AOLS Members Staff Booth at TTREB Realtor Quest Show to Educate and Inform
Webinar: How to Meet Photogrammetric Accuracy Standards
May 25, 2023
Webinar: Navigating the Healthcare System as You Age
May 31, 2023
Webinar: Introduction to the Locus Charter for GIS Projects, Programs, and Professionals
June 6, 2023
Call for New Council Members
Want to give back to the profession? Learn leadership skills or expand your network? Think you have valuable knowledge or experience to share?
The AOLS needs you!
We are looking for volunteers interested in serving on Council. If you’re interested, please fill out the self-assessment form at the link below. Your response will be kept on file and considered for future opportunities as they become available.
Council focuses on strategic planning, policy-making, and high-level oversight of the organization. Serving on it is a noble, challenging, and fulfilling experience. But don't just take our word for it – hear what past Council members have to say.
“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.” – Travis Hartwick, Past President
“A great opportunity for me to serve the membership as well as the Association.” – Colin Bogue, former councillor
“My, what an experience. It’s been a good experience. Challenging at times, but always very rewarding.” – Russ Hogan, Past President
On Saturday, May 13, members and articling surveyors from the AOLS took part in Science Rendezvous Kingston. The day was a huge success, with over 5,300 attendees and 51 exhibitors participating.
This year's theme was CREATE. The AOLS showcased, through a variety of stations, the science of surveying and the role surveyors play to create survey control networks, hydrographic and photogrammetric mapping products, evidence of boundaries, engineering and legal plans of survey, data models, mosaics, and maps to support Ontario’s development and economy.
The kids were excited to touch and operate a surveyors’ modern reflectorless total station/“telescope” and controller to measure hands-free between points.
The Augmented Reality Sandbox was a hit with the kids and taught geographic, geologic, and hydrologic concepts, including how to read a topography map, the meaning of contour lines, watersheds, and catchment areas.
Our AOLS table featured the Get Kids into Survey characters Geo and Geeps, the AOLS-sponsored Transport poster and resources available to parents, teachers, and students through the AOLS promotional page, along with historical maps of Kingston, copies of Ontario’s first road map, and the ever-popular 3D photo pairs, where kids could see parts of Kingston in 3D.
For those who could not attend in person, a variety of STEM@HOME activity pages are online, including the AOLS Activity page for students to explore a virtual world.
– Michael Matthews, OLS
AOLS Members Staff Booth at TTREB Realtor Quest Show to Educate and Inform
AOLS has been an exhibitor at the TRREB Realtor Quest show for several years. When the Association first participated, members who staffed the booth were often confronted by delegates who had a poor understanding of land surveying and regarded surveyors with disdain.
Times have changed. This year’s event attracted more than 10,000, with Trevor Noah as a speaker. Delegates were seeking information about details that only an Ontario Land Surveyor could provide. Most people who spent time at the AOLS booth were informed about the role of land surveyors in real property transactions and defining/setting boundaries. They asked a variety of questions, but common, as you would expect was, “How much?” Most who asked about boundary issues understood the value of an up-to-date survey. Surveyors spoke with around 250 people and distributed some 500 brochures that describe what surveyors do.
Bob Pearson was present throughout the show, as was Grant Lee. Attending at various times over the two days were Annie Fernandes, Yifan Zhang, and Shane Shajeeshane. AOLS is grateful for the time donated to the event by these surveyors. Their knowledge shared with delegates added significant value to the AOLS exhibit.
TRREB Realtor Quest is Canada’s largest real estate conference and trade show. Started in 2007, it attracts delegates from North America and around the world.
– Grant Lee, CPM | Associate Member, AOLS
Webinar: How to Meet Photogrammetric Accuracy Standards
What is an accuracy standard?
How does new technology affect accuracy standards?
How is a well-accepted standard such as ASPRS defined?
How are mapping deliverables validated against a standard?
Answers to these questions and more!
When: Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 1 p.m. EDT
Where: Online
Speakers: Eric Andelin, Senior Workflow Specialist at SimActive and Bill Johnson, CP, CMS at DAS Geospatial
Webinar: Navigating the Healthcare System as You Age
Have you or someone you know ever had challenges navigating the healthcare system? Have you ever left a doctors appointment not really being clear on what is happening in your health situation? Do you or someone you know have aging parents and are worried that they aren’t getting the best possible care? If, so this session is for you.
When: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 4 p.m. EDT
Where: Online
Speaker: Paige Lennox, BSN, RN
CHAI’s Founder and CEO, Paige Lennox, served as a Registered Nurse for 25 years, working with patients and families in acute critical care, addictions, and end-of-life care. Her professional and personal experience enables her to bridge the gap between the medical community and the patient. She knows the system from both the patient and healthcare practitioner perspectives and uses that knowledge to ensure that patients and their families have the information and support they need to make healthcare choices that are right for their unique situation.
The recording will be sent to all registrants, so feel free to sign up even if you are unable to attend the live session.
Webinar: Introduction to the Locus Charter for GIS Projects, Programs, and Professionals
When: June 6, 2023 at 12 p.m. EDT
Where: Online
Speaker: Greg Babinski is a GIS management consultant and founder of GIS Management Consulting Services LLC, located in the greater Seattle area.
This workshop introduces the Locus Charter developed by EthicalGEO and the Benchmark Initiative. In early 2023 URISA (USA) joined many other organizations in endorsing the Locus Charter. The GIS Code of Ethics obligates GIS professionals to standards of practice related to society as a whole and to individuals within society. Since the GIS Code of Ethics was published, there has been an explosion of data available for GIS organizations and geospatial professionals. The potential for harm to society and individuals in society has resulted in far-reaching proposals for regulation in many countries.
URISA (USA) members and GISPs may not be aware that they are obligated to actively abide by the GIS Code of Ethics. This workshop introduces how the principles outlined in the Locus Charter can be used to formulate ethical data collection, stewardship, and analysis practices and use cases. The workshop advocates for companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profits to join the Locus Charter Community.
Hopefully GIS professionals will advocate for the adoption of the Locus Charter, not just for GIS, but for the entire body of corporate data within their organization.
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