Michael L. Binge, LS, GISP

The 2012 Survey Summit and ACSM Annual Conference, which took place July 21-24 in San Diego, drew an estimated 250 attendees. The “Road Ahead” theme was an apt metaphor. For the first time in a long time, there seems to be some doubt about the direction we are taking as a profession.

The 2012 Survey Summit andACSM Annual Conference took place July 21-24, in San Diego with the theme "The Road Ahead." Here's a glimpse of what that road looks like.

Since we began our Surveying GIS journey more than 10 years ago--exploring both the potential and value of Geographic Information Systems to surveyors--much has changed.

One thing we must accept is that change happens a lot faster than it used to. The tools of the trade are evolving so rapidly it is difficult to track them, let alone develop proficiency using them. That in itself is not in any way unusual. Methods and tactics have historically lagged behind development. And that is consistent with our inherent apprehension about change.

On March 19, 2011, surveyors across the United States participated in Surveying USA. This momentous event was coordinated by NSPS and overseen by NGS by way of its Online User Positioning Service (OPUS). Although this was the first attempt at a truly national exercise, it was not the first event of its kind; an earlier pioneering venture coordinated a large number of GPS receivers over a large area to achieve a high accuracy network.

There is no hotter topic in the surveying community today than the change that is going on in our profession. Advances in technology have been the driving force behind most of it. Many modern tools have supplanted the need for skilled operators.

“Hey you, get on my cloud!” That seems to be a very popular buzz line these days, especially in the corporate information technology community. The term cloud computing uses the word “cloud” as a metaphor for the Internet--sort of.

In my last column, I explored the perceived need for a national parcel database. 

Geographic information systems have been a source of controversy since they exploded into the world of land surveying more than a decade ago.