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USGS Photos Reveal Severity of Hurricane Sandy’s Coastal Impacts

November 13, 2012 in Associate Membership, Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Links, Members, News

Hurricane Sandy Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons - New Jersey

Hurricane Sandy Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons – New Jersey

Photos Reveal Severity of Hurricane Sandy’s Coastal Impacts

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The USGS has released a series of aerial photographs showing before-and-after images of Hurricane Sandy’s impacts on the Atlantic Coast.

The photos, part of a USGS assessment of coastal change from as far south as the Outer Banks of North Carolina to as far north as Massachusetts, show that the storm caused dramatic changes to portions of shoreline extending hundreds of miles. Pre- and post-storm images of the New Jersey and New York shoreline in particular tell a story of a coastal landscape that was considerably altered by the historic storm.

“Sandy taught us yet again that not all Cat-1 hurricanes are created equal: the superstorm’s enormous fetch over the Atlantic produced storm surge and wave erosion of historic proportions,” said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. “We have seized this opportunity to gather unique data on a major coastline-altering event.”

USGS Oblique aerial photographs of Long Branch, NJ

USGS Oblique aerial photographs of Long Branch, NJ

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Releases New Heights of Accuracy for World Topography

December 1, 2011 in Associate Membership, Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Links, News

USGS

USGS - Science for a Changing World

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) have collaborated in the development of a much improved global elevation model, the Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 (GMTED2010).

GMTED2010 replaces the widely used, 15-year-old GTOPO30 terrain model as the best available global digital elevation model.

Useful for regional-, continental-, and global-scale applications, GMTED2010 is derived from numerous higher quality elevation data sources that were unavailable at the time GTOPO30 was developed.  The new sources include near-global Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED®) from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM); Canadian elevation data; SPOT 5 Reference 3D data; data from NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat); and updated Antarctica and Greenland terrain models.

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Trimble Offers Custom Topographic, Aerial and Hybrid Map Prints

November 16, 2011 in Associate Membership, Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, News, Surveying Software, Trimble

Trimble Offers Custom Topographic, Aerial and Hybrid Map Prints

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Professional Land Surveyor Weekly Roundup September 18, 2011

September 18, 2011 in Associate Membership, Business, Business Videos, Carlson, General, Geomatics, Hemisphere GPS, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Equipment, Land Surveying Videos, Links, News, Surveying Software, Technology Videos, Trimble, Videos

WPA Plaque

Pictures from the Field - WPA Plaque

Professional Land Surveyor Weekly Roundup:

Professional Land Surveyor Archive - Last 3 weeks:

USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection Now Online

September 17, 2011 in Associate Membership, Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, Links, News

Examining Our Past: Historical Map Collection Now Online

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

Nearly 90,000 high resolution scans of the more than 200,000 historical USGS topographic maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available online. The Historical Topographic Map Collection includes published U.S. maps of all scales and editions, and are offered as a georeferenced digital download or as a scanned print from the USGS Store.

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ASPRS Encourages Adoption of the National Land Imaging Program

August 11, 2011 in Associate Membership, Business, Geomatics, Land Surveying, News, Remote Sensing

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News

ASPRS Encourages Adoption of the National Land Imaging Program

ASPRS is working actively to support establishment of the National Land Imaging Program (NLIP), a long-range operational moderate resolution imaging program.  For the past several years, ASPRS has strongly supported the NLIP strategy through continuing communication with the Administration and Congress, and fully endorses its immediate implementation.

It is important that all ASPRS members speak up on this issue.  Therefore, we are encouraging you as a member of ASPRS to contact your congressional representatives in order to inform and educate them on the need to assure the continuous long-term operation of the Nation’s moderate resolution land remote sensing satellites.

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Professional Land Surveyor News-U.S. Geological Survey Awarded JAVAD GNSS up to $3.9M Contract

August 18, 2010 in Associate Membership, Business, GNSS, GPS, Javad GNSS, Land Surveying, Land Surveying Equipment, News

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News-U.S. Geological Survey Awarded JAVAD GNSS up to $3.9M Contract

The Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, has awarded contract G10PC00160 resulting from competitive solicitation 10WRSS0010 to JAVAD GNSS, Inc. of San Jose, CA.

The contract is an Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity contract for various configurations of GPS/GNSS receivers and antennas with a five (5) year ordering period and a $3.9M ceiling.

Protested, Reopened, and Competitively Awarded Read the rest of this entry →

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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USGS Museum – Historical Artifacts and Equipment Related to the History of the U.S. Geological Survey.

February 20, 2010 in Associate Membership, Land Surveying, Links, Pictures

Just a few land surveying photographs and images from the USGS I thought were interesting. I hope you enjoy them, too.

Professional Land Surveyor Source

USGS

High Standard Alidade.

High Standard Alidade

Cast Bronze Benchmark

Cast Bronze Benchmark

Leather Boots The soles of made of heavy-duty rubber with metal studs

Leather Boots The soles of made of heavy-duty rubber with metal studs

Quintant Sextant or Lattice Sextant

Quintant Sextant or Lattice Sextant Read the rest of this entry →

Free U.S. Earth Imagery Sharpens Shared View of Global Challenges

November 23, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, Land Surveying, Links, News, Pictures

USGS Director McNutt a Leader in U.S. Delegation at International Conference

3D Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

3D Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

Free, easily accessible U.S. satellite data enables any citizen, scientist, or analyst who can use the information to contribute to a shared vision of the challenges facing our planet.

That’s the message the newly-appointed director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Dr. Marcia McNutt, plans to deliver when representatives of 80 governments and over 50 participating organizations convene at the international Group on Earth Observations (GEO-VI) meeting, November 16-17, in Washington, D.C.

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USGS CoreCast Podcast Series-EDMAP: Training the Next Generation of Geoscientists

September 14, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, GPS, Land Surveying, Links, News

PlayPlay

EDMAP: Training the Next Generation of Geoscientists

Geologic maps record the distribution of rock and soil materials at Earth’s surface and help decision makers identify and protect valuable resources, avoid risks from natural hazards, and make wise land use choices.

Randy Orndorff, Associate Program Coordinator for the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, talks about the grant for the academic component of the USGS NCGMP called EDMAP. He explains the importance of the EDMAP program, describes some of the benefits for involved university students and professors, and describes how to apply for the grant.

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Professional Land Surveyor News: USGS Offers $500,000 in Grants to Map the Nation

September 14, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, GPS, Land Surveying, News

Professional Land Surveyor News: USGS Offers $500,000 in Grants to Map the Nation

Professional Land Surveyor Source: USGS

Professional Land Surveyor Source: USGS

—Applications due Nov. 12, 2009—

The U.S. Geological Survey will award up to $500,000 in grants and cooperative agreements for universities to help produce geologic maps for the nation.

Interested professors can apply online to the EDMAP grant program under funding opportunity No. 10HQPA0004. Applications are due Nov. 12, 2009, at 3 p.m. ET

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Landsat 5 Fully Operational After Brief Interruption

September 9, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, GPS, Land Surveying, News

Professional Land Surveyor Source: USGS

Professional Land Surveyor Source: USGS

Landsat 5, the quarter-century-old satellite workhorse, is back in its traces.

When the historically reliable earth observation satellite began tumbling in space on the morning of August 13, engineers from the USGS Landsat Flight Operations Team immediately started processes to protect the satellite and to restore capability.

The spacecraft was stabilized quickly and recovery operations initiated. During the following two days, the sensor was not used and no data were collected.  By August 17, the systems were back in order and full capability was restored.

Landsat 5 continues to collect data. In fact, the one-millionth download of free Landsat data – the counting started after a policy of free downloads began in October 2008 – was a clear Landsat 5 image acquired August 17 of the Grand Canyon in the southwestern U.S.

The cause of the anomaly is still being investigated.

Further information about the Landsat program, including satellite status, can be found at http://landsat.usgs.gov.

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Professional Land Surveyor Source

USGS

Landsat 5 Satellite is Now Stabilized and the Cause is Being Investigated

August 18, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, Land Surveying, Links, News

Satellite is Now Stabilized and the Cause is Being Investigated

Landsat 5 - Professional Land Surveyor Source: NASA

Landsat 5 - Professional Land Surveyor Source: NASA

Landsat 5 tumbled out of control and power was at a critical level in the early morning of August 13.

The cause for this anomaly is currently unknown and being investigated.

The spacecraft has been stabilized after the USGS Landsat Flight Operations Team initiated recovery operations. Power is still at a critical level, and the extent of damage is yet to be determined. Imaging operations are suspended until further notice.

“Landsat 5 has proven to be a remarkable success and has given the science community important information on land features of the planet,” said USGS Landsat Program manager Kristi Kline. “It was launched in 1984 and designed to last 3 years with a possible extension to five years. Incredibly it is still a valuable resource and by early 2009, it had completed over 129,000 orbits and acquired over 700,000 individual scenes.”

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USGS Astrogeologists Contribute to “Moon in Google Earth”

July 24, 2009 in Associate Membership, Land Surveying, News

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Astrogeologists at the U.S. Geological Survey here provided critical data sets used in the latest release of planetary exploration tools from Google, Inc.  The updated software enables users to explore the moon in high detail, including the Apollo 11 landing site.

Google Inc. and NASA Ames Research Center consulted USGS scientists, cartographers, technicians, and programmers from the Astrogeology Science Center – experts with more than four decades of experience assembling planetary images – in preparing the new release. “Moon in Google Earth” provides easy access to lunar data for researchers and enthusiasts alike.

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Price for USGS Topo Maps Rises

March 17, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, Land Surveying, News

The price of the popular USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle map – often called a “topo” or a “quad” – will go up $2 per sheet to $8 beginning today March 16, 2009. Larger format (“poster”) maps will go up $3 per sheet to $10. These prices were last increased 7 years ago.

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MAPPS Identifies More Than $73 Billion in Potential Geospatial Spending in Stimulus Bill Analysis

February 24, 2009 in Associate Membership, Business, Land Surveying, News

RESTON, VA, February 23, 2009 – The economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law last week by President Obama includes more than $73 billion in programs that will require geospatial data, technology, services and applications in at least 24 Federal agencies, according to an analysis by MAPPS (www.mapps.org), the association of geospatial firms.

H.R. 1, the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” became Public Law 111-5 with President Barack Obama’s signature on Tuesday, February 17.

“Regardless of one’s views on the stimulus, we want to make sure MAPPS members optimize the opportunities the legislation provides to do business, keep and hire employees, and contribute to the Nation’s spatial data infrastructure,” said MAPPS Executive Director John Palatiello. “This analysis will help our members target their business development efforts by identifying the potential geospatial demand.”

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USGS Geography: The National Map

October 14, 2008 in Associate Membership, Land Surveying, Links

USGS Geography: The National Map.


Epcot Center in USGS The National Map
Screenshot of Epcot Center in USGS National Map


“The National Map, our online, interactive map service. You can view The National Mapby using your Web browser (no special software or download required). The National Map is a consistent framework for geographic knowledge needed by the Nation. It provides public access to high-quality, geospatial data and information from multiple partners to help support decision making by resource managers and the public. The National Mapis the product of a consortium of Federal, State, and local partners who provide geospatial data to enhance America’s ability to access, integrate, and apply geospatial data at global, national, and local scales. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is committed to meeting the Nation’s needs for current base geographic data and maps. Our vision is that, by working with partners, we will ensure that the Nation has access to current, accurate, and nationally consistent digital data and topographic maps derived from those data.”

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Department of the Interior/USGS
U.S. Geological Survey


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