Hi gang,
I would like to know if any of you have an easy way for finding NGS monuments in your project area. I am applying to take the North Carolina exam which requires surveyors to tie to any NGS monuments with in 2000 feet. When I try to use the website to look for any monuments in the area I am having a hard time. Only major roads seem to be shown. I don't know the longitude and lattitude yet so I can't search that way. Am I overlooking something?
Thanks
I use the Benmarkhunter kmz file for Google earth discussed
[msg=57596]plsoforum.com=57596[/msg]
others have discussed the same thing before here:
[msg=11878]plsoforum.com=11878[/msg]
The beauty of the benchmark hunter kmz file is that it provides a link to Geocaching.com or to the NGS. I have reviewed many datasheets for mons on the NGS site that haven't been reported on since the 60's only to see that someone on geocaching.com not only visited it within a month, they took pictures and provided updated coordinates.
Cheers
Screenshot
There is way to import monuments into google earth ... and maybe an Google Earth add on that does the same.
Years ago, I built a three county map in AutoCAD from USGS DLGs (for the counties I do most my work in) and imported the monuments into that map as points.
Help finding NCGS Monuments
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/datasheet.prl
Several ways to search. We are a long ways apart and may be useless to you, I have not looked outside of where I work.
jud
> Hi gang,
>
> I would like to know if any of you have an easy way for finding NGS monuments in your project area. I am applying to take the North Carolina exam which requires surveyors to tie to any NGS monuments with in 2000 feet. When I try to use the website to look for any monuments in the area I am having a hard time. Only major roads seem to be shown. I don't know the longitude and lattitude yet so I can't search that way. Am I overlooking something?
>
> Thanks
You have a minor problem with your initial statement. We are not required to tie to just NGS monuments. We are required to tie to NCGS published monuments as well. There are many more of those than there are NGS monuments in the state. (Last count I heard was ~60,000 statewide.)
Get to know that website. There is a ton of great information there including interactive maps that make it very easy to determine whether or not your project falls within 2,000 feet. Anyone not knowing before they start a project is bordering on incompetent.
Larry P
Do yourself a favor and download DSWorld -- http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PC_PROD/PARTNERS/index.shtml
The problem with the NC GS website for this application is that I'm a Virginia Surveyor and am trying to get my sample map in to the NC board. Thank you for the link, I will use it in the future, but it won't help me now. 🙂
This link is great, thanks so much!
> The problem with the NC GS website for this application is that I'm a Virginia Surveyor and am trying to get my sample map in to the NC board. Thank you for the link, I will use it in the future, but it won't help me now. 🙂
Ah, I see your point. You need to understand that the map you send them does not have to be from a real survey. In fact, you are better off drawing a completely fictional map. Just make sure you check every detail of the map.
If you want, when you get the map close to finished, send me a copy and I'll take a look and provide some feedback. Let me warn you, they are very anal about every single detail on the map.
Many years ago they rejected one map because there was no symbol on the map that represented a monument to which the survey was tied. All of the necessary information was there, but it lacked the symbol for the monument. (The fact that at the scale of the map the monument was off the page did not matter.)
Larry P
I feel lucky. Taking my Exam tomorrow, but Kansas requires no homework. Which is nice I'm not in a position to draw a map. I'm lacking Cad Software at home powerful enough to make a nice map.
> I feel lucky. Taking my Exam tomorrow, but Kansas requires no homework. Which is nice I'm not in a position to draw a map. I'm lacking Cad Software at home powerful enough to make a nice map.
The map being discussed is not a part of the test. It is a part of the application. Until they have a map from you that meets the requirements, you are not approved to sit for the exam.
Larry P
Agreed on the anal detail point.
In Maine we have to answer a homework question in the form of an essay within a 1 month time span before the April or October exam.
A colleague of mine was failed because he did not write a note on his proposed subdivision plan mentioning that if any eagle's nest(s) existed on site then there would be a 1,000 foot setback from it.
Help finding NGS Monuments - Thanks Dave
Thank you Dave,
I sort of forgot about DSworld. What a great tool and resource.
I've reinstalled and updated.:good:
YOU NEED THIS
go to the survey tools and use the interface to download a KML file for Google earth.
DONE!
Thanks,
My colleague got away with putting a note on his saying that no monuments existed within 2000 feet of the survey. I wanted to make sure of this before I put my map forward. I already submitted one to them two years ago right after I passed the VA exam. I hadn't done anything that really qualified for what they wanted at the time. I sent them a house survey and they kicked it back. Having been discouraged and not really having any work down there I just decided to wait. I get a letter in Oct saying they are going to shred my application if I don't sit...so here I am. Those of you who have applied for this test know what a pain the application is. You have to send in a picture of yourself, get 5 other surveyors to write recommendation letters...and I had already paid the fee. So I said..."Please don't shred my application!"
The map you send does not have to be of a real project. In fact, I've heard board members encourage applicants to make up the stuff on the map. If you do that it is a good idea to use names and references that are clearly fictional.
Like I said earlier, if you want, send me a copy of the map before you send it to them. I'll be glad to take a look and give you some feedback.
Larry P
PS: As for getting away with not having a grid tie on the map, be aware that such a note does not mean you won't have to do the required ties. Most folks find it easier to just go ahead and make up a grid tie.
Now before anyone freaks out, one only makes up data on these sample maps to be submitted to the board. NEVER on a real map of a real project.