PLSO The Oregon Surveyor September/October 2023

11 South America; listening to seminars prepared by young surveyors regarding projects and research they are doing to help make their world and their countries a better place; and an ice breaker bowling night sponsored by Leica where some people from various countries got to bowl for the first time. When discussing the shortage of surveyors with a surveyor we met from Poland, he shared an interesting approach on what they have been doing to help market interest to the younger generations. Their approach is to start with the big picture, talk about the problems we see and the problems communities face, then show the technology we have available to aid us in the process. They conclude with how we are using this technology to tackle the issues. From using AI and aerial photogrammetry to pinpoint and locate harmful plastics on global coastlines to creating GIS databases to track and sustain records of chains of title in small communities, surveyors all over the world deal with similar issues in serving our communities. As evidenced by the big sponsors, Bentley, ESRI, Leica, and Trimble, it is clear that we all use the same tools to help the people in our geographical areas. For us in the U.S., one of the main issues of surveyors on home soil is the incorporation of the new Datum by NGS and the lack of benchmarks by many states to help in creating a more concise network. The goal is to have the new datums ready and rolled out sometime in 2025. Alpha and Beta products will be available later this year for surveyors to start familiarizing themselves with the new datums and software. Of the 50 states, Oregon is among one of the worst represented nationwide in collecting and submitting data to NGS on desired benchmarks. After returning home from the Working Week, Oregon’s young surveyors have already managed to check half a dozen benchmarks off the NGS list of priority marks with plans to knock dozens more off the list in the coming months. We challenge all surveyors to volunteer for the cause and take a day or two to research, plan, and observe one monument in your vicinity to help make “our world” and our state a better place.  To learn more and find a list of the benchmarks requested in your area, head over to https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GPSonBM. Screenshot of the GIS web map application showing location of the priority, secondary, and completed benchmarks (greater Willamette Valley area displayed). Screenshot showing remaining percentage of requested benchmarks by state (Oregon displayed). A bowling night sponsored by Leica Switzerland featured young surveyors from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, New York, Costa Rica, Spain, Netherlands, Trinidad, France, and Sweden. Young surveyors from around the globe. Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org OrYSN Corner

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