http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+SB1572
and the companion bill in the house
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+HB2145
It's good to see they are moving in that direction. Does the bill seem to have support?
The bill says:
"Land surveyor photogrammetrist" means a person who by reason of his specialized knowledge in the area of photogrammetry has been issued a license by the Board to survey land for the determination of topography, contours, or location of planimetric features, utilizing photogrammetric methods or similar remote sensing technology. "Land surveyor photogrammetrist" does not include the establishment of any ground survey control.
Seems like they could have done this without referring to photogrammetry (photogrammetric methods or similar remote sensing technology) since methods are constantly changing and using the term "similar" is just inviting an argument - I could argue LiDAR either way depending on whether I was on offense or defense - it's similar remote sensing technology and NO it's not similar at all it's direct and active measurement which is nothing like photogrammetry.
How about a Remote Sensing Land surveyor? Remote sensing includes all measurement of land and water from aerial and space based platforms.
(I know that's going to elicit some comments- space based?) Yes - it won't be long before the civilian sector has access to space based data that is adequately accurate for your average building site topo mapping (it may already be available - anybody using space based data for topo mapping?).
However it's worded - I'm glad that someone there took enough interest in it put legislation forward.