Eric D. Colburn, PLS

DUBUQUE, Iowa, April 20, 2010 – Eagle Point Software Corporation today announced it will offer compatible solutions to Autodesk’s AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 software for the building design, infrastructure, and construction industries.

“We are excited to be able to quickly support the AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 release in our portfolio of add-on products that include Pinnacle Series, Data Reduction, and Surveyors’ Companion,” explains Steve Biver, Civil Product Line Manager at Eagle Point. “These products take advantage of the new features of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011, such as 64-bit support. Our add-on products help ensure successful implementations and better use of Autodesk’s software, while giving our clients a competitive advantage.”

The Eagle Point Pinnacle Series^® add-on technology dramatically improves an organization’s ability to implement AutoCAD Civil 3D and adopt new Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows. Using links to execute the right commands, the surveying, grading, roadway design, pipe layout, and plan set preparation workflows guide users to complete work faster while consistently following the organization’s standards and best practices.

Data Reduction^™ utilizes direct links with several supported data collectors and data collector formats to download raw instrument and coordinate data. Whether the user is downloading directly from a collector or importing a file from a PC, Data Reduction places AutoCAD Civil 3D COGO points and automated linework into the drawing.

A set of tools that streamline the survey workflow, Surveyors’ Companion^™ leverages proven surveying technology to enable organizations to comfortably and productively move to AutoCAD Civil 3D software. Surveyors’ Companion interacts with native point, parcel, surface, alignment, and profile data.

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Professional Land Surveyor News

Yesterday, January 18, 2009, Reuters India reported from Beijing, China that over the past weekend China launched the third BeiDou (Big Dipper) or Compass satellite in an effort to build its own global satellite positioning (GPS) system. This latest satellite is part of  a proposed constellation of 35 Chinese GPS satellites to be in orbit by the year 2020.

China is competing in space with the United States and Russia, and in addition to these BeiDou or COMPASS satellites also has plans to land on the Moon in 2012. While this instills a great deal of national pride within China, and is increasing the prominence of China in the space arena, this initiative and the overall China space program has alarmed some western counterparts. Within the region, rival India, in response to China’s space ambitions, is now working to increase India’s space program.

As reported, the China BeiDou or COMPASS GPS network will provide the following services:

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United States Coast Guard

Coast Guard announces publication of notice of intention to terminate the Long Range Aids to Navigation (Loran-C) signal

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard’s Director of Prevention Policy announced Thursday publication in the Federal Register of plans to cease broadcasting the North American Loran-C signal Feb. 8.

As a result of technological advancements during the last 20 years and the emergence of the U.S. Global Positioning System, Loran-C is no longer required by the armed forces, the transportation sector or the nation’s security interests, and is used by only a small segment of the population.

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2010 budget supported the termination of outdated systems and specifically cited the terrestrial-based North American Loran-C system as such an example. The president did not seek funding for the Loran-C system in fiscal year 2010. Termination was also supported through the enactment of the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

The decision to terminate transmission of the Loran-C signal reflects the president’s pledge to eliminate unnecessary federal programs.

The Loran-C system was not established as, nor was it intended to be, a viable systemic backup for GPS. If a single, domestic national system to back up GPS is identified as being necessary, the Department of Homeland Security will complete an analysis of potential backups to GPS. The continued active operation of Loran-C is not necessary to advance this evaluation.

The notice may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2009-0299. for more information on terminations, reductions and savings contained in the fiscal year 2010 budget, including Loran-C, visit www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/TRS/.

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Professional Land Surveyor Source

United States Coast Guard

INDIANAPOLIS and CHARLOTTE, N.C. – (November 17, 2009) – The Schneider Corporation (http://www.schneidercorp.com), providers of creative engineering solutions for land, infrastructure and facilities projects that help increase revenue, lower costs and mitigate risk, announced that Michael S. Miller has joined its Charlotte, N.C. office as director of land surveying. Schneider’s Charlotte office services more than 170 clients in North Carolina and the mid-east region, including Carmel Contractors, City of Charlotte, Crosland, DR Horton Homes, Duke Energy and Shiel Sexton. Schneider’s work in the Charlotte office focuses on environmental, energy and infrastructure projects.

Miller is an experienced land surveyor. He has been involved in many well-known projects throughout the region, including site work construction staking for Concord Mills Mall, design survey for multiple projects at University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and design survey and construction survey for Piedmont Town Center and associated road improvements.

“Mike’s projects speak for themselves. He is a respected professional and will make a great addition to our Charlotte office,” said Scott Lawson, vice president of survey at The Schneider Corporation.

Miller joined Schneider from ESP Associates, Fort Mill, S.C., where he managed a staff of survey crews and technicians. As the department manager, he also was responsible for proposal generation, invoicing and managing project reports. He also spent several years as a professional land surveyor at Lucas Forman, Charlotte, N.C.

Miller serves as the vice president of the Mecklenburg Surveyors Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree in commercial design from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.

About The Schneider Corporation

The Schneider Corporation is a full-service national engineering firm, which applies professional expertise, sophisticated technology and unparalleled business practices to the areas of Engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Surveying. Customers include both private and public organizations in industries including energy, commercial, corporate, federal, state & local government, academic, and residential. Breadth of services includes geotechnical engineering, GIS, site development, architecture, environmental engineering, municipal engineering, transportation, landscape architecture, and construction management services. For more information about Schneider, please visit www.schneidercorp.com.

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Professional Land Surveyor Source

The Schneider Corporation

The Congress for New Urbanism philosophy is as follows:

Making Connections a Priority

Through grids of streets, transportation choices, and the siting of buildings along sidewalks, New Urbanism brings destinations within reach and allows for frequent encounters between citizens, in sharp contrast to sprawl (right). A key measure of connectivity is how accessible communities are to people with a range of physical abilities and financial resources.

Professional Land Surveyor Source: Congress for New Urbanism

I don’t want to give it away, but I bet you’ve either designed or laid-out one of these before. Watch the video and comment on what you think about it.