Hi members of surveyorconnect,
My name is Jim Schuchert (shookert) and I just rejoined after several years away. A little bio: Born and reared in southern Texas (Victoria) where I worked one summer as a chainman for the city's survey crew. That gave me an introduction to the profession. Attended Junior college and received an associate degree, then the Navy as a radarman aboard a destroyer. After the navy I ended up in Idaho Falls, Idaho where I worked as a draftsman and on a survey crew for the city plus part time for Coon and King Engineers. Moved to Salt Lake for same company for which I remained 24 years. It later became Coon, King and Knowlton. Surveyor's license in 1965 in Utah (later also licensed in Idaho and Arizona). After the company was merged with DMJM engineers and architects (Los Angeles) in about 1982, I acquired the surveying part of the new firm with my share of the proceeds as a stockholder and started over. The merged firm then hired me to do the surveying when needed which was often so that worked out well for everybody. My new company used my last name and we did pretty well because of the great empoyees we brought with us and subsequently hired. We used the Wang computer and their proprietary and expensive software so, out of necessity, I developed our own cogo program in Dos because Windows was still on Microsoft's drawing board and PCs were just getting going. We even had to use tape on small reels to transfer files. We named the new program QuickCogo because of the speed with which it performed everyday survey calculations and got the jobs done. My guys talked me into making the program available for others so we began selling it via direct mail with floppy disks (remember those?) This was before the internet. To make a long story short, the software became a staple for our company and after I retired the first time in 1995, I took the software and continued its sale. Maybe you noticed it over the years. At 87 and after a couple of interim retirements, I am still doing it although I can't compete with the sophistication of other cogo software. Carlson has no need to lose any sleep. That brings me to today. Originally I used my website QuickCogo.com to sell it but when I took a 3 year break, someone else bought that name so I now use QuickCogo.net. I have also added 2 android versions for phones and tablets. I can't yet afford SEO services so my website is home made. Anyway, I invite you or anyone you know who might be interested in inexpensive cogo to visit the website to learn more. It will be free for surveying or civil engineering students through a bonafide learning institution. A free evaluation is also available for download at the site. I would welcome your questions and candid comments, good or bad. Thank you for your time.
Jim
Welcome.
Had to edit this post because I hit SAVE button too fast.?ÿ I'm always looking for simple cogo packages that my crews can understand and use with NCEES approved calculators.?ÿ I'll visit your web site to see if there is anything I can get my head around.?ÿ Thanks.
At 87 and after a couple of interim retirements, I am still doing it although I can't compete with the sophistication of other cogo software.
I think it's wonderful that you've put your invaluable experience into this software! You can tell immediately when software was written by an experienced surveyor. An example of this was evident in the SMI COGO card. When traversing a curve, if the calculated forward tangent didn't match the plat forward tangent you could adjust the former by using the FTAN key. You don't have to compete with the sophistication of other COGO software. Many of us prefer simplicity over sophistication. I don't need fifty lines of data output, nor do I want to set a bunch of parameters in order to accomplish a simple task.
I like it!?ÿ ?ÿThanks for staying involved with surveying and sharing your great?ÿ work!
I've been exchanging emails with Jim for a few days now. He's the real deal and I love that he's still offering this software.
Would this software work on a Windows 10 tablet?
@chris-bouffard I would say no but I don't have one so am not positive.It's probably proprietary and needs special development software. Good question though.
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The website says "Compatible with Windows XP through Windows 10".
Therefore it will work on a Windows 10 tablet. You may want to use a wireless keyboard, rather than the virtual keyboard.
@leegreen I'm looking into outfitting my crews with tablets, not for data collection, more for the ease of transfering files and PDFs to and from the field and would love for the crews to have a basic cogo package of them to do simple stuff like calculate search points.
I'm going to have to buy the program and test it on my personal tablet to see if it will be beneficial to them.
?ÿ
@chris-bouffard You won't have to buy the program to see if it will do the job for you. Send me a personal email and I will send you the android version apk for whichever size tablet you have.?ÿ You can pay for it only if it works for you.?ÿ
Jim
If you are talking windows 10 tablets, then use the evaluation at the website to check it out.
I love seeing experienced surveyors contributing to the field.?ÿ You're in good company:
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Please, never lose your thirst for sharing and helping others.?ÿ It is a blessing for all involved.
How about an iPad version ?????
FYI, I used COGO in the 1970s running cards in on an IBM 360/370. ?ÿStill have some of the printouts. ?ÿI'm a retired CPA, not a surveyor, just looking for a used TStation for our farm and forest. ?ÿBut I am all Mac so Windozzzzz is an anathema ?ÿ????¨ to me. ?ÿAnd, yes, I do get mad at Apple on a daily basis for things they do, do not, or do poorly.
I wish you had posted a few years ago when I still supported iOS and had a version for an IPAD.?ÿ If you had android, I think I could help you but now the closest I can get is Microsoft's "Surface" tablet which accommodates windows programs. I have one and it is great. I admire you for stepping out of your professional field once in a while.?ÿ If I find anything you might be interested in I will post again but after "googling" there doesn't seem to be a lot out there.
I??ve reviewed your site and I must say I will have to give it a shot. Thank You Sir.
What a surprise to see Jim still at it!! Jim hired me as a temp to fill in while his employees went out on the deer hunt when I first moved to Salt Lake back in '82.?ÿ I worked for him for the week then transferred to a full-time spot with another firm.
When we started the land surveying program at Salt Lake Community College, Jim generously donated a copy of his QuickCogo program to each of my land survey mathematics students.?ÿ It was just the ticket we needed to let the up-and-comer students get a hands-on feel for cogo calculations.?ÿ?ÿ
Thanks for hanging in there with your continued support of the profession, Jim!
Excellent post!?ÿ ?ÿI think I may have used your software when I started surveying in the early 90's.?ÿ ?ÿheck, I might buy a copy just for fun!?ÿ?ÿ
Running since 2008.
