Recommend any companies to purchase a digi sig/seal? I assume it comes in a dwg format?
> Recommend any companies to purchase a digi sig/seal? I assume it comes in a dwg format?
You might check around. Our State Board provides dwgs (and pdfs) of licensee seals for free.
Not sure what State you're in but if Paden's free source doesn't take care of you, try www.proseals.net. I ordered a jgp/dxf combo from them last year for about $15. The jpg comes ready to use but the dxf requires a bit of work. With the dxf you have to bring it into your version of cad and hatch/fill the outlines, delete the outlines while preserving the hatch and then save it as a block. The result is a block of your seal that uses nice fonts that won't go bonkers when you insert it into a drawing that lacks the required fonts.
Great! Thanks
There are tons of providers giving various levels of service. We only found one that met all points of our Rules. Cosign is $165 a year per licensee. I strongly suggest you ask whatever vendor you talk with a LOT of questions. When it came down to it there were many that simply made pretty pictures.
Good Luck, Tom
In British Columbia we are given digital signatures via the Law Society of BC where only Lawyers and Land Surveyors and we digitally sign PDF called Plan Certification Forms https://www.juricert.com/
A digital signature and/or seal should be more than a graphic image. The seal should have the ability to work with your other software to authenticate the file has not been altered. Using only the graphic inserted into a CAD file does not prevent alteration of the file. Many software products (CAD, spreadsheets, word processing and PDF file creators/editors) will support using digital identification/certification of their files. Handing over any type of digital data without securing the content may expose you to additional professional liability. Properly used a digital signature/seal/certification will warn anyone receiving the file that there has been an alteration since the file was certified.
This topic has been addressed, [msg=285116]in previous threads[/msg], here and I would caution you to read both the P.S. license and digital signature laws of your state. Frequently the professional license laws are very general and the digital signature (authentication) laws requirements may be more specific. The thread above includes links to an article of mine published in Ohio Surveying News, Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio newsletter.
The conversation (and confusion) has been going on for over a decade. P.O.B. posted Update on Digital Signatures By Jerry Broadus, PLS, Esq. online August 16, 2000 updating a 1998 article. This is still an excellent article with good definitions of the terms being used.
> Handing over any type of digital data without securing the content may expose you to additional professional liability.
That is a good article.
I use the digital seal just for simplicity, similar to a rubber stamp. I don't ever turn over any digital data with a seal included in the file however. I merely plot the file with the seal inserted. If the client does want a dgn, the seal is removed. And although Oklahoma allows digital signatures; all my signatures are the real deal.
Yes I would definitely check your Board's rules. New Jersey does not allow digital seals, only impression seals of paper copies.
> > Handing over any type of digital data without securing the content may expose you to additional professional liability.
>
> That is a good article.
>
> I use the digital seal just for simplicity, similar to a rubber stamp. I don't ever turn over any digital data with a seal included in the file however. I merely plot the file with the seal inserted. If the client does want a dgn, the seal is removed. And although Oklahoma allows digital signatures; all my signatures are the real deal.
I noted you appear to be using Bentley (.dgn) products. Their implementation of digital certification is impressive. It requires creating a signature cell (similar to AutoCAD block) that uses a digital certificate with public/private key requirements. When the cell is placed options allow locking all or part of the file and referenced files. If the file is altered or reference files are missing/altered the digital signature is covered by a bold red x on screen. The bold x also appears on any prints/plots from the file.
A few years ago I taught a Bentley MicroStation class and used this capability when grading student lessons. Their grades were in a file I created to red line their submitted file as a reference. The grade file was digitally signed and secured. The grade file was a redline ".rdl" file that would automatically reference to their file and show them how to correct their work. Much like red penciling a blueprint and laying it under a mylar for the draftsman to make corrections. Securing the grading file was primarily to prevent students making the mistake of altering my corrections instead of the errors in their own file.
