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

If you think decorating your home for the holidays is a big job, consider the work that goes into the Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition at the Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich. The two-month seasonal exhibit draws more than 80,000 visitors and takes nearly three months just to install the lights. So how do they manage to pull it off? With the help of a geographic information system.  

The 132-acre Meijer Gardens, featuring Michigan's largest tropical conservatory, a variety of gardens and an internationally acclaimed sculpture park, has been using GIS since 2003 to map the location of more than 3,000 trees and shrubs, extensive irrigation systems and 2,000-plus donor-tribute items.  

Faced with an annual seasonal exhibit comprising 300,000-plus lights, 40-plus international Christmas trees and displays, and much more, Scott Davidson, plant records and irrigation specialist at Meijer Gardens, decided to employ GIS technology to streamline the entire process.

"Tracking our time and equipment needs for the holiday display was challenging, particularly as the exhibition became more and more elaborate," Davidson said. "But because we had developed GIS applications for other parts of our facility, applying the technology to one of our most popular exhibits seemed obvious."  

To map the holiday exhibit, Davidson used ESRI's ArcGIS software and created a new layer in the database of archived tree data, according to Jim Baumann, of ESRI. Next, he added layers representing the time required to prepare, decorate and dismantle the exhibit as well as the number of light strands each decorated tree required based on its diameter and height.

With this information in the database, Meijer Gardens management can now easily determine staffing and equipment needs--right down to the strolling Dickens carolers and the horse-drawn carriages--and ensure another year's successful holiday tradition.  

Have a great week,

Wendy Lyons
eNews Editor 

P.S. Be sure to check out the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Web site NORAD Tracks Santa. 

Starting Christmas Eve, NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa's progress around the globe: 

• "North Warning System" radar comprising 47 installations across the northern border of North America;
• satellites equipped with infrared sensors to detect Rudolph's nose;
• globally positioned Santa Cams feeding real-time video to the Internet; and
• fighter jets, which intercept, greet and fly alongside Santa as he makes his rooftop rounds. 

In the meantime, kids of all ages are encouraged to check in each day to receive official updates from the North Pole and to discover new surprises in the Kids' Countdown Village.

The December Issue is Online!

This month, POB features ...

On the Right Track by Eric Andelin
The Arkansas and Missouri (A&M) Railroad is a short-line railroad that operates in a 139-mile corridor from Fort Smith, Ark., to Monett, Mo. Along the way, it interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Kansas City Southern. ...

Under Pressure by Dusty Robinson, PE
The goal was simple: Accurately determine the depths of a channel at the base of a dam to aid in the design of a mass concrete structure to support a river outlet works connection. ...

Complex Connections by Christine L. Grahl
When the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) set out in 2008 to develop a new sustainable college campus by acquiring and repurposing a 32-acre complex of buildings in South Gate, Calif., the board of trustees soon realized that connecting the past to the future can present a formidable challenge. ...

Marking a Turning Point by John B. Stahl, PLS, CFedS
On Aug. 30, 1875, Deputy Surveyor Charles L. DuBois stood on an open plateau above the Uintah River Valley. His instructions were to "select the most available point within the reserve for an initial point" from which the survey of the Uintah Valley Reservation would commence. ...

The Land of Black Gold by Larry Trojak
Located in northwest Pennsylvania, adjacent to New York's Southern Tier, the Allegheny National Forest consists of 513,325 acres of prime woodland and sits atop some prolific oil sands. Over the last century, those sands have yielded impressive volumes of oil, according to Jim Ball, LS, owner of James Ball Land Surveyor in Wellsville, N.Y. ...

From our Columnists ...

Back to Basics: Quick setup with a laser plummet. by Wesley G. Crawford, RPLS
The radio crackles. "Hey, could you come over here right away and give me line on the wall forms?" a voice asks. "I've got 15 people waiting to pour concrete."

The Business Side: Straight talk for surveyors. by Milton Denny, PLS
"If you stay in business long enough, you will eventually experience business downturns." This statement is just as true now as it was 22 years ago when I first wrote it in my Surveyors and Engineers Small Business Handbook.

Traversing the Law: Best available evidence. by Jeffery N. Lucas, PLS, Esq.
Last time, we discussed lost corners and the idea that there really is no reason to characterize a corner as lost. 

Web Exclusives!

"Endless" Possibilities
by Larry Trojak
Steve Hubertus, LS, of Hornell, N.Y.-based Stephen J. Hubertus Land Surveyor, and Jim Ball, owner of Wellsville, N.Y.-based James Ball Land Surveyor, have received a lot of business locating and mapping oil and gas wells in their area--but they didn't stop there.

Conference Recap: On the Bleeding Edge
by Christine L. Grahl
The Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide User Conference in October highlighted the successes and challenges of firms that are pushing the envelope with laser scanning technology.

Beating Burnout
by Jon Gordon
There's no doubt about it. The past year or so has been a lean time for most companies. And while there's hope that the worst (economically speaking) might be behind us, we aren't out of the woods yet. The dark days of the recession have spawned a troubling new issue, one that could cripple organizations even as we head into recovery. The looming problem: A widespread loss of employee engagement.

Pyramid Schemes
by Ingrid Chapman
The orientation of significant buildings in ancient Egypt is a widely discussed and speculated upon topic. Measurements taken in modern times show an incredible similarity to the alignment of significant buildings, namely temples and pyramids, to true north.

Touch the Flag
A salute to the veterans among the ranks of America's land surveying and mapping professionals.

Oklahoma Surveyor:  Land Surveying Firm seeking Oklahoma PLS for immediate employment at our Norman, Okla., office. 

AutoCAD and/or Carlson drafting experience a must. Multiple state licenses a plus.  Competitive salary, benefits, 401k. 

Send resumes to human-resources@millmansurveying.com.   

What primary strategy is your firm implementing now to help ensure success in 2010?

• Investing in cutting-edge technology and training.
• Hiring new employees.
• Downsizing or "right-sizing" the workforce.
• Diversifying services or markets.
• Aggressively marketing the firm's capabilities.
• Creating partnerships with complementary firms.

Take a moment to vote at www.pobonline.com. 

Land Surveyor Wins "The Biggest Loser"
Land surveyor Danny Cahill, 40, of Broken Arrow, Okla., was declared the winner of "The Biggest Loser" last night. The father of two dropped a record-breaking 239 pounds with a final weigh in of 191 pounds.

Geospatial Professionals Have Less Than One Month to Join GITA for Only $99
The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) offered a special membership discount starting 9/9/09 to celebrate the launch of GIT4Infrastructure.org, an evolving, community-based information center focused on geospatial solutions for the infrastructure.

Mapcom Announces Partnership with Magellan Professional
This union allows Mapcom Systems the opportunity to resell Magellan's handheld GPS unit, the MobileMapper CX. As a reseller, Mapcom Systems can become the single point of focus for all their customers' GPS needs.

Charles E. Olson, Jr. Selected as ASPRS Honorary Member
His nomination was recently approved by the ASPRS Board of Directors. This is the highest award an ASPRS member can receive, and there are only 25 living Honorary M

Hemisphere GPS Forms Alliance with Third Eye Maps for Aerial Imagery Services
The alliance recognizes Third Eye Maps as Hemisphere GPS' authorized representative for aerial imagery capture and processing.

For the latest industry news, click HERE.

An unlikely triathlete
When he bid on a live auction item, land surveyor Jim Pilarski, of California, thought he was buying a personal training package for his wife Stella. He never anticipated what was really in the basket--an entrance into the Los Angeles Triathlon. "At first I thought, holy smoke," Pilarksi said. "It turned out that basket was worth every dime."

Andalusia starting point for 'mound hunt'
More than 35 professional surveyors and engineers are visiting Andalusia this week to take part in a "hidden treasure" hunt. But in this case, their treasure is literally nothing more than piles of dirt.

Still feeling stuffed? How about joyful?
Civil engineer and land surveyor John Benson has spent a good part of his Thanksgiving Day for the past seven years on his feet, preparing and serving food to the homeless.

Surveying jobs scarce
Along with the housing and construction industries, surveying, once one of the most sought after occupations in real estate, has taken a hit in the faltering economy

Joke of the Week:  Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Level of Workplace Insanity

• Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
• Make up nicknames for all your co-workers, and refer to them only by these names. For example, "That's a good point, Sparky." "No, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree with you there, Cha-cha."
• Send an e-mail to the rest of the company telling them exactly what you're doing. For example: "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom." 
• Click here for more tips.

Problem of the Week: Land Boundary Law: Boundary Law Terms

When the public good is involved and adequate compensation is offered, private property may be taken for public use under what principle?

A. estoppel
B. entitlement
C. oyer
D. eminent domain

Follow this link to access the rest of this week's Fun & Games.

Further your technical education and industry knowledge at the AEC Store.  

2009 Bestsellers:

Business Management Handbook for Land Surveyors - $65.00
This 150-page handbook provides guidance for land surveyors who are interested in starting or improving their own business. Follow this link for a complete description.

GPS for Land Surveyors, Third Edition - $89.85
This manual gives you all the tools to understand and use GPS techniques in everyday practice.This book teaches the basics of GPS technology, common hardware, surveying methods, survey design, planning and observation, and much more! Follow this link for a complete description.  

Lasting Impressions, A Glimpse Into the Legacy of Surveying
Lasting Impressions is a visually stunning compilation of fascinating stories and photos from surveyors, engineers, geocachers, history buffs and enthusiasts from across the country. Follow this link for a complete description.

The AEC Store offers more than 50 products specific to the Surveying Industry. Visit AECStore.com to view all of our products.

Glacier Computer Introduces Line Of Handheld Computers
The M3 Series handheld computers are designed with many of the same attributes as Glacier's Everest Series of vehicle mounted computers such as high quality ruggedization and complete configuration flexibility.