October 3, 2017 / Le 3 octobre 2017
Association News / Nouvelles des associations
PSC Quarterly report, October 2017
Professional Surveyors Canada staff and committees continue to represent you on multiple issues affecting your profession and the public across Canada. Pending legislation of S-229, legislative briefings, media matters, underground infrastructure mapping initiatives, are just some of issues we have been working on. Read more
La version française sera bientôt publiée sur notre site Web.
Dr. Jason Bond, a Nova Scotia Land Surveyor, receives the Premier’s Award of Excellence
For Developing Nova Scotia’s Coordinate Referencing Program
Nova Scotia Canada
In 2007, Dr. Bond received his PhD in Geodetic Engineering from the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Bond works with the N.S. Geographic Information Services, Department of Internal Services. Bruce MacQuarrie says “He was hired as the Coordinate Control Officer and he’s a leader in that position. He took it on and developed this system for the province and it’s amazing what he’s done.” The system lays the foundation for new technologies to emerge. It can be used for emergency response, earthquake detection and driverless vehicles.
Hugh MacKay educates the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly about Geomatics
Geomatics Association of Nova Scotia
Hugh MacKay, ( a recent past president of GANS) was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as MLA for Chester-St. Margaret’s in 2017.
Before becoming a MLA, Hugh was as a consultant in the geomatics sector, served as president of GANS in 2015-16, was the Executive Director East of GeoAlliance Canada and the Founder and Director of Doors Open Halifax.  Read more
In the Media / Dans les médias
After 200 years without land title, Nova Scotia black communities offered hope
Black Loyalists, Black Refugees were given land, but no title, in 1775 and 1812
CBC News | Nova Scotia
The empty lot in North Preston, N.S., has been in the hands of Elaine Cain's family for many years, a connection that stirs in her a sentimental bond with the piece of land.
But despite the fact her family has long paid property taxes on it, they have never held the deed.
On Wednesday, Cain welcomed as a "bright day" an announcement by the Nova Scotia government that it will provide funding to help people in five historically black communities gain legal ownership over land they've claimed as theirs for generations. Read more
La N.-É. aidera les résidents de 5 communautés noires à obtenir le titre de leur propriété
Radio Canada
Le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Écosse investit 2,7 M$ sur deux ans pour aider les résidents de cinq communautés noires à obtenir le titre de propriété de leur terre, transmise de génération en génération.  Lire plus
Legislation cutting unnecessary red tape targets land titles and surveyors
Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect
TORONTO — The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth has announced the introduction of the Cutting Unnecessary Red Tape Act, containing a package of amendments to more than 40 statutes that are designed to reduce unnecessary and burdensome regulatory processes.
The ministry worked with five partner ministries in developing the amendments. The changes were announced in a statement issued Sept. 14.
Developed by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, the Land Registration Reform Act will be amended to allow electronic registration of survey plans. Electronic submission and registration of plans will reduce the burden on land surveyors, the statement said. Read more
Mansfield Cemetery gets "feather in its hat"
Richland Source
MANSFIELD – After 172-years, the Mansfield Cemetery received its first historical recognition on Sunday, Sept. 17.
At 1 p.m., Iona Shawyer and other representatives of the John Mackintosh Chapter of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century presented the cemetery at 389 Altamont Ave, with a bronze plaque. It commemorates the establishment of a true meridian – or pair of stone markers used in surveying. Read more
'Annihilation' Trailer Is 'Prometheus' meets 'Ex Machina'
Inverse
A brave group of scientists will enter a mysterious world that refuses to obey the laws of science as we know it in Annihilation. Adapted and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, 28 Days Later…), Annihilation got its first official trailer on Wednesday and looks equal parts stunning, surreal, and disturbing.
Based on Jeff VanderMeer’s award-winning 2014 novel of the same name, Annihilation follows the story of a team of four women scientists (a biologist, a psychologist, an anthropologist, and a surveyor) who journey into a place only known as “Area X.” Read more
IHO seeks input on Standards for Hydrographic Surveys
Maritime Journal
Almost ten years have passed since the Monaco-based intergovernmental International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) adopted the current (5th) edition of its Special Publication No. 44, Standards for Hydrographic Surveys (S-44) in February 2008. Read more
Musqueam picks Polygon to begin work on massive residential development near UBC
The project, known as ‘Lelem,’ will be home to 2,500 residents
Vancouver Courier
The Musqueam Indian Band has chosen Polygon as the developer for the first phase of a massive residential development that will spread over more than 21 acres of its own land near the University of British Columbia.
The band announced Thursday that Polygon will work alongside the band’s economic development arm — the Musqueam Capital Corporation — which will oversee the project and be responsible for building roads, services and parks. Read more
Projet à Pierrefonds-Ouest: « un problème majeur d'acceptabilité sociale »
LaPresse
Un projet de la métropole prévoyant un important développement immobilier à Pierrefonds-Ouest se heurte à « un problème majeur d'acceptabilité sociale », conclut l'Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) dans un rapport qui risque d'alimenter la campagne électorale. Lire plus
For Hurricane Maria relief, infrastructure map lends Puerto Rico a hand
A new map provides the territory crowdsourced updates on dangerous conditions related to bridges, roads, mudslides, water and fuel.
StateScoop
Hurricane Harvey inundated Texas, Hurricane Irma tore through the Florida Keys and now Hurricane Maria has devastated the residents of Puerto Rico, leaving many for days without water, power or fuel.
As recovery efforts move forward on the island commonwealth, mapping company Esri has put its disaster response program to work by designing a digital tool for residents and emergency workers called the CrowdRescue Puerto Rico Infrastructure Map. Esri has volunteered its GIS expertise for Harvey and Irma, and with this new tool it wants to provide crowdsourced updates on Puerto Rico’s infrastructure.  Read more
Surveyors look for beach erosion on Sanibel after Irma
WINK News
The city of Sanibel hired a team of surveyors from the east coast to take beach erosion measurements after Hurricane Irma.
“They’re going to give us a profile from the dunes all the way down into beneath the water’s surface so we can see the slope of the beach, how it tapers out beneath the water’s surface and how far all the way out to half a mile from shore,” Sanibel Public Works Director Keith Williams said. Read more
Uncommon cartography
Tulane University
A recently digitized map from the 1876 Sanborn Fire Insurance Atlas housed at the Southeastern Architectural Archive at Tulane shows the layout of the neighborhoods from Louisiana Avenue to Canal Street and St. Charles to the Mississippi River. The volumes on hand at the archive are the earliest and only known copies for New Orleans in this era. Sanborn maps are valuable historical tools for anyone researching the history, growth and development of American cities, towns and neighborhoods.  View map photo
Il y a 175 ans, en Gaspésie, William Logan entreprenait l'exploration géologique du Canada
Radio Canada
Imaginez que vous relevez le défi de vous lancer à la découverte de la Gaspésie, un territoire qui vous est totalement inconnu. Vous êtes peu équipé, vous n'avez aucune carte. Vous devrez dormir à la belle étoile, sans protection contre les moustiques et manger ce que la nature voudra bien vous donner. Le feriez-vous? Sir William Edmond Logan l'a fait lui. Lire plus
PHOTOS: Henry David Thoreau, in longitude and latitude
Wicked Local Concord
The Surveyors Historical Society held its Surveyors Rendezvous 2017 over the course of three days with presentations, tours and events in and around Concord as well as the Boston area. One of the events was to place a “Final Point” marker at the grave of Henry David Thoreau, who, among his other activities, was a surveyor for a time.  Read more
What is an End-to-End Land Surveying Solution?
Commercial UAV News
The world of land surveying is changing. The introduction of new technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 3D modeling, and cloud-based data storage platforms have made it possible for surveys to be faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective. Read more
International News / Informations internationales
Fee-gouging fears over proposed land registry deal
The Age | Victoria
Fees for basic real estate transactions could skyrocket if the state government goes ahead with plans to lease the land titles registry, an expert has warned. Read more
Big carrots draw students into ageing surveying industry
Spatial Source
According to the Department of Employment, the State of NSW, Victoria’s metropolitan areas, and Brisbane are all facing skills shortages in the surveying sector. NSW has been facing a shortage since 2011, with fewer than half of vacancies being filled in the four months leading up to August 2017. Read more
Wide open road: Why are country streets the width they are?
News Curious Central West
While metropolitan motorists duck and weave through narrow city streets, visitors to central-west New South Wales often comment on the width of country roads.
In fact, the region is home to Trundle, a town with arguably Australia's widest main street.
"The joke was you could get kicked out of one pub for being drunk and you'd be sober by the time you crossed the road to the other pub," Trundle publican Danielle Ward said. Read more
Tech News / Nouvelles techno
This Flying, Rolling Drone Autonomously Maps Underground Mines
The Drive
Researchers at Swedish company Inkonova are developing a drone that can autonomously map underground mines.
This is a fairly big advancement, as drones traditionally require GPS signals to navigate—signals that don’t reach that far below the surface. Read more
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