California Surveyors Forums

Does anyone here know of any good GPS classes or seminars in Southern California? I'm really hoping to find a semester long class that covers theory as well as actual field techniques for using GPS. If I can't find anything local, I'm open to an on-line class.

I have read "GPS for Land Surveyors," by Jan Van Sickle. Are there any other materials that I should be studying?

Thanks,
Jeff

The GPS manufacutrers used to put on really good week long training classes. Those may be gone, but it is still worth looking into what they offer.

UC Riverside used to have a Spatial Referencing program that had good classes on GPS. Low enrollment has forced cancelling some of the classes.

I used to do a 2 hour LS exam preparation program on GPS. You might look for an exam prep program near you and see if you could sit in on the GPS portion.

The local Operating Engineers contracted with Chuck Karayan in 2005 to revise one of their segments in their apprenticeship training program. The module oddly enough contained Public Lands, Fundamentals of GPS, and the State Plane Coordinate system. Chuck brought me on board to handle the GPS and SPCs.

I wrote 12 modules: 7 on SPCs and 5 on GPS (GNSS) and created tests.

One of things Chuck wrote into the contract was that the Operating Engineers has the license to use our work but we retained the copyright.

If you want I will be happy to share these modules with you and to answer questions you may have on GNSS, RTK, RTNs SPC etc.

Just let me know.

Jeff, attached is one of the modules for your use.

Hi Tom,

I would love to study the other modules if you don't mind sharing them and if it's not too much trouble to dig up.

I went through the Operating Engineer's apprenticeship programs (Chainman and Chief of Party), but for some reason they didn't use the modules that you referenced in my classes. Maybe they were only a part of the curriculum for the grade checkers and equipment operators.

Thanks for your help!

The classes were produced for the Local 3 chapter here in the Bay Area for their surveyors.

I will be happy to e-mail you the rest of the GPS modules. Can you provide me with your e-mail address? I am very particular about giving out my personal contact information and would certainly understand if you don't want to post it on a forum. If this is the case. Contact Mike Butcher, the CLSA President, and he can provide you with my e-mail address. I will give him permission to give it to you.

I hope they help. Some of it is a little outdated, but not much.

Hi Tom,

Looks like excellent study material. If you don't mind, I would also love a copy of the other modules. dalba@smithco.net

Thanks!

Hi Tom,

My email address is 2jjwright at gmail dot com.

Thanks again!

Mr. Wright and Mr. Alba:

Check your e-mail in-boxes. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. If I can't answer I will point you to someone who can.

Hi Tom,

I too would like a copy of the modules

dmgonsal at hotmail dot com.

Thanks

Hi Tom,

I am interested in seeing the modules.

ryan.verseeg at towill.com

Thanks,

Hi Tom,

I would like to see GPS modules too.

Thanks,

zsumera@gmail.com

Zeljko Sumera

Ryan, Dylan, and Zeljko:

Check your e-mail in boxes.

Tom,
Me too, please,
<scott@dfengineering.com>

Tom,
Please include me too, if you'd be so kind.
Radicalfil at AOL dot Com
BTW, how's that not working thing going?

Hi Tom,

I would like to check it out as well.

Thanks,

gregoryippolito at hotmail.com

Greg, Phil, and Scott:

Check you e-mail.

I would also like to get the modules if still available.

Thanks,

Mike, check your e-mail.

Me too, please. You can email me at 10MPlayer at gmail dot com. Upper/lower case doesn't matter.

Thanks very much.

Mr. Sigman,

They are in your in box.

I would appreciate it if you add me to the list Tom.

pbchief2 at Gmail dot com

I would appreciate it if you also add me to the list Tom

ls7090 at cox dot net

Thanks,

Jason and PBChief2: Check your e-mail.

I have had a lot of requests for the geodetic modules but will hang on to them for now. I think they contain some good discussion on geodetic datums, SPCs, and vertical datums but are mostly about calculation methods.

IMO the surveying geodetic community in CA could improve on their communications both verbally and in written form on the complex issues related to the creation and use of geodetic tools and the resultant values and their appropriate uses.

Some of the subjects that I think need to be more clearly elucidated include: The different requirements between geophysical scientist and land surveyors, what does the Public Resources Code really say (not what some special interest group wants you to believe), epoch dates and why they are important, and appropriate uses of geodetic values for boundary surveying and legacy records.

These are just a few off the top of my head. If this forum is interested I can write up some of my ideas as a basis for discussion when I get the time.

Yes please Tom. The practical side of the discussion is very important. We are using this stuff everyday, but I believe far less than half understand what the units are giving us and how we use the data and refer to the data on our maps.