https://pamagic.org/hb-2101-position-statement
This was posted by someone who is a resident of California, not sure why they are interested in the workings of the practice of survey and engineering in Pennsylvania.....
Well I would challenge your viewpoint. There are a lot of surveyors that cannot fully create geodatabases with GIS software, work within a full world view geodetic reference frame (i.e. geographic coordinates), 3D Geospatial models and the overall ability to grasp the entire geospatial world.
Ask yourself this question...Can you deliver your current project in a fully spatially reference geodatabase shapefile will all the metadata correctly defined to your assessor, or any other client? Do you know how to deliver a 3D topographic survey that can be read and processed with a GIS software? Can you base and work with a survey that is in geographic coordinates that covers entire counties?
Many surveyors hate on and try to take away GIS work, but I wonder if they could actually pick up the ball and run with it. I would doubt it.
Just my opinion.
Duly noted, and the post does explain they agree with some of the wording, and disagree with others.
I'm a weird bird, I started in gravity gps and magnetic field measurements. After working with mainframe computers. Then I got into GIS and soon after Land Surveying. There was some parallel overlap for sure.
I think my post was focused on the back story I'm familiar with and it's not included in the link.
Not fully intellectually honest on my part.
I believe their work needs each other, and that the difference between GISP and PLS PE is at the heart of the matter.
A buddy of mine that's in GIS said, I will get my GISP. when they make all the people that were given the letters before they required the test kind of summed it up. They are not equal but similar.
The future might be a complete rebuild and combination of both fields, would make sense.
I took journalistic license in my post title.
There's a bigger dialogue to be had and it's definitely not one sided.
Where's the coffee?
No...no..not at all, just posted faster than my brain could filter my bias.
No to click bait!
My only experience with GIS was in college and I'm just about the furthest thing from an expert one can be on the stuff but I do remember being surprised about some things...
Maybe this is not the case with all GIS data but the stuff I was working with had no coordinates or dimensions. The metadata would say "UTM Zone 11" or something and then a pink blob representing flamingo population would pop onto the screen. And then we'd load more dimensionless data in the form of a blue blob indicating wetlands which would also pop onto the screen. Some blue and pink would overlap and voila-- the magic of GIS. 😏 Maybe they teach an extremely basic form of the software or something, but the whole time I was learning about it I couldn't help but think I was working with a $10,000 copy of microsoft paint.
I would be curious to see a real pro work with it because clearly stuff like google earth is on a different level.
Looks like they are up in arms over the new sections that place "authoritative" original data collection, GIS data collection and interpretation for boundaries, and the adjustment of GIS parcel layers under the purview of licensed land surveyors.
I can see the need for some additional clarification, or at least some board opinions on those changes, because otherwise there is likely going to be some serious turf warfare going on at the very least at the county and city level.
There are a lot of surveyors that cannot fully create geodatabases with GIS software, work within a full world view geodetic reference frame (i.e. geographic coordinates), 3D Geospatial models and the overall ability to grasp the entire geospatial world.
Unfortunately yes, and they really ought to stick to basic boundary work with conventional methods and leave the geodetic work for those who are competent in it. Wishful thinking, perhaps...
Ask yourself this question...Can you deliver your current project in a fully spatially reference geodatabase shapefile will all the metadata correctly defined to your assessor, or any other client? Do you know how to deliver a 3D topographic survey that can be read and processed with a GIS software? Can you base and work with a survey that is in geographic coordinates that covers entire counties?
I certainly can, but I'm one of maybe two or three surveyors among 50 or so across our firm who have done that. The other PLS look at me like I have two heads when I suggest doing that type of work.
But then again I'm one of the "young college surveyors", you see - at 37, with a license, 16 years of experience across three states, a four-year geomatics degree, and a former trainer for Trimble systems and software. A true neophyte, no doubt about it.
My opinion won't matter for at least another 15-20 years, after I've given up and stopped caring, or let myself get so far behind the times that I get offended at the idea of someone younger knowing something I don't.
Hell, we just upgraded our equipment from ten-year-old gear to the latest and greatest, and I've already been overruled on GNSS and geodetic data collection procedures despite basing methodology on industry white papers, NGS guidelines, scientific research papers, and multiple states' GNSS collection standards.
"That's the way we've always done it" could be the official NSPS motto.
Hell, we just upgraded our equipment from ten-year-old gear to the latest and greatest, and I've already been overruled on GNSS and geodetic data collection procedures despite basing methodology on industry white papers, NGS guidelines, scientific research papers, and multiple states' GNSS collection standards.
"That's the way we've always done it" could be the official NSPS motto.
I can see the look in their eyes when you start talking to them...
Please don't give me the authority, responsibility and requirements that I don't want. I am perfectly willing to let geographers, information specialist and geospatial technologist control, manipulate and own the geospatial data generation, management and distribution. I can, have and am authorized to do so; but even when the client ask for such, I do not really comply, because what he is asking for is not really what he wants. I am perfectly willing, and in fact, desire to let them have it, and when done, I'll be available to pick up the pieces.