The NSPS board of directors approved the new 2011 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys and The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the ASPRS Foundation received a donation to endow a new outstanding technical achievement award. 

NSPS and ALTA Boards Approve New ALTA/ACSM Standards

The NSPS board of directors approved the new 2011 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys during its meeting in Orlando on Nov. 15, 2010. The new requirements were previously approved by the board of governors of the American Land Title Association at its Oct. 13 meeting in San Diego.

The 2011 Minimum Standards document represents the latest and eighth version of the standards, which were last revised in 2005. It is also the first major rewrite of the standards since their initial adoption in 1962. The new standards will become effective on Feb. 23, 2011, at which time all previous versions will be superseded.

The ALTA/ACSM Standards are nationally recognized by title companies, surveyors, lenders and attorneys as the survey standard to rely upon in conveyances of real property when extended title insurance coverage is required by one or more of the parties.

The final approved version of the 2011 standards may be downloaded from the ACSM Web site at www.acsm.net under the “Standards” section or from the ALTA Web site at www.alta.org/forms under the “Recently Approved for Final Publication” section

ASPRS to Launch New Award for Technical Achievement

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and the ASPRS Foundation received an individual donation with a value of $90,000 in early December to endow a new outstanding technical achievement award. The award will be administered through ASPRS and funded by the ASPRS Foundation. ASPRS has agreed to match $35,000 of the donation in accordance with its current matching policy for a total of approximately $125,000. The result of the match ensures that the award will be fully endowed at the $5,000 per annual award level.

The purpose of the award is to recognize and encourage developers of specific breakthrough technologies that stimulate major advances in the practice of photogrammetry, remote sensing, or geographic information systems in the United States. “One of the greatest strengths of the ASPRS community has been its ability, over more than 75 years, to constantly bring forward technological advances that maintain our profession as truly state-of-the-art,” said ASPRS President Dr. Carolyn Merry. “By recognizing these advances as they occur, this award will hopefully ensure we remain on a strong technological trajectory.”

The award consists of a silver presentation plaque mounted on a walnut wood panel, plus a cash award of $5,000, and will be given annually if a worthy candidate is identified. ASPRS Web site is www.asprs.org.