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Educational Land Surveying Articles (67)

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BEING THE SURVEYOR OF AN AIRFORCE BASE DURING THE 1980’s

BEING THE SURVEYOR OF AN AIRFORCE BASE DURING THE 1980’s

 Introduction

 The South African Defence Force, now the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), was involved in a Bosoorlog or Grens oorlog (Bush war or Border war)1 from 1966 till 1989.

 In order to protect the most northern borders of South Africa, a number of smaller, shorter perhaps, airstrips or airfields, sometimes referred to as tactical airfields, were constructed or in some cases upgraded.

 Examples of the above are Ellisras, Punda Maria (in the Kruger National Park) and then a full scale air force base with a 4000 m runway at Louis Trichardt.

 The construction at Louis Trichardt was given the project name Braambos.

 A Little Bit of Background

 I joined the South African Airforce during June 1972. My initial mustering was Construction Machine Operator and I was deployed at 402 Airfield Maintenance Unit (402AMU) with head quarters at air force base Ysterplaat in Cape Town. I completed the training course on 11 February 197

National Surveyors Week, Surveying Jobs and Resources - oh my!

National Surveyors Week is a time to not only celebrate the Land Surveying Profession, it is a time to gain exposure for your company and strengthen the surveying community!  In our community, we feel it is also perhaps the best time of year to educate the public regarding the importance of land surveyors to society and civilization. Please Add One Surveying Photo or Video to your Local Hub inside Land Surveyors United! Here are a few quick things you can do today to support the community and promote your surveying legacy: List Your US Land Surveying Company inside Our Directory for United States Land Surveying Companies. Add Your Available Surveying Jobs to the Jobs Board for Land Surveyors. Add the USA Land Surveyors App to your phone and stay connected with your Local Chapter Hub. Check out the entire collection of current Member Apps and add those that you like to your phone

CURIOUS STATIC DATASETS

I have been using VRS for project location for some years. I need to set up a control network for the Highway Department using a static network. I dug out the old Ashstech Extremes to set up the network. When I downloaded the files, both the almanac and datasets were dated 02.107 instead of 21.333.  I was always under the impression that the receivers got their time stamp from the GPS signals.

Why is Land Surveying Beneficial?

Land surveyors use special instruments and techniques to measure the boundaries of a piece of land. They use this information to create a detailed map of the property, which is used to plan out developments or create legal documents. It is also used to make sure the boundaries of a property are clearly identified.

THE GREAT DIAMOND HOAX OF 1872 - UPENDED - Part III

We are sorry to skewer the sacred surveyor, Clarence King, (maybe we should call it the King shish kabob) but his Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 was not a hoax. Modern science has determined that John Slack's and Phillip Arnold's Diamond Peak and Diamond Flat are in diamondiferous areas, along with other nearby areas in Colorado and Wyoming. Clarence King was the hoax, and the only surveyor in history to start his own bank. How did he get that money?

The Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 - Upended - Part II

The misuse of men of science, by industrial and political leaders, has a long and sordid history. Such misuse happened in the diamond fields of Brazil, South Africa and Colorado/Wyoming. A South African whopper told in 1868 by one Geologist J.R. Gregory led to the labeling of such blatant whoppers as "telling a Gregory". Can there be the telling of "a Clarence King" or perhaps a "Fuchi"?

The Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 - Upended - Part 1

At the 2020 Tucson Gem Show we approached Clint and Louisa Cross and asked them what they knew about the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872, that hoax uncovered by USGS surveyor #1, Clarence King. Clint Cross is from the Missisquoi band of the Abenaki Nation and the owner of North Star Turquoise out of Cripple Creek Colorado. Since that hoax happened at the Colorado/Wyoming boarder and as their's was the only Colorado or Wyoming booth that we found among the 4000+ Tucson booths, they seemed to be just the ones to ask. However, Clint's immediate and unflinching response drove us to our knees: “That wasn’t a hoax”!

Collection of Surveying Articles to Learn Something New

The articles within are geared to help new surveyors get a better understanding of what is expected of them and as such, will not be totally applicable to all areas of the world. We need to know if what is presented applies in your location. If not, please tell us the differences. Each of these articles were written from the point of view of Land Surveyors primarily in the United States. With that said, there will certainly be differences and other variables with the information in different areas of the world. We invite you to comment on any of the articles and encourage adding your suggestions for how the content relates to your local surveying environment.

How to Read a Land Survey

Land surveys are an important part of heritage and history and without them who knows what the world would look like.  In fact, if it weren't for land surveys, we would not have maps. And although you should always consult a professional land surveyor regarding measurements on your property, let's look at how to read a land survey. Also check out the curated collection of Land Surveying Articles to get you started Becoming a Land Surveyor.

Land Surveyor Internships

Many surveyors who graduate from survey school are dumbfounded when they first enter the field.   It can quickly occur to them that everything they learned about surveying - surveying history, theory and best practices - only partially prepared them for becoming a Land Surveyor. For this reason, Land Surveying Internships are a terrific opportunity for preparing new land surveyors for when "the rubber meets the road."  Internships are a fantastic way of getting real industry experience no matter what career path you are choosing to go down. Not only do land survey internships better prepare a surveyor for the field, they also provide insight into how the dynamics of collaboration with a surveying crew actually works.  Let's learn a bit more about Land Surveying Internships.

New ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards to Take Effect in February 2021

Effective February 23, 2021, the 2016 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys are being replaced with the new 2021 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys (“2021 Standards”). The 2021 Standards include a variety of changes which seek to further limit surveyor’s liability and provide better clarity. Some of the more notable changes are as follows:

Qualifications for Land Surveyors

It is not easy to become a licensed land surveyor, and before being allowed to work independently as a licensed land surveyor you must first sit several examinations. To gain your land surveying qualifications you must sit both state and national examinations - the requirements vary depending on the state you live in. Land surveying is a very rewarding and exciting career path - with no two days exactly the same. Land surveyors get the best of both worlds sharing their working day between the outdoors and the office. In this article and guide we shall look at land surveying qualifications and how you can get them. 

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