Working on a design survey covering several sections, everything along the route has been divided up by aliquot parts and every single description for Public Use Easements is Book and Page referencing one aliquot part line or another. Fun jig saw puzzle to piece together, except when I run across one done about ten years ago by a local engineering firm that relies on an exhibit A type drawing to describe the public use easements secured for the local government for a road realignment using our tax dollars. There is absolutely zero reference to what control they used since that information would be proprietary. I contact the engineering firm to ask about control used and they refer me to the local government Capitol Projects people who turns out haven't got a clue what I'm talking about, finally telling me they have nothing, leaving me with few options but having to do a section breakdown to delineate the easements on the ground, paid for with my property taxes. I finally got the engineering firm to share their data with me, but I feel strongly that the information should be a part of the exhibit and description to begin with since it was paid for with public funds and I shouldn't have to grovel for it. In this instance there is a hodge-podge of bogus corners out there that serve no other purpose than to aid me in getting it wrong. Had they done a Record of Survey my work would have been so much easier, but that might affect their bottom line or open them to scrutiny and we just can't have that.
There. I feel better. Carry on!
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
For several years I ran the survey department of a medium sized engineering company. The vast majority of our work was for local governments. I always thought that if tax dollars paid for it then the survey data was public information. I supplied plot sheets, coordinates, level notes, etc. to those that needed them. Then we were purchased by a large national firm and I was told in no uncertain terms that ALL release of survey data had to be approved by the legal department. I stayed on for a little while, but our ideas of the way to survey varied way too much.
Andy
I would cut and paste your rant onto your record of survey using the offending firms name. Send them an advance copy for their files. I've done this and it gave me great satisfaction.
Government agency or not, surveys should be recorded. We "Monument" the corners for cripes sake to show the world where the boundary is. The Survey Plant (or record of survey or whatever it's called) should also be public record to "monument" the location. The whole idea of sharing the data will more likely get other surveyors to agree with your position.
Daniel Ralph, post: 401759, member: 8817 wrote: I would cut and paste your rant onto your record of survey using the offending firms name. Send them an advance copy for their files. I've done this and it gave me great satisfaction.
As very tempting as that sounds I'm afraid it will do little to garner their future cooperation. The problem is with indifferent local government mooks that allow them to get away with holding the keys to unlocking publicly financed data. I know many surveyors who record as little as possible feeling that they are giving away their competitive advantage in business. Speaks volumes to their priorities.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
So there's a bit of a twist to this story. The engineering company was gracious enough to share their data with me. I can see why they wouldn't publish the control because they took a few shortcuts. Whatever, I'm not in competition with them and I was asked to take a vow to not share of disclose the data to anyone else for any other purposes. In comparing their survey data with my own it didn't take long to find a 10' bust in their open end traverse. I have to assume they didn't use any GPS cross ties on their traverse or it would have been glaringly obvious that they had a bust somewhere.
Should I tell them or just let sleeping dogs lie.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Williwaw, we should talk sometime. Too much to type my story.
N
Williwaw, post: 402845, member: 7066 wrote: Should I tell them or just let sleeping dogs lie.
Tell them...
You can lead a slacker to their problem; but you can't make them fix it...
Just what until Angel sees that photo. I can hear that whip crackin' already.
Williwaw, post: 402845, member: 7066 wrote: The engineering company was gracious enough to share their data with me.
I used my ESP on that one for you as well. You're welcome :p