With August almost over and Labor Day approaching, POB believes it’s a good time to look back at some of the top news and stories of the past month.

From transformative technology to change at a prominent association, here’s a glance at some of the top surveying and mapping headlines.

• An increasing buzz about unmanned aircraft systems. A record number of people attended the AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems conference on Aug. 13-15 in Washington, and there was plenty of talk about the potential for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, or drones) in the geospatial community.
• Celebrating surveying’s history. The Surveyors Rendezvous 2013 meets in Philadelphia to honor Charles Mason and pay tribute to the 250^th anniversary of the Mason-Dixon Line. Meanwhile, Charles Coutellier took a look at the man who changed the history of Ohio.
• ASPRS seeks new leader. Following the announcement by James Plasker that he will retire in January, the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing announced it is looking for a new executive director.
• NSPS speaks out. The National Society of Professional Surveyors has sent a letter to the Department of Labor asking it to rescind its decision to expand the Davis-Bacon Act to members on survey crews.
• Firm honored for work following Superstorm Sandy. Woolpert received the LCDR Peter Johnson Best Practices Award for the firm’s delivery of emergency LiDAR data following Superstorm Sandy.