSN or PSU ID #: Gender:
q Male
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q Female qNot Hispanic/Latino
* Race qWhite q Black or African American qAsian q American Indian or Alaska Native qNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
**The Social Security number (SSN) you provide for enrollment purposes, or when requesting specific services, will be used by the University to verify your identity for official record keeping and reporting. If you choose not to supply your SSN, certain services, such as transcripts, enrollment verification, tax reporting, financial aid and other services may not be available to you, and Penn State cannot guarantee a complete academic record for you. Your SSN will be stored in a central system and only used for official reporting and record keeping. It will not be used as a primary source to identify you within the Penn State system; the PSU ID will be used as the primary identifier. PSLS will not keep a record of this information.
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On the Lighter Side... HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them!" 2 Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's. 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
Facebook Wisdom: A recent study showed that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is. 10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
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Quote of the Month “And that survey is the one we all go back to. When you find one of their original corners, it is like a handshake with the past.” ― Andro Linklater, Measuring America: How an Untamed Wilderness Shaped the United States and Fulfilled the Promise of Democracy
Just for Fun Just for Fun. The first person who emails psls@psls.org with a caption for this photo wins a $10 gift card. Captions will be published in the next issue of the PA Surveyor. Fall 2016 Issue Angie Zick of the Pocono Chapter won a $10 Gift Card with her caption "Lunch Anyone?" for the Fall Issue of Just for Fun. Congrats!
Winter 2017 Photo >>>>>
Other captions entered: "At least they're not snakes" - Larry Leso - Delaware Valley Chapter “... the more we get together the happier we'll be” - Michael Kreiger, Harrisburg Chapter “Looks like we started before the early birds... again!.” - Don Trant, Southwest Chapter
"Lunch Anyone?"
Thanks to all who sent in your captions, just for fun.
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q Member…………………………………...$200/yr PSLS + $40 NSPS Membership = $240 (Surveyor licensed in Pennsylvania) q Associate..……………………………….$120/yr.............q Optional NSPS Membership $40 (Non-licensed surveyor or engaged in mapping or GIS) q Affiliate.............………………………….$105/yr.............q Optional NSPS Membership $40 (Member of another state society) q Retired.............…………………………..$100/yr.............q Optional NSPS Membership $40 (Having license retired by State Registration Board) q Retired-PSLS....………………………….$50/yr...............q Optional NSPS Membership $40 (Retired license plus 10 years prior PSLS membership) q Sustaining……….……………………….$385/yr (Firms having an interest in land surveying) q Student…….……………………………...$15/yr...............q Optional NSPS Membership $10 (Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university) q Auxiliary…….…………………………….$15/yr (Spouse/significant other of a member)
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