Eric D. Colburn, PLS

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News: NOAA Releases Real-Time RTK Guidelines

This is a press release published by NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) with important information for professional land surveyors who are using Real-Time GNSS positioning.

NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) recently announced the approval and release of a document titled “National Geodetic Survey User Guidelines for Single Base Real-Time GNSS Positioning.” The guidelines provide definitive criteria to achieve various specific tiers of precision, with high confidence, using global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Due to the plethora of variables associated with Real-Time GNSS positioning (RT), a consistent Read the rest of this entry →

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket lifts off with the NASA/NOAA GOES-P from Space Launch Complex-37 at 6:57 p.m. EST. High resolution (Credit: The Boeing Company)

Here’s a news article from earlier this month that I missed, but thought was interesting. Besides, the picture of the rocket taking off is pretty cool, too!

Newest NOAA Geostationary Satellite Reaches Orbit

GOES-P has improved severe weather, solar storm detection capabilities

March 4, 2010

NOAA and NASA officials announced a new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), launched tonight, successfully reached its initial orbit, joining four other GOES spacecraft that help NOAA forecasters track life-threatening weather and solar activity.

The new satellite, GOES-P, lifted off at 6:57 pm EST from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and separated from the launch vehicle at11:18 pm EST. The first signal from the satellite was captured at the same time.

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Professional Land Surveyor News

FEMA and NOAA Renew Partnership to Encourage Flood Safety

March 15, 2010

As one of the snowiest winter seasons in many years yields to warmer weather and the promise of rain and snowmelt, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s FloodSmart Campaign and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that they are again working together during Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 15-19) to raise awareness of the dangers associated with flooding and steps to protect against damage. Year in and year out, floods are the most common, costly and deadly severe weather related disaster in the U.S. NOAA will announce this year’s official spring flood outlook on March 16, and an unusually wet and snowy winter in many communities will likely increase the potential for spring flood events. Both agencies urge that important measures can–and should–be taken now to ensure safety and financial security, including obtaining flood insurance.

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Use of Synthetic Aperture Sonar Results in Significant Project Cost Reduction

SUNNYVALE, California, July 10, 2009 – Applied Signal Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: APSG) (AST), a market leader in advanced underwater imaging systems as well as other intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance systems, today announced that it had recently assisted C & C Technologies, Inc., using its PROSAS™ Surveyor synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) system to survey the integrity of seven pipeline structures in the Gulf of Mexico for a major oil company. Specifically, AST was tasked to evaluate the critical positioning of mattresses that are used to protect exposed pipelines from marine traffic, tidal scour, and storm impact and to determine whether structural repairs were required. C & C Technologies, Inc.  is a privately-owned international surveying and mapping company specializing in deepwater services.

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