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

Here at POB, we're celebrating the launch of a new and improved POBonline.com. Along with a new color scheme throughout, our home page has undergone some major aesthetic and utilitarian improvements.  

Our No. 1 goal with the re-design was ease of use. So, the home page has been reorganized to make it easier to find what you're looking for. For example, the left side of the page is dedicated to news-industry news, which is now called Latest News; news from other surveyors called Top RPLS.com Bulletin Board Posts; and New Products news.  

Another important goal was to implement your requests and suggestions. In March, while on the flight to Spokane to attend the ACSM conference, I found myself sitting in the midst of an excited Ferris State University surveying team on its way to the conference and to participate in the NSPS Student Surveying Competition. As we talked, the young man I sat next to complained that it was too hard to find job postings on our site-an important category for college students. That made sense, so I passed his constructive criticism along, and I'm happy to report that job postings, along with items for sale, are now partially listed and linked on the lower right side of the home page. Another common complaint was the registration requirement, which we've nixed.  

Scroll to the bottom of the home page, and you'll find a very cool addition: Most Emailed, Top Searches and Most Popular Articles. Here you can check out the Top 10 clicked-on items in each category and see what's drawing the attention of other surveyors.  

With these substantial alterations, I encourage you to check out the new POBonline.com. Let us know what you think. And most importantly, visit often and stay connected. We continue to be the best-read and most-preferred source for all things surveying and mapping.    

- Wendy Lyons

Take a moment to vote in our Quick Poll at www.pobonline.com. This month, we want to know your opinion on the availability of qualified surveyors for hire in your area.

AEC Store Corner

Building Layout

Show how to use a transit to locate a building correctly on the lot, plan proper grades with minimum excavation, find utility lines and easements, establish correct elevations, lay out accurate foundations and set correct floor heights. Explains how to plan sewer connections, level a foundation that's out of level, use a story pole and batterboards, work on steep sites and minimize excavation costs. Retail Price: $22.00.

Click here to order or visit AECstore.com  to view our entire line of surveying products.

Our April issue is now online!

SECO Manufacturing Brings Incite Technologies in to the Family
SECO Manufacturing Co Inc. recently announced the merger of Incite Technologies, Inc. of Corona, California. Incite offers several high-end optical products for land surveyors and engineers. SECO will be the exclusive manufacturer and worldwide distributor of all Incite prism assemblies.

ArcGIS Survey Analyst Adds Depth to City of Toronto's Cadastre
The City of Toronto, Canada, has chosen ESRI's ArcGIS Survey Analyst software to maintain its survey, parcel, and cadastral data.

ESRI to Resell Océ TCS300 and Océ TCS500 Large Format Color Inkjet Print Systems
Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery solutions, and ESRI, the world leader in geographic information systems software, announced an agreement enabling ESRI to become a national reseller of Océ TCS300 large format color printers and Océ TCS500 color multifunction copy/scan/print systems.

Tripod Data Systems Trade-In Program to Provide Up to $1,000 Rebate for the Purchase of a Ranger or Nomad Data Collector with Survey Pro Software 
Tripod Data Systems has announced a new rebate program for the TDS Ranger and Nomad data collectors with Survey Pro software.

Bridge Surveyor -
Heavy Marine Contractor in Charleston, SC is seeking an experienced, full-time surveyor for multiple bridge projects from North Myrtle Beach, S.C. to Savannah, Ga. area. Applicants must possess a strong work ethic, be self-motivated and be a team player with knowledge of Total Stations and TDS Survey Pro. E-mail résumé to tuttleg@caperomaincontractors.com or fax to 843-390-5894.

Joke of the Week: It's No Joke-The Huamn Mnid is Amzanig
(Don't skip this week's posting just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.)

Problem: Hydrography: Hydrographic Maps

Which of the following dimensions is equal to 1 fathom?
(A) 1 yd
(B) 6 ft
(C) 1 rod
(D) 4 ft

Cool Link of the Week: Trace.com
Trace is the largest global online database of stolen, lost, seized, and recovered property that you can use for free.

Click to POB's Fun & Games page to access the rest of this week's problem, the cool link and the jokes.

North Shore City streamlines consent process
New Zealand's North Shore City is now certifying all survey plans electronically as part of its drive to streamline the resource consent process and support e-government initiatives.