For the past 10+ years I have been migrating towards going paperless for all of my survey drawings such as ALTA's, Boundary Surveys, Plats, Right of Way Plans and so forth.
I have digitally signed PDF's that I keep a copy of along with cloud storage for all of my signed drawings and legal descriptions.
For many years I have been a lone pioneer with going paperless and was wondering if the paperless trend is being adopted by other professionals.
This year I have been writing eBooks on "Surveying Mathematics Made Simple" that contains my 35+ years of experience that I am making available to anyone who is interested. This is another addition to me going paperless. All of the survey methods and techniques at my finger tips on my iPhone and iPad.
Modern technology is such a cool tool which I embrace whenever I can.
I don't do much field work anymore, mostly all office work and I am so envious of the younger field guys/gals with the new survey gadgets that are available to them. I tease my field crews of how easy they have it compared to how I used to have to do it many years ago. They do a lot more in a day with the new gadgets than I did back then so I guess it's a wash.
For anyone that might be interested in the eBooks take a look at them at http://www.cc4w.net/ . They are very affordable and can be downloaded to a Kindle and Free Kindle Apps.
Jim Crume P.L.S., M.S., CFedS
I love technology and the ability to transfer documents at the speed of light and carry my company's entire catalogue of work for the last thirty years on a device smaller than the field book I used to use is amazing. Perhaps it's paranoia, but I wonder what would happen if the lights suddenly went out. Clearly surveying would be unimportant for a few months, but we've been around since the beginning of man. I think demand for surveying would return, but all of those electrons meticulously aligned containing the bits and bytes that compose our records would be gone. But paper just might remain. I guess I'm saying I'm not quite ready to go completely paperless. Mostly paperless, but not completely.
I send digital documents that are color scans of originals that are signed, crimped, and red rubbed to clients and also are kept as digital files in house.
An original print is kept in office file.
An original print is delivered to the Title Company and others as needed (5 are made deliverable s).
Would appreciate opinions.......
I used to do PDF scans of hard copies. When digital signatures were approved for use by the AZBTR, I started creating pdf's straight from CAD and Word then I digitally sign the PDF. I then email the PDF to my clients and they can print out as many copies as they need. Realtors will then record the printouts as needed with their paperwork. Most digitally signed pdf's can be recorded online.
The quality of digitally signed PDF's are sharp and crisp versus scanned images of hard copies. PDF's that are created straight from CAD and Word canned be zoomed in on and they stay sharp and readable. Scanned PDF's if hard copies are a raster format and hard to read when zoomed in on.
I have an article coming out in October issue of Professional Surveyor Magazine on using Digital Signatures on Professional Documents should you be interested in using this paperless tool.
Paperless. There will be a day..............
> I send digital documents that are color scans of originals that are signed, crimped, and red rubbed to clients and also are kept as digital files in house.
>
> An original print is kept in office file.
>
> An original print is delivered to the Title Company and others as needed (5 are made deliverable s).
>
> Would appreciate opinions.......
Sounds like good practice to me. The general idea is that there should be some assurance that the document came from a licensed surveyor, and with the attendant assurances as to reliability and quality. I think a scan of the signed and sealed hardcopy deliverable accomplishes that. It's understood that in this digital age a determined forger could generate multiple variations on whatever documents you produce, variations that would be good enough to fool most knowledgeable people.
So, transmitting scan with follow-up of essentially identical hard copy is as good as it is likely to get as long as anyone with access to a scanner and Photoshop could create all sorts of novel variations on your map.
I would add that everything computer is "hackable" (from FOBs for cars so I've heard to well, everything) which is one reason some folks like hard copies.
And I suspect there will always be people who do not have the latest and greatest in technology, nor do they want it regardless of how cool it is.
> I would add that everything computer is "hackable" (from FOBs for cars so I've heard to well, everything) which is one reason some folks like hard copies.
Note though, that what A. Harris described was scanning a map with an *impression seal* on it that had been highlighted in red. In other words, there is inherent security in supplying digital copies that produce prints that obviously aren't originals.
Glad you highlighted that part. Another component might be "is it worth hacking". I suspect there would be less demand for hacked surveying information than a car or going after a "big evil corporation".
Im with you on going paperless. Although my plans still have to go out as paper, I do not generate a paper file anymore. For research, I get plans as pdf and I bring my laptop to the registry and do all my research in word. I hold the records for 10 different out of business or deceased surveyors. My office and my 24 x 28 garage are busting at the seams with records. Going total digital is the only practical way for me to continue my work.
That brings up another topic of altered documents and forgery. I will create a new post.
Interesting topic! I'm in Florida, where our maps require a "raised seal". I haven't heard if an electronic signature satisfies that requirement.
On the paperless issue, I guess I would be on board for a paperless office, but I can't imagine not actually PRINTING and signing my survey maps. I'm not that old, but I guess I'm Old School.
Andy.