SurvBase News

Here you will find surveying stories, Geomatics terminology, & company updates. (see News/Blog navigation arrows in upper right when viewing a page)

ASPLS 2024 Conference

The Alaska surveying & mapping conference is back in the form of the Alaska Society of Professional Land Surveyors (ASPLS) 2024 “Go Boldly” Conference. The conference is scheduled for February 24 - 26, 2024. See alaskapls.org and ASPLS 2024 - Go Boldly website for more information and to sign up.

They’ve got 3 days of classes and activitites scheduled including speakers John Bennett, PLS, SR/WA & Alaska Hall of Famer, Dr. Jan Van Sickle, Geodesist and Author, program updates, Civil 3D classes and the ASPLS Annual Meeting on Saturday February 26, 2024.

Summer 2021 COVID-19 and status update

After a long period of working from home, SurvBase personnel are all fully vaccinated and primarily working from the office. All SurvBase geomatics services continue to be available. Field staff have safely worked in communities around the state throughout 2020 while adhering to and exceeding required safety protocols. Our number one goal continues to be ensuring the safety of our employees and the communities we work in. Thanks for your support throughout this trying time.

Notice to our clients regarding COVID-19

We continue to adapt to the dynamic community and governmental state of affairs in Alaska. All SurvBase geomatics services remain available. SurvBase personnel are continuing to work from home offices connected to our network servers, as we have for the duration of the pandemic. Field staff have safely worked in communities around the state while adhering to and exceeding required safety protocols. Our number one goal is ensuring the safety of our employees, communities, and preventing further spread of COVID-19. We will continue with our COVID-19 strategy indefinitely - until such time as it is prudent to return to normal operations. 

Dr. Terrence Cole, Professor of History, Arctic and Northern Studies

Dr. Terrence Cole, a friend of the Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference (ASMC) and 2017 Keynote Speaker has passed. His Keynote, "Miserable Maps and Missing Meridians: The Role of Surveyors and Cartographers in Alaskan History” was as entertaining as it was informative. His bio from the ASMC program book is shown below: 

*Dr. Terrence M. Cole directs the University of Alaska Fairbanks Office of Public History and is a Professor of History, Arctic and Northern Studies. He first came to Alaska as a teenager more than forty years ago, and earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Alaska in 1976, and his PhD in American History at the University of Washington in 1983. 

Professor Cole has written five books about Alaskan history, including "Crooked Past," a history of the founding of Fairbanks, and "Nome: City of the Golden Beaches," a history of the Nome gold rush. His latest book is a study of the Alaska statehood movement, “Fighting for the 49th Star” (2010). 

A frequent guest lecturer at public conferences and schools ranging from kindergarten classes to Elder Hostel and everything in between, he has appeared on the BBC, CBC, NPR, PBS (American Experience), the History Channel, TLC, the Weather Channel, the Discovery Channel, and ABC’s Good Morning America. He has never made an appearance on COPS or Keeping Up with the Kardashians. 

Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference (ASMC) volunteer activities

SurvBase staff have a long history of service to Alaska’s geospatial community through volunteering with the annual Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference activities. SurvBase has also supported the conference with corporate sponsorship and by donating display booth space to the UAA Geomatics Student Association (GSA). 

SurvBase staff have been deeply involved in the planning and execution of the conference as well. Steve Buchanan has served over 4 years on the ASMC Planning Committee, served as Conference Chair (2018), Co-Chair (2016), and other roles including the ASMC Hall of Fame Chair (5 years). Jon Roder has served in multiple conference roles including K-12 Education Program Coordinator, Planning Committee, and Hall of Fame Co-Chair.

Unfortunately the 2020 conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Note that the ASMC Board voted in December 2019 to change the conference format from an annual meeting to a biennial event. The next conference is currently scheduled for Spring 2022.

UAA Geomatics Advisory Board works to bolster Geomatics Program

Last summer (June 2019), the UAA Geomatics program went from a seemingly strong position to being in possible danger of program closure due to Alaska’s financial and political turmoil. The University of Alaska (the entire university) faced “financial exigency” triggered when Governor Dunleavy vetoed an unprecedented $130 million from the university’s operating budget at the end of June.

The search for two additional full-time faculty members was put on an indefinite hold until budgets stabilize. Small programs like ours were likely to be in the crosshairs for elimination but we feel confident that we’ve demonstrated our uniqueness and importance to the State of Alaska.

With university funds frozen due to the financial exigency, the only way to hire and fund term faculty and adjunct positions was through fundraising. The Geomatics Advisory Board (GAB) started a campaign July 29th to raise the necessary funds in just 2 weeks. We raised close to $150,000 and the department was given approval to make the necessary hires to teach Fall & Spring classes. We had donations from companies, individuals, professional societies (including ASPRS and ASPLS), licensed surveyors, and other geospatial practitioners. Here is a website that shows a list of donors: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-engineering/departments/geomatics/support-geo.cshtml

UAA Geomatics Advisory Board service

Steve Buchanan, PLS was elected as Chair by members of the University of Alaska Geomatics Advisory Board (GAB) at the Winter/Spring 2018 GAB meeting. Steve has served on the GAB in several capacities over the past 20+ years, starting as a student member, then regular Board member, and now Chair.

The GAB is an independent group of geospatial professionals from private and government entities formed to help guide the UAA Geomatics program.

The UAA College of Engineering Geomatics Advisory Board (GAB) is to serve as an advocate for the UAA Geomatics Department.  Advice will be provided about industry needs, academic programs, career opportunities for students, staffing, and budget matters.  The GAB will support the Geomatics department in outreach activities to educate the public about program benefits.


The Landmen – 2018 ASMC Keynote Presentation

"The Landmen – How They Secured the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Right-of-Way” a book by Armand Spielman and Michael Travis.

Michael Travis, PE, presented the 2018 Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference Keynote entitled,  “The Landmen – How They Secured the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Right-of-Way,” a story about the first hurdle to the pipeline: No ROW = No Pipeline! 

Synopsis:

Armand Spielman had no idea of the overwhelming task before him! It was March 1969 and Armand had accepted a temporary position as a landman for the company that would build the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. His mission – acquire the project right-of-way so that crude oil would flow 800 miles from the oil-producing fields of Prudhoe Bay to the ice-free port of Valdez, where it would be shipped to West Coast refineries. Realizing the daunting undertaking, Armand recruited his longtime friend Jay Sullivan for help. Jay assembled an unlikely group of men who set out to do what some called impossible – out of a vast Alaska wilderness, secure agreements with an array of owners to build a pipeline above permafrost, under rivers, and over three rugged mountain ranges. This is their story.

Alaska Licensing Requirements for Mapping - 2017 ASMC

Here’s a presentation John Kerr, PLS made at the 2017 Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference (ASMC) highlighting requirements & rationale for licensing in Alaska for mapping practice. Mr. Kerr serves as a member of the Alaska State Board of Architects, Engineers, & Land Surveyors, appointed by former Governor Sean Parnell.

 See the presentation slides here: Kerr – Alaska Licensing Requirements for Mapping 

49th Year 49th State

The 2015 Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference was held in Anchorage at the Anchorage Hilton from February 16 - 20. SurvBase was a conference sponsor once again (also in 2013 & 2014), donating our included booth space to the University of Alaska Anchorage Geomatics Student Association (UAA GSA). Steve Buchanan served on the ASMC Board and was the Planning Committee Chair for this year's conference.

Appointment to AELS Board

John Kerr, PLS was appointed to the Alaska State Board of Architects, Engineers, & Land Surveyors by Governor Sean Parnell, effective March 1, 2013 for a 4-year term of service. The AELS Board’s mission statement is:

To protect the public health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, and landscape architecture by:

  • Ensuring that those entering these practices meet minimum standards of competency, and maintain such standards during their practice;
  • Requiring licensure to practice in the State of Alaska; and
  • Enforcing both the licensure and competency requirements in a fair and uniform manner.


2012 Annual Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference

SurvBase is a proud sponsor of the 46th Annual Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel February 13-17, 2012. Once again we have donated our booth to the University of Alaska Anchorage Geomatics Student Association. See you at the conference!

Akutan P.I.

Here's a short video compiled from footage shot in Akutan in August 2010 as part of an aerial photo control project for various infrastructure projects.


New "Resources" section

Check out the new Resources section of our website. This section will organize SurvBase reference materials, such as coordinate system documentation, software definition files, tools, and other items. This should make finding specific items easier too.

Port MacKenzie Coordinate System-PMRail GRS80

Here are the parameters for the low distortion projection plane coordinate system encompassing the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension project area.

SurvBase PMRail GRS80 CoordSys Parameters (PDF) 

Port MacKenzie photos - A Sampling

A sampling of photos from the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension project from Fall 2008 to Summer 2010. Includes examples of our Polaris tracked ATV's at work, original survey monumentation, setting permanent survey control monuments, rail profiles, and drainage surveys.

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Postcard #3 - Site Control

Get the facts--Land Title and Boundary Surveys.

SurvBase knows Site Control.

#3 Site Control

Postcard #2 - GPS Positions

We are updating our Postcard series with some more informative tidbits that we sent out to clients in 2009. Stay tuned--

Here are some of the basic elements of the Global Positioning System and the many coordinate systems that may be used. SurvBase expertly chooses the appropriate coordinate system and GPS location method for clients.

#2 GPS Positions

2010 Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference

SurvBase is a proud sponsor of the 44th Annual Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference at the Anchorage Sheraton February 22-26, 2010. See you at the conference!

Port MacKenzie Rail Project: Off-Road Transportation - Wheels to Tracks

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