What books do you consider essential, for a Surveyor's Libra

Dictionaries
1. English language
2. ACSM-ASCE Definitions Of Surveying and Associated Terms
3. a law dictionary (Black's ?)

BLM Manual

Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location, Brown et al

Basic Text Books on
1. Algebra
2. Geometry, plane and solid
3. Trigonometry
4. Analytic geometry and calculus

Special:
Route Location and Design, Hickerson
Spherical Astronomy, Robin M Green
Adjustment Computations Statistics and Least Squares in Surveying and GIS, Wolf & Ghilani
Analysis and Adjustment of Survey Measurements, Mikhail & Gracie
GPS Satellite Surveying, Leick
Elements of Photogrammetry, Wolf
ASCM proceedings papers

more ...

In addition:

Brown's books- "Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location" and "Boundary Control and Legal Principles";

"Black's Law Dictionary";

A good highway surveying book is nice as well, Hickerson's "Route Surveying" is pretty decent IMO;

If you can find a copy of Skelton's book "Boundaries and Adjacent Properties", it is good historical reading in my opinion, especially for Colonial state stuff.

There are probably numerous others that I can think of if I had the time, but I have found these to be indispensable.

Nate,

I have been collecting surveying textbooks since I got into the profession 20 years ago.

Since you are in Arkansas, I would suggest a copy of the new Arkansas Surveyor's Handbook.

I have numerous texts in my library. Antime a textbook is mentioned on here as being a good reference, I go and try to find myself a copy.

I will try to compile a list in the next few days and post them. A few off of the top of my head that are on my shelf:

Land Surveyor's Reference Manual by Andrew Harbin
Construction Layout by Wesley Crawford
Arkansas Surveyor's handbook by Elgin
Boundary Control and Legal Principles (2nd edition & latest edition)
Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location (2nd edition & latest edition)
The Curt Brown Chronicles
1973 BLM Manual
2009 BLM Manual
Yellow BLM Circular handouts in hardback
Wattles Survey Drafting
Wattles Writing Legal Descriptions

I have several of the old ICS hardback textbooks from the 30's thru the 50's. I also have the paperback versions from the mid 90's when I took the program.

This is a start. I need to compile a complete list anyway, so I will try to take a few minutes and list them.

> What books do you consider essential, for a Surveyor's Library?
There is more than one "Wattles". I recommend the yellow covered "Writing Legal Descriptions".

Van Sickle's GPS for Land Surveyors is very worthwhile. I consider it an essential.

Brown's 2 books. I agree with Jimmy Cleveland, get both as early editions and also as the latest. Copies of the the early editions can be had for little more than the price of shipping and remain relevant.

The 2009 manual is essential for those of us that work in PLSS states. The other manuals can be had in pdf form for the downloading.

Bergeron's A Pocket Guide to Business for Engineers and Surveyors,

Ghillani's book on Adjustment Computations, together with the StarNet Manual, is on the cusp. His Elementary Surveying has chapters that cover much of the best parts of Adjustment Computations that may make it a better addition to your library.

I have a copy of Skelton. Interesting, but I don't consider it essential. I have many other useful books on my shelf as well but none of them are "essential" either.

Some recent incarnation of Davis, Foote, and Kelly, Surveying: Theory and Practice. I think the seventh is the current edition, and the authors are now Anderson and Mikhail.

Henry

The short list should include some lessons from basic business management procedures, and how to talk to people in their terms. Toss in some what not to do books, and maybe ask SWMBO for some recipe ideas on how to keep her happy. A book on how to keep your boots and head dry should be standard issue.

Oh yea, have your banker give you a book on how to start with $2 million, then before you know it you'll be a millionaire. That's not in any books but.... :-S

cheers

"Oh yea, have your banker give you a book on how to start with $2 million, then before you know it you'll be a millionaire."

Sounds like a SUNTRUST scenario.!! 😉

Skelton

> I have a copy of Skelton. Interesting, but I don't consider it essential.

I think the genius of Skelton is less in the material (it definitely seems to skew more colonial and urban, but that reading may just be my confirmation biases) and more in it's structure.

To me it's sort of a post-modern survey text; it lays out the rules of construction by example and case law and then "deconstructs" them showing cases where the established rules would seem to hold, but don't.

If a reader doesn't "get" where Skelton is coming from and is just looking for an "authorative" text to follow, there could be a danger that he/she sees the message as "rules are made to be broken" rather than "there is an exception to every rule". In many ways it's not really a book about how to retrace boundaries but how to think in a less "cookie cutter" fashion when you're retracing boundaries. I believe when he wrote it Skelton was a professor in the Civil Engineering (gasp) department at the University of Maryland and it definitely reads to me like a university rather than technical text, stressing more how to reason than do.

Ok, somebody had to notice the misspelling of library that morphed into libra. I'm thinking cosmic intervention so the libra's form a club with us surveyor types. Plus, mostly because it's Sunday and the Lions beat the Packers, the Chiefs back their way in, and the Brady Bunch get another ring after they whoop on those Packers. (sorry, being the mere mortal gemini I am I did get side tracked)

libra traits

With the total list of great suggestions, I'd start saving up. That list in its entirety will fetch hundreds if not into the $1500 range.

Skelton

That's the thing I noticed about Skelton when I read it...he didn't just say, "the contrary may be shown," he showed the contrary. I could've gotten a copy for $150 I found in a used bookstore but didn't consider it worth that much to me. We have a copy at the office that I can use if I need it.

> Brown's 2 books. I agree with Jimmy Cleveland, get both as early editions and also as the latest. Copies of the the early editions can be had for little more than the price of shipping and remain relevant.
>
May we assume you're talking about used editions being this inexpensive? New ones on Amazon are $100+. There are some used ones for a lot less, but some are noted as "unknown binding; import". Not sure what those are. There's one edition from the sixties and one from the 80's. Any ideas on the best place to buy used books?

Is It Too Late For Doctor Spock ?

Nate you have been into this for quite a while, so why the sudden urge?

I have lost count Nate, how about a current family rundown. It seems you should be sending at least one off for advanced education, so why not ask about colleges?

Paul in PA

Is It Too Late For Doctor Spock ?

> Nate you have been into this for quite a while, so why the sudden urge?
>
> I have lost count Nate, how about a current family rundown. It seems you should be sending at least one off for advanced education, so why not ask about colleges?
>
> Paul in PA

Paul, I am an oddity. My little brother took the ICS correspondence course, while he ran the instrument, and I was party chief. I actually quizzed him, and learned alot. My grandfather was Surveyor/Engineer. My dad is a LS. My older brother was an LS (He passed away Christmas of 2003.

I love all things mechanical.

My kids have the same disease. We get bored, and go do and learn stuff. If we run out of stuff to learn, we will find a college.

More probably if any of my kids go to college, they will go as professors, and experts in their field. We all learn better by our own books, and obsessions. Big Help is more interested in farming, and the social side of life He will probably be involved in education, no matter if it is an official capacity, or just giving away his knowledge. He teaches bow hunting, and proper setup, and stance, and all.

They ride unicycles. Several of them ride the tall ones. They got a 7' one for Christmas.

Life is big.

I want to go back, and read some of what I know, for myself. Academia, also brings a world view. We have our own worldviews.

I feel that I don't like any of how I write descriptions, because, although they fulfil their purpose, they leave out many of the public, who see them. They are academic exercises, that are not well understood, by the general public. I want to make them more relatable. Without loosing anything. Doctors talk about "Subdermal Contusions" The general public calls them Bruises. Academia says "The patient expired". The public says: "He died" Then, the redneck says "Him done dead". They all have their flavor. I want to learn both languages, and reconnect the people to what they are saying. It's my thing.
My Lymes Disease is doing way better. I take Himalayan salt, about 1-2 tsp a day, in water. It lets me function. Doc says it will be 5 yrs or so, before I start to "Normalize". I don't know. I have to normalize now!!

Paul, you are one of my favorite posters here. You are full of it, and yet a gentleman. Yeah! I want to be like that!

I'm catching up on my pdh's now, and trying to finish several surveys. And, eating deer jerky. I have a full life.

Grace and Peace

Nate and family

The first surveying book I purchased was Davis, Foote, Kelly, 5th Edition – a long time ago
. . . . .
Then other “standard” surveying textbooks – while in college and many others since.
. . . .
When I became licensed in 1974, I was heavily involved in boundary surveying computations and purchased a book that made a lasting impression. Even though I have not devoted my career to boundary surveying, I have profound respect for land surveying concepts and for the talents/efforts of those who remind the rest of us that excellence in land surveying is not reducible to a unique equation or experience. My recommendation could include many books but I’d like to highlight:

“Legal Principles of Property Boundary Location on the Ground in the Public Land Survey States” was written by Ira M. (Tiny) Tillotson and copyrighted by him in 1973. My college surveying professor/mentor was Ralph M. Berry who introduced me to Mr. Tillotson at the ACSM meeting in Phoenix in 1975. I purchased the book directly from Mr. Tillotson which he autographed for me. It is one of the most treasured books in my library and I was delighted to see it referenced in the December 24th Surveyor Connect thread by Dwoolley and Erickson on “Ultimate definition of Surveying.” I just checked – a used copy is available on Amazon for $60 – in my opinion, a real bargain!

For me the BLM manual wouldn't be to helpful

I liked in Search of title.

Not a surveying book per se, but a indispensable reference otherwise is "Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape", which is a reference of geographic terms, many of them from historic usage. Invaluable when the deed refers to a "mill race" or "water gap" or other colloquialism. Also, the "Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees" has helped me on more surveys that I can remember.

> Any ideas on the best place to buy used books?
Alibris.com

First editions of Evidence & Procedures (1962) and 2nd editions of Boundary Control (1969) can be had every day of the week for $0.99 plus $4 shipping. Note that 1st editions of Boundary Control (1957) are relatively rare and therefor a little more expensive.

If you are patient, and shop around, you should be able to get the new editions in the $60 range.

The most essential for me is a binder for each State I work in. It contains all statutes, rules and recent Board decisions. They are tabbed and kept up to date.
There are many other good suggestions already. Aside from the biggies I have found the manuals from 1 day seminars to be great resources. They are usually put together by a handful of local professionals.