A vexing problem for many retracement surveyors is reading the cursive script found in many older land records. Surveyors who cannot effectively read cursive are at risk of discovering they missed important information, or simply worrying that they may have. Reading old cursive does not need to be as daunting as some believe.  It is not a foreign language, and as with any other surveying task, study and practice is the key. This seminar will offer tips on interpreting cursive writing, from odd abbreviations and contractions to confusing letter styles, and the instructor will help the class “translate” several old documents.

For those who have considered Field to Finish too intimidating, we will show you how to spend about 15 minutes in order to save hours of time when processing survey data. We will also get creative with field coding so that you can keep the data collector entry to a minimum but also automate the drafting as much as possible.

Struggling to get symbols to come in right? Fighting to figure out how to separate out the layers to show just what you want? Do you want to use some of the point attributes as plan labels? Want to collect field data so that much of your drafting and surface modeling preparation is done automatically?

Come to this session loaded with your questions and we'll do our best to answer them!

Have a Facebook account? What about Twitter? Whether you’ve already dipped your toes in the waters of social media or are still standing on the shore wondering what to make of it all, learning how to interact on social media platforms is crucial to surviving and thriving in the of digital communication. In this seminar, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the platforms Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and how to use them for your benefit both personally and professionally. If you thought social media platforms were just a place to keep track of friends and share personal photos, this course will show you how to use these resources in much more powerful ways.

Now that you have a basic understanding of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, we'll take a deeper dive to see how to effectively use the platforms for your business. In this course we will build out a Facebook page, learn how to effectively tweet as well as polish your LinkedIn Profile.

This workshop will be hands-on and interactive! 

 

This seminar is a descriptive and interactive overview of automation techniques that facilitate the examination of current office, field, and professional practices to determine potential efficiency.

Part I will be the introduction and demonstration of the Leaf key by Leon Brown and then hands-on identification of classroom samples. Introduction, demonstration and hands-on identification of classroom samples, using a combination of the Leaf Key and Forest Trees of WV book. Matching classroom samples of leaves and twigs, with bark samples.
 

This session will cover a variety of features and commands in Carlson Software that you can use to bring in location and topo survey data, process it, annotate it and generate existing contours as well as assembling a plotted sheet with typical elements such as a border and title block.

Additionally, we will spend a portion of this session demonstrating various features in Carlson Survey that are useful for lot and subdivision layout.

Some of the topics that will be presented are:

• Importing points
• Deed entry and correlation with points
• Legal Description writer
• Inserting of background imagery
• Sheet generation with title block, north arrow and other element
• LotNet (lot network feature)

Field to Finish and Surface Modeling will be covered but will not be a focus of this presentation.

Surveyors deal with easements almost every day, and they are the subject of a tremendous amount of litigation, so they are of great interest to the surveying community.  This program covers all aspects of easements  from their creation (both written and unwritten), through interference, maintenance, overburdening, how they differ from licenses, the importance of recordation, reversionary rights, and the many ways in which they can be terminated or extinguished. The program is tailored to the laws and court decisions of West Virginia with many other states’ cases also cited for emphasis.

The session will be an overview of key legal topics related to operating a small business in the surveying and mapping profession.  Starting and running a business requires a at least a basic understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape.  This Business Law curriculum for business owners and managers in our profession will cover a wide variety of topics from hiring and firing employees, to incorporation and legal structures. Success and failure in business often rides on senior management’s understanding of legal risks and responsibilities. Those who operate small businesses typically wear many different hats, but also must know when and how to seek help from others. This session will give the business leaders an overview of common legal issues faced by all business owners and managers. 

Basics such as GIS data types, coordinate systems and reference datums, and GIS analysis methods will be presented. GIS Workshop participants must bring a laptop computer with a current pc operating system and have a wireless internet capability. Hands-on viewing of maps and attributes will be made using public domain GIS software. Such software and data will be downloaded and installed by the workshop participants on their laptop computer. Also, participants will engage in projects which will include simple GIS analyses using attribute and spatial queries. Sources of digital maps, orthophotos, and other GIS data will be presented.

This program will be an in-depth review of the 2016 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys which became effective in February 2016.  In addition, the program will include important information on, and reasons for, the changes from the previous 2011 version.  The program also takes a fresh look at the measurement standard - relative positional precision.

This session will introduce the implementation of UAS a tool for the Surveying and Mapping professional including and review of the science of photogrammetry. We will also review the FAA regulations covering the commercial use of UAS, including the regulations for obtaining an operators certificate (license) to work as a pilot in charge of drone operations.  In this session we will explore the various technologies that make the use of UAS both practical and potentially profitable.  We will discuss the business opportunities for using UAS as a tool for surveying and mapping.  We will also look into the pitfalls and expose the wide-ranging costs of owning and operating UAS for field survey activities.  
Successful use of this exciting new technology also demands the integration of new disciplines, procedures and processes not common in most land survey operations. This session will introduce the concepts of photogrammetry, handing of massive amounts of digital data, logistics and planning associated with UAS operations.   
 

Part II will be an introduction of common terms for wood identification of common hardwood corner trees. Hands-on identification of provided wood samples using the common terms and a Hardwoods key. Discussion of found corners and witness trees, along with viewing and discussion of photos of found corner evidence. Boundary line marking by Leon Mallow, overview of the types of marks and their use, and using axe to demonstrate proper line and corner marking on set up poplar poles. Demonstration of corner setting in rock.

Part I will be the introduction and demonstration of the Leaf key by Leon Brown and then hands-on identification of classroom samples. Introduction, demonstration and hands-on identification of classroom samples, using a combination of the Leaf Key and Forest Trees of WV book. Matching classroom samples of leaves and twigs, with bark samples.
 

Surveyors often find themselves in legal proceedings or even in court – hopefully as an expert and not a defendant!  This program explores a wide variety of related topics including how to avoid claims and subsequently landing in court, and the many aspects and considerations of being an expert witness such as preparing a Rule 26 Expert Report, what to expect in depositions, what the rules of evidence and civil procedure are, and how to deal with the client and attorney through the process.  As a part of the program, we will review the format and content of several expert reports.

In August 2016 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a set of rules allowing commercial operations using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the first time.  These rules are designed to allow for the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.  Until the release of these new rules, using UAS for any type of commercial activity severely restricted to those who were able to get a special waiver from the FAA.  This session will provide detailed information helping the Surveying and Mapping professional safely and legally use their UAS as a survey tool.Successful use of this exciting new technology also demands the integration of new disciplines, procedures and processes not common in most land survey operations.  This session will introduce the concepts of photogrammetry, handing of massive amounts of digital data, logistics and planning associated with UAS operations.   

This presentation is for the people interested in attempting the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying Examination.  Basic subjects covered include, but are not limited to, horizontal and vertical curves, coordinate geometry, magnetic declination, satellite navigation, the public land surveying system, map projections, and remote sensing.  This is an overview of these subjects, not an in depth study.  Concerning the FS examination itself; test taking strategies, the examination environment, and calculator use are discussed.  

Basics such as GIS data types, coordinate systems and reference datums, and GIS analysis methods will be presented. GIS Workshop participants must bring a laptop computer with a current pc operating system and have a wireless internet capability. Hands-on viewing of maps and attributes will be made using public domain GIS software. Such software and data will be downloaded and installed by the workshop participants on their laptop computer. Also, participants will engage in projects which will include simple GIS analyses using attribute and spatial queries. Sources of digital maps, orthophotos, and other GIS data will be presented.

This program delves deep into the many issues that revolve around matters of survey vs. matters of title - both the distinct differences and the gray areas between them.  The program includes a review of statutes and administrative rules, and an in-depth discussion of unwritten rights, junior/senior rights, recordation acts, marketable title acts, and title registration.  In addition, the role of title companies and the important relationship between surveyors and title companies is explored as are the title aspects of the ALTA/NSPS Standards, state standards, and in the establishment of boundaries.

Part II will be an introduction of common terms for wood identification of common hardwood corner trees. Hands-on identification of provided wood samples using the common terms and a Hardwoods key. Discussion of found corners and witness trees, along with viewing and discussion of photos of found corner evidence. Boundary line marking by Leon Mallow, overview of the types of marks and their use, and using axe to demonstrate proper line and corner marking on set up poplar poles. Demonstration of corner setting in rock.