Just to keep track of the suggested topics so far for an online Surveyors Handbook, here is what I've seen so far. They're divided into the general headings of the four verbs, Dig, Measure, Judge, and Preserve on the theory that ideally each aspect should be well developed and dividing the topics in this way will tend to show any areas needing more focus.
Obviously, some of these topic descriptions are deceptively brief and would require quite a bit of material to do justice to.
DIG
field guide to rebar types,
field guide to bearing trees,
use of historical declination data,
historic instruments and methods,
unusual words in survey narratives,
antique usage of survey terms,
circumstances of early surveyors' work,
finding aids for old survey records, including older road plans, private timber co. records, and railroad maps,
biographies of early surveyors,
typical growth rates of trees by species and locality,
types of barbed wire and fence construction details by period,
construction of working sketches,
discussion of fraudulent GLO surveys,
MEASURE
teqc RINEX editor cheatsheet,
least squares adjustments,
estimating standard errors of measurements,
compliance with ALTA/ACSM accuracy specs,
differences and conversions between NGVD29 and NAVD88,
combining GPS and conventional measurements,
various meanings of "North",
recording proper field notes,
the role of the Geospecial Professional,
field work for gradient boundary determination (Texas),
Tree identification,
Soil identification,
Rock classification and identification,
Using a bipod,
Overview of GPS methods (RTK, Static, multipath effects, post-processed solutions, common mistakes)
JUDGE
"bona fide rights" in context of govt. surveying,
comparison of right-of-entry and licensure statutes by state,
examples of real boundary problems,
survey contracts,
preparing evidence for trial,
real world of boundary survey problems,
survey-related summaries of landmark cases such as Zanger v. Diehl,
the gradient boundary (Texas),
Tideland issues,
Riparian boundaries (by state),
Apportionment of accreted land,
PRESERVE
writing modern metes and bounds descriptions
modern monumentation practices
styles of survey maps (including North arrows)
written communications,
PLSS corner records (the good, the bad, and the ugly),
Kent, excellent compilation (so far).
BTW....was this a typo?....the role of the Geospecial Professional
for your consideration
GEOSPECIOUS PROFESSIONAL
> BTW....was this a typo?....the role of the Geospecial Professional
Well, I originally saw it as "Geospatial" Professional and assumed that had to be a typo. I mean what are the other options? Would they include "Astrospatial Professional"? I suppose it would get you into a Star Trek convention, but what else could you do with it?
If a person thought the Earth was flat, the "spatial" bit might be a bit overstated. So, in the case of the Flat Earther, "Geodeflational Professional" would have been what was originally meant.
The other context that seemed even more likely was that the term applies to a salesperson/promoter of GIS software. We know what big markups there are on that stuff, but "Geopalatial Professional" was the main possibility there.
After mulling things over, I had to go with the obvious explanation. "Geospatial" is just a misspelling of "Geospecial."
🙂
Well...I look forward to anymore input others have to offer for the compilation. I think this would be a great thread to continue until a complete hand book could be compiled.
> Well...I look forward to anymore input others have to offer for the compilation. I think this would be a great thread to continue until a complete hand book could be compiled.
I want to get those surveyors with knowledge to share thinking about what they can contribute. The next part of the exercise is getting some of it published to the web so that it can continue to take shape.
Let us also consider the "geomagician".
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> Let us also consider the "geomagician".
Yes, "geospecial" simply cannot be allowed to crowd out the established practices of the geomagician. :>
A Land Surveyor with a BS/Geology is known as a Geological Surveyor.
I'm just sayin'.
That is a pretty good start. I suggest the most concentration be given to the DIG category in the early phases of this project. It has several items that are not discussed in the typical survey class or seminar.
Unfortunately you cannot read the post that you are replying to at this time so if you mentioned techniques for recovering ancient evidence then that should also be addressed. I'm speaking about the rotted wood stakes and how to scrape and identify this often crucial evidence when doing a search and resurvey. This applies to stones and other original corners.
As to the Geospatial then I'll be glad to offer up tidbits for those that are now being required to submit their data in a geodatabase format. Not really how to become a GIS person but more in how to provide the information that is becoming more and more prevalent in many contracts.
Deral
Adjusting. checking and calibrating field equipment.
maybe this goes under 'dig' :
chain of title research requirements, plats, deeds, parol evidence, etc.
kent, are you really going to write something about these? or are you just getting our synapses crackling? i am willing to help write something, if i can help.
In the lake states, this has been a reliable resource as far as bearing trees are concerned.
http://www.nevadasurveyor.com/bearing_trees/
Speaking of the "dig" category....has hole digger shown up on beer leg? He would certainly be an expert in that chapter I would assume.
Public domain material
> In the lake states, this has been a reliable resource as far as bearing trees are concerned.
That bearing tree page that Daryl Moistner has put together is an excellent example of what I for one would like to see in an online Surveyor's Handbook. BTW it reminds me that there probably is other material in the public domain that could be retrieved and augmented with links as was done in Daryl's.
> A Land Surveyor with a BS/Geology is known as a Geological Surveyor.
In California, is a Land Surveyor with a BS in Astronomy an Astrological Surveyor or just an Astronomical Surveyor?
ok, kent. let's get to it. who writes what?
who compiles?
as the great Mills Lane used to say, "LET'S GET IT ON, FIGHT!"
> are you really going to write something about these?
Sure, it will be a work in progress, but I'm planning to write up some topics that I'd like to see presented.
Slander of title and unwritten rights
Don't forget Curtis Brown's 1979 talk about landowner's legal rights and the pitfall for surveyor who disregard them.
"In my early writings, I generally advocated that surveyors should locate land boundaries in accordance with a written deed; all conveyances based upon unwritten rights should be referred to attorneys for resolution. Within recent years there have been cases, and one in particular, wherein surveyors have been held liable for failure to react to a change in ownership created by prolonged possession. The purpose of this paper is to re-examine what a surveyor should do in the event title has been altered by a legal transfer of title by prolonged possession."
Also see Lucas's article on Slander of Title where he points out a CA surveyor who staked a deed and the appelate court's remark that the survey was a 'bogus survey'.
Ignorance of pertinent laws is no excuse.
Richard Schaut
Great idea Kent.