Welcome to this week's edition of the POB eNews... 

On Sept. 23, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) published notice that it will discontinue support of codeless/semi-codeless access to GPS on Dec. 31, 2020. "This is the first action, in the history of GPS, which will render a massive amount of GPS equipment obsolete," said Eric Gakstatter in GPS World magazine on June 5, 2008.

What does that mean to land surveyors? According to Gakstatter, a GPS consultant, it's land surveyors and those in the engineering, construction, deformation-monitoring and high-precision GIS industries that are going to be affected the most.

"In real terms, this means that any dual frequency receiver not designed to use L2C will essentially become a paperweight after December 31, 2020," he said, noting that this includes most dual-frequency receivers designed from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

The end date, which was based on projected budgets and current launch schedules, is dependent upon the availability of at least 24 GPS satellites broadcasting the second and third coded civil GPS signals. The DoD will reassess the transition date if significant GPS program delays arise, the Federal Register notice states.

The DoD wants-and expects-users to transition to new equipment over the next 12 years. If you don't, there is no guarantee that GPS equipment using codeless/semi-codeless techniques will work. "After the planned transition date, the characteristics of the L1 P(Y) and L2 P(Y) signals transmitted by any or all GPS satellites broadcasting two or more civil-coded signals may change without further notice and may preclude the use of P(Y) coded signals for high accuracy applications," the notice states.

Regardless of whether it makes sense from a technology standpoint, this transition is going to hurt financially. According to Gakstatter, thousands of small- to medium-sized business owners depend on codeless/semi-codeless dual frequency GPS technology. "It's hard to swallow that my $40,000 system has a date with the trash bin," Gakstatter said.

I encourage you to read Gakstatter's full article, "Is Dual-Frequency GPS - As We Know It - Becoming Obsolete?" Then, in POB's November quick poll, we'll ask you to cast your vote on how-or even if-this transition is going to impact you.

  -Wendy Lyons, eNews Editor

This month, we want to know who you believe will have a more positive influence on the surveying and mapping professions if elected president: John McCain or Barack Obama?

Take a moment to vote in our Quick Poll at www.pobonline.com.  

AEC Store Corner: Show your Surveying Pride with POB's Surveying T-Shirt and Hat.

T-Shirts are white heavyweight ultra-cotton and perfect for lounging on weekends or wearing for comfort under your field gear. Our T-shirts include a small POB logo on the front left chest and a giant surveying industry logo on the back. Available in sizes L and XL only.

This high-quality baseball cap is just right for cool weather, sunny evenings or bad hair days. The embroidered black surveying logo looks sharp on the front of this almond-colored cap. Point of Beginning is embroidered on the back just above the adjustable fabric strap and brass buckle. One size fits all. Available in beige.

Purchase these two items in combination and SAVE!  CLICK HERE to purchase!

Trimble Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire TopoSys
Trimble announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire TopoSys GmbH, Biberach an der Riss, Germany, a leading provider of aerial data collection systems comprised of LiDAR and metric cameras, in an all-cash transaction.  

Merrick & Company Awarded Texarkana Water Utility Parcel Conversion Project
The project was awarded in August 2008 and is expected to be completed in February 2009. With the culmination of this  parcel conversion project, the GIS users will have access to an integrated parcel database, for the first time. 

Direct Sales Representative-Geomatics North Carolina territory