Council of Professional Surveyors (COPS)
For Membership Information, e-mail dbixby@acec.org
*To view COPS Publications, formatted in PDF, use your Acrobat Reader software or download Acrobat Reader 5.0
Machine Guidance Issues—Position Statement and Suggested Language for Plans and Contracts. Click here for document. The COPS Steering Committee encourages all ACEC member firms interested in this subject to review this document and offer feedback or comments to improve the language. Please send your comments to dbixby@acec.org.
San Jose Seminar Snags Savvy Surveyors
More than 50 ACEC members attended the "The Lay of the Land—A Look Ahead for Professional Surveyors," education session held on May 30-31, 2007 in San Jose, California. Co-sponsored by ACEC, the Council of Professional Surveyors (COPS) and CELSOC, the summit provided an important look at the present and future of land surveying. Paul Doherty, a national business management consultant, delivered a provocative keynote address that included perspectives on the downturn in the new home market. Doherty said he believes the new home market is just now beginning its downward slide and will not start to recover until the last quarter of 2009, which differs from other expert predictions of a recovery beginning in the last quarter of 2007. Lance Bishop, chief surveyor for the Bureau of Land Management in California, provided an overview of the Certified Federal Surveyor Program (CFeds). Other session topics included emerging technologies in surveying, electronic fieldbooks, and the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and surveying. A plenary session featured an expert panel discussing the issues associated with stakeless technology and GPS machine control guidance systems.
Mission Statement
To strengthen the business environment and image of member firms, focusing on quality professional surveying services in a competitive global marketplace.
Purpose
To provide business practice information to surveying firms and be an advocate within ACEC for the interests of surveying firms. To increase the profitability and management expertise of its members.
Field Notes
Click the following link to view the most current Field Notes: July 2007
Previous Issues:
Links
COPS Patrons List
- Adobe Associates, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA
- Allen Engineering, Inc., Cocoa Beach, FL
- Anderson - Perry & Associates, Inc., La Grande, OR
- CBC Surveys, Sacramento, CA
- Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., Rosemont, IL
- Cowhey Gudmundson Leder, Ltd, Itasca, IL
- C. T. Male Associates, P.C., Latham, NY
- Delamare-Fultz Engineering & Surveying, Modesto, CA
- EPS Group, Inc., Engineers, Planners & Surveyors, Mesa, AZ
- Hatch Mott MacDonald, Birmingham, AL
- Leroy Surveyors & Engineers, Puyallup, WA
- McKim & Creed, Wilmington, NC
- McTish, Kunkel and Associates, Allentown, PA
- PBS&J, Atlanta, GA
- RBF Consulting, Irvine, CA
- Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc., Overland Park, KS
- Sidney B. Bowne & Son LLP, Mineola, NY
- Vickrey & Associates, Inc., San Antonio, TX
- W & H Pacific, Inc., Bothell, WA
- Wilson & Company, Inc., Albuquerque, NM
- Wolverton & Associates, Inc., Duluth, GA
The Rules are Changing
Amid the myriad changes the information revolution is bringing us, most of the familiar (and most long outdated) standards and specifications for surveying and mapping are being superseded by the comprehensive set of Spatial Data Content Standards developed and published by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. Did you know that First Order geodetic control no longer exists, or that National Map Accuracy is no longer the standard for topographic maps? While the above statement is not entirely factual as these former guidelines are acceptable as references for data classification, the fact remains that the rules for classification of spatial data accuracy, consistency, and latency are governed by a new set of standards. To download the finalized and proposed publications, and to provide review and comment into the development process, go to http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/standards.html
Hot Web Site
COPS has identified a web site (www.topozone.com) that has every quad map in the United States. It is only screen resolution, but may provide you with a useful source.
Spend Money on Training
Government statistics show that the average spending for training and education across all industries is 1.2 percent of revenue. To improve the productivity of your firm, invest in developing your leaders and in training employees.
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