I, personally, am comfortable with contractors using machine guidance GPS if an LS has been in charge of control placement AND quality control. The contractors machine operators are not exercising judgment in using these tools. They are essentially letting the black box figure things out and set the blades to cut the dirt. The only thing the operator does is ensure that the machine isn't going to run anyone over.
It's not that much different than a field crew relying on a DC to think for them.
Similarly with the other technologies, I don't care much who is using them, as long as an appropriately licensed professional is exercising a proper level of control over their use. That may be setting the control and performing QC afterward, it may be directing the methodology of use and ensuring that the technology is used as directed, or it may be hands on, depending upon the tools and the application.
The law is in place to protect the public from those who are not competent to understand the results of the use of technology with respect to correctness and applicability to the purpose and use of the results. In other words, judgment. Licensing is not in plac to regulate the technical lvel use of technologies.
It's not the misuse of measuring tools that has the potential to harm the public, but rather the ignorance of being able to recognize valid results, properly analyze the results, and to provide a set of results appropriate to the client's needs.
Sometimes the spirit of the law can be captured by the letter of the law, but often, it cannot.
What is Surveying?
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goodgps
- Posts: 642
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:32 pm
- Location: Modesto, Ca
Remember that wise crack I made about some power company telling property owners the "power pole" in on the property line?
Well friday I encountered another real time example of just that. In this case, the owners created their own topo, site plan for remodel addition and recieved approvl from the plan checker at the Public agency. Now they are in violation of setback, have planters, fences, and animal enclosures over the line.
Two of us "Surveyors" agree.
In this case, I guess that power company and the property owners were the surveyors for this project. neat huh ?
Arny Bitterfield
Well friday I encountered another real time example of just that. In this case, the owners created their own topo, site plan for remodel addition and recieved approvl from the plan checker at the Public agency. Now they are in violation of setback, have planters, fences, and animal enclosures over the line.
Two of us "Surveyors" agree.
In this case, I guess that power company and the property owners were the surveyors for this project. neat huh ?
Arny Bitterfield