Technology Benchmark - Point of Beginning

We recently completed our Spring semester at George Mason University where I have been teaching for many years.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | June 22, 2011 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: Floods in the Midwest - More Failing Infrastructure!

For weeks now we are seeing the Mississippi flooded, dams being intentionally breached by the USACE and farms and towns completely flooded out. OK, so it rained, a lot.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | May 31, 2011 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: A Survey Certificate in Data Prep

With the growth of automated machine guidance increasing at a strong pace related work occurs in surveying, stakeout and data prep. Machine Control is useless without a good 3D model and we have talked about this in my writings for over ten years!

by Harry O. Ward, PE | March 21, 2011 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: It's a Great Time to be a Surveyor or Civil Engineer if You Live in China

t is a great time to be a Surveyor or Civil Engineer if you live in China! - Land Development is dead in the U.S., it is flourishing in China due to increasingly wealthy population and a huge influx of ex-patriate workers.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | March 17, 2011 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: State of the Union - 2011

It was interesting to hear the President give the annual State of the Union address last week. As anticipated, he urged us to invest in three things: infrastructure, education and research. These concepts come on the heels of the rare visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | February 1, 2011 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: Why Don't We Build Things to Last?

I had a rare opportunity to watch a bunch of TV this holiday, mostly documentaries, but they were varied in content. After watching several on history I began to realize how flimsy our construction is. The shows highlighted the work of the Romans, their great cities many of which still stand today; their public works facilities, their roads, bridges and coliseums, libraries and meeting places.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | January 3, 2011 | Comments (0)

What Does 2011 Look Like From Your Point of View?

First of all, Merry Christmas to my colleagues in the business! Here we are at the end of a horrendous year of business for most people in engineering, surveying and construction. Land development is all but gone, infrastructure shows promise but could be a mere fleeting tease of what should be. What does 2011 look like from your point of view?

by Harry O. Ward, PE | December 20, 2010 | Comments (0)

Laser Scanning Will Soon Replace Traditional Surveying

Traditional surveying with total station (reflectorless or not) is coming to an end. OK I said it.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | December 10, 2010 | Comments (0)

Rules from a Recession and Questions That Should Be Asked

The recession has been long and hard and it isnt even remotely over yet. Many people have been caught short when they are laid off, some even shocked.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | November 1, 2010 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: The Survey Industry Is Beginning to Redefine Itself

Finally the survey business is picking up. Are we headed back to the good old days of 5 years ago? No! However, we are now seeing surveyors working again.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | October 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: OK - We Now Have our Bailout (I mean funding plan)!

Yesterday, Pres. Obama announced a $50 billion funding plan for public works. Do you see what the power of the blog is? My White House sources tell me that Obama read my blog (he is an avid reader of POB and RPLS.com) and decided it was time to fund our profession.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | September 7, 2010 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: Where are the Bailouts for Surveyors and Engineers?

I wrote about this a year or more ago, and my position was and still is that the economy isn’t coming back. This is our new economy, one of indecision, uncertainty, huge debt and literally no future. The Apple iPhone and iPad is not what is going to save us, but infrastructure could if we would let it!

by Harry O. Ward, PE | August 13, 2010 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: The M&As are Continuing; Is Your Firm Next?

Have you looked around in the last couple of weeks? Mergers are going on hot and heavy.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | July 29, 2010 | Comments (0)

GPS Reference Networks Need Regulation

Contractors using GPS rovers or automated machine guidance are making heavy use of GPS reference networks these days, and they are absorbing 3D data from satellites routinely.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | July 1, 2010 | Comments (2)

Technology Benchmark: The National Surveyors Guild

A guild is an association of individuals with the same interests. According to Wikipedia, guilds are “organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel and a secret society.” That’s what I’m talking about—a secret society! I envision a close-knit group of like-minded surveyors that have the math, science and secrecy similar to the Priory of Sion and the Knights Templar.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | April 27, 2010 | Comments (9)

Technology Benchmark: Sometimes It Isn’t About Production Improvements

OK, here’s a new tack: Me, a lifelong engineer/teacher, acknowledging that sometimes improving production rates through training is NOT the best thing to do.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | March 23, 2010 | Comments (9)

Technology Benchmark: Relearning the Value of Money

I can say one positive thing about this recession: It definitely has us relearning the value of money. As my partner and I recently reviewed some accounts payable, we were astounded to find that we were being charged for all sorts of things we didn’t order or didn’t expect.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | February 23, 2010 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: Who is Left in the Surveying Profession?

As I was recently updating my contacts in the industry, I came to a sad realization: Many of my colleagues are gone. While this is true to some degree in both engineering and surveying, it seems that in surveying it is particularly evident.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | January 27, 2010 | Comments (13)

Technology Benchmark: New Technologies for 2010

As we move into this new year, I am noticing a lot of enthusiasm. Developers are starting to commence new housing projects, builders are getting back to work, and big box sites are now beginning to pick up where they left off. Any firm that has not invested in technology over the past year or so might need to catch up rapidly to better compete for this work. Several key technologies are available as we enter the new year.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | January 13, 2010 | Comments (9)

Technology Benchmark: What’s Next for Eagle Point Users?

A couple weeks ago, Eagle Point announced that it will no longer sell its civil engineering and surveying software after the 2012 release. This means that in approximately one year, Eagle Point products as we have known them will cease to exist. Instead, Eagle Point will become a “national dealer” of sorts for Civil 3D, bundling its Pinnacle solutions as part of the Civil 3D purchase. The company’s Web site says it will be “standardizing on Civil 3D as our development platform.” So what does this mean for Eagle Point software users?

by Harry O. Ward, PE | November 24, 2009 | Comments (5)

Technology Benchmark: The Time for BIM Is Now!

Building information modeling (BIM) is here and coming up strong. Architects are asking for BIM models from engineering and surveying firms. The engineers don’t add much to this task since we are usually happy if we can deliver a clean 3D data file. So it falls into the realm of the surveyor to provide this service.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | October 14, 2009 | Comments (3)

Technology Benchmark: Education Is the Key to Employment

Investing in yourself through education increases your knowledge of current technologies and will allow you to hit the ground running in a new position. What’s more, it shows flexibility and an ability to take on new challenges.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | October 5, 2009 | Comments (2)

Technology Benchmark: The Recession is Over; So Where’s the Boom?

After each recession in the past two decades, we were doomed to a pitiful stagnation—or, at best, a slow-growth economy—until a major catalyst kicked in and unprecedented levels of prosperity resulted. Clearly, what we need is another major catalyst, and I think I know exactly what it will be.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | September 16, 2009 | Comments (8)

Technology Benchmark: Business 101

As I have traveled cross country in the past couple of weeks, from Los Angeles to New England, I have continued to hear doom and gloom about layoffs, cut paychecks, reduced benefits and cut hours. Although the effect of the recession is staggering in its depth, breadth and sadness, I want to proclaim that it is good news in the long run—not necessarily for those individuals affected, but for the economy and the companies involved.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | August 26, 2009 | Comments (4)

Technology Benchmark: The Surveyor Is Our Bellwether

There is a lot of talk these days about how the economy is doing. Are we at the bottom? Is the situation beginning to turn around? In the development business, the surveyor has long been the economic bellwether.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | August 5, 2009 | Comments (2)

Technology Benchmark: “I Wish I Never Became a Surveyor!”

I just heard a surveyor say that he wishes he had never become a surveyor. This licensed fellow has been unemployed for a year and a half and is doing part-time work and odd jobs to pay the bills. In fact, he is now repairing lawn mowers and said he is making more money than he did as a surveyor.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | July 14, 2009 | Comments (15)

Technology Benchmark: Report from the Southeast

Georgia is a tough market for firms that rely on land development. In some cases, companies that were 80 people deep last year are now at 40, and a rebound is not in sight. But as firms have cut back on their workforce, they have sought ways to increase productivity—largely through the improved use of existing equipment and software.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | June 23, 2009 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: Report from Houston

I recently returned from consulting in Houston, and I am pleased to report that the economy is looking pretty good down there.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | June 10, 2009 | Comments (0)

Technology Benchmark: Buy Now—Hyperinflation is Coming

The amount of borrowed cash that is floating into our economy now is unprecedented. According to some young economists from George Mason University, hyperinflation will follow.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | April 28, 2009 | Comments (2)

Technology Benchmark: Speculative Surveying

Many businesses in our society take a speculative approach, in which the originator actuates the effort, creates a result and then hopes to find a buyer. Why don’t surveyors take advantage of this business model?

by Harry O. Ward, PE | April 1, 2009 | Comments (5)

Technology Benchmark: Engineers’ and Surveyors’ Fee Concepts

Professional engineers and surveyors are much like attorneys. These professions all require significant education and (in many cases) licensing, and they all serve clients by performing needed services. However, when it comes to billing for those services, vast differences are evident.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | March 18, 2009 | Comments (1)

Technology Benchmark: Call to the State Boards of Engineering and Surveying

I have one suggestion to help resolve the unemployment and under-employment issues facing our professions: The state boards of engineering and surveying should expand the work that requires a professional license by issuing new position statements.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | March 3, 2009 | Comments (7)

Technology Benchmark: 14 Steps to Starting Your Own Business

Many business experts agree that a recession can be a good time to start a new business. Here are some steps that can get you started on the path to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | February 3, 2009 | Comments (1)

Technology Benchmark: Happenings in the Biz and Infrastructure Stimulus

I attended the NYSAPLS conference in Albany, N.Y., last week as a lecturer and speaker on a panel discussion. The conference was well attended; in fact, according to Jennifer Mauer, the association’s director, they had a record attendance for both audience and vendor participation.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | January 21, 2009 | Comments (0)

The Technology Benchmark: Get Over It—The Economy is NOT Coming Back

Many firms think that the economy will hit bottom in 2009, and that they'll be ready when the market picks back up in 2010 and 2011. I believe this is flawed thinking.

by Harry O. Ward, PE | January 6, 2009 | Comments (3)