It's strange ....
reading that article and not seeing Dave Doyle's name!
It's strange ....
I had the same reaction.
It's strange ....
yeah, ditto that. Wasn't there an article in one of our freebie mags about exactly that featuring Dave?
Interesting that they appear to have given up on the GPS approach. See http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/INFO/Washmon/description2.htm for a flyer on the 1999 survey.
I heard about this on the radio today. How many of you would be comfortable measureing the height of a 500' structure to 1/8 of an inch? I wouldn't.
It's strange ....
> I had the same reaction.
Dave Doyle probably did, too.
I'd do it. And besides - who's going to prove me wrong? And then we start arguing about datums, bench marks, instrument calibrations, etc. 🙂
I am surprised that they need access to it via scaffolding. I would think they could do trig shots to it from multiple locations around the base, or put a prism in the window at the top.
> I would think they could do trig shots to it from multiple locations around the base,
Too simple and easy, and that's just not how the government operates.
> I am surprised that they need access to it via scaffolding. I would think they could do trig shots to it from multiple locations around the base, or put a prism in the window at the top.
I was thinking the same thing, or perhaps even mount a prism to the top, but alas these things would make sense, and there is no time for that!o.O
> And besides - who's going to prove me wrong? And then we start arguing about datums, bench marks, instrument calibrations, etc. 🙂
[sarcasm]you mean besides the guy from Power squadron with his garmin rhino?[/sarcasm]
>
> [sarcasm]you mean besides the guy from Power squadron with his garmin rhino?[/sarcasm]
haha, sadly, they'd probably note the monument as lost.
I would pincushion that sucker with a half rebar and plastic cap.
[sarcasm]It would be okay as long as I document what I did.[/sarcasm]
WHY DO THEY HAVE TO SHOOT THE TOP
to determine if it's sinking? I'm with Ingram. Stick a permanent target in the side of it at ground level for criminy sake. When you factor in thermal expansion and contraction. If and when this thing decides to go, I doubt there will be much warning considering it's construction and geometry. How many of these guys does it take to screw in a light bulb?
I thought that's what they were doing, but I'm not too familiar with what's going on. I thought the scaffolding was to repair damage that occured during an earthquake.
Howdy,
Another station covered the event. The video is here: http://www.wjla.com/video/2013/11/washington-monument-height-measured-by-surveyors.html
NGS is taking advantage of the scaffolding and access to the top of the monument for this work. This is not a "one on" activity as there has been extensive work in the area including precise leveling to the points from which these observations are being made.
I understand that GPS observations are also being made atop the monument.
As anyone who has reviewed some of the height modernization power points on the NGS site, they will show bad results as well as good ones. They will not rely in double talk and attempts to confuse as some here propose.
> Howdy,
>
> Another station covered the event. The video is here: http://www.wjla.com/video/2013/11/washington-monument-height-measured-by-surveyors.html
>
> NGS is taking advantage of the scaffolding and access to the top of the monument for this work. This is not a "one on" activity as there has been extensive work in the area including precise leveling to the points from which these observations are being made.
>
> I understand that GPS observations are also being made atop the monument.
>
> As anyone who has reviewed some of the height modernization power points on the NGS site, they will show bad results as well as good ones. They will not rely in double talk and attempts to confuse as some here propose.
:good: :good: :good:
Exactly Mike, I would venture to say that Dru Smith knows WTF he's doing.