Surveys | Eric Colburn, PLS

What Is The Major Challenge Facing Professional Land Surveyors Today?

March 4, 2012 in Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

What Is The Major Challenge Facing Professional Land Surveyors Today?

The land surveying industry faces many challenges, not the least of which are due to the current financial end economic mess. But, is this the major challenge facing Professional Land Surveyors today?

Looking beyond the economic situation, it seems to me that our industry suffers in a leadership morass. If not a leadership morass, then the land surveying industry is at least suffering from a lack of a unifying vision and a lack of a unifying direction. Heck, the land surveying industry can’t even agree to who we are!

Are industry issues like workforce training/competency or public awareness of what land surveyors do the major challenges facing Professional Land Surveyors today?

Finally, with tongue firmly placed in cheek, is Pincushionitis what ails our industry most?

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Tags: Business, Challenge, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Facing, Geomatics, Industry, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Major, Major Challenge Facing Professional Land Surveyors, Poll, Professional, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Professional Land Surveyors, Survey, Surveying, Surveyor, Surveyors, Today, What is, What Is The Major Challenge Facing Professional Land Surveyors Today?
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by EricColburn

Linkedin Poll: In 2012, What Is Your Land Surveying Company’s Employment Outlook?

January 30, 2012 in Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Links, News, Professional Land Surveyor Practice, Social Media Networking, Surveys by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Linkedin Group

Today, I created a poll on Linkedin asking: In 2012, What Is Your Land Surveying Company’s Employment Outlook?

Share with our industry what you see the employment outlook is in 2012 for professional land surveyors. Following the links in this post, you’ll be directed to the poll on Linkedin, where you’ll find the following choices:

Hiring More Employees
Keeping Staffing Levels As Is
Reducing Staffing Levels

Follow this link now to vote on the »» In 2012, What Is Your Land Surveying Company’s Employment Outlook?

Tags: Business, Employment, Employment Outlook, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Land Surveying Company, Linkedin, News, Outlook, Poll, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Linkedin Group, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Survey, Surveying, Surveyor, Surveyors, Surveys
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by EricColburn

Video-Has The Land Surveying Industry Let You Down?

December 29, 2011 in Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Videos, Links, Surveys, Videos, Vlog by EricColburn

Video introducing online survey: Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Has The Land Surveying Industry Let You Down?

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Tags: Business, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Survey, Surveying, Surveyor, Surveyors, Video, Videos, Vlog, YouTube
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Has The Land Surveying Industry Let You Down?

December 26, 2011 in Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking:

Has The Land Surveying Industry Let You Down?

On several online land surveying forums I’ve found posts written by land surveyors discouraged with the state of our land surveying industry. Largely economy driven, or lack thereof, one theme commonly found is a sense of disappointment and being let down by the land surveying industry.

You can attend any surveyors gathering and hear the same laments. And, as noted above, industry workers discontent rises and falls with the economy, however, even in the best of times, you will still hear the same complaints.

Issues often raised, are (in no particular order):

Low Pay.
No Jobs.
Underemployment.
Lack of Career Advancement.
Dissatisfaction With Managers, Business Owners, and Leadership.
Lack of Training.

There certainly is justification for some of these complaints. What’s your opinion?

Take the Professional Land Surveyor Survey:

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Tags: Business, Down, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Geomatics, Industry, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Let, Poll, Professional, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Survey, Surveying, Surveyor, Surveyors, You
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by EricColburn

NCEES Seeks Professional Land Surveyors as Volunteers for Fundamentals of Surveying Examination (FS) Exam Content Review

September 13, 2011 in Business, Continuing Education, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Links, News, Professional Land Surveyor Practice, Surveys by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor News

NCEES is currently seeking professionals working in surveying to participate in a content review for the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. The results of this study will be used to update the test specifications for the exam.

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Tags: Business, Content, Council, Elect, Engineering, Exam, Examiners, FS, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Licensed, National, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, NCEES, News, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Review, Survey, Surveying, Surveyor, Surveyors, Tim Miller, Volunteers
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by EricColburn

Geo-Plus VisionPlus Voted 2011 Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors

August 15, 2011 in AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley, Business, Carlson, ESRI, Geo-Plus, Geomatics, Land Surveying, MicroSurvey, News, Surveying Software, Surveys, Topcon, Trimble by EricColburn

Geo-Plus, Providing Solutions for Land Management Professionals, Voted Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors for their Geo-Plus VisionPlus Land Surveying Software

Geo-Plus VisionPlus has been voted the 2011 Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors on EricColburn.com with an impressive 45% of the votes.

With over twenty-five entries in the Professional Land Surveyor Survey, the loyalty of Geo-Plus VisionPlus users is very impressive.

About Geo-Plus VisionPlus

“Geo-Plus VisionPlus is a Land Surveying Software designed by Land Surveyors for Land Surveyors. The 2011 version of Geo-Plus VisionPlus is the accomplishment of optimization of land surveying process that has started with the first edition in 1987. Its well-adapted features make this software a key to success. Geo-Plus VisionPlus is becoming the most trusted and reliable geomatics software running on AutoCAD®, Civil3D®, MicroStation®, PowerDraft®, Bricscad®. VisionPlus includes VisionCogo.”

Professional Land Surveyor Source: Geo-Plus

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

The 2011 Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors Survey Results:

What is the Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors?

Geo-Plus VisionPlus (45%, 25 Votes)
AutoCAD Civil 3D (15%, 8 Votes)
MicroSurvey Star*Net (9%, 5 Votes)
Carlson Survey (7%, 4 Votes)
Pythagoras (5%, 3 Votes)
AutoCAD Land Desktop (5%, 3 Votes)
MicroSurvey CAD (4%, 2 Votes)
Traverse PC Land Surveying Software (4%, 2 Votes)
Carlson SurvCE (4%, 2 Votes)
Bentley MicroStation (2%, 1 Votes)
Trimble Geomatics Office (2%, 1 Votes)
Ashtech Solutions (2%, 1 Votes)
Autodesk Softdesk® 8 Civil/Survey (2%, 1 Votes)
Garmin MapSource (0%, 0 Votes)
MapInfo (0%, 0 Votes)
ESRI ArcGIS (0%, 0 Votes)
Topcon TopSURV 8 (0%, 0 Votes)
Surpac (0%, 0 Votes)
Bentley InRoads Suite (0%, 0 Votes)
Survey Maker (0%, 0 Votes)
Autodesk CAiCE (0%, 0 Votes)
Topcon Tools (0%, 0 Votes)
12d Model (0%, 0 Votes)
BenchMark Survey System (0%, 0 Votes)
HP48s w/TDS or SMI software cards (0%, 0 Votes)
Army Corps of Engineers application (Corpscon) (0%, 0 Votes)
National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Toolkit applications (HTDP, VDatum, etc.) (0%, 0 Votes)
STK - Surveyors' Tool Kit (0%, 0 Votes)
MicroSurvey InCAD (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 55

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Tags: 2011, AutoCAD, Best, Bricscad, Business, Civil3D, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Geo-Plus, Geomatics, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Land Surveying Software, MicroStation, Poll, PowerDraft, Professional, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Results, Software, Survey, Surveying, Surveying Software, Surveyor, Surveyors, VisionCogo, VisionPlus, Voted
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-What is the Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors?

June 14, 2011 in AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley, Business, Carlson, ESRI, Geomatics, Land Surveying, MicroSurvey, Surveying Software, Surveys, Topcon, Trimble by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking:

What is the Best Surveying Software for Professional Land Surveyors?

Recently, at the Professional Land Surveyor LinkedIn Group I asked this very question, which received 18 comments from land surveyors revealing their ideas on what’s the best surveying software for professional land surveyors.

From their comments, I put together this list of surveying and surveying related software products to choose from.

Take the Professional Land Surveyor Survey:

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Tags: Best, Business, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Geomatics, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Land Surveying Software, Poll, Professional, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Software, Survey, Surveying, Surveying Software, Surveyor, Surveyors
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Are You a Geographic Information Surveyor (GIS)?

January 24, 2011 in Business, GIS, Land Surveying, Surveying Software, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking:

Are You a Geographic Information Surveyor (GIS)?

Too often we micro-define and minimize what it is that we do by defining our profession by what our job tasks are, by what our tools are, by our business processes, or by cultural and historical definitions (some defined by others). Then as times change with new technologies emerging, and we perceive that our profession is under attack, we often react (or not) based upon those misunderstandings.

However, if we step back from the Surveyor / GIS wars and add some perspective, haven’t surveyors been “doing” GIS all along?

Take the Professional Land Surveyor Survey:

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Tags: Business, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Geomatics, Geospatial, GIS, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Poll, Professional, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Survey, Surveyor, Surveyors
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Rate the 2011 ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey Standards

December 17, 2010 in Business, Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor Practice, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking for you to:

Rate the 2011 ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey Standards

Yesterday, I posted that NSPS and ALTA Boards Approve 2011 ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey Standards. In that post you can find a link to the new standards and download them from ALTA’s website.

I’m in the process of reading them myself. Maybe you’ve already done so. If you’re familiar with the new 2011 ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey Standards, what do you think of them?

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Tags: 2011, ACSM, ALTA, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, American Land Title Association, Business, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, National Society of Professional Surveyors, NSPS, Poll, Professional, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Rate, Standards, Survey, Surveyor, Surveyors, Title
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by EricColburn

Eliminate Either ACSM or NSPS, or Merge the Two, Which is Best?

November 16, 2010 in Business, Professional Land Surveyor Practice, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking for your opinion on:

Eliminate Either ACSM or NSPS, or Merge the Two, Which is Best?

A while back I wrote about, and also created the Professional Land surveyor Survey, Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Should the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Separate from the American Congress on Surveying & Mapping (ACSM)? This post and Professional Land Surveyor Survey is very similar, but I want to begin a larger discussion on our societies and professional organizations.

First, every society and organization, beginning at the state level and right up to the national level (and beyond), from what I’ve experienced and seen, are well intentioned and have many hard working individuals dedicated to promoting and advancing our land surveying profession. However, the road to hell, as they say, is paved with good intentions.

Read more after the jump and take the Professional Land Surveyor Survey:

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Tags: ACSM, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, Business, Eliminate, Eric D. Colburn PLS, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Merge, National Society of Professional Surveyors, National Voice, NSPS, Poll, Professional Land Surveying Survey, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Separate, Societies, Survey, Surveyors
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Business Conditions Survey for September 2010?

September 18, 2010 in Business, Land Surveying, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking for your assessment of:

Business Conditions Survey for September 2010?

Are you seeing any improvements in the business climate, no change at a all, or is the business climate worsening?

Please, after you take the survey, leave a comment telling us the general location of where you are, which could give us some insights into where things are looking up, or not.

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Tags: 2010, Business, Conditions, Economic, Economy, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, September, September 2010, Survey, Surveyor, Surveys
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-How Important Is Technology For Running Your Business?

August 10, 2010 in Business, Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor Practice, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking you:

How Important Is Technology For Running Your Business?

Yesterday, I wrote about 5 Winning Strategies To Running A Professional Land Surveying Business where I, in a nutshell, outlined five more or less old-fashioned common sense strategies behind running and operating a professional land surveying business.

Which got me to thinking:

I started to think about how important technology is to me, and to you, to the success of your land surveying business.

What do you think?

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Tags: Business, Important, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Running, Survey, Surveying, Surveyor, Surveys, Technology
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Business Conditions Survey for August 2010?

August 5, 2010 in Business, Land Surveying, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking for your assessment of:

Business Conditions Survey for August 2010?

Are you seeing any improvements in the business climate, no change at a all, or is the business climate worsening.

I’ll be posting an update to this Business Conditions Survey monthly, and hopefully we’ll see continual improvements in the future.

It would be very helpful, too, if after you take the survey you also leave a comment explaining your answer and tell us the general location of where you are, which could give us some insights into where things are looking up, or not.

What do you think?

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Tags: 2010, August, August 2010, Business, Conditions, Economic, Economy, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Survey, Surveyor, Surveys
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Does AutoCAD Civil 3D Require Too Much Setup?

July 28, 2010 in AutoCAD Civil 3D, Business, Land Surveying, Surveying Software, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking the question:

Does AutoCAD Civil 3D Require Too Much Setup?

I’ve been working on updating my existing AutoCAD Civil 3D templates and creating a few new ones, which got me to thinking about whether or not setting up AutoCAD Civil 3D for land surveying requires just too much setup.

Then, I was talking with a few other AutoCAD Civil 3D users about this topic that happened to be working on their templates and they had definitive answers to this question, to say the least.

Maybe this is just coming from the land surveying perspective, although much of AutoCAD Civil 3D functionality requires the setup of numerous settings, it just seems to me that the surveying side of the software and technology requires more. Maybe even too much!

What do you think?

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Tags: 3D, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk, Business, CAD, Civil, Design, Engineering, Land, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Business, Land Surveying Software, Professional, Professional Land Surveying, Professional Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor Source, Survey, Surveyor, Surveys, Technology
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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Survey-So, is it the Heat or the Humidity that’s worse?

July 20, 2010 in General, Land Surveying, Surveys by EricColburn

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking the question:

So, is it the Heat or the Humidity that’s worse?

With it being in the Dog Days of Summer here in the northern hemisphere I’ve been seeing a lot of weather related talk about the heat and humidity – hence this weeks Professional Land Surveyor Survey.

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