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by EricColburn

Professional Land Surveyor Product Review of EcoStakes

April 7, 2009 in 4 RODS, Associate Membership, Berntsen, Business, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Equipment, Product Reviews, Rated As

What value would you give to your survey monuments if they could provide longevity, be easily found and are environmentally friendly, too? One solution that provides all of these benefits is the EcoStake, available exclusively from Berntsen.

Berntsen was kind enough to provide me with a small sample of the EcoStake in the different sizes, markings and colored tops to try out. I was interested in seeing if the EcoStake made a good survey control point, being easy to set yet solid, and be easy to relocate. The fact that the EcoStake is a product made from recycled plastics and is a “green” product appealed to me, also.EcoStake with Orange TopEcoStake with Pink Top

EcoStake Facts:

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by EricColburn

Staying Small Successfully: A Guide for Architects, Engineers, and Design Professionals

April 3, 2009 in 4 RODS, Associate Membership, Book Reviews, Books, Business, Land Surveying, Rated As

Staying Small Successfully: A Guide for Architects, Engineers, and Design Professionals (Hardcover)

eCampus.com Affiliate Link

“Many architects, landscape architects, and interior designers are self-employed or are partners in small firms. These professionals must understand the management, administrative, and planning skills that are critical to the success of a design firm–and apply them to a small business profile. The revision of this best-selling book addresses the latest changes that affect the successful management and growth of small firms.” Professional Land Surveyor Source: eCampus.com

This is a book that you have to read. It is one of the best books I’ve read that is specifically written for Architects, Engineers and Design Professionals: Professional Land Surveyors included.

I stumbled across this book shopping for business books at a major bookstore, not believing that something so related to our industry has even been written. It was well worth the price and in reading this book I improved my business, business skills and business outlook.

I rate this book 4 RODS out of a total possible 4 RODS.

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by EricColburn

Book Review: Mastering AutoCad Civil 3D

June 30, 2008 in 4 RODS, Associate Membership, AutoCAD, Book Reviews, Land Surveying, Rated As, Surveying Software

Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 is a must read if you are using, or plan to implement, AutoCAD Civil 3D. I bought this book last year and I refer to it all the time.

Written by Dana Probert, E.I.T., James Wedding, P.E., along with Mark Scacco, P.E., and Jason Hickey, this book gives comprehensive information, tricks and tips, and is suitable to be read in its entirety, or chapter by chapter as necessary. The accompanying CD includes tutorial files and third-party utilities and plug-ins. I used Q-Legal for AutoDesk Civil 3D, on the accompanying CD, and liked the way it took AutoCAD Civil 3D parcel data and transferred and formatted a legal description.

I didn’t always use the tutorial files provided, instead mostly using real data and land surveying projects from my land surveying business, but I recommend them to anyone trying to learn to use AutoCAD Civil 3D, as they are setup for each tutorial eliminating any issues you may encounter and think its your data (although you learn a lot this way).

I rate this book 4 RODS out of a total possible 4 RODS.

 

 

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by EricColburn

My Rating System

June 29, 2008 in Associate Membership, Rated As

I will be reviewing books, software and equipment and I will use the following, land surveying related, rating system I’ve created:

1 ROD  = Not recommended.

2 RODS = Recommended with reservations.

3 RODS = Recommended.

4 RODS = Highly recommended.

For those unfamiliar with land surveying, rods are a unit of measurement from ancient times still used today in old deeds, surveys and government land grants.

1 Rod equals 16.5 feet and 4 rods equal 66 feet, or 1 chain.

Click on this link, Wikipedia-definition of Rod Length, for more information about rods and chains used for land surveying measurements.

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