March 2023 Newsletter

PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

OVERVIEW: Message from the President Thoughts on Professional Practice & Education: Licensing With and Without A Degree Side-Shot From Harrisburg

UPCOMING EVENTS Upcoming Wednesday Webinars: PA Act 287 – Designer Obligations April 12, 2023 | 12PM - 1PM Presented by: Brandon D. Dujmic Register Here Junior/Senior Rights & Associated Issues Impacting the Location of Boundaries April 26, 2023 | 12PM - 2PM Presented by Knud E. Hermansen, P.L.S., P.E., Ph.D., Esq. Register Here Rational Method for Peak Flow Estimation May 10, 2023 | 12PM - 1PM Presented by Thomas A. Seybert, Ph.D., PE Register Here PA State Legislative Issues Impacting the Surveying Profession June 21, 2023 | 12PM - 1PM Presented by Bob Regola, PSLS State Lobbyist Registration not open yet

NSPS: Capitol Contours 2023 Surveyors' Conference The Edible Spring Bounty Pennsylvania Young Surveyors Network Update State Line Monumentation PA’s Western Boundary Where Are They Now? The Penn State Surveying Programs, 1989 - 2016 Why Attend a Surveyor’s Conference?

Member Spotlight: Taylor Shepley, PLS National Surveyors Week PLS Foundation Fantasy Football League & March Madness Challenge Before You Go...

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE As the temperature starts to climb, we emerge from our surveyors’ hibernation and begin our busy season … at least that is how it used to be when I started surveying back in the early 1990s. We hardly have any slowdowns these days and becoming your President has made the last three months fly by.

I attended the New York and Pennsylvania Surveying Conferences in January, followed by the West Virginia and New Jersey Surveying Conferences in February. In March, I had the pleasure of meeting several high school students at the Trig-Star competition, and this week I will be heading to Washington, D.C., to represent Pennsylvania for the NSPS Day on the Hill event.

Also in March, we had our first Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings for 2023. The message of these meetings is “don’t expect any slowdowns.” According to Bob Regola, our Legislative Committee Chair and our State Lobbyist, this is going to be a very active legislative session. We will be addressing old House Bill 609 (simplified version), Right of Entry, updating the Registration Law (Act of 1945), Licensing update and State Plane Coordinate System law. We need to have a voice and the Political Action Committee (PAC) is our voice. I encourage everyone to donate to the PSLS PAC Fund at www.psls.org. These funds provide PSLS the opportunity to make our voice heard. We must stay active in protecting our profession!

Another way you can stay active is to become a member of PSLS. Speaking as your Membership Committee Chairperson for the last four years, membership is very important as it is one of the main revenue sources for our Society. The Membership Committee and I continue to grow several of our membership categories by implementing new ideas, such as the Membership Partner Program. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the society, get free membership/conference registrations, and gain some exposure at the conference. Look on our website for details on how to become a member.

Speaking of growing membership, I feel one of our most important groups for us to encourage involvement is our young surveyors. As I stated in my Presidential speech, they are the future of this Society. This is why I am working closely with Taylor Shepley, our State Coordinator for the Young Surveyors Network, on creating a program that is beneficial for both the mentor and mentee. Speaking from experience, I had several great mentors who guided me along my career path. These mentors were monumental to my success, and I cannot thank them enough. It concerns me that there could be others out there missing that opportunity. This is why I am so passionate about bringing this program back. The Young Surveyors will be having a virtual happy hour on May 11. Details will be posted soon on our website. I encourage you to support our future surveyors by attending.

As we recruit, we also must maintain. Please encourage your local chapters to continue to meet and stay engaged. If your chapter hasn’t met in a while, email me so we can work together and come up with ideas on how to correct that. To show my support for the chapters, I plan to attend as many meetings in-person as I can.

I am excited as I reflect on what is to come for our Society and have no doubt that we will look back on this year and admire what we have accomplished together. Feel free to reach out to me, any of our chapter leaders, or our great staff, if you have ideas or would like to get involved. Remember — never slowdown.

Pete E. Brothers, PLS 2023 PSLS President

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

THOUGHTS ON PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE & EDUCATION SERIES:

F e a t ur e d LICENSING WITH AND WITHOUT A DEGREE Series BY: KNUD E. HERMANSEN P.L.S., P.E., PH.D., ESQ.

This is the sixth article I have prepared in the series offering thoughts on professional practice and education. In this article, I wish to review survey licensing requirements. I have noted that a graduate of a surveying course of study will likely seek multiple state survey licenses. More practitioners seek multiple state licensing than when I started my surveying practice. It is common for four-year surveying graduates to be licensed in two or more states. I know of one individual licensed in more than a dozen states.

As I look back on fifty years of surveying practice, over that time, I have held licenses to practice surveying in six states.

While the reader is probably aware of their state licensing requirements, a review of licensing requirements nationwide is appropriate. Requirements for licensure among states vary.

More than 25% of states require some formal education in order to be licensed. Not all of these states require a surveying or geomatics degree. The most stringent academic requirement found for licensure exist in states that require a surveying or geomatics degree from an ABET accredited program(1) Some states relax this standard slightly by not mandating an ABET accredited surveying or geomatics degree. Relaxing academic restrictions even more, some states accept any four-year degree with a certain number of surveying credits. Next in academic laxity is a state allowing any four-year degree without specific surveying credits. Some states will permit a two-year surveying or geomatics degree with a certain number of surveying courses. Finally, a number of states continue to allow licensing by experience only. Two-years of experience is a minimum requirement coupled with education. The norm for experience among states appears to be four-years of experience coupled with education. More experience is required when there is less formal education.

The person casting a wide net for employment or licensing should obtain an ABET accredited four-year surveying or geomatics degree. There are several universities in the United States and foreign countries with excellent programs that are ABET accredited. Some offer accredited surveying degrees entirely through distance education. Individuals can achieve an ABET accredited degree without leaving their state.

This wide diversity of pathways allowing surveying licensure reveals differing opinions nationwide and within state societies as to what should be the requirements for licensure in a state. The issue has been firmly settled in some states. It is a source of great debate in others. This article is not intended to create controversy in states that have had the controversy and has settled the requirements.

A person that does not have a degree or possesses a degree not accepted in a state of their residency or employment can always seek licensure in another state should they wish to show professional achievement. Of course, I must stress that a person working in one state holding a survey license in another state cannot necessarily provide surveying services in the state where they work. The surveyor must hold a license in the state in which services are offered or performed.

I would also caution that in many states holding a valid survey license to practice in the state is not sufficient. The person must also hold a certificate of authorization (COA) or similar business license or work for a firm that does hold a certificate of authorization in the state. I have seen many disciplinary citations issued to out-of-state firms that incorrectly believed that they could provide services in a state by simply having an employee of that firm licensed in the state.

It stands to reason that a person wishing to pursue licensure as a surveyor with the widest possible opportunity for employment and licensure in the United States should meet the most stringent state requirement for licensure.

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

LICENSING WITH AND WITHOUT A DEGREE - CONTINUED

I would also caution that the out-of-state firm must often pay income taxes to the state and in some cases the municipality in which they performed their services and received payment. A most frustrating time in my past was when a municipality in a state I was not a resident demanded I pay an income tax on a small fee I received for services completed in that municipality. Had I been aware, I would have refused the services or doubled my fee to cover the frustration and time to do the extensive paperwork involved in paying a municipal income tax.

I would also like to dispel some misconceptions that surveying must be thought of as a ‘lesser’ profession or not a profession at all because individuals can be licensed without formal education in the professional field. I suppose some judges or legislatures feel and have ruled otherwise. Their position allows them to have an opinion that establishes the definition in that state. It is a fact of life that an opinion of a person in power means more than an opinion of some other person.

The fact is there are other professions that surveyors work alongside that permit licensure without a formal education. As I write this article, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia allow an individual to become a member of the bar without graduation from a law school. Wyoming, New York and Maine allow individuals to be members of the bar without a juris doctorate (J.D.) degree so long as the individual has at least some law school courses.

Not all states require an engineering degree to become a professional engineer (P.E.). Some states permit engineering experience alone to qualify for licensure.

I am sure that some individuals reading this article will wonder what my opinion is regarding a requirement for formal education in order to obtain a survey licensure. I have five degrees and taught in a four-year surveying program for more than thirty years. My background would suggest I am a strong advocate for a degree requirement. Yet surprisingly, I am not in favor of mandating education in order to become licensed. My first surveying licensure was obtained based on my surveying experience alone. There is no question that I learned more about surveying by obtaining my B.S. degree. I also learned a lot more about surveying when obtaining my M.S. degree followed by my Ph.D., and, lastly, my law degree. The fact that I learned more about surveying upon attaining each degree, doesn’t mean each degree should be required for licensing.

My opinion is that an individual that passes the fundamentals of surveying exam, professional surveying exam, and state specific exam has the knowledge necessary to competently practice surveying. Competent practice demands a minimum level of knowledge - not retention of all knowledge possible. A degree will instill the information in less time, with a better understanding, and with more extensive knowledge. Yet, an intelligent individual, through self-study, and extensive experience can also gain the minimum level of knowledge for competent practice. I believe the important point is whether the individual has the knowledge, not the way the knowledge was acquired.

Some of the best surveyors I have ever met or followed had no formal education or a two year degree only.

1. A search portal that provides ABET accredited surveying programs can be found at https://amspub.abet.org/aps/.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Knud E. Hermansen began his surveying career in the United States Marine Corps over 30 years ago. After completion of basic training, Knud was sent to surveying school and spent the next three years with the 2nd Topographic Platoon, 8th Engineer Battalion performing control surveys throughout the world. After his discharge from active duty as a sergeant, Knud worked for various consulting firms providing a wide range of services involving boundary surveys, site development, and engineering. During the last several years, Knud has provided consulting services in land surveying, civil engineering, and law. Much of Knud’s present consulting activities involve boundary disputes, easements, land development, liability, title, and contract issues. * Other books and articles by Knud can be found at https://umaine.edu/svt/faculty/hermansen-articles/

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

SIDE-SHOT FROM HARRISBURG The new 2023-2024 Legislative Session began on January 3rd, in Harrisburg. The Senate is controlled by the Republicans by a margin of 2822, and the House is controlled by the Democrats by a margin of 102-101. The House and Senate finally went back in session on February 27th and will be in Harrisburg the first full week of March. On March 7th, Governor Shapiro gave his Budget Address.Following this, the House and Senate will recess until the end of April while the Appropriation Hearings are being held. See below, for both the Senate and House tentative Session schedules.

House Session Schedule: April 24, 25, 26 May 1, 2, 3, 22, 23, 24 June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Senate Session Schedule: April 24, 25, 26 May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 June 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

With regards to the PSLS Legislative Agenda, as of now, we will be addressing the following: 1. Old HB 609 (simplified version) 2. Right-of-Entry 3. Updating the Registration Law (Act of 1945) 4. Licensing Update- removing an existing barrier to becoming a Licensed Professional Surveyor 5. State Plane Coordinate System Law As one can see, it is going to be a very active legislative session.

PAC Update We started this year with a balance of $1,926.69 and we currently have $7746.53. A special thanks to those of you that have contributed to the PAC. During the 2023 Surveyors Conference in Hershey from January 22-25, I had the pleasure of speaking with many of you about the PSLS Political Action Committee (PSLS PAC) and the importance of lobbying (see attached Documents). Also, we had a fundraiser which raised $2570 for the PSLS PAC. With the new 2023-2024 legislative session beginning and with our profession under attack, along with some much needed legislation and new regulations, we must get engaged. I encourage everyone to consider donating to the PAC so we can protect our profession!!

I look forward to having additional conversations with you about the importance of the PAC. Let’s not forget that the PAC is your voice!!

I encourage everyone to visit our website at www.psls.org to donate.

BOB REGOLA STATE LOBBYIST, REGOLA CONSULTING 5

MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

CAPITOL CONTOURS Welcome to another edition of Capitol Contours with JB. A few highlights since our last update include: In December, President Biden signed into law S. 3510, the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act. As a result, Federal agencies, led by OMB and FEMA, will soon have to think more carefully about their exposure to risks from natural disasters, forcing agencies to respond more deliberately to climate change. The bill will task agencies with incorporating their specific exposure to catastrophic events into their real property asset management and investment decisions.

In December, the National Geospatial Advisory Committee met virtually. The NGAC provides advice and recommendations related to management of Federal and national geospatial programs. NSPS member Gary Thompson of North Carolina is the Chair of the NGAC. On December 29, the President signed into law the Omnibus spending bill keeping the Federal government open through September 30.

On December 29, NSPS scored a major legislative victory when a modified version of the Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform (FLAIR) Act was enacted as part of the Omnibus appropriations bill President Biden signed. This provides for a current, accurate inventory (“cadastre”) of Federal land owned by the Department of the Interior as well as the U.S. Forest Service. The FLAIR Act, a top legislative priority for NSPS for several years, will assist surveyors when doing survey records research or building a GIS by making such data access and integration much more efficient. I testified in support of the bill last year and led advocacy efforts to get this NSPS supported and enacted into law.

Robert Miller of Pennsylvania, the NSPS incumbent Treasurer, will serve another two-year term following the recent NSPS Elections.

FEMA’S Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) met in-person January 23-24, 2023. The TMAC makes recommendations to the FEMA Administrator. Ronald Jacobson of Michigan is the surveying member.

NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) met in person in late February.

President Biden’s pick to join the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) withdrew her name from consideration in March after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said he would not support Sohn's confirmation because her record demonstrated her inability to steer the agency in a non-partisan direction. The FCC currently comprises two Republican and two Democrat members, which means it can't green-light any regulatory rules that do not have bipartisan support. Sohn would have been the tie-breaking vote if she had been confirmed, including for the current standoff on the Ligado Order as connected to GPS interference.

The 2023 NSPS Day on the Hill is set for March 29. The event is open to all NSPS members who will travel to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to meet with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and their staffs to discuss (1) the need for improved broadband mapping and deployment of the related telecom infrastructure given the billions of Federal infrastructure dollars to be invested; (2) reauthorization and reform of the National Flood Insurance Program in FEMA, including the NSPS-backed legislation known as the IMAGES Act; and (3) recognition of the importance of professional licensing in surveying and other design professions to protect public health, safety, and welfare and distinguishing these disciplines from other occupational licenses that have been the subject of delicensing efforts. Members from at least 40 states, including a delegation from PSLS, will participate in the citizen lobbying activity associated with the NSPS Business Meeting.

WATCH HERE

JOHN "JB" BYRD FEDERAL LOBBYIST, NSPS 6

MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

2023 SURVEYORS' CONFERENCE Thanks to everyone that attended the 2023 Surveyors’ Conference in January. It was great to see so many attendees, speakers, students, exhibitors, sponsors, and guests in Hershey. The 2023 conference was a great success as shown in the photos below. Session certificates have been added to attendees online PSLS profiles. Read these instructions on how to access the certificates. We hope to see you at the 2024 conference from January 21-24 back in Hershey! We are currently accepting presentation proposals from any speakers that would like to present at the 2024 conference. Submissions are due by April 3. Submit your presentation today!

Thanks to our Conference Sponsors Keystone Precision Solutions – Overall Conference Sponsor Carlson Software – Tote Bag Sponsor Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. – Reception Sponsor Dawood - Coffee Break Sponsor Klein Agency, LLC – Coffee Break Sponsor Sci-Tek Consultants, Inc. - Coffee Break Sponsor S.P. & K. Engineering, Inc. – Foundation Sponsor

Thanks to our Conference Exhibitors Argos Unmanned Aerial Solutions Boyd Instrument & Supply Co. Carlson Software Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Cooper Aerial Surveys CT Consultants Inc. E38 Survey Solutions eSurveying LLC Javad GNSS Keystone Precision Solutions Klein Agency, LLC Kucera International, Inc. Leica Geosystems NOAR Technologies National Society of Professional Surveyors Penn State Wilkes-Barre PLS Foundation Precision Laser & Instrument, Inc. Print-O-Stat PSLS Political Action Committee SoftDig Steckbeck Engineering & Surveying, Inc. The Underground Detective Topcon Solutions Store University of Maine

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE 2023 SURVEYORS' CONFERENCE HERE

THANKS TO OUR EXHIBITORS & SPONSORS

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

THE EDIBLE SPRING BOUNTY By: Greg Short – Ecologist – AllStar Ecology LLC Spring is an exciting time of year. It is the time of year that dormant organisms become active again, and the warmth in the air brings nature back to life. It is the time of year when cabin fever has reached its peak, and people are itching to get out and enjoy the beauties of the wild.

Spring is in fact a new beginning and brings ultimate opportunities for the wild forager.

This article will identify a few of the common plants that any forager can be eager to collect in the spring season. I am mentioning the associated plants as they are all an excellent resource utilized as a wild lettuce. In this article, you will also find a recipe that was passed down from my grandfather and is my favorite foraging recipe to date.

DANDELIONS

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – This is a common species of field and forest. The entire plant is edible but becomes more bitter as warmer weather comes and should be harvested prior to blooming and going to seed unless you are utilizing the roots. The leaves are a great source of vitamin A, B, C, E and K. They also contain iron, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The leaves are excellent raw or cooked.

TROUT LILY

Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) – This is a common species of the forest and is associated with mesic cove forest, forested riparian corridors, and forested floodplains. This is a spring ephemeral that will only be found in the early months of spring and then withers away for the remainder of the year. The leaves are sweet and savory and add an excellent addition to a salad. The flowers are also edible and add flavor and color to the salad as well.

LAMB'S QUARTERS

Lamb’s quarters or goosefoot (Chenopodium album) – This is a common species of fields and waste places. The leaves have a cabbage like flavor and are a common replacement for spinach. The young shoots and leaves can be eaten raw, or can be sauteed or steamed. This plant is loaded with fiber, protein, and vitamins A and C.

CHICKWEED Chickweed (Stellaria media) – This is a common species of field and forest. The entire plant is edible and is utilized raw or cooked. It can be used in salads, on sandwiches, or can be ground into pesto. The flavor is spinach like. It is rich in Vitamins A and C and contains a significant amount of calcium.

RAMPS

Ramps or wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) – This is a common forest species associated with dense deciduous forest with rich organic matter. The entire plant is edible and is a close relative to onions and garlic. This is also a spring ephemeral and withers away after the early spring months. This plant is rich in vitamins A and C and contains selenium, and chromium. That makes it good for teeth bones, eyesight, the immune system, and the cardiovascular system.

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

THE EDIBLE SPRING BOUNTY - CONTINUED

“Kilt Greens” or “Wilted Lettuce Salad” Recipe First, you will need to go out and gather any of the above-mentioned greens. However, you must include ramps as it is a key ingredient to this recipe. Rinse, clean, and wash all greens. Then slice leaves into one-inch pieces and dice ramp bulbs as small as you desire. Put all greens into a large bowl and set them off to the side.

GARLIC MUSTARD

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolate) – This is a common species of the forest and is a highly invasive species. The entire plant is edible and should be harvested in the spring before the heat makes it bitter. It has a spicy flavor crossed between garlic and horseradish. The leaves make an excellent pesto. It’s high in fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium, selenium, copper, iron, manganese, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Next, fry several pieces of bacon making it crispy for crumbling. Place bacon off to the side. Now mix bacon grease with 3 cups of vinegar and one cup of sugar (you can add more sugar to get the taste you desire).

Mix these ingredients on high heat until they are blended well, and all sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and dump the liquid over the greens. Toss the greens in the bowl with the hot liquid until “wilting” the lettuce. Now crumble the bacon over the top and enjoy!

BROOK LETTUCE

Brook lettuce, mountain lettuce, deer tongue lettuce (Micranthes micranthidifolia) – This is commonly found in springs, seeps, and mountain streams. The leaves are collected as a green and can be cooked or eaten raw. Collect leaves in the spring while tender leaves are available. The fresh leaves are very high in vitamins A and C.

MEMBERSHIP PARTNER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS Thanks to the organizations participating in the Membership Partner Program.

Gold ·Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Silver ·Arthur A. Swallow Associates, LLC ·J.H. Hickman Surveying, LLC ·Keystone Surveying and Mapping, Inc. ·Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. Bronze ·McMillen Engineering, Inc. ·Morris Knowles & Associates, Inc. P. Joseph Lehman, Inc.

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

PENNSYLVANIA YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK UPDATE By: Taylor Shepley – PA State Coordinator

Dear Readers, As this year continues to quickly progress, I wanted to provide you with updates on the future of the PA Young Surveyors Network (YSN). I will be stepping up as the State Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Young Surveyors Network. I want to thank both Chris Jackson and Dave Spellman for setting the foundation for the network and the betterment of the future generation of surveyors.

I personally feel that mentorship is what can make or break any young professional. Despite the technological advances in surveying which continue to progress each day, guidance and direction from experienced mentors can be the most important tool in the Young Surveyor’s toolbox. Fortunately, the mentorship goals of the PSLS align with the YSN, and together we can build a bright future for the profession.

As the warm weather fast approaches, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Young Surveyor’s Network is looking to jumpstart our membership, but we can’t do it without your help. We’re looking to do a lot of exciting networking events throughout the year to not only make us better surveyors, but to have fun while doing it. Looking ahead, we have a virtual happy hour scheduled for May 11th, 2023 as a meet-andgreet with all the new members, and also plan our regional fall in-person meeting!

If you or someone you know are interested in becoming a member of the PA YSN, the mentorship program, or have any questions, please email me at psls.ysn@gmail.com. We can also be found on LinkedIn (PSLS Young Surveyors Network).

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

STATE LINE MONUMENTATION PA’S WESTERN BOUNDARY By: David Widmer

Can you imagine a state law requiring every boundary county (a county that bounds along another state) to require a yearly report on the status of the state boundary monuments?

There actually was such a law passed on May 19, 1887, which required “the County Commissioners to visit and examine, on or before the 1st day of June of every year, each of said monuments, with a view of ascertaining their condition, and to make a detailed report thereof, and transmit the same to the Department of Internal Affairs.” This was for all of the Commonwealth’s boundaries. When this law was repealed, I do not know.

Why one may ask? Well considerable time and expense was attributed to the actual re-survey and monumentation of the lines at that time and for the purposes of this article, I am only referring to the Commonwealth’s western boundary, along West Virginia and Ohio. Additionally, for the purposes of this article, I am only referring to the monumentation which was from the Lake Erie south to the Ohio River completed in 1881 and from the Ohio River south to the Commonwealth’s southwest corner with West Virginia completed in 1885. The original 1786 “Ellicott Line” has monuments mentioned that could also be searched for, but not on an every mile basis as the 1881 and 1883 re-surveys. Andrew Ellicott actually visited Fort McIntosh in nearby Beaver, PA on August 29, 1785, for those that enjoy walking in the original footsteps.

I have documentation from within my personal library as well as from the state Archives of both surveys along with the written bound reports. I also have the yearly reports from the County Commissioners for a few years on the status of the monuments for a few early years. Basically, I have nothing since 1891, not saying there isn’t something out there I do not possess.

The purpose of this article is to create a group of volunteers to understand the history of the re-surveys performed in 1881 and 1883 and to visit each and every monument location to ascertain their existence and condition, photograph and document each or to document their nonexistence. I have already spent countless hours doing my research but the field work involved to visit all the monuments, Lake Erie south to Ohio River is 91 +/- miles and from the Ohio River south to the southwest corner is 47 +/- miles, is much more than one individual can handle.

Monuments I have used, along with their reference monuments, already have disappeared since I used them just a few years ago. I will add that often what you see above ground is the reference monument, the actual monument is typically buried 2 feet below grade usually under the reference monument which can weigh up to 500 lbs. Some are under paved roads.

We know the Ohio Society did a similar project almost 20 years ago with the help of some PA Surveyors but whether they searched for each monument or whether their findings were published remains a mystery, perhaps somebody out there knows. One of the surveyors from Ohio is a personal friend of mine, Dean Ringle, P.E., P.S., but unfortunately, I have not been able to make contact with him.

If anybody is interested in getting together to discuss this endeavor, shoot me a quick email and we can try to get a meeting set up to discuss at a convenient location or maybe even a joint meeting of a few “Border” Chapters at a mutually agreed upon location? Keep in mind that even if we find the 1881 or 1883 monuments, they are already 142 years old! If we would be fortunate to locate an original Ellicott monument from 1786 that makes it 237 years old.

Please send your interest to dwidmer@widmerengineering.com.

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

Where Are They Now? The Penn State Surveying Programs, 1989 - 2016

BY: CHARLES D. GHILANI, PH.D. AND THOMAS A. SEYBERT, PH.D.

Introduction Surveying education at Penn State University began as an educational outreach activity to the coal mining industry in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area in 1916. It coincided with the birth of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus, making that campus the oldest satellite campus in the Penn State Commonwealth Campus System. An actual degree in surveying did not come about until 1957 when the campus first offered the Associate of Engineering Technology in Surveying Technology. In October of 1962, the degree became the nation’s first accredited program in surveying technology when it received accreditation from the Engineering’s Council for Professional Development (ECPD), later known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and currently known simply as ABET. The Surveying Technology program later changed its name to Surveying Engineering Technology in 2012 to better align with ABET’s Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) program naming guidelines. In 1994, the Bachelor of Science in Surveying program was offered for the first time. It matriculated well with the associate degree program and received ABET accreditation under the applied and natural science accreditation commission (ANSAC). Later, in 2005, the baccalaureate program was changed to the Bachelor of Science in Surveying Engineering gaining accreditation with the ABET engineering accreditation commission (EAC). Currently, the surveying program still offers both the ETAC Surveying Engineering Technology program (2-year) and the EAC Surveying Engineering program (4-year). This paper is written from the experiences and viewpoints of two retired faculty in the surveying program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

In the words of Tom Seybert I became aware of the Surveying Technology program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (PSWB) in August of 1982, when I was teaching mechanical engineering technology as an instructor of engineering at the Penn State Beaver campus. I met the PSWB surveying technology program coordinator at a Penn State engineering technology faculty meeting held at the University Park campus. Being a civil engineer teaching in a mechanical engineering technology program, I was very interested in learning more about the surveying program. Over the next seven years, I developed a working relationship with the surveying coordinator and one of the other surveying faculty. They were interested in me because of my interest in surveying and my educational background in stormwater management, a component of engineering surveys mentioned in the state registration law for surveyors. In August 1987, I took a leave of absence from Penn State Beaver and started pursuing my Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Penn State University Park. I secured an instructor’s position teaching surveying to support my graduate studies. In the fall of 1988, the surveying program coordinator planned his retirement for spring 1989. He contacted me and asked if I was interested in applying for his position. I visited the Wilkes-Barre campus, and my impression of the program was positive, however I did not apply for the job because I wanted to complete my Ph.D. program before taking a permanent position in academia. Later, I found out that a guy by the name of Charles Ghilani had applied for and accepted the program coordinator position starting in August 1989.

Little did I know at that time that we would become colleagues and very good friends over the next 30 years.

In January of 1996, while finally completing my Ph.D. I joined Chuck and the faculty teaching in the surveying program. I had the pleasure of teaching stormwater management to the first graduating class in the baccalaureate major. They graduated in May 1996. The class contained four students who had matriculated from the associate degree to the baccalaureate degree in 1994. I remained a member of the surveying faculty for 19 years until I retired in 2015. Over the years, Chuck and I (and other surveying faculty) taught many surveying students in the baccalaureate program. We have had the pleasure to witness their success in the profession, however the success of these graduates has never been formally documented. This paper is an effort to show their success in a concrete form.

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - CONTINUED

In the Words of Chuck Ghilani In August 1989, I came from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and began teaching at Penn State in the Surveying Technology program.

When I started, members of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors (PSLS) told me that the program graduates were not able to pass the state’s professional land surveyor licensing exam. I was asked on nearly my first day on the job, “What are you going to do?” It was obvious that given the technology and the breadth of expertise covered in the licensing exam that the associate degree program was insufficient to meet the needs of the profession. Additionally, I quickly realized that most of the students in the associate program had the ability to obtain a baccalaureate degree but did not have access to that opportunity. So, in 1994 the Bachelor of Science in Surveying program was created through my efforts and the efforts of other surveying program faculty. At the same time, the associate degree program was revised to better fit the current practice. By design, the baccalaureate degree included the same surveying courses that the associate degree required, making the matriculation of the associate degree graduates to the baccalaureate degree conveniently streamlined. The major difference in the baccalaureate degree was the obvious additional two years of surveying instruction, and the required courses in advanced mathematics.

However, this baccalaureate program allowed students to conveniently use their associate degree science courses since it went for an applied and natural science accreditation (ANSAC) instead of an engineering accreditation (EAC). However, this decision to seek the ANSAC accreditation also short-changed the students who were essentially in an engineering curriculum but not getting recognition for it. So, in 2005 the program made the necessary science modifications and received an EAC accreditation with the new program name of Bachelor of Science in Surveying Engineering.

After 25 years, I retired from the Penn State Surveying Engineering program. Recently I had an email conversation with one of our first baccalaureate graduates. Since graduation, he had obtained his professional license, became president of the PSLS, was given the Surveyor of the Year award from the PSLS, and took over his father’s surveying business. Previously, he told me how he used a GIS and freely available GIS data as his first approach to a perspective job. In our recent discussion, he mentioned how he used a sUAS system with a camera and LiDAR system to do most of his topographic work. This minimized his company’s field time and crews. In fact, he suggested that in the future he thought that only boundary surveys would require extensive fieldwork.

At the time of my retirement, the Penn State Surveying Engineering program was one of eight such programs in the country. You might think that Pennsylvania surveyors would back such a program, which most did over the past 25 years. However, there was a small sector of the society that did not understand what a BS degree in surveying provides a graduate. One of the statements often heard from this sector was, “I can teach them everything they need know on the job to become a surveyor.” My response would be, “Really? With all the new technology, I couldn’t even do that!” I am not going to get into the psychology behind their statement, but I realized that I could ask the many graduates for which I had contact information, to see what they are doing now. This paper presents a summary and sample of the responses I received.

A Summary of the Survey A very simple survey was created that asked five questions and was sent to my contacts. In total, 39 requests for information were sent out, from which I received 30 responses. The first question asked what their current position in their firm was. As shown in Figure 1, 12.5% listed themselves as the owner of their firm and 18.5% listed themselves as a partner in their firm. This relates to approximately 31% having full or partial ownership in a firm. Recognizing that in very large corporations, ownership is unlikely, the survey also asked how many were vicepresidents to which 6.3% of the respondents listed themselves as a vice-president in their firm. Altogether this means that 37.5% are primary leaders in their firms. Of the remaining responses, half (50%) listed themselves as managers of their firm’s survey division/group. Eight percent listed themselves as a crew chief and 9.4% listed themselves as other. It should be pointed out here that two of the graduates are instructors in surveying programs, four graduates work in federal agencies, and one works in a data management firm that deals with data from the National Geodetic Survey and the United States Geological Survey among others. What this question shows is that 81.3% of the respondents have leadership positions in their firm and are responsible for surveying in their firm. If you include the VP of companies, it would be 87.5%.

Figure 1. Relationship of respondents with firm.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - CONTINUED

The second question asked how many graduates had a professional license. Recognizing that some are in positions that do not require a license, it was interesting to note that 80% stated they had a license while only 20% said they had no license. Besides the aforementioned positions that do not require a license, there was one graduate who did not have a license even though he had been working in the field for nearly 20 years. This respondent works in the construction sector of surveying managing 3D models, machine guidance, and control for construction projects. However, the exam is principally centered on boundary surveying, and requires experience in boundary surveying. Thus, those working in construction, geodetic sciences, photogrammetry, and remote sensing are not allowed to sit for the exam due to lack of experience in boundary surveying. The surveying profession needs to realize that licensure is for protection of the public, and these other areas should be allowed to sit for an exam that specializes in their area of expertise. This would be like the professional engineering exam where the professional exams test the person on their area of expertise, which restricts them to practice in their selected area. To think that someone working in construction surveying has nothing to do with public safety is simply not recognizing what an engineering design or judgement error in this sector of surveying could mean monetarily or to lives.

The next question asked what type of license the respondent had. It is important to keep in mind that it is possible for a respondent to have more than one of these licenses. As shown in Figure 2, 61.5% stated they had a professional surveyors license. With the creation of the surveying engineering degree in 2005, it was possible for graduates to obtain both a PE and PS license. Only 5.1% of the respondents obtained both licenses. Additionally, 15.4% stated they had a sUAS pilot license, and 5.1% stated they had some other license. The remaining 12.8% have passed the Land Surveying in Training (LS) exam, but either lack sufficient years of experience in boundary surveying or have no need for a professional license. Again, recognizing that not all graduates required a license in their job, it showed that most obtained a professional surveying license. Not only this but, as will be discussed later, many have surveying licenses in multiple states. In fact, one graduate was licensed in eleven states, or more than 20% of the country.

Figure 2. Type of License

One of the goals of the program was to teach the students the importance of research and the value of advanced degrees. I did this by requiring writing throughout the program as well as giving students research topics starting in their second year in both programs. In fact, in their senior year, baccalaureate students were required to take a one-credit course where they researched a topic, prepared a paper on their research, and presented it to their peers. However, a limitation of the Penn State Surveying program was its inability to have a graduate degree.

The next question asked the respondents what their highest degree was. As shown in Figure 3, 8.1% of the graduates listed their highest degree as an associate in science. All but one of these students graduated before the creation of the baccalaureate degree. As you would imagine, 64.9% listed the baccalaureate degree as their highest. However, 21.6% obtained a master’s degree and another 5.4% listed a Ph.D., which means that 27% obtained a post-graduate degree. This question showed that, even with the program’s limitations, it was able to produce students capable of obtaining a post-graduate degree.

Figure 3. Highest degree obtained.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - CONTINUED

Since the first BS in Surveying students graduated when the program was in its infancy and with limited equipment, the last question was on the type of technology they used in their business. Again, this question allowed the respondent to select as many choices as was listed. As shown in Figure 4, 51 stated they used either a robotic and/or reflectorless total station. Seventeen respondents said they used GIS, as did eighteen state that they used photogrammetry and/or remote sensing. Of course, 29 used some CAD software and 23 used point cloud software. Twenty-six stated that they used GNSS hardware, while fifteen used small unmanned airborne systems (sUAS), and twenty used LiDAR. Eight graduates use ground penetrating radar, while seven used hydrographic equipment as were seven involved with software development, and finally two used surveying technology not listed such as a Tiny Surveyor to stake out well pads.

Figure 4. Types of equipment and software used versus number of graduates surveyed.

Sample Comments from Respondents Most respondents emailed me to further discuss what they were doing. From this came some very interesting comments. Four of our graduates are working at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with three at the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and another in NOAA Corps. Of the three graduates at NGS, one is the Field Operations Branch Chief, another is working on the rewriting of the OPUS software. So, in the future when you use OPUS remember who wrote the code. Sorry, but I am not sure what the third does. For the first eight years, the person working at NOAA Corps was a lieutenant on a hydrographic surveying vessel. However, he is currently finishing his master's degree at Oregon State University. Another graduate is the vice-president of Global Positioning Services at Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. He obtained an MBA, which is very appropriate for his position. Three of the graduates have been Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors presidents. One was a baccalaureate graduate from the Surveying program and the other two were associate degree graduates from my early days at Penn State. Two of these own their businesses. Two of our graduates are instructors themselves with one at Penn State in Civil Engineering and another at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

While the information on technologies shown in Figure 4 may not be surprising to the reader, it is essential that surveying programs around the country recognize the need to improve their in-house technologies. Often due to budgetary limitations, some of the newer technologies are not available to students. This was the case in my early surveying career. However, what this also shows is that with a strong technical background, a graduate can pick up technologies that didn’t even exist when they were in school. This is one of the advantages of having a baccalaureate degree with a strong technical, mathematics, and science background.

As was shown, most of the Penn State graduates obtained their license with the only limiting factor being the type of job they chose to pursue.

However, with this stated it should be realized that all are working in some field related to surveying. Currently, ten of the respondents had licensure in multiple states where one had licensure in eleven states, several had licensure in four or more states. As one of the respondents stated, “As for the degree itself, the 4-year surveying engineering degree cleared the literal roadblock to licensure for me in the states that require a degree to apply for survey licensure. My business partner, who is also a licensed PLS in Pennsylvania, was shut out of attempting several states because his degree was not a 4-year Surveying Engineering degree.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - CONTINUED

My degree has opened more states to us, providing more opportunities for our employees and growing our business. Even for Pennsylvania, which doesn’t require the degree to become licensed, I don’t think I would have gotten through the exams as well as I did without all the knowledge, I gained in the Penn State Survey Engineering Program. The classroom exposure covered the variety of topics found on the exams… once I got into practice and specializing in land development surveying there simply isn’t the time for on-the-job exposure to all the other branches of surveying I would have needed to get through the exams.” (Chris Jackson) This is a second advantage of a baccalaureate surveying degree. It not only opens the graduate to the ability to become licensed in their home state, but also in several other states. This ability allows companies to pursue jobs beyond their state boundaries.

One thing I found interesting was two graduates, upon gaining sufficient experience, obtained their professional license and immediately started a one-person surveying business. The first to do was an early associate degree graduate of mine. This firm now has partners and thirteen employees. The other was one of my last students. He holds a license in three states.

Summary I am sure that if other programs in the United States performed a similar survey, they would find similar results. It was not the intent of the author to tout the success of Penn State surveying graduates but rather to show the industry and perspective students what a degree in surveying can yield. I hope this shows doubters on the importance of a baccalaureate degree in surveying. A baccalaureate degree prepares students to excel in their chosen field and adapt to newer technologies. All professionals should support surveying programs around the country since it only makes the profession stronger. This support can come in many forms. One of the easiest and least costly methods is to recruit students into a program and provide these students with summer employment while they are in school. Most surveying programs in the country, and even in the world, are small in comparison with other programs in an educational institution. A small faculty cannot recruit areas as large as a state or even a region. Only professionals can do this at little cost to themselves. Visit high schools and discuss what is in this paper with students in high school. What a degree in surveying can mean to them and their future.

Another thing the profession can do is support surveying programs financially so that up-to-date technology can be purchased and studied in school. It is greatly appreciated that individual students receive financial assistance from many state societies, but the schools often also need assistance. For example, one manufacturer may provide a school with their latest and greatest technology with a 50% reduction in price, but even this is often too much for a program’s budget. Financial support will ensure that the graduates will have experience in the latest technologies to the benefit of their future employer.

Many surveyors believe they need a surveying degree program in their state or even in their part of the state. This is financially unviable. Again, all programs in the country and even the world are small in comparison to other degree programs in academic institutions. It would be much wiser to recruit students for existing programs, support these students financially with a summer job, and let them select their institution of choice. In fact, if you need summer help, go to a school, recruit students, and offer them a summer job to help them get through school. All you would need to do then is sort out those who want to get another degree from those who are interested in surveying as a profession. Upon graduation from a surveying program, you can offer them a job if it is needed. In essence, stop thinking that a program in your area of the world will provide you with a graduate, but rather recruit and support someone who is willing to obtain an education in surveying.

I hope this answers the question on what a baccalaureate degree in surveying offers a graduate and the profession, and what you can do to support the profession. Happy Surveying!

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

Why Attend a Surveyor’s Conference?

BY: ERIC GLADHILL, PLS

There are many conferences held each year that provide continuing education credits for land surveyors. Some are held by the surveying societies in the states where they reside, and some are held by privately-held entities. It seems that most states require some type of continuing education, but why bother going to a conference in person when so many vendors offer at-home study guides and even more offer online courses?

First, it would behoove us to ask a few questions.

What is the purpose of these continuing education (sometimes called professional development) credits?

Do these hours spent in a classroom, online, or studying in another format, really help us to be a better surveyor?

What should we expect to get out of this training?

There have been some great articles written in the past, questioning whether or not the requirement of continuing education is really helpful, or even necessary. It has been argued that the professionals who are already doing a great job and providing excellent service to the public, will do so whether they participate in continuing education or not. Conversely – as the argument goes – the lazy, or incompetent surveyor, will continue with their same inconsistent work, even after learning more about ethics and standards of care in their profession.

To a certain extent, I tend to agree with that theory; but on the other hand, I think it is up to the profession, at large, to create seminars and workshops that stimulate thought and cause reflection on our style of practice which will stimulate improvement.

Each time that I attend a surveyor’s conference, I manage to meet some amazing people in my profession. Some of them are generally unknown surveyors, who work hard each day to solve boundary problems, create new parcels of land, and prepare base mapping for engineering design. Even though some of them are only known in their respective companies of employment, and perhaps in a small segment of their community, they have some great stories of their experiences and knowledge gained from their past ventures.

When I’ve attended the conference that is held annually in my home state, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of the “heavy-hitters” in the surveying profession. I won’t mention their names here, but you would know them; they have written many great articles in this magazine (and others). They are the ones who write books on the theories and legal principles of adverse possession, riparian rights, and easements (to name a few). It amazes me that some of these folks can be found sitting at a table or bar in the evening hours and are happy to share some stories and field some questions from a regular ole surveyor like me!

For me, one of the best parts of attending my local conference is seeing all of the people that I’ve worked with over the years. I spent the first twenty years of my career at eight different engagements, and that has provided me with quite a network of former associates with whom I am well acquainted. Being at the conference gives me an opportunity to catch up with these folks and see how they’re doing and learn a bit about the type of projects that they’re working on. Some of that information is as worthwhile as what is being taught in the classroom.

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WHY ATTEND A SURVEYOR’S CONFERENCE? - CONTINUED

While enjoying a meal, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a man who was standing mere feet from the terrorist bomb that wreaked havoc on Boylston Street, near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. During lunch one year, I met a man who did construction layout on various structures around the world. He told me of completely unsafe working conditions in Malaysia where it was common to have worksite fatalities on a regular basis. I’ve had the opportunity to meet young men who had just started in the surveying profession and thought they had it all figured out after obtaining their associate degree and one year of experience under their belt.

One of the best things that one can gain from attending a seminar in-person is the back-and-forth dialog that occurs between the speaker and the audience. Sometimes the questions seem useless, long-winded, and boring, but sometimes it’s a question that is running through the minds of each attendee, but only one person is brave enough to ask it. That’s when the real learning takes place.

I was asked to speak at a conference in Kansas this year. I knew exactly one person that would be there; the man who extended the invitation and helped connect me to the organizers of this conference, but I felt like I was at home - at the conference held in my home state of Pennsylvania. Surveyors are the same all over! I had heard that and believed it, but now I know it.

The common denominator in all of this is people. There’s a well-known Proverb in the Bible that says, “Iron sharpens iron.” In the question being posed here, this adage holds true.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE BY CARLSON ON EDITING RAW FIELD DATA - MODIFYING MEASUREMENTS

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Member Spotlight Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Taylor Shepley, and I’m currently the Survey Manager for Keystone Custom Homes out of Lancaster, PA. I’m currently a licensed surveyor in Maryland and working towards acquiring my license in Pennsylvania. I grew up in Lower Northumberland County, PA, but currently reside in the Mechanicsburg, PA area with my wife Hannah. I spend my free time tinkering on small projects around the house, and recently completed a frame-off restoration on my grandmother’s 1953 pickup.

What is the most unique project you have worked on, and why?

I like to think that each project I work on at my current company is unique, in the fact that I get to experience it from start to finish. From predevelopment through the initial sitework, and then the home construction within the community, I’m able to provide surveying services for the entire duration of the project, and it gives me an opportunity to continuously adapt to the curves that construction throws at you and learn how important surveying is to the construction industry.

Did you have a mentor, if so, how did it affect your career?

I’ve been very fortunate to have quite a few mentors throughout my career. My first mentor was Jamie Walshaw of Mid-Penn Engineering. I job shadowed Jamie when I was in high school and was fortunate to find a job under him right out of college. At the time, I thought the only thing I needed to learn was how to run the data collector, but boy was I wrong. Jamie taught me that a civil design is only as good as the topo they’re given, and more detail now leads to less questions later. I found a knack for topographic surveys, and creating existing conditions plans working under Jamie. My current supervisor, Matt Dennis, has been a phenomenal mentor for me over the last three years. He’s been able to take the knowledge that I’ve acquired over the last decade and mold that into high standards and to continue to strive for excellence. I feel I’ve grown so much professionally over the last few years working under Matt, and I know I’m going to carry that with me for the duration of my professional career.

What advice can you give to young surveyors?

Find a mentor to help you grow professionally. Keep your head on a swivel, your ears open, and never be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t understand something, ask questions until you do. Be the best surveyor you can be by absorbing and learning from what everyone around you is doing. Find something you enjoy in surveying and focus on mastering it. There are so many hats that you can wear as a surveyor.

If you were reincarnated as a famous landmark, what would it be and why?

The Hoover Dam. Such a great feat of engineering could only be completed with an even greater feat of surveying. Can you imagine the stakeout needed for that?!

Tell us an interesting or funny surveying story.

I haven’t had many story-worthy adventures in my short career, but I always enjoyed doing the large farm boundary surveys for conservation easements. Most farms in the area I worked weren’t surveyed very heavily, so a lot of times the deed research let us into the historical archives, and the fieldwork had us looking for historical natural features. Most of these farms have been in the same family for generations, and we were able to see the history of the properties while performing the fieldwork.

Taylor Shepley, PLS 19

MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

NATIONAL SURVEYORS WEEK Snowy day of topo in Longswamp Township, Berks County. Submitted by Jared Hermany, PLS

National Surveyors Week (NSW) was March 19 – 25. PSLS received a proclamation for Pennsylvania Land Surveyors Week from the Governor.

Pete Brothers, PSLS President, kicked off NSW with an important message which can be viewed here.

In addition, we asked PSLS members to submit surveying photos, quotes and stories via email and social media. Take a look at some of the great surveying submissions below! Please help promote the land surveying profession!

Photos provided by: Barry Isett & Associates Photo of one of Isett’s Land Surveyors working on the Lehigh Tunnel, Lehigh County, in 1990.

After an abandoned building caught fire in Nanticoke, PA, Isett’s survey team utilized drone technology to assess the interior of the building to ensure safe entry for Isett’s Forensic Building Investigation and Environmental Consulting teams to perform structural assessments and asbestos inspection. I believe highlighting a unique project such as this demonstrates the many great abilities of Land Surveyors, and how their skillset and technology can be used versatility.

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NATIONAL SURVEYORS WEEKS - CONTINUED

Photos provided by: Amy Hopkins, PLS

JOB BOARD Surveyor 1 - Susquehanna Civil - York, PA Survey/CAD Crew Chief - Sci-Tek Consultants, Inc. - Philadelphia, PA Field Surveyor/Survey Technician - SciTek Consultants, Inc. - Philadelphia, PA

Boundary Retracement Principles and Procedures for Pennsylvania

Survey Instrument Operator - Robert E. Blue Consulting Engineers, P.C. - Blue Bell, PA

Dr. Knud Hermansen’s book Boundary Retracement Principles and Procedures for Pennsylvania is available for purchase. We recently got the book reprinted, and copies are available for $150/each!

VIEW MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ORDER HERE 21

MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

PSLS WEBSI TE TI PS & TRI CKS COMMUNITY CALENDAR We continually update the PSLS community calendar with PSLS related events such as webinars, chapter meetings, board meetings, etc. To access the Community Calendar, go to www.psls.org then click the word “Events” at the top of the website. You will then see the various PSLS events as shown below. You can view events as a list or click “month view” to show events in calendar form. P.S. You can also access the calendar from the home page of www.psls.org, just scroll down and click on “View All Upcoming Events.”

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SPORTSBOOK 2ND ANNUAL FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE PSLS and the PLS Foundation held the 2nd annual Fantasy Football League which ended in January. All proceeds went to the PLS Foundation to support its scholarship programs.

The big winner was Rich Shewman, and he received the trophy at the conference. Congratulations Rich! Thanks to everyone that participated and supported the PLS Foundation through this!

MARCH MADNESS CHALLENGE Currently the PSLS March Madness Challenge is in full swing.

All donations to participate go to the PSLS Political Action Committee to help PSLS cultivate political support from legislators who take interest in issues that are important to Pennsylvania surveyors. Good luck to the people below. Who will be the winner?! Find out in the next newsletter!

Jason Beranek Ryan Deglau Mike Given Amy Hopkins Troy Leighty Larry Leso Chris Miller Cody Schneider Carrie Brothers Julie Rinks Troy Leighty

SURVEYOR CLIP FILE Reliance on GPS devices may lead to cognitive decline, study says orienteering can help Legendary Olympic Gold Medalist, Dick Fosbury, passes away at age 76

NCEES presents Best Land Surveying Practices

Japan Finds 7,000 Islands It Didn't Know It Had

How Indiana’s flood map went from acclaimed to attacked New Book: A Practical Guide for Navigating Geomatics and Land Surveying Projects

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

BEFORE YOU GO......

Markets

Markets: The Nasdaq stumbled for the second straight day as rising bond yields banged up the tech sector, which is ultrasensitive to higher interest rates.

Yesterday’s MVP: Alibaba. Shares in the Chinese e-commerce giant popped after it announced the most extreme restructuring in its history: It’s going to split up into six business units that could IPO separately.

The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.

PELE

Random Headlines: "Mother of Pearl" cloud spotted in Scotland.

Tracking where people moved in the US in 2022.

Check out the winners of a mobile photography contest.

If you want to sound smart at the Met: This YouTube channel explains great art in digestible videos.

What’s in your produce: The Dirty Dozen is the list of nonorganic produce with the most pesticides.

Stat For the sixth year in a row, Finland clinched the title of the world’s happiest country, according to the annual World Happiness Report. Despite spending half the year in darkness, Nordic countries made up the top three, with Denmark in second place and Iceland in third. But even those of us who don’t live in a country where saunas are commonplace (the US came in as the No. 15 happy place) have found things to smile about: The report found that global averages for happiness didn’t drop during the pandemic.

Last year, for the first time in 31 years, the labrador retriever was not America’s most popular dog, according to the American Kennel Club. So, what breed scooted in on stubby legs with an adorable smushed-in face to take the top dog spot? The French Bulldog. About one out of every seven dogs registered with the AKC last year was a Frenchie, reflecting a rapid rise in the popularity of the breed —which, though guaranteed to pull in likes on social media, can also suffer from serious health problems.

Just four Nations have won the Women's World Cup. Name them.

ANSWER ON PAGE 26

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PSLS OFFICERS

State Directors

Officers:

Allegheny Heartlands Chapter: Joseph Hood, PLS & James Mostoller, PLS Bucks Chapter: Brian Yorkiewicz, PLS & David Spellman Delaware Valley Chapter: Jason Bertzos, PLS & Karl Kriegh, PLS Harrisburg Chapter: John Clark III , PLS & James Hartman, PLS Laurel Highlands Chapter: Ryan Deglau & Randall Myers, PLS Lehigh Valley Chapter: Stephen Ombalski, PLS & Arthur Swallow, PLS Mid-State Chapter: David Archibald, PLS & Gregory Shufran, PLS North Central Chapter: K Robert Cunningham, PLS Northeast Chapter: Glenn Johnson, PLS & Brent Birth, PLS Northwest Chapter: Ryan Courtney, PLS & Allen Yard, PLS Pocono Chapter: Gregg Davis, PLS & Brian Zick, PLS Reading Chapter: John Fuehrer, PLS & John Huck, PLS South Central Chapter: Thomas Farcht, PLS & Timothy Rojahn, PLS Southwest Chapter: Donald Groesser, PLS & Vincent Paparella, PLS Susquehanna Chapter: Timothy Wentz, PLS & Robert Weaver, PLS

Pete Brothers, PLS, President Lawrence Leso, PLS, President - Elect Dylan Sites, PLS, Vice President Troy Leighty, PLS, Secretary Terry, McMillen, Jr., PLS, Treasurer & Immediate Past President Michael Given, PLS, NSPS Director

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MARCH 2023 | THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEYOR

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Sustaining Member Firms Civil Training, LLC

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Cooper Aerial Surveys

Attn: Pete Priestner 412 East Street Rd. Trevose, PA 19053 P: 800-229-2279 pete@cooperaerial.com www.cooperaerial.com

Keystone Precision Solutions

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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

Porter Consulting Engineers, P.C. Attn: L. Ashley Porter 552 State Street, Meadville, PA 16335 P: 814-337-4447 aporter@pceengineers.com https://www.pceengineers.com/

Precision Laser & Instrument, Inc. Attn: Robert J. Barth 85 11th Street Ambridge, PA 15003 P: 724-266-1600 F: 724-266-8161 rjb@laserinst.com www.laserinst.com

Steckbeck Engineering & Surveying, Inc.

Attn: Jason E. Chernich, PLS 279 N. Zinns Mill Road Lebanon, PA 17042 P: 717-272-7110 jchernich@steckbeck.net

Szalankiewicz Engineering

Attn: James Szalankiewicz PO Box 206 Elderton, PA 15736 P: 724-354-4852 sellc@windstream.net

Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc. Attn: Eric Calladine 5300 Wellington Branch Dr., Suite 100 Gainesville, VA 20155 P: 703-679-5600 F: 703-697-5601 ecalladine@wetlandstusies.com www.wetlandstudies.com

ANSWER KEY United States (World Cup champs in 1991, 1999, 2015, 2019); Germany (2003, 2007); Norway (1995); Japan (2011)

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About The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors (PSLS), a statewide professional organization, exists for the purpose of supporting, improving and enhancing the profession, its members, and the practice of land surveying. PSLS focuses on providing education, legislative involvement, enhancing the public awareness, and the promulgation of the ethics of the profession.

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