Gulf Coast Chapter 9 News
News Agencies: Houston Chronicle Online USA Today Wall Street Journal CNN News Online Texas Online
(Archived Bi-Monthly Newsletters can be downloaded at the bottom of this page)
If you are NOT getting The Gulf Coast Surveyor
Newsletter in your email please send your current email address to
W.R. Wolfram III. If you are NOT a current member of TSPS State and Chapter, you will NOT
be emailed the newsletter. Other reasons for not receiving the Newsletter via
email include: your mailbox is full, your mailbox is unable to accept large
files (the Newsletter is usually about 800kb-8MB), your email client is blocking the
email (check with your Internet Service Provider). You may download
The
Journal of the Gulf Coast Surveyor at the bottom of this
page by right-click then download. Read and enjoy.
Latest Journal >
Gulf Coast Surveyor -
January-February, 2010
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TBPLS Web Site has had a facelift:
http://www.txls.state.tx.us/
Did you know there are 199 Registered Professional Land Surveyors in Houston?
TSPS State Web Site has had a
facelift: http://www.tsps.org/
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H-GAC Aerial Imagery will be available soon, if you have the money.
All imagery will be copyrighted and the price goes up to $5,500.00
Most of us that have been priviledged to purchase the H-GAC Aerial Imagery for the past ten years remember a time when the government only charged you for the reproduction costs for copies. Yes this goes back to the days of getting Monumentation Sheets from the City of Houston and any other "copies" you would get from all the government entities (city, county, state and the Federal Government). This has also been the policy of H-GAC in the past. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come. In these hard economic times our governments are using extreme measures to reconstitute their coffers. Although the Aerials have been a benefit to surveyors and mappers in our region of the state and much of the rest of the state, most of the rest of the state still shares the imagery at a reproduction cost, HGAC has chosen a different path. Download the H-GAC License Agreement and read it carefully before spending the $5,500.00 to get the 2010 imagery. This time there a many more strings to the use of the Aerials. For more information see http://www.h-gac.com/home/default.aspx
BTW: There is a scheduled H-GAC Board Meeting on:
Subject: H-GAC License Agreement <-Download the new Agreement here
GDC and Cost-Share Participants-
Attached is the aerial imagery license agreement that Robert presented last
week at the GDC meeting.
Make sure that you read over the license agreement and fill out the legal
portion and sign (page 3) as well as fill out the contact information within
Appendix A if you are a cost-share participant, a GDC member or plan to
purchase the imagery later on. Once you have filled it out, either scan and
email it or fax it back to me at 713-993-2481. We will need your P.O. and
signed license before we can provide you the data.
Email me back if you need to be re-invoiced.
Please see appendix B If you have questions regarding the fee schedule (page 6).
As stated in my last email, the cost-share participants will be serviced first, then the GDC members and finally the public. Once the cost-share group has been serviced, an interactive web page will be created for the GDC to receive the imagery; this site will also service the general public when made available.
Beverly Bell
Data Services Department Assistant
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 120
Houston, Texas 77027
Phone: (713) 993- 2401
Fax: 713-993-2481
Beverly.Bell@h-gac.com
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HOLD THE PHONE! THERE WILL BE NO JULY DINNER MEETING.
IT WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE PICNIC.
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July 17, 2010: Picnic at the Herman Park Zoo. Take a look at
the NEWS page for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYING
Several changes to
the TBPLS Rules have been published in the Texas Register at the following Link:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/index.html
See also the following from the
Register.
GENERAL RULES OF PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES22 TAC §661.99 Sanction & Penalty Matrix
STANDARDS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND RULES OF CONDUCT22 TAC §663.20 Criminal Convictions - added (j)
CONTINUING EDUCATION22 TAC §664.3 Numerical Requirements for Continuing Education
In the July 9, 2010 issue will be the proposed 664.4 Types of Acceptable Continuing Education.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AT THE HOUSTON ZOO FREE
T. S. P. S. CHAPTER 9 PICNIC AT THE HOUSTON ZOO !!
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TSPS CHAPTER 9 PICNIC
ALL YOU CAN EAT
HOT DOGS,CHIPS AND DRINKS WITH PURCHASE OF A TICKET!!
JULY 17, 2010
The Houston Zoo is allowing TSPS to bring survey equipment on the Zoo grounds for "Survey Stations"
We will demonstrate
Pacing (at the zoo reflection pool), Trig functions (calculate the height of a giraffe), distance measurement (at the duck pond), and angular measurement!! Come and have fun. See how close you can guess at each station!Order tickets by
JULY 2, 2010Individual Adult Tickets : $7
Individual Children Tickets (ages 2 to 12) : $5
Sponsors and Companies buy tickets for your employees for greater discounts:
$100 – 10 adult, 10 children (5 families of 4)
$150 – 18 Adult, 18 children (9 families of 4)
$200 – 26 Adult, 26 Children (13 families of 4)
$300 – 40 adult, 40 Children (20 families of 4)
For more information,
Contact Stephen Chruszczak
At 281-681-9766 or
Via email
schruszczak@geosol.biz
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Wanna see something cool? ->
SkillsUSA/TSPS
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CHAPTER DINNER MEETING AT HESS
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Fred Garcia of H.C.F.C.D. for a presentation on property rights for work in and around the District's properties.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010:
HESS Dinner Meeting
TSPS Gulf Coast Chapter 9 Dinner Meeting
Speaker:
Mr. Kirk Hooper, P.E. Manager,
Project Management Section,
Harris County
Flood Control District
Subject: Harris County
Flood Control District - Property Rights
Tuesday, March 11, 2010, Cocktails @ 6:30 PM (Cash Bar), Dinner @ 7:00PM
Houston Engineering and Scientific Society
5430 Westheimer Road <Click to see map
Houston, Texas 77056
713-627-2283
RSVP: Ms. Susan Brown @ Weisser Engineering Company 281-579-7300
susanb@weissereng.com
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Texas One
Call Shuts Down !
Below is the comment on the Texas One Call website
“As a consequence of a legal
setback, Texas One Call System (“TOCS”) has
determined to end its operations as a notification center in Texas. We will
wind down our operations over the next several weeks.
You should experience no interruptions in service provided that you become a
member of another Texas notification center of which there are two: Dig TESS
and Lone Star. TOCS encourages you to contact Dig TESS and become a member
of its Texas Excavation Safety System. You may contact Dig TESS at (972)
231-5497.
TOCS will provide assistance to ensure an orderly transition of your
one-call service
to your new notification center.
We have enjoyed being your notification center and we thank you for the
privilege of serving you.”
provided by Jim Sullivan, R.P.L.S.
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Letters to TSPS Chapter 9:
Thanks to the endowment the University of Houston Surveying Program continues. Please see the documents below.
Here is more tangible evidence of our efforts
at the University of Houston.
Thank you all for your effort, particularly Mr. Andrew Lonnie Sikes and Mr.
Paul Kwan.
Best regards to all!
Download
these documents here:
UofH-Document1
submitted by Past
President, Michael Hoover, R.P.L.S., C.F.M.
mhoover@benchmarkengr.net
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S. I. T & R. P. L.
S. Exams are this weekend (04-16-2010)
What's in it for me?
If you are one of the people that have thought about pursuing the S. I. T. Certificate or a Professional Land Surveying License and just thought it was too hard to study for a test you know nothing about. Maybe you're one of those that never has the time to study, much less, knows what to study. Maybe now is the time to reconsider. The Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, SIT/RPLS Test Prep Study Groups will be forming in the next few weeks. The TSPS Goal is to assist Land Surveying para-professionals and SIT’s in preparing for the TBPLS examinations to become an SIT or a RPLS, respectively.
What is the plan to achieve these goals?
To achieve these goals TSPS State and the Education Committee specifically, as charged by the TSPS President, will create a structure, wherein each major metropolitan area’s Chapter will create a Study Group for accumulating and distributing information regarding the examinations for each the SIT Examination and the RPLS Examination. This information will be pooled for redistribution to others, first within the Chapter and secondly at each quarterly board meeting with other Chapter’s Member Study Groups. A Chapter Study Group will then set aside a regular time and day to meet for two to four hours to discuss study material. Each Chapter should have a representative that will attend the TSPS State quarterly board meeting and meet with the other representatives to share data. If there is duplicate material from one or more sources, the group will review the material to decide if a) one is better than the other, b) the material is relevant and can be cross-checked for accuracy and c) if the differing materials can be combined to benefit the group.
If you are interested contact
Billy Wolfram or Bud
Thompson or download this document for more information ->
TSPS Study Groups
Look for announcements in the TSPS Chapter 9 Journal or come to the next TSPS
Chapter 9 Meeting in May.
by Bud Thompson
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Peter J. Winton passed away on
March 24, 2010 at the age of 52.
Pete was a party chief for over 30 years, and he worked at Fisher Company, Clark Surveying, and most recently Windrose Land Services where he was the chief of parties. Pete was known for his hard work and the quality of the surveys he produced. To many in the surveying community, Pete was also a mentor and a friend. Pete is survived by his wife, Margie Winton, his daughters, Brianna Winton, Shannon Winton, and Hypatia Winton, his son Glenn Winton, and grandchildren, Cassandra Steffler and Jacob Winton. A luncheon and memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday March 27 at Rudi Lechner's restaurant at 2503 S. Gessner at 1 P.M. An opportunity will be given for anyone who knew Pete to relate their experiences with him. RSVP requested but not required. Please direct all inquiries to ccsteffler@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Cole Steffler
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CITY OF HOUSTON PLATTING CHANGES
Submitted by Ric Vazquez, R.P.L.S.
Principal, Precision Land Surveying, Inc.
The City of Houston has been working on a new plat submittal process it is calling eDRC. It is not quite ready for prime time yet but it is well on its way. Much of the focus, as I see it, is to enable the plat submittals to more easily be integrated into their GIS. Portions of this GIS will be viewable by the general public and, if memory serves me right, there will be a “professional” type log-in for surveyors and such to access more data. An additional benefit is to enable the planners, your friends and mine, the ability to more easily review plats. As you can imagine, there are things you will like and things you probably will not like.
One thing you will probably like (I know I will) is when you submit the plat you will see it in the GIS. You will be able to somewhat check your state plane coordinates. The process will extract and place in the application the location information that we currently go to several sources to get. Specifically, some of the items that will be extracted are the HCAD account numbers, the census tract number, the county precinct, the school district, and the in city limits or in etj information. This will certainly be somewhat of a time saver.
There will be differences we will need to get used to. All linework in the plats will need to be polylines and all boundaries - property, blocks, lots, reserves, etc., - will need to be closed polylines, or as the city calls them, polygons. All proposed easements will need both sides of the easements drawn with polylines, even those that abut a street right-of-way. Yes, this does mean some lines will actually be several lines, along the right-of-way of a street for instance. There will be a line for the closed polyline for the reserve, say, one for the right-of-way, one for the closed polyline for the block, and possibly one for the limit of an easement. Again, there will be redundancy on many lines and, yes, it will add to the time it takes to prepare a plat. There is a method to their madness so digging your heels in will not be helpful.
Probably the biggest change will be the standardization of layers. Currently there are only a few layers in the layering scheme plats have to abide by - boundary, boundary_anno, and xy-coord layers. All other layers we have a choice of and we tell the planners what they will be. Those days will not be here for much longer. The planning department is working on a layering scheme that currently has 124 layers. Before you completely wig out about this please let me explain. The planners have to deal with everything in the platting ordinance and these layers all correspond to items included in Chapter 42. There is a layer for a polyline layer as well as a layer for its associated text. If you do not have an amenities plan, for instance, you will not need to have this layer in your drawing file. Will there be 124 layers when this is all said and done? Maybe, maybe not. The proposed layer names can be quite long so I am hoping they will truncate them.
Before you go into a panic about the layers and all changes you are thinking you will need to be going through, I need to tell you there will be an AutoCad template on the website that has all the layers, colors, linetypes, and weights. You will be able to draw in this template or import your drawing into it. If your software has a layering translator you should be able to set it up once and then do the layering translation when you need to submit a plat. Yes, this will take some time to set up your translator but it should only be a one-time shot if you set it up correctly.
I know some of you are thinking “GIS” and all that it involves and can do. Yes, this is for import into the city GIS but it is still a plat. If this was for engineering I could see the benefit of a GIS drawing but it is not. All of you in large companies with a GIS department, relax. I personally do not see the need for intelligent objects and attributes in a plat so I am hoping I will not need to create a GIS drawing and at the present time the planning department does not either. Something else the planning department does not see is the need to make the drawing using grid distances. Surface distances are fine with them. They recognize surveying is done in surface and they do not want to upset that with a plat drawing done in grid. They do not want to have to scale all the plats with different scale factors for the GIS. The route they may well go will be to take advantage of the minimal differences in scale factors in this lovely flat plain we lie in and take the TXDOT approach of one scale factor for the area. Yes, there will be differences but not enough to worry them. After all, how far off can they be is their thinking.
There is much more to all this than I have given you. This process has been going on for some time but has not been finalized yet. Listed below are two websites. I invite you to go to them and “play” (work, but not billable - consider it an investment in your future) and see what you think. Find out what you like and what you don’t like. The Planning and Development Department is actively soliciting feedback from anyone involved in the platting process so the final product will be as usable as possible for us and still meet their goals. By the time you read this they will probably have given two presentations on this. I, and 10 or fifteen others have attended the first working group meeting and plan on attending the others. If you have any comments - let me rephrase that - any constructive comments, or concerns, you can e-mail Jennifer Ostlind at Jennifer.Ostlind@cityofhouston.net or email me at rv@plsurveying.com. I would be happy to bring them up at the meetings.
Thanks and happy platting!
Submitted by Ric
Vasquez, RPLS
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HOLD THE PRESS!
In case you didn't get your email and on March 22nd, 2010 you are going to be dealing with a plat which requires public notice please download and read the New Applicant Notification Policy -> COHANP.pdf . The email, in case you did not get one is as follows:
"Dear Platting Applicant,
Please be advised of the new policies
concerning notification requirements. The attached letter provide details on
the specific changes. For further information, please refer to the following
link
http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/forms/forms.htm. Please read these
policies carefully and keep them handy for future reference.
Sincerely,
Dorianne Powe-Phlegm
Planner Leader
City of Houston Planning & Development
611 Walker, 6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
713-837-7808 713-837-7994 (fax)"
posted by Bud Thompson, RPLS (Web Master) 10-12-2010
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SPRING IS HERE!!!!!
It’s time to dust off
the glove and polish the bat. TSPS Softball Tourney is around the
corner.
Again this year it
will be held on May 1st at the Houston Sportsplex on South
Main at Post Oak KEY MAP 571-G (it says 574-G on the flyer). To have
the tourney completed in one day we are limited to only 18 teams, first
come first served. So sign up today, the roster is in the flyer.
Thanks again for your
support.
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From Jennifer Ostlind @ the City of Houston Planning Department:
Dear Platting Applicant: The City of Houston Planning and Development Department is launching Workshop #1: Introduction to Layer Requirements and Templates Workshop #2: Follow up including feedback from you and Q&A It's important that we receive as much input as possible during this
three new programs to enhance the development process: MyCity web
based GIS tool, eDRC platting application, and street addressing. You're
invited to attend two workshops to learn more about these exciting
new tools and about a standard layering system being implemented by the
City and Harris County that will be critical to the overall success of these
programs.
Friday, February 26
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
611 Walker Street
Garden Level Auditorium
Thursday, March 11
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
611 Walker Street
Garden Level Auditorium
education and testing phase so plat submittal will run smoothly when
the final version of the layers is deployed later in the Spring. Please
contact Jennifer Ostlind
at
jennifer.ostlind@cityofhouston.net with
questions.
Thanks,
Jennifer Ostlind
713-837-7871
posted by
Bud Thompson, RPLS (Web Master)
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Sad News for TSPS
Peggye Gold, beloved
wife of TSPS Past President, Ken Gold, passed away Wednesday
(02/17/2010) night about 10:30 pm.
Our sincerest sympathies go out to Ken and the entire Gold family.
Peggye was talented, warm and lovely—she will be deeply missed.
Details about
arrangements are still a bit sketchy but here’s what we know.
Visitation at 1:00 pm
on Friday, February 19 at
Service at 2:30 pm on Friday February 19 at
12500 Westheimer
Houston
Watch the TSPS
website for more information as it becomes available to us.
Latest Journal Download >
Gulf Coast Surveyor -
November - December, 2009
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010:
Satellite Meeting in League
City
TSPS Gulf Coast Chapter 9 Dinner Meeting
Speaker: Mr. Mike Fitzgerald, P.E., Galveston County
Engineer
Subject: Historic Survey Records & Maps of Galveston County
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, Cocktails @ 6:30 PM (Cash
Bar), Dinner @ 7:00PM
Red River Bar-B-Que
1911 East Main Street <Click to see map
League City, Texas 77573
281-332-8086
RSVP: Ms. Susan Brown @ Weisser Engineering Company 281-579-7300
susanb@weissereng.com
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Letters to TSPS Chapter 9:
Thanks to the endowment the University of Houston Surveying Program continues. Please see the document below.
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As many of you may know, the younger generation and a few high-tech old salts are more into getting their news and views from the social networking sites. Thanks entirely to one of our newest TSPS Chapter 9 Board Members, Jim Sullivan, we can all enjoy the fruits of his labors by clicking the "Find us on Facebook" hyperlink below. Check it out.
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To all TSPS Chapter
Members:
See the attached
flyer for the January Dinner Meeting. Due to a ANOTHER conflict, the
meeting will be held at 6:30 on WEDNESDAY, January 13 at
Saltgrass Restaurant. The meeting will “FOCUS ON EDUCATION” featuring
speakers from UofH,
William E. (Bill) Merten, RPLS, LSLS
6:30 on WEDNESDAY, January 13 at Saltgrass
Restaurant. The meeting will “FOCUS ON EDUCATION” featuring speakers from UofH,
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Notes from T.B.P.L.S. Meeting December 11, 2009:
The T.B.P.L.S. Meeting, held December 11, 2009 in Austin was an important meeting in many ways. As is a normal part of these meetings the "Complaints" reviews process consumed a large portion of the time. Complaints regarding elevations in Jefferson County were disposed of by mandating "Agreed Orders", "Voluntary Assurance of Compliance" and fines (per the TBPLS Fine Matrix) for three surveyors. It was stated that the "majority of people that file complaints want more than we (TBPLS) can give them." It was also considered that Insurance investments and Civil Suits will almost assuredly follow in this situation.
One major piece of news regards the increase in
CEU's for 2011 forward.
"Beginning January 2011, a registrant, to be eligible for renewal of the
certificate of registration, must accrue at least twelve (12) hours of
completed board approved professional development activities during the
immediate preceding twelve months in any annual period. Beginning January
2011 and every other year thereafter. On (odd numbered years) four (4) hours
of the required twelve (12) hours shall be the Board developed or designated
course(s) on Ethics and beginning January 2012 and every other year
thereafter on (even numbered years) four (4) hours of the required twelve
(12) hours shall be the Board developed or designated course(s) on the Act
and Rules." In short starting 2011 twelve (12) CEUs will be required. In each odd
numbered year (2011, 2013, etc.) four (4) TBPLS approved CEUs will be
required in the subject of ETHICS . The remaining eight (8) CEUs will
be as per previous TBPLS Rules. Starting 2012 twelve (12) CEUs will be required. In each even numbered
year (2012, 2014, etc.) four (4) TBPLS approved CEUs will be required in the
subject of The Surveyors Practices Act and TBPLS Board Rules.
The remaining eight (8) CEUs will be as per previous TBPLS Rules. A second major piece of news regards the Board
Rule 663.17 regarding monumentation. The TBPLS Board has withdrawn any
potential rule change and will take no board action.
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01-01-2010: Happy New Year. It's time to get
back to work.
Trig*Star 2010:
To All TSPS Chapter 9 Members:
I have included the 2010 Chapter 9
Kick-off package.pdf (5mb)
and a 2010
Trig-Star Introduction for your use.
It includes:
·
Introduction to Trig-Star
· A brochure
on scholarship.
·
Instructions for the Local Contest
· Why do I
have to learn Trig?
·
Preparations for the Local Contest.
· Rules for
the Local Contest.
·
Administration of the Local Test.
· Sample
Problems.
Along with this notifcation and the dates below, I hope this will answer most questions. TSPS State is excited about the momentum with Trig-Star and the SkillsUSA program. Many students are being exposed to surveying.
As a Chapter, we have made some progress with Trig-Star, but there is more that can be done. We hope that the exposure from the Educators Conference in 2009 will boost participation.
As always, we need your help. There are two ways that you can be involved with Trig-Star. You can make the contact with the educator and/or you can also administer the test.
The proposed schedule is:
Late March – Local
exam administered
Mid April – All testing and
scores submitted to the State
May 1-15 - State Contest Winner Submitted.
National Exam is in June.
The Chapter 9 winners will be recognized at a Chapter Dinner and presented with a $300.00 check. The second place winner will be presented a $150.00 check and the teacher of the first place student will receive a check for $300.00. This should make most teachers think about giving up an hour.
I think that Introduction along with some of the text from this e-mail should be enough for a teacher to consider the program.
Please feel free to contact me directly. Please do not hit reply to this e-mail. If you need help in contacting educators or administering the test, please let me know. If you find something that does or does not work, please let me know.
Terry L. Rowe, RPLS, LSLS
TSC Surveying ''A GeoSurv, Inc. Company''
3300 S. Gessner Road., Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77063
(D) 713-400-4724
(T) 713-784-4466 ext 724
(C) 713-823-8987
(F) 713-784-6900
terryrowe@tscsurveying.com
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Scout Camp starts on the 26th. How about a belated Christmas gift to a Boy Scout?
From Terry Rowe:
I am still in need of
several persons that can either commit to the whole week or at least
donate a day for the Boy Scout Winter Camp program. I only have two
persons that have been able to commit and that does not leave me with
enough adults to run the program and have a back-up or two.
Scout Camp starts on the 26th.
Our part of the program runs from Sunday, 27th to Wednesday,
30th from 2-4 pm.
I would like to have you there from 1:30P to 4:30P at
I am not concerned
with if you are registered or not, male or female, field or office. This
is an equal opportunity program. All are invited. We have our registered
surveyor to supervise the program, but I need surveyors that will assist
these boys in learning some basics.
Does this sound
desperate enough? We have made a great commitment as a chapter to this
program. Let’s continue it!
Please let me know at
the contact info below and let me know when you will be available.
|
Date |
Name |
Cell Phone Number |
|
December 27, 2009 |
|
|
|
December 28, 2009 |
|
|
|
December 29, 2009 |
|
|
|
December 30, 2009 |
|
|
Contact me directly.
Terry L. Rowe, RPLS, LSLS
TSC Surveying ''A GeoSurv, Inc. Company''
3300 S. Gessner Road.,
Houston
(D) 713-400-4724
(T) 713-784-4466 ext 724
(C) 713-823-8987
(F) 713-784-6900
terryrowe@tscsurveying.com
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Pictured above from left to right are:
Rafael Gonzales, University of Houston Student Chapter President, Gerald Wright, Chapter 9 President Bill Merten, Past-President Mike Hoover, Ft. Bend County's Mark Vogler, Speaker for the evening, Matt Shultz, and Randy McClendon (also a Past President of Chapter 9).
These members were in attendance at the Wednesday November 18, 2009, Dinner Meeting.
Thought you might be interested in this below.
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HOUSTON AREA GIS DAY Thursday, November 19th
H-GAC Geographic Data Committee - Houston Area GIS Day 2009 Thursday November 19th - (9am - 4pm)
(FREE Event - No Charge to Attend)
University of Houston
University of Houston Central Campus (not Downtown campus) University Center - 2nd Floor Houston Room (detailed maps and updated schedules on website)
http://www.uh.edu/campus_map/buildings/UC.php
Parking in Welcome Center Parking Garage - 4800 Calhoun Rd, Houston, Texas 77004 Please visit our website to download the $5.00 parking voucher for all day parking for only $5 instead of $8:
http://www.google.com/maps?q=4800+Calhoun+Rd,+Houston,+TX+77004,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title
It's that time of year again. This week marks the 10th annual GIS Day
event held in Harris County!! It also marks the 22nd anniversary of
National Geography Awareness Week. In 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing the third week in November as Geography Awareness Week (GAW). Every year since then, the National Geographic Society has promoted the importance of geography to the public and to schools throughout the United States and in Canada during Geography Awareness Week. During that time approximately 1.5 million students have participated in geography-related activities.
http://www.ngsednet.org/community/about.cfm?community_id=7As part of the celebration of National Geography Awareness week, GIS Day is normally scheduled for the Wednesday during this third week in November. GIS Day provides an international forum for users of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.
More than 80 countries will participate in holding local events such as corporate open houses, hands-on workshops, community expos, school assemblies, and more. Find out more about local, national and international GIS Day events from
www.GISDay.com .The Houston-Galveston Area Council's Geographic Data Committee is also committed to promoting geographic education and the use of GIS in our local community and schools. As part of this continued commitment and support to local GIS users and students, an annual event is hosted at a local university. This year, the HGAC GDC's GIS Day event is scheduled for Thursday November 19th and is being hosted by the University of Houston's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department of Geosciences. The event will be held at the main campus in the University Center's Houston Room.
*****Scheduled events for Thursday November 19th include a welcome from the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics director Dr. John Casey, map gallery, exhibit hall, various presentations and keynote speaker, Mary Gainer of NASA's Langley Research Center. Please take a look at the Houston Area GIS Day website for a more detailed schedule of speakers, speaker bios, sponsors and exhibitors.
Events scheduled for Friday, November 20th are focused on local high school students. Around 300 students arrive on campus and participate in hands on demonstrations including GPS use, Geocaching, GIS in a computer lab, Geography Trivia and GIS and GPS exhibitors.
www.HoustonAreaGISDay.orgThe Houston Area GIS Day website contains detailed maps of event locations, parking information and discounted parking voucher you need to print before attending. Please take a few moments to glance at the website for updates and information about the event.
Please join us for a great event. There is no entry fee (thanks to our exhibitors and sponsors) and the benefits to you and your department are important. As an experienced GIS professional or novice mapping user, this GIS Day event is for you.
Hope to see you there!!
Join us for GIS Day 2009 on November 19, 2009 -
www.HoustonAreaGISDay.orgSee the Brochure -> GISDAY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The TSPS Chapter 9 newsletter is ready >
September 09
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TSPS Gulf Coast Chapter 9
Dinner Meeting
WEDNESDAY, November 18, 2009,
Saltgrass Steakhouse: Cocktails at 6pm, Dinner at 7pm
New Fort Bend County Flood Maps with Mark Vogler.
Download Specifics:->Meeting
TSPS CHAPTER 9
DINNER MEETING
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
NEW FORT BEND COUNTY
FLOOD MAPS
Mr. Mark Vogler, P.E.
Manager/Chief Engineer
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Mark Vogler of the Fort Bend County Drainage
District for a presentation on and discussion of the upcoming preliminary
issuance of the new Fort Bend County Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Cocktails @ 6:30PM (Cash Bar)
Dinner @ & 7:00PM
Saltgrass Restaurant
1803 Shepherd Drive
713-869-7074
RSVP: Ms. Susan Brown, Weisser Engineering
Company
281-579-7300
susanb@weissereng.com
$25 – Regular
Members
$5 –SIT’s/Students
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: ALERT - 2009 Harris County Taxes Certified
Importance: High
TAX CERTIFICATE NOTIFICATION
Good Morning:
The Harris County 2009 Tax Roll has been certified and is viewable on their
website. If you currently have a plat at the County for review and have
your 2008 tax certificate dated post September 1, 2009, we are requiring
the original receipt for payment of the 2009 taxes.
Please forward this email to all employees within your firm that record
plats in Harris County.
If you have any questions about a particular plat that is currently under review, please email your assigned Planner.
Regards,
Debra Léger-Jordan, Sr. Planner
HCPID - A&E - Permits
10555 Northwest Freeway, Ste
149
Houston, TX 77092
713-316-3566 (Direct) 713-316-4891 (Fax)
djordan@eng.hctx.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
T.S.P.S. Annual Meeting, Convention and Exposition News.
The Texas Society of Professional Surveyors State Convention for 2009 has come and gone and was a great success. Many thanks to the members from the Gulf Coast Chapter 9 that attended the Annual Business Meeting on Thursday. In addition to getting to hear the Annual reports for each committee there was much business to be attended to as well. The results of the annual ballots for additions to the Board of Directors, which also include the addition of Curtis Strong (Brenham) as Second Vice-President, James Redmon (Austin) as Secretary-Treasurer. In addition the four new Members at Large of the Board of Directors are Robert Young (Ft. Worth), Gary Hudson (Abilene), Al Hargraves (Lufkin) and Michael Evans (Mansfield). Some positive news for Chapter 9 came in the form of Mary Chruszczak being elected to the Nominations Committee and Stephanie Funk being elected to the Awards Committee.
The Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the position of Second Vice-President for terms beginning in 2010-2011 was approved by a vote of 389 to 56. This means the Executive Committee in 2011 forward will consist of Vice-President, President-Elect, President, Past-President and Secretary-Treasurer. No nominee will be made to add to the Executive Committee next year.
Most importantly to Gulf Coast Chapter 9 is the election of Alan McLain as President of T.S.P.S. We are fortunate in deed to have the President be a Chapter 9 member. My sincere hope is that every member dedicates themselves to help Alan be the very best President of T.S.P.S. Be sure and congratulate him for this great honor.
by Bud Thompson, Webmaster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Letters to TSPS Chapter 9:
Thanks to the endowment the University of Houston Surveying Program continues. Please see the documents below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TSPS Chapter 9 installs new Officers
On Tuesday October 6, 2009, TSPS State President-Elect Alan McLain inaugurated the new Gulf Coast Chapter 9 President, Bill Merten and other officers and directors as follow:
President:
Bill Merten
Vice-President: Terry Rowe
2nd-Vice President: Walt Sass
secretary-Treasurer: John Engle
Past President: Mike
Hoover
2nd Year Director: Stephen Chruszczak
2nd Year Director: Kyle Sunday
1st Year Director: Jim Sullivan
1st Year Director: Gary Nutter
Installment of officers was followed by President-Elect, McLain informing the members of his outlook for next year and some of his goals and ambitions for TSPS State and Chapter. He has made an outreach for members to get involved in TSPS. Chapter 9 has an abundance of young leadership and volunteerism and those involved have continued to serve well. It is now time to have these leaders consider leadership ambitions at the State level of TSPS.
by Bud Thompson, Webmaster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Final Datum Letter from City of Houston.
T. S. P. S. Chapter 9 Members,
The following letter was received from Jack Chiles recently. It will also be published in the Journal for the benefit of the Chapter. Many feel the City is making a mistake here, but this, as they say, is it.
-> Download : COH_Final_Datum_Letter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEICA SYSTEM 500 FOLLOW-UP #2!
Dear Leica 500 Users,
Last night I received an email saying firmware 5.10 has been officially
released, and should be loaded on the 530 sensors experiencing the GPS tracking
and time an date error. I have attached the firmware, which is also listed on
the Leica website. I have attached a word document that provides details on
uploading the firmware-it is critical that you please read the word document
completely first before the upload.
(See attached file: 5_SEN.FW)
(See attached file:upload5.10instructions.doc)
Leica Official Documents:
5.1newsrelease.pdf
&
GPS500_FW510uploadDocument.pdf
Sorry for the delay, this had to be tested over the weekend for the week
rollover. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
If you have any questions, please call me at 713-516-5446.
Best Regards,
Jeff Ryall
Leica Geosystems
Technical Sales
15865 International Plaza #230
Houston,Tx 77032
Office: 281-227-6161
Cell: 713-516-5446
Fx: 281-227-6188
Jeff.Ryall@Leicaus.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIRM
Panels for Montgomery
County now available for comment at:
http://www.mctx.org/info/flood.shtml
(of course you would already know that if you had read the July-August
Newsletter)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOLLOW-UP! On
August 16th 2009 something out of the ordinary occurred, which had a serious
affect on ALL OLDER MODEL LEICA GPS 500 RECEIVERS. It appears the internal
clocks became confused at the start of the new GPS Year and reset themselves to
0:00 hours. This caused all receiver dates to go back to 1992, the very first
year of production. All GPS System 500 receivers, that were actually in use on
that date, continued to do so until such time as the receiver was turned off. At
that moment, the clock change began and caused the receiver to no longer
function properly. Unfortunately some of you experienced this the hard way in
the field. 500s that were not turned off, are still operating -but will be required
to be upgraded. Thus the base stations that were running should be fine. If you
do have a permanent CORS base station-do NOT power down, if powered down the
problem will occur. Leica formed a task force immediately in Heerbrugg, Switzerland to handle
this problem head on. The problem has been identified and isolated and a new
firmware has been written and is undergoing testing as we speak. The issue
relates to the GPS rollover week in relation to binary operating system of the
older 530. Leica Switzerland wants to have the receivers run the firmware
through this weekend to ensure that the GPS rollover week is accounted for. It
is their goal, once the firmware testing is complete to then post the firmware
on line where it can be download for upgrading. This is critical when performing firmware upgrades, it is recommended to
have the 530 upgraded to 5.06 firmware version before doing the new upgrade. It
is also critical that the proper PC card is used for firmware upgrades. **Do NOT ever upgrade a 500 system with a compact flash card and an
adaptor-even if the card is a Leica card-this could cause the 530 to crash, and
since the 530 is a discounted model, it is critical we ensure proper firmware
upgrade procedure** The Leica service department in Houston can perform serial firmware
uploads which is the most stable option. We can assist clients with the upgrades
once we receive the firmware. We will keep you posted on this process. THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM FOR LEICA’S OLDER MODEL SYSTEM 500 RECIEVERS AND IS
NOT A CONCERN FOR LEICA SYSTEM 1200 GPS RECEIVERS. As always, Leica Geosystems Inc., stands behind all products, even those
that have technically been phased out years ago and are no longer in production.
I understand your frustration and assure you that a solution is coming soon.
Once you receive the notification, if you have any concerns over the
needed steps to repair the problem please do not hesitate to contact me and I
will do the best I can to help each and every client get back in the field and
productive as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding, and patience, we are all in this
together. If you have any questions, please call me at 713-516-5446. Best Regards,
Jeff Ryall
Leica Geosystems
Technical Sales
15865 International Plaza #230
Houston,Tx 77032
Office: 281-227-6161
Cell: 713-516-5446
Fx: 281-227-6188
Jeff.Ryall@Leicaus.co
NEWS FLASH!
If you are a Leica System 500 GPS user you may have noticed a tracking problem
yesterday and today. I received an announcement this morning from our local
Leica representative and long time Chapter supporter Jeff Ryall. The following
is the message received: "We have received, from various
countries in the world, reports about tracking anomalies of GPS System 500
sensors. The problem manifests itself across the globe since about August 16,
0:00 GMT. System 500 GPS sensors show a time of 0:00 at start up and the status
panels indicate the year 1993. Consistent and reliable tracking of satellites
has become impossible. Attempts of manually modifying the date/time will not
result in satisfactory tracking as well loading an current almanac will not
improve the situation. Only GPS500 is affected. GNSS Systems 1200 are not affected. This email is to inform you about the problem and let you know that we
are aware of the issue. Geomatics Division has formed a task force which started
investigations Monday morning, August 17, 2009. We will inform you and your technical experts about progress of the
investigations and possible solutions as soon as possible. Leica GPS engineers
are working on a firmware fix for this problem as we speak, they are hoping to
have a release at the end of the week, that can be loaded onto the 530 receiver
to correct the problem. This firmware will be tested before release. As soon as
we get an update on this release I will send an email for a link. GPS System 500 was introduced in 1998 and phased out in 2004. Service
Phase out has been completed in June 2009. Apologize for the inconvenience, I will try and keep you updated as
soon as I hear any new developments If you have any questions, please call me at 713-516-5446, Best Regards,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Ryall
Leica Geosystems
Technical Sales
15865 International Plaza #230
Houston,Tx 77032
Office: 281-227-6161"
The Thursday afternoon response to the CORS
vs. TSARP debate.
-> Download here: Benchmark
datum or read below:
Dear Sirs,
It has come to my attention that there is a misunderstanding
which exists concerning benchmarks and elevation data for C. I. P.
infrastructure projects. The correct datum is the City of Houston CORS datum,
which changes about every two years. It is based on the NGS CORS (GPS) monument
observations, which are constantly being updated and reevaluated. The elevations
of existing TSARP monuments are outdated and cannot be used as the Project datum
for any C. I. P. project. The TSARP monuments may be used, but a new elevation
must be calculated (observed) for the monument.
The COH Design Manual in Chapter Two clearly states this
principle. City of Houston Ordinance 2203-1292 also clearly states this. At one
time, the TSARP monuments and the CORS monuments were in agreement.
Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.
The COH Design Manual Chapter 9.09 does state the storm
projects must be tied to the TSARP datum, but does not mandate the use of that
datum, as some might believe.
Please be sure to inform any and all surveying firms and
engineering firms about this matter.
If you have any questions, please make contact with me or Bob Towery at
713-837-0536 and 713-837-7165, respectively.
Jack R. Chiles, Sr., R. P. L. S.
posted on June 4, 2009, by L.A. Thompson with thanks to Jack Chiles, RPLS for
the response.
Editor's Comment:
It is my understanding that Halff & Associates
will be presenting a seminar in
August about Elevation Certificates? I also understand Cliff Middleton will be
a presenter and will speak to “identification
and use of correct datum and benchmarks & effects of subsidence”.
Cliff is the NGS Geodetic advisor for Southeast
Texas.
Although NGS does not publish the Flood Maps (FIRM Panels) or prepare the
studies (FIS), I'm sure his prospective on the relativity of benchmarks to the
FIRM and the FIS will be a subject of much lively discussion.
One problem stirring the debate,
is that many surveyors and engineers do not understand that the FIS (Flood
Insurance Study), FIRM Panel (Federal Insurance Rate Management Map) and the
HCFCD FPRMs (Harris County Flood Control District Flood Plane Reference
Monuments) are not separable, they are parts of a integral unit. They
co-exist to form a system. This system depicts a snapshot in time (June 18,
2007) by which flood plains and therefore flood insurance will be
administered and rates managed. The metadata for this unit is as critical as
any other component of the system. (eg: Benchmarks based on: North American
Vertical Datum 1988, 2001 Adjustment, 1999 Geoid). Hopefully, Mr. Middleton
and those speaking will cover the issues related to the Elevation
Certificate (OMB No. 1660-008 which Expires 03-31-2012) under Section B and
C (especially C2.) wherein it states "Use the same datum as the BFE."
This may be in conflict with the City of Houston's remarks related the CORS
requirements, you be the informed judge of that. (for additional comments
and information read the following data on this page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
posted on June 4,
2009, by L.A. Thompson with thanks to President Michael Hoover, R.P.L.S.
NOT ANOTHER DATUM, PLEASE !
Well this
has been coming to a head for some time now and the City of Houston is
about to consider comments on City Regulations.
Background:
In June 2001, Tropical Storm Alison inundated Houston with an overabundance of rainfall. In the aftermath FEMA and Harris County shared cost on implementing a new Flood Insurance Study (FIS), incorporating the full spectrum a project like this requires. FIS, Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and most critical to the long term benefit, a physical bench mark system for surveyors and engineers to use to manage flood plains and flooding. What many of you may not know is that the City of Houston was invited to join in this effort but instead decided to install the City of Houston Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS). Immediately after the stations came on line the City mandated Chapter 2.07D, which requires and Capital Improvements Projects to utilize the "City Datum" (CORS) for elevations when available. The following letter by Paul Kwan brings the full effect of this problem in focus:
"Chapter 9 Storm Water Design Requirement of the Design Manual is contradicting with Chapter 2 Survey Requirements as follows:
Chapter 9.09 A
Project shall be tied to National Geodetic Survey (NGS) datum adjustment which matches the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rate maps or the most current NGS datum which matches the FEMA rate maps. In the event GPS surveying is used to establish bench marks, at least two references to bench marks relating to the rate maps shall be identified. Equations may be used to translate other datum adjustments to the required adjustments.
It has been our practice to use the TSARP/FEMA benchmarks in performing engineering surveying in City of Houston/Harris County so the data is related to the FEMA map and the 100 year flood plain. This is the identical procedure as stated in Chapter 9.09 A of the Design Manual. I concurred with this requirement because it eliminates any second guessing of the project datum.
On the other hand, the current Design Manual and the City Surveyor’s office do not follow the procedure as outlined in Chapter 9.09 A.
Chapter 2.07 D
Use City datum for elevations when available. Set temporary bench marks (TBM) within 200 feet of the beginning and end of project and at intervals not to exceed 1000 feet throughout the project.
The City Surveyor’s office requires the project to use the City of Houston CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations) network for vertical control. This “City Datum” is not directly related to the TSARP/FEMA benchmarks and FEMA maps. As such, if one complies with Chapter 2.07 D then he/she will be violating Chapter 9.09 A.
It is recommended that Chapter 2.07 D be revised to comply with Chapter 9.09 A. The City of Houston CORS network can be used for horizontal control only and it should not be used for vertical control. Of course, one can argue that an equation may be used to translate the datum difference between the CORS and FEMA. But my point is why? There is no need to create possible confusion or error since the CORS or “City Datum” has no application to the design process anyway. It is better to go straight into the source and tie the survey into the TSARP/FEMA benchmarks as required in Chapter 9.09 A."
If you are interested in making comments on this subject, please contact the City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department's Kathlie Bulloch or someone else, you may know, in that department.
FYI:
The City of Houston has been affected by the following Datum and
adjustments that ARE reflective of the FEMA FIS and FIRMs, of which
I am personally aware:
NGVD 1929 adjustments 1964, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1987
NAVD 1988 adjustments 1991, 2001 for now.
Is it important to have one more that is not directly reflective of
FEMA/FIRMs and their benchmarks?
submitted by L.A. Thompson with thanks to Paul Kwan, RPLS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEWS FLASH: [FEMA News] New Elevation Certificates.
The two (2) documents in the following downloads are a must have for anyone performing Elevation Certificates. You may also want to read the information farther down then News page regarding "NEWS FLASH: Department of Homeland Security now judges the acceptability of Bench Marks. "
Download 1->
Floodproofing_Bulletin (20 pages)
Download 2->
Revised
Elevation Certificate (1 page)
This information has been contributed through the efforts of President
Michael Hoover and TBPLS Member
and Chapter 9 Member,
Doug Turner.
Our President and Mr. Turner are to be commended for their efforts.
posted 04-06-2009:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pictures from the TSPS Gulf Coast Chapter 9, MARCH DINNER MEETING
held TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009.
As you can tell from the thumbnail above (double click for full
size) the meeting was attended very well.
This is a testament to the Chapter members dedication to Surveying Education in
the Gulf Coast.
Doug Turner briefed the Chapter on TBPLS issues and the successful Short Course.
TSPS President-Elect, Alan McLain brought the Chapter up-to-date on TSPS State
issues.
Roger McDonald, Director of the Lonestar College Surveying Education Program
spoke about that program.
From left Gary Bowes, Hassan Moggahdam and Chapter President Mike Hoover discuss
the U. of H. program.
Chapter President Mike Hoover presents a check to the U. of H. scholarship
director.
Paul
Kwan (left) and Andrew Lonnie Sikes (right) spoke about P.S.E.F.I. and their
progress.
Emerson Vance, President of the U. of H. Student Chapter explains their up
coming Frontier Fiesta cook-off.
NEWS FLASH: Department of Homeland
Security now judges the acceptability of Bench Marks.
Remember that FEMA/NFIP are now organizations under the direction of the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Counties that were declared disaster
areas, due to hurricane Ike, will be susceptible to this type of scrutiny. There
are NGS Bench Marks in these areas and, in some cases, the HGCSD (Harris
Galveston Coastal Subsidence District) monuments that have been proven to be
accurate over time.
Each municipality in the affected area, will be dealing with this issue until a better Vertical Control System has been instituted, similar to the TSARP. FEMA and Harris County Flood Control District jointly funded the TSARP Project from 2001-2007 which yielded a operational database of accurate control monuments, although criticism of newly installed monuments in this system has been made since the original monumentation was based on NAVD 1988/2001 Adjustment GEOID 99. This metadata is critically important to be consistent with the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and FIRM Panels. There are those among us that do NOT understand that concept. The criteria for acceptability of bench marks should be something all local surveyors will be interested in, especially those surveyors performing Elevation Certificates.
The following was sent to Cliff Middleton
Wolverton, Vearl
For more information on this contact Cliff Middleton or Vearl Wolverton
Members: Please take a moment to review the informal referendum regarding the University of Houston Surveying Program on the Education Page <-.
Members: Please take a moment to review the informal following proposed Proposed Plat Language dealing with Rule 663.17<-.
PROPOSED PLAT DEDICATION LANGUAGE
As described in the letter from the Board, here is the proposed Plat Dedication language. For the moment, these efforts are centered on the City of Houston, but, if met with the success expected, other municipalities and jurisdictions may follow suit. Mr. Carlos Cotton of Jones & Carter, one of the co-leaders of this effort, has suggested that the following points be made in connection with the proposed new certification:
1. It clearly states that all lot corners will eventually be staked
2. It clearly allows you to leave the found original corners.
3. It ties the responsibility to the surveyor’s firm so that under the Board’s scrutiny, it is the firms responsibility to have the corners set if the surveyor is no longer employed there.
PROPOSED CERTIFICATION
Projects with planned infrastructure.
I, , acting by and through the firm , am registered under the laws of the State of Texas to practice the profession of surveying and do hereby certify that the above subdivision is true and correct; that all perimeter boundary corners are marked with the found monuments as shown hereon or set metal pipes or rods having an outside diameter of not less than three-quarter (3/4) inch, and a length of not less than three (3) feet and are tied to the Texas State Plane Coordinate System, South Central Zone, NAD 83; that within one year from the date of this certification, all block corners, shall be marked with metal pipes or rods having an outside diameter of not less than three-quarter (3/4) inch, and a length of not less than three (3) feet, and all lot corners, shall be marked with metal pipes or rods having an outside diameter of not less than five eighths (5/8) of an inch, and a length of not less than two (2) feet.
Projects without infrastructure
I, , acting by and through the firm , am registered under the laws of the State of Texas to practice the profession of surveying and do hereby certify that the above subdivision is true and correct; that all boundary corners and block corners are marked with the found monuments as shown hereon or set metal pipes or rods having an outside diameter of not less than three-quarter (3/4) inch, and a length of not less than three (3) feet and are tied to the Texas State Plane Coordinate System, South Central Zone, NAD 83; and all lot corners, are marked with metal pipes or rods having an outside diameter of not less than five eighths (5/8) of an inch, and a length of not less than two (2) feet.
Please take the time to review this important proposal and, if appropriate, generate some feedback. As this is an informal referendum, we are not taking any specific tally, but your comments are important and this is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. Please direct any and all comments in connection with the Plat Dedication language to:
Carlos P. Cotton
Chief Operating Officer
ccotton@jonescarter.com
JONES & CARTER,
INC.
ENGINEERS · PLANNERS · SURVEYORS
6335 Gulfton,
Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77081-1169
Tel 713-777-5337 Fax 713-777-5975
Cell 713-248-1203
HOLD THE PHONE, MORE NEWS ON THE PLATTING REQUIREMENTS! (08/27/08)
From Jennifer Ostlind at the City of Houston Planning Department
"Dear Plat Applicant:
We have revised the list of additional submittal requirements distributed on
August 1 to clear up some confusion.
Please see the attached letter for details.
Note: this message is being sent to everyone registered with the City of
Houston, Planning and Development Department DRC plat submittal system.
(See attached file: Variance Submittal Requirements.PDF)"
Newly revised documentation.
Here is the attachment in .PDF form ->
REVISED Letter to
Applicant
Well... if you like the platting process in the City of Houston or you have been deferred after plat submittal, then hold onto your hat, because here comes some more good news. On August 7, 2008 at 5:38 P.M. (have you ever noticed that City of Houston employees work after 5PM when they serve up something they know you're not going to enthusiastically receive like deferrals), I received a new change on the platting policy or is this an ordinance? You are definitely going to want to read this letter. The email reads as follows:
"Dear Platting Applicant:
The attached letter lists additional information required when submitting
applications requesting a variance or special exception. This policy will become
effective September 1, 2008. Please read this letter carefully and keep it handy
for future reference.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ostlind
Division Manager (See attached file: Letter to plat applicant.PDF) Development
Services Division Planning and Development Department
713-837-7871"
Here is the attachment in .PDF form ->
Letter to
Applicant
_________________________________________________________________________________
-
Chapter Nine Newsletters
Latest Journal > Gulf Coast Surveyor - January-February, 2010
Gulf Coast Surveyor - November - December, 2009
Gulf Coast Surveyor - September - October, 2009
Gulf Coast Surveyor - July - August 2009
Gulf Coast Surveyor - May - June 2009
Gulf Coast Surveyor - March - April, 2009
The newsletters are brought to you through
the diligent efforts of Billy Wolfram and Mike Hoover.
W.R. Wolfram III
Survey Department
Benchmark
Engineering Corporation
2401 Fountainview, Suite
500
Houston, Texas 77057
(713) 266-9930
(713) 559-5416 direct
If you are NOT getting The Gulf Coast Surveyor Newsletter in your email please send your current email address to W.R. Wolfram III. If you are NOT a current member of TSPS State and Chapter, you will NOT be emailed the newsletter. Other reasons for not receiving the Newsletter via email include: your mailbox is full, your mailbox is unable to accept large files (the Newsletter is usually about 800kb), your email client is blocking the email (check with your Internet Service Provider).
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