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Video of Height Modernization Survey of Missouri Ceremony at the MO State Fair

September 3, 2010 in Associate Membership, GPS, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Videos, Links, News, Videos

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon using a global positioning system data collector

The same instant Gov. Jay Nixon pushed the button on a global positioning system data collector, surveyors across the state started their Global Positioning System receivers to collect critical elevation data. Gov. Nixon is flanked by Darrell Pratte, state land surveyor and Land Survey Program Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources (left); and Mark N. Templeton, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Here’s a video and some links about the Height Modernization Survey of Missouri.

From portions of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Press Release (see link below):

“ROLLA, MO, AUG. 27, 2010 – Professional land surveyors representing private firms from across the state contributed approximately $150,000 of professional services to the citizens of Missouri when they joined state and federal colleagues to begin the state’s Height Modernization Survey.”

and,

“Staff with the department’s Geology and Land Survey Division’s Land Survey program will evaluate, verify and process the data and enter it into the national database.

Mark N. Templeton, MoDNR Director expressed appreciation for all involved saying, “Without the generous donation of time, staff and equipment provided by private land surveyors, surveying equipment companies, and the work of the various government agencies this project would not have been possible in the foreseeable future.”

Prior to introducing Gov. Nixon as the probably the only Governor in the nation to kick off a Height Modernization Survey, Juliana Blackwell, National Geodetic Survey Director, Silver Spring, Md., expressed appreciation for the department, MSPS and the federal and state partners, saying, “From a federal perspective, it is impossible for the National Geodetic Survey, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to do this type of work at the local, state level ourselves. So, having the partnerships from federal, state and local, to get engaged and to make this really work is something I am very proud of.  I am proud of everyone here who has been able to contribute some aspect to this survey and look forward to seeing the results,  Having it used for floodplain mapping, all mapping and surveying throughout the state as well as being able to monitor and assess levees and dams which is very critical in the state.”

Ralph Riggs, MSPS President who represents approximately 1,000 members thanked the many partners who donated their time and equipment to this project. Riggs is also Howell County Surveyor.”

Video of Height Modernization Survey of Missouri Ceremony at the MO State Fair Read the rest of this entry →

Professional Land Surveyor News: Topcon DL-500 Digital Level Series With First ‘Wave-and-Read’ Technology

April 24, 2010 in Associate Membership, Business, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Equipment, News, Topcon

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News: Topcon DL-500 Digital Level Series With First ‘Wave-and-Read’ Technology

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) announced this week that they’ve released their new DL-500 digital levels series, which uses digital ‘Wave-and-Read’ Technology for the very first time. Of course we’ve had optical ‘Wave-and-Read’ technology for eons – it’s called an instrument person looking through the level while reading the rod and having the rod person “rock” the rod slowly towards and then away from the instrument to obtain the lowest, and accurate, reading. Much along these same time-honored lines, where the rod reading becomes the minimum value when vertically, the DL-500 tracks the waved rod and automatically reads the least value.

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China and Nepal Agree to Disagree on Height of Mount Everest

April 15, 2010 in Associate Membership, General, GPS, Land Surveying, Links, News

Everest NASA

Mt. Everest from Space. Photo Credit: NASA

China and Nepal Agree to Disagree on Height of Mount Everest

I came across an interesting article at the end of last week about how China and Nepal agreed to disagree on the exact height of Mount Everest. The Nepalese and Chinese governments negotiated last week to solve the 150 year old question, but in the end could not come to a unified conclusion regarding the height of the world’s highest peak.  The crux of the disagreement, apparently, is an age old problem to professional land surveyors, cartographers and governments alike – Where is here? Or more seriously, what defines the top of a mountain?

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Global Climate Change: Sea Level Viewer

January 30, 2009 in Associate Membership, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Videos, Links, Videos

sea-level-viewerNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology video showing how satellites can measure sea surface height.

The NASA video identifies sea level changes associated with a recent view (June 2008), Large El Niño (November 1997), Hurricane Katrina (August 2005), Indian Ocean Tsunami (December 2004) and La Niña (February 1999).

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