On Thursday, September 14, at the Dream Dufferin Interactive Trades Event, students in Orangeville were treated to a demonstration of the Augmented Reality Sandbox.
The Sandbox, a project of Van Harten Surveying Inc., was initiated and led by Ron Mak.
Per its developers at the UC Davis Department of Geology, the Sandbox "allows users to create topography models by shaping real sand, which is then augmented in real time by an elevation color map, topographic contour lines, and simulated water. The system teaches geographic, geologic, and hydrologic concepts such as how to read a topography map, the meaning of contour lines, watersheds, catchment areas, levees, etc."
According to Mak, "the system uses an Xbox Kinect sensor to capture the shape of the sand, and a program creates a digital model with coloured contours that are projected onto the sand with a projector mounted above. The software and system design is available with an open source licence."
"This system was a huge success at drawing students in and introducing them to the concepts of surveying and how they relate to everyday life," Mak says.
If members would like to feature the Augmented Reality Sandbox at an event, or would appreciate some advice building one of their own, please contact Ron Mak at Ron.Mak@vanharten.com.
Reminder: November 2022 Professional Exam Notice and Registration Form
Attention articling students:
Click here for the November 2022 Professional Exam Notice and Registration Form. All the exams will be held and invigilated online.
Plan Check Exams: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Professional Written Exam: Thursday, November 17, 2022
The Professional Written Exam will be done through an online remote proctoring system that will be provided by distributors Prolydian and Examity. Further information regarding how to access the exam will be delivered to you when closer to the date.
Professional Oral Exam: Friday, November 18, 2022
The Statutes Exams are available on demand only.
Please feel free to contact Lena at lkassabian@aols.org if you have any questions.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30, 2022
Each year, September 30 marks both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community intergenerational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.” The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
Learn more
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: nctr.ca
Many Ontario Land Surveyors have fond memories of the five-week survey camp experience at the University of Toronto facilities on Gull Lake near Minden.
On Saturday, September 10, 2022, the new co-ed bunkhouse/common room was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The AOLS was a significant contributor to the new facility, acknowledging the many engineers who became Ontario Land Surveyors.
Click here for the archives page for the latest Horizon and e-communiqué
Stay informed about what is happening in your national surveyor community!
Do you have suggestions for AOLS In Sight?
If you have information that you think will be of interest to other members, please let us know by emailingdwhitton@aols.org. Your input is always welcome!
