If there were an online survey reference handbook, what sort of topics would you personally like to see covered?
Aside from a quickie guide to the teqc commands that surveyors commonly will want to use, my own favorites would probably be examples of boundary determination problems actually encountered in the real world (as opposed to the darkened hotel ballrooms where so many survey problems are delivered, neatly packaged), with examples covering a wide range of periods and places.
A deceptively simple topic like a field guide to re-bar types would probably be nice as would a field guide to the marks of bearing trees of various ages and species.
I'm interested in the subject of writing modern metes and bounds descriptions and modern monumentation practices, urban, suburban, rural, and wilderness, from rain forest to beachfront to desert.
Use of historical magnetic declination data in boundary retracement work is another topic that interests me, a fairly rich topic that includes historic observations, patterns of magnetic variation, and magnetic models.
Likewise, historic instruments and methods would be interesting, as would historic field note forms used by land surveyors.
North Arrows, etc,
Naturally, we all know that the quality of any map depends upon the decorative value of the North Arrow (or North,South,East,and West Arrows), so good examples would be highly beneficial, I have no doubt. In fact, examples of the graphical presentation of different types of survey information (i.e. ways of representing it on a map) would probably be a rich series of entries.
Measurement techniques and estimation of uncertainty
I can see methods for evaluating survey measurement processes as being a worthwhile topic. As more surveyors use least squares survey adjustments, the problem of getting realistic estimates of the standard errors of target centering, instrument centering, and of distance and angle measurement using different available techniques would be useful.
North Arrows, etc,
Measurement techniques and estimation of uncertainty
Maybe items like junior corners bending senior lines?
How about Bona Fide Rights?
Just a couple.
Keith
Measurement techniques and estimation of uncertainty
Or are you thinking only of measurement techniques?
Measurement techniques and estimation of uncertainty
> Maybe items like junior corners bending senior lines?
Yes, but that would probably fall into the category of "Strange Customs".
Measurement techniques and estimation of uncertainty
> Or are you thinking only of measurement techniques?
Well, the phrase "survey measurement processes" actually refers to the processes by which survey measurements are made. I know, it's hard to imagine, but it does. :>
Bona fide rights
> How about Bona Fide Rights?
Actually, bona fide rights in the context it was used in the 1973 and earlier manuals would be a good topic, something to clear away all the smoke and restore the original meaning of the phrase.
Who is the intended audience? Aspiring and practicing surveyors? Laymen? Real estate agents?
We should be able to compile a list of useful topics by recalling the questions that were frequently asked on the defunct surveying board. On that basis, here are the first few topics that come to mind:
1. Demonstration of compliance with the ALTA accuracy standards.
2. Differences and conversions between NGVD29 and NAVD88.
3. Integrating GPS and conventional measurements.
4. Comparisons between different states' laws regarding things like right-of-entry and licensure requirements.
5. North.
- Doug
I guess I could say that all those measurement techniques are very good for technicians.
Maybe the other legal issues could be discussed by land surveyors?
Just a thought or two.
Keith
> Who is the intended audience? Aspiring and practicing surveyors? Laymen? Real estate agents?
>
> We should be able to compile a list of useful topics by recalling the questions that were frequently asked on the defunct surveying board. On that basis, here are the first few topics that come to mind:
>
> 1. Demonstration of compliance with the ALTA accuracy standards.
>
> 2. Differences and conversions between NGVD29 and NAVD88.
>
> 3. Integrating GPS and conventional measurements.
>
> 4. Comparisons between different states' laws regarding things like right-of-entry and licensure requirements.
>
> 5. North.
I was thinking a Survey Reference Handbook for both aspiring and practicing surveyors, but in an online format that could be revised and or extended as necessary (and with links).
All five of the topics you mention would be interesting and worthy of treatment. Some states like Texas have adopted formal accuracy standards that are fundamentally similar to the ALTA accuracy standards, it that trend continues that topic would expand.
Those all sound great.
I always enjoy when I come across words in survey narratives that I haven't deciphered before. Any curious words that describe field techniques, bearing tree species, etc. I can't think of any specific examples right now, but along the lines of slang and regional names that may no longer be commonly used). I think a surveying "slang" dictionary would be a very useful tool, especially to those like myself that are relatively new to the profession (10 yrs).
I think it would also be good to know about the historical business practices for frontier surveyors (think county surveyors and the like, say 1880s-1940s). Scheduling of work, how survey research was done, lodging while performing the work, hiring of the field crew, etc.
I would also like to see some real boundary problems where every shred of evidence one recovers tends to point in different directions. Record monuments, monuments of questionable reputation and location, ancient stone walls, ancient fences, recent fences, fences of convenience, testimony, etc.
Anything that can get us thinking in that original surveyor's mindset is a huge help.
> I guess I could say that all those measurement techniques are very good for technicians.
>
> Maybe the other legal issues could be discussed by land surveyors?
Well, we could put your idea that land surveyors don't need to know how to make professional-quality measurements into some alternate definition of land surveying that is not recognized by any of the states. :>
Keith,
I considered adding some legal issues but unfortunately those kinds of questions, when raised on the old board, were very situation-specific.
What did you have in mind for legal topics?
- Doug
> I always enjoy when I come across words in survey narratives that I haven't deciphered before. Any curious words that describe field techniques, bearing tree species, etc.
That would be a great topic, and one that is continually expanded, probably. I read about some surveyor thinking from a deed description that a corner was marked with a "musket" by a 19th century predecessor and how he has spent some time looking for the musket before he snapped that a common 19th century spelling of mesquite (in Texas) was "muskeet". Naturally, a good bit of it would be specific to a region or time period.
Thinking on larger scales...
If this is going to be a long-term project with widespread geographic participation, maybe we could begin a map/database of the location/availability of old surveying records.
Not just the address of the county courthouses or clerk's offices, but also things like where the local NPS mapping information is held, or the where the old railroad plats now reside, or the older highway ROW plans, or private timber company records, or water authority, etc.
- Doug
> If this is going to be a long-term project with widespread geographic participation, maybe we could begin a map/database of the location/availability of old surveying records.
> Not just the address of the county courthouses or clerk's offices, but also things like where the local NPS mapping information is held, or the where the old railroad plats now reside, or the older highway ROW plans, or private timber company records, or water authority, etc.
That's a very good idea, both a finding aid and a description of what's available, who to contact, and how to go about getting the information. I'd guess that all of the railroad valuation maps in the NARA holdings would fall under a similar discussion of how to identify, how to hire a contractor to get copies, etc.
Surveyor biographies would be a good topic, with information as to whereabouts of records, if known.
Dig, Measure, Judge, Preserve
BTW to put a general outline on the whole handbook, I'm going to guess that those four verbs, Dig, Measure, Judge, and Preserve make a rough division of virtually all surveying knowledge. I'm also thinking that they offer a way to keeping a rough estimate of how the handbook topics contribute toward the whole picture, i.e. that there should be ample material in each subdivision.
Famous statement
I am trying to come up with the statement about accurately measuring the line in the wrong position, but can't do it.
Help!
