APRIL
acsm bulletin
issue no . 256 10
survey earth in a day
On June 20th, geospatial professionals of the world will have a chance to measure the Earth with great precision
by scott warner & justin farrow 14
it security
The lessons that Australia can teach
by paul kenyon
18
too fast, too furious Was haste the undoing of the LightSquared plan?
by gavin schrock
38
bim gets a boost
High-speed scanning technology brings cost-effective precision to structural steelwork.
by don talend 33
mapping malaria with satellite imagery
GeoEye imagery advances malaria research in Africa
by alyson rose-wood 42
lis: gis’ poor cousin
Avenue for surveyors to get involved in GLIS
by n.w.j. hazelton
[cover] top image: geoeye-1 satellite image of okavango delta, botswana, africa; collected april 12, 2012 [source: geoeye]. bottom image: geoeye-1 satellite image of towra point nature reserve, new south wales, australia; collected february 19, 2012 (source: geoeye). Cyber security [articlespic.com]
april 2012 
april
content 18 10
14 5 editor’s letter 6 conferences 9 national news 13 people & places Demining war-ravaged countries 17 boundaries Absentee training is not mentoring
37
24 surveying Land near Washington Monument may be sinking 27 cloud computing Powering cloud computing’s data centers 37 advocacy Capitol Hill happenings
24
46 professional liability Ask Vic about task orders for different construction sites
33 GeoEye-2 [Courtesy of GeoEye] | acsm bulletin | april 2012
31 marketplace Coming soon to a dealership near you: A car that tweets 35 cartography Ask Dr. Map about going to extremes 39 travel Nicaragua—Way! Down south 45 reunion 4th reunion of the Geodetic Survey Squadron / Geodetic Survey Group advertising CST Program, cover 3 Ferris State University, 6 Hydrographer Certification Program, 32 Survey Summit, 7 Trimble, cover 2
april
editor’s letter
Surveying the Earth
ACSM Bulletin
Digital, interactive editions brought to you via the Internet and on mobile devices
webmazine.org Premier magazine for geospatial professionals since 1961
The last two months have been “earth - centric.” Preparations for a brand-new initiative to survey Earth, in one day, on the day of the Summer solstice, have been completed. The movers and shakers behind the event, Justin Farrow and Scott Walker, describe, with considerable pride, how they came to conceive an event that, through their social support platform, Land Surveyors United, will involve surveyors around the globe. Every year in early spring, we feast our eyes on the pink beauty of the cherry blossoms clothing the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington, D.C. This year, we had an extra reason to be moved; for 100 years, they have been the symbol of friendship on Earth. The General Land Office of the Bureau of Land Management also celebrated—a bicentennial of its establishment on April 25th, 1812, and its work to advance land ownership in the U.S. The Office’s role as a custodian of records facilitating the management of our country’s public lands will be described in future issues of our magazine by GLO staff themselves. Bill Hazelton’s provocative article about managing land information dissects the thorny issue of the relationship between LIS and GIS. He believes surveyors should use LIS to get more involved in GIS. The health of the people working the land has implications for land use; in Africa, malaria is a major killer and, consequently, an impediment to proper land use. To fight this terrible disease, one needs to understand it. In her article, “Mapping Malaria with Satellite Imagery,” Alyson Rose-Wood describes how geospatial technology facilitates this understanding. Two other articles in this issue deserve mentioning: Gavin Schrock’s view on why the LightSquared plan to establish a nationwide cellular network failed, and a summary by Laurence Socci of the “happenings on the Hill.” The latter contains a brief write-up about H.R. 4233, Map It Once, Use It Many Times Act that is likely to occupy our advocacy efforts in the foreseeable future. Finally, an invitation to come see space shuttle Discovery in its new Earth-bound home at Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Discovery’s journey within Earth’s space was less riveting than its spectacular journeys into the outer space, but memorable nonetheless.
Ilse Genovese,
editor Ilse Genovese creative / web director Ilse Genovese ilse.genovese@acsm.net www.webmazine.org
editor
publisher National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) www.nspsmo.org
ACSM Bulletin (ISSN 0747-9417) is published bimonthly by the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, 6 Montgomery Village Avenue, Suite 403, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. © 2011 ACSM. All rights reserved. ACSM is not responsible for any statements made or opinions expressed in feature articles, advertisements, commentaries, or any other portions of the magazine. The appearance of advertising in ACSM Bulletin does not imply endorsement by ACSM of advertisers or their products. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. To request permission to reproduce Bulletin content, contact Copyright Clearance Center at http://www.copyright.com. Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, Md., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to ACSM, 6 Montgomery Village Avenue, Suite 403, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Subscriptions: Current rates displayed at http://www.webmazine.org. To subscribe, contact ���matt.baile@sheridan.com. Membership dues include an annual subscription to the ACSM Bulletin ($40), which is part of membership benefits and cannot be deducted from annual dues. Contributors & Advertisers: Contact the Editor at �ilse.genovese@acsm.net.
april 2012 | acsm bulletin |
in the news
Surveying Engineering Faculty (Tenure Track Full-Time) — Ferris State University Position responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, teaching lower and upper division courses in an EAC/ABET accredited Surveying Engineering program including Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Surveying Principles, Adjustments and General Engineering. Student recruiting and advising. Potentially developing on-line/alternative delivery courses and working as a member of the team. Engagement in service to the profession and to the university. Required: Master’s degree in Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, or a related engineering field by time of appointment. Eligibility to become licensed as Professional Surveyor and/or Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan. Three years related work experience with progressively more responsibility. For a complete posting or to apply, access the electronic applicant system by logging on to http://employment. ferris.edu. Ferris State University is sincerely committed to being a truly diverse institution and actively seeks applications from women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Apply at:: https://employment.ferris.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51422 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer
conferences
New US Datums Are Coming—Are You Ready?
Join the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for the 2012 Geospatial Summit on Proposed Improvements to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), to be held in San Diego, California. This event runs concurrently with the Survey Summit hosted by Esri and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). The Geospatial Summit will be held on Sunday, July 22, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, California. See the Agenda
Fourth
Reunion of the Geodetic Survey Squadron/ Geodetic Survey Group
Calling all military and civilian veterans of the Geodetic Survey Squadron/Geodetic Survey Group for their fourth reunion on August 3-5, 2012 at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn, Cheyenne, WY. | acsm bulletin | april 2012
This reunion continues the tradition begun in 2003 for the veterans to meet every three years in Cheyenne, Wyoming, former headquarters of this unique and distinguished military organization. For more information contact Garrett R. Moore. Additional information at the GSS/GSG Veterans’ website. [More on p. 45]
Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial unveiled
Special invitation
to State Societies to participate
aprilpeople among our contributors
paul kenyon
(“IT Lessons Australia Can Teach Us,” p. 14) is Chief Operating Officer of Avecto, an Australian provider of Windows privilege management security software. Website: www. avecto.com
gavin schrock
(“Too Fast, Too Furious,” p. 18), is administrator of the Washington State Reference Network Gavin.Schrock@seattle.gov
don talend
(“BIM Gets a Boost,” p. 28), is a print and e-content developer specializing in covering construction, technology, and innovation. He owns Write Results Inc. <write-results@sbcglobal.net>
The Tidal Basin clothed in cherry blossoms. (www.news.cn) s c o t t d. w a r n e r, r.l.s. (“Survey Earth In a Day,” p. 10), is Wisconsin Registered Land Surveyor at Woodland Consultants, Inc. He contributes as senior editor to the geospatial social support platform, Land Surveyors United. <surveywi@gmail.com> justin farrow
(“Survey Earth In a Day,” p. 10), is principal creator/curator of the geospatial social support platform, Land Surveyors United. <landsurveyorsunited@gmail.com>
alyson rose-wood
(“Mapping Malaria with Satellite Imagery,” p. 33) is an International Public Health Specialist with the Office of Global Affairs in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
d a v i d l. h o l a n d, .l.s. (“Nicaragua—Way! Down South,” p. 39), is Henrico County Surveyor, and NSPS Governor from Virginia. <hol25@co.henrico.va.us>
professional society boards
American Association for Geodetic Surveying: (AAGS) Curtis L. Smith (president) , Wes Parks (president-elect), Edward E. Carlson (vice president) , Barbara S. Littell (immediate past president), Patrick H. Kalen (secretary), Daniel J. Martin (treasurer) ; Directors: Karen Meckel, Thomas H. Meyer [www.aagsmo.org, 240.632.8943] Geographic and Land Information Society (GLIS): Coleen M. Johnson (president), Cynthia (Cindi) Salas (vice president), J. Peter Borbas (immediate past president), Stacey Duane Lyle (treasurer), William M. (Bill) Coleman (secretary) Directors: Francis W. Derby, Joshua Greenfeld, John Bean [www.glismo.org, 240.632.9700]
| acsm bulletin | april 2012
National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS): William R. Coleman (president), Robert Dahn (president-elect), W. Lamar Evers (vice president), John R. Fenn (secretary/treasurer), A. Wayne Harrison (immediate past president), Patrick A. Smith (chairman, Board of Governors); J. Anthony Cavell (secretary, Board of Governors). Directors: Stephen Gould (Area 1); Lewis H. Conley (Area 2); Joe H. Baird (Area 3); Wayne A. Hebert (Area 4); Jan S. Fokens (Area 5); Larry Graham (Area 6); Kim H. Leavitt (Area 7); Henry Kuehlem (Area 8); Carl R. CdeBaca (Area 9); Timothy A. Kent (Area 10); [www.nspsmo.org, 240.632.8950]
in the news
space shuttle discovery wows washington
in 45-minute flyover
A spectacular aerial tour pulled Washingtonians out of their offices Tuesday morning as the space shuttle Discovery, riding piggy-back on a 747, flew low and slow over the Capitol, White House, the Mall and much of the Potomac River. The duo touched down at Dulles International Airport, just a few miles from Discovery’s retirement home, the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. [Photos: The Washington Post] ACSM and NSPS agree on a plan of merger. The plan has been posted online and can be viewed until the merger has been completed at www. acsm.net BLM’s General Land Office 200 years old—April 25th, 2012, marks the 200th anniversary of the General Land Office, America’s first land records repository.
NGS surveys the National Mall, finds land around the Washington Monument may be sinking faster than previously thought. Read more in the forthcoming April issue of the Bulletin, p. 25,
Courtesy of GeoEye
cherry blossoms arrive early this year
april 2012 | acsm bulletin |