SoCal NGS Precise Leveling Seminar

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Marti Ikehara, our state Geodetic Advisor, Curtis Smith, Geodetic Advisor for Idaho and Montana, and Dave Minkel, Arizona’s Geodetic Advisor provided an excellent presentation on Precise Digital Leveling in Irvine on October 27-29, at the Caltrans Maintenance Facility at the former MCAS El Toro.

The seminar focused on following the NGS procedures necessary to obtain First Order, Class Two or Second Order, Class One, results. (If you had attended the workshop you would know the difference) The workshop was designed so that the data can be “Blue Bookedâ€￾, which would get it entered into the National Database.

The first two days were spent in the classroom and field on leveling, and the third day entirely in the classroom on Blue Booking.
A wide range of experience was represented in the attendees, but I doubt anybody left without picking up some useful information or technology.

If you attend this workshop in the future be aware that no hardcopies are provided, but digital files of all the presentations are posted on line, as well as easy access to the various NOS-NGS Manuals. Printing out the power point presentations (4 to a sheet, in landscape mode works well) will greatly enhance the learning experience this seminar offers. Particularly useful are the “Precise Digital Levelingâ€￾ and “Project Planning & Blue Bookâ€￾ power points.

It was a privilege to receive training from such highly qualified and experienced personnel.

And special thanks to Rich Maher of KDM Meridian in Lake Forest, who greatly contributed to the genial atmosphere by providing coffee, bagels, and donuts each morning. That small effort made a great difference in the enjoyability of the workshop.