Potential out-of-state client wants an ALTA survey of a parcel - no work is to be performed from 10 A.M. to 11 P.M., a minimum of 150 digital photos of the site are to be taken, ALL underground utilities are to be located, they will "complete" our drawing and return to us to be sealed. And of course there is a long typical Lender's Certification required. It's snowing for the next week here... and they want it by noon tomorrow. Anyone interested?
I wouldn't take that job if I had two months in which to get it done. Nobody else is going to "complete" my drawing for me.
Some years ago we were asked to quote a topo survey for the alley at the Oklahoma City Federal Reserve Bank...where they back the armored trucks into the building for loading and unloading. (There is a bullet-proof "pill-box" visible from the street.) The RFP said that at times the area where the work was to be performed would not be available; the dates and times of the unavailability could not be disclosed. All personnel within the perimeter would be accompanied by a guard. The availability and schedule of guards could not be disclosed. All personnel within the perimeter were subject to search and any hand tools were subject to confiscation. The actual dimensions of the "perimeter" could not be disclosed.
So basically they wanted to know, "how much to do it all with absolutely nothing?" Although I was game, the boss at the time declined to quote the job. A shame, I would've had a good time.
I would do the field work only.
Never would I sign a plat drawn by another company.
In house work only......
Snow on the ground, not gonna happen at all.
paden cash, post: 351704, member: 20 wrote: Some years ago we were asked to quote a topo survey for the alley at the Oklahoma City Federal Reserve Bank...where they back the armored trucks into the building for loading and unloading. (There is a bullet-proof "pill-box" visible from the street.) The RFP said that at times the area where the work was to be performed would not be available; the dates and times of the unavailability could not be disclosed. All personnel within the perimeter would be accompanied by a guard. The availability and schedule of guards could not be disclosed. All personnel within the perimeter were subject to search and any hand tools were subject to confiscation. The actual dimensions of the "perimeter" could not be disclosed.
So basically they wanted to know, "how much to do it all with absolutely nothing?" Although I was game, the boss at the time declined to quote the job. A shame, I would've had a good time.
You just don't go very close to the vehicle doors at the Dallas Federal Reserve. If you want to find out how close is too close, I'll leave that to you. I do see guards armed with what look to be automatic weapons there from time to time. Didn't get close enough to see what it was.
Jim in AZ, post: 351697, member: 249 wrote: Potential out-of-state client wants an ALTA survey of a parcel - no work is to be performed from 10 A.M. to 11 P.M., a minimum of 150 digital photos of the site are to be taken, ALL underground utilities are to be located, they will "complete" our drawing and return to us to be sealed. And of course there is a long typical Lender's Certification required. It's snowing for the next week here... and they want it by noon tomorrow. Anyone interested?
Lol, that is funny
Andy Nold, post: 351810, member: 7 wrote: If you want to find out how close is too close, I'll leave that to you.
"I think a good gift for the president would be a chocolate revolver. And since he is so busy, you'd probably have to run up to him real quick and give it to him." -Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts
Jim in AZ, post: 351697, member: 249 wrote: Potential out-of-state client wants an ALTA survey of a parcel - no work is to be performed from 10 A.M. to 11 P.M., a minimum of 150 digital photos of the site are to be taken, ALL underground utilities are to be located, they will "complete" our drawing and return to us to be sealed. And of course there is a long typical Lender's Certification required. It's snowing for the next week here... and they want it by noon tomorrow. Anyone interested?
I never get funny calls like this!! some people have all the luck!
I've done some work within the air operations area of PDX Airport in the middle of the night. Had to be that way because we couldn't stop takeoffs and landings. Automatic targeting makes it work.
I've done work on the train tracks in King Street Station in downtown Seattle, just outside the old Kingdome. Whenever a train was due to pass through within 20 minutes we had to clear the tracks. And stay off until 20 minutes after it passed. An escort with the train company stayed with us for the whole week.
That sort of work just has to be done T&M.
Norman Oklahoma, post: 351859, member: 9981 wrote: I've done some work within the air operations area of PDX Airport in the middle of the night. Had to be that way because we couldn't stop takeoffs and landings. Automatic targeting makes it work.
I've done work on the train tracks in King Street Station in downtown Seattle, just outside the old Kingdome. Whenever a train was due to pass through within 20 minutes we had to clear the tracks. And stay off until 20 minutes after it passed. An escort with the train company stayed with us for the whole week.
That sort of work just has to be done T&M.
I understand the early clearing. For all the size and noise a train can sneak up on you. The 20 minutes after it passes is a bit strange....
thebionicman, post: 351861, member: 8136 wrote: I understand the early clearing. For all the size and noise a train can sneak up on you. The 20 minutes after it passes is a bit strange....
If you live and/or work around tracks, the sound of approaching trains becomes less important in the subconscious. I love trains, but having seen a person get hit (and killed) by a train that was only going 35 MPH, I have a lot of respect (and fear) for them.
I think the 20 minute delay after the train passes has to do with FRA regulations.
thebionicman, post: 351861, member: 8136 wrote: I understand the early clearing. For all the size and noise a train can sneak up on you. The 20 minutes after it passes is a bit strange....
We were in the station, traffic was directed by a "control tower". Trains would call in on approach, and controllers would notify our escort by radio. We would watch the train go by, but had to wait for the all clear from control before returning to work. We got paid for it, so we did it. But definitely not an efficient way to work. Safe? Sure. That's important. Common sense? Not so much. Do what they want, follow their rules, get paid for it. It's the union way.
thebionicman, post: 351861, member: 8136 wrote: I understand the early clearing. For all the size and noise a train can sneak up on you. The 20 minutes after it passes is a bit strange....
A train with welded rail on concrete ties is surprisingly quite. On a downhill straightaway, you best be looking.
Was doing some DOT work over in Plant City, Fl. Was setup on tracks, the ding ding ding started to go off, told I-man to get off the setup...he laughed and said I see the engine headlight miles down the track....long story short, I grabbed the instrument as fast as I could without a second to spare....those amtrac's move awfully fast.....
When I was working for PG&E one summer (as a student job that paid me WAY too much), the PC got the bright idea to set two of our traverse points right in the middle of the tracks. We were out in the sticks and he thought we wouldn't get much train traffic, if any.
We had to clear off of those tracks every 30 minutes.
We also learned that you don't pull a steel chain across the tracks because apparently that triggers a sensor that indicates a rail car is on the tracks in that particular section. We had a visit from someone from the rail company asking if we had seen anything across the tracks because they got a few intermittent signals and were afraid that there was a failure in their circuits.
rberry5886, post: 352000, member: 232 wrote: Was doing some DOT work over in Plant City, Fl. Was setup on tracks, the ding ding ding started to go off, told I-man to get off the setup...he laughed and said I see the engine headlight miles down the track....long story short, I grabbed the instrument as fast as I could without a second to spare....those amtrac's move awfully fast.....
Charlie Tucker would not like to hear that!!
The only way to get to some parts of the county is to walk down the RR a few miles or else tread water from ankle dept to very deep.
I don't do jobs there any more because I can not afford to get caught on a trestle and have to make a run for the other end when a train arrives.
A Harris, post: 352025, member: 81 wrote: The only way to get to some parts of the county is to walk down the RR a few miles or else tread water from ankle dept to very deep.
I don't do jobs there any more because I can not afford to get caught on a trestle and have to make a run for the other end when a train arrives.
Sounds like a movie I saw once...
Jim in AZ, post: 352009, member: 249 wrote: Charlie Tucker would not like to hear that!!
Who is Charlie Tucker?
rberry5886, post: 352093, member: 232 wrote: Who is Charlie Tucker?
The biggest railroad nerd/land surveyor you'll ever meet.
