e-NEWS APRIL 2022
IN THIS ISSUE...
  • A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
  • MARCH 2022 NGS GPS ON BENCHMARKS
  • NGS RELEASES NEW VERSION: NCAT 2.1
  • SERVICE TO SURVEY 
  • 2022 WOMEN SURVEYORS SUMMIT
  • NCEES PAKS STUDY FOR PS EXAM
  • FIG FOUNDATION YOUNG SURVEYORS GRANTS
  • GPSonBMs UPDATE
  • IN THE NEWS
The Western Regional Survey Conference in Las Vegas was a wonderful return to a sense of normalcy. In keeping with its theme, “Mapping the Path for the Next Generation," a great number of young surveyors and those preparing for the exam were in attendance. Surveyors from many states contributed to the ‘mapping’ effort.

The auctions – live and silent - were a tremendous benefit for the upcoming generation in the form of providing scholarship opportunities as well as exposure to the older tools of the trade.

Moving forward, there is potential for CLSA to join forces with not just regional, but a national coalition, as the result of the proposal to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Society of Professional Surveyors.

This issue has been under consideration for some time by CLSA. There has been much discussion both pro and con with respect to the benefits and concerns of an association our size and its proper influence on a national level.

That is for the membership and the Directors to decide, but it is a matter of some importance. It is vital, however, to keep in mind that the current proposal is for a year to year agreement, which allows for continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of CLSA’s membership.

Warren D. Smith, LS
President, CLSA
MARCH 2022 NGS GPS ON BENCHMARKS
Click here to read the March 2022 GPS on Bench Marks Update, written to provide a steady drumbeat of encouragement from the NGS GPSonBM team to our crowd-sourced data collection partners across the country.
PUBLICATIONS
2022 publications are now in stock and shipping from the CLSA Store.

  • 2022 PE Act and PLS Act with Board Rules
  • 2022 Complete Package with DVD
  • 2022
  • Subdivision Map Act & Index
ARTICLE & PHOTO SUBMISSIONS FOR CALIFORNIA SURVEYOR MAGAZINE
Do you have a photo from your field work that would make a great magazine cover? Do you have an idea for an article or have you written an article that you'd like us to consider including in the next issue? Please send your submissions and ideas to California Surveyor Editor, Joseph Waltz.
NSPS - STOLEN EQUIPMENT REGISTRY

Reminder - NSPS provides a registry of stolen equipment. 
Offers a $.07 per page discount and will automatically donate $.10 per page to CLSA when members download courthouse documents through this website. These instruments include Deeds, Easements, Rights-of-Way, Releases, Liens, etc.
NGS RELEASES NEW VERSION: NCAT 2.1
The NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool is a one-stop solution for coordinate conversion and transformation. NCAT revamps and modernizes the Geodetic Toolkit. It allows users to easily convert between different coordinate systems and/or transform between different reference frames and/or datums, in a single step. NCAT incorporates the capabilities of many NGS computer programs, which originally were stand-alone products, such as VERTCON and NADCON.
SERVICE TO SURVEY
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CLSA is developing a program to help military service-people transition to civilian sector land surveying careers. The subcommittee would like to receive photos, videos or testimonials from land surveyors who transitioned from military service to land surveying.

The team is also seeking CLSA members who are willing to mentor military personnel and provide them guidance to a successful future. If you are able to help with either of these requests, please email info@californiasurveyors.org.
2022 WOMEN SURVEYORS SUMMIT
The Women Surveyors Summit is back and in person for 2022! This year the 3rd annual summit will be held in Williamsburg, VA. The Summit is scheduled for July 28-31, 2022.

The Women Surveyors Summit, hosted by Future Surveyors Foundation is held to support and promote diversity in the land surveying profession. This is a "for women, by women" event and will include opportunities for continuing education. Networking, a panel discussion, and a seminar with breakouts are scheduled. Group tours and social activities are planned in the afternoon and evenings. More details will be posted in the next couple of weeks.

Registration is open! Visit the Future Surveyors Foundation website for more information.

The foundation is looking for donations to support the event, the Future Surveyors Foundation and future online events. If you would like to be a sponsor, CLICK HERE, the foundation has 4 different levels to choose from. The Future Surveyors Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation, and your sponsorship donation may be tax deductible. Thank you to those who have previously sponsored the summit, our success with the summit is directly linked to your contributions.
NCEES PAKS STUDY FOR PS EXAM
NCEES is currently seeking licensed professional surveyors and mapping scientists to participate in a professional activities and knowledge study, or PAKS, for the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam. The results of this study will be used to update the specifications for the exam, which is used throughout the United States for licensing purposes.

The questionnaire can be completed in 35–45 minutes. CLICK HERE to access the online questionnaire before the May 30, 2022 deadline.
FIG FOUNDATION YOUNG SURVEYORS GRANTS
Grants are available to attend this year's FIG Congress in Warsaw. Grants cover all costs to attend, including transportation, accommodations, meals, registration fees, Gala dinner and per diem allowance.

Deadline is April 30, 2022
BPELSG WINTER 2022 BULLETIN
The Winter 2022 edition of the Board Bulletin is now available.

Featuring:
  • A message from the Board President
  • Legislative Changes to the Professional Engineers Act, the Geologist and Geophysicist Act, and the Professional Land Surveyors’ Act
  • Get to know our licensees

In every Issue:
  • Executive Officer’s Report
  • Board Members
  • Outreach Events
  • In Memoriam
  • Enforcement Actions
  • Contact Us
  • Board Calendar
OFFICE DEPOT DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Save up to 60% on your office supplies. Click on the Office Depot Logo to begin utilizing the CLSA-Office Depot Discount Program. If you do not know your username and password, or for more information, contact the CLSA Central Office.
The CLSA Education Foundation was established in 1993 and is committed to supporting land surveying students and programs. Last year over $50,000 in scholarship aid was provided to land surveying students. 
 
Donating to the Education Foundation is easy! Click HERE to donate via credit card.

Thank you to everyone who clicks through to Amazon through the CLSA's Education Foundation Amazon Smile account! If you're not doing so already, please shop on Amazon with this link.
GPSonBMs UPDATE
By Steven J. Martin, PLS 7264
Galen Scott, NGS GPSonBM Team Lead in his March GPS on Benchmarks update, gave a shout out to Philip Melcher and our article in the March issue of xyHt magazine.

“I am pleased to report the release of another great article in xyHt, this time by California GPSonBM evangelist Steven J. Martin. Steven’s article “Citizen Geodesist: A GPS on Bench Marks Odyssey” features an interview with Philip Melcher of Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group in Visalia, California, who has submitted more than 650 GPSonBM observations over the past few years. Philip provides an excellent social, historical, and technical context for his GPSonBM enthusiasm and his love of surveying. In addition, the article provides practical guidance on how to go about getting into the GPSonBM game. Here’s a big shout out to these two California surveyors who are both going above and beyond to help us all prepare for the Modernized NSRS to come, thanks fellas!”
Recognizing Philip’s job well done is a pleasure and a breath of fresh air. There is still much to be done in California and Philip's example should inspire all of us. Several other organizations have stepped up and are contributing to the GPS on Benchmarks program including the County of San Diego, Sacramento County, Los Angeles County, the Central Coast Chapter of CLSA, San Francisco Chapter of CLSA, the City of San Diego, CALTRANS District 11, and others.
NGS extended the deadline for submitting GPS on Benchmark data that will be used to develop the NAVD88 to NAPGD2022 translation to December 31, 2022.
As of this writing, California is at 29% of the goal of 1 observed benchmark in a 10km hexagon where the NGS database indicates benchmarks exist. There are also 2km goals for better definition in urban and mountainous areas and we are at 35% of achieving that goal. It is going to take all of us working together to make the goal.

Wisconsin has already completed 96% of its 10km goals and 100% of the 2km goals. They got on board early and a dedicated effort by their DOT and others made it happen. Much of their success revolves around the DOT survey crews setting up extra GPS receivers on benchmarks on their way to their regular job for the day. This approach may not work in some areas, but it illustrates some creative thinking on how to achieve goals.
How can you build upon the past geodetic surveys in California to prepare for the future?
IN THE NEWS...
CONGRATULATIONS TO AWARD WINNERS!
Congratulations to all the award winners at the 2022 conference! Of note was CLSA and NALS member Trent Keenan’s acceptance of the Von Schmidt Award in recognition of his contributions to the profession in both California and Nevada. Pictured are NALS President Robert Carrington and Trent with his two clones who help him accomplish his many goals. David Woolley received the CLSA 2020 Member of Year Award. Rick Coffman received the CLSA 2020 Photo of the Year award. Ray Carlson & Associates received the CLSA 2021 Photo of the Year Award. The Central Valley Chapter received the CLSA 2021 Newsletter of the Year Award. Steve Parrish received the CLSA 2021 Dorothy Calegari Distinguished Service Award.
BUSINESS JOURNALS RECOGNIZE BAY AREA ENGINEERING FIRMS 
The San Francisco Business Times list includes the five largest engineering firms located in the Bay Area, defined as the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo, ranked by number of local licensed engineers as reported by firms: AECOM Technical Services; Jacobs; Exponent Inc.; BKF Engineers; and T.Y. Lin International Group.  

The Silicon Valley Business Journal lists the top five largest engineering firms in the Silicon Valley ranked by number of local licensed engineers as reported by firms: BKF Engineers; Exponent Inc.; Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc.; Hohbach-Lewin Inc.; and Mott MacDonald.  
MORE THAN $50K OF EQUIPMENT STOLEN FROM SE MINNESOTA SURVEYING COMPANY
Olmsted County Sheriff's Office said it was reported in the 300 block of 2nd St. NW. in Stewartville. Five pieces of surveying equipment were stolen from the bed of work trucks sometime between Jan. 1 and April 4, 2022. 
CMCC OFFERING FREE LAND SURVEYOR TECHNICIAN I TRAINING
The Center for Workforce and Professional Development at Central Maine Community College (CMCC) is partnering with area employers and service providers to recruit candidates interested in becoming qualified land surveyor technicians. The first of four free land surveyor technician I course begins on Thursday, April 21 with three additional sessions to follow in June, July, and August. This program runs in-person on Thursdays, April 21 – May 19, at 5 p.m.
VERMONT SURVEYORS MAP OUT WAYS TO ATTRACT NEWCOMERS
Despite regional college program closures, the Vermont Society of Land Surveyors (VSLS) is performing outreach to educate the public on land surveying. This summer, VSLS members will offer hands-on demonstrations through the Vermont Historical Society as part of a project highlighting James Wilson, a cartographer who lived in Bradford. Wilson, who started farming around 1810, is credited with being the first American to make a globe. Vermont surveyor Rebecca Gilson thinks more people would choose a career in surveying if they knew how much fun it is. "It's a really well-balanced profession in that there's a little of everything — being inside, being outside, math, history, art. Plus, there's the technology side — we're using gps and robotics" Gilson said.
SURVEYING BEGINS FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN THE PHILLIPINES
The Zamboanga City government, through the Office of the City Engineer, has started surveying activities for the proposed new Zamboanga International Airport Development Project.
5 LOCALS, 1 COP INJURED IN CLASH OVER PURPOSE OF LAND SURVEYING IN INDIA
Officials of the state’s survey department arrived at Yaithibi Loukol with a large contingent of police personnel to conduct a land survey for the construction of a mega food park project. Locals have reportedly been protesting against government’s project, demanding return of their land. They claimed that they gave up the land for the purpose of construction of a permanent campus of the National Sports University, the Nagaland Post reported. However, as the land would actually be used to build a mega food park, villagers have been objecting to it. 
Thank You CLSA Sustaining Members