MALSCE News
A monthly Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and
Civil Engineers member newsletter.
February 2021
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MALSCE Sustaining Members: Allen & Major Associates, Inc.,
Beals and Thomas Inc., Bluesky Geospatial Limited, Brennan Consulting, Inc., BSC Group, Inc., Carlson Software,
DGT Associates, Eastern Topographics, Feldman Land Surveyors,
Hancock Associates, Keystone Precision Instruments, Maine Technical Source,
Nitsch Engineering, Samiotes Consultants Inc., Spiller's, Topcon Solutions Store,
VHB, Inc., Waypoint Technology Group,
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Register Today to Attend the Virtual 2021 MALSCE Convention
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
March 17, 18, & 19, 2021
Register today to attend the Virtual 2021 MALSCE Convention! Organized under the theme "Disruption to Recovery", the convention will feature in-depth presentations, virtual convention exhibit, an online plan and field notes contest, a virtual reception, benefit auction, & murder mystery.
Want to register, but know you're going to have to miss a session or a day? Most Convention sessions will be recorded and available to view for a limited amount of time after the Convention, but you must register for the Convention in advance to have access.
Featuring
Gary R. Kent, PS, Owner, Meridian Land Consulting, LLC
The NEW 2021 ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards
After two years of work on the part of the Joint ALTA/NSPS Committee, the proposed 2021 ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards were adopted in August and approved by ALTA and NSPS in October, with an effective date of February 23, 2021. This program will outline the changes from 2016 and provide an explanation of what each means to the surveyor. In addition, the program will include an overview of the entire set of 2021 Standards and a detailed explanation of the relationship between Land Title Surveys and title insurance. Finally, some common questions, and requests from lenders, that arise in the process of performing a Land Title Survey will be discussed.
The Art of Retracement – Following in the Footsteps
Every professional surveyor across the Unites States knows the phrase “Follow in the Footsteps” as it relates to conducting a boundary retracement survey. But what does it really mean and what is the basis for following the footsteps? Surveyors also know the effect of the statute of frauds is that what is written in the conveyancing document is considered by the courts to be the highest and best expression of the parties’ intentions. But what happens when the evidence of the footsteps on the ground conflicts with the written title or there are seemingly no footsteps to follow? This session explores the concept of retracement, how it relates to and is dependent on the document of conveyance, and what controls when conflicts are inevitably encountered.
Additional Featured Sessions:
- Federal Issues Facing the 117th Congress: Policies in Washington, DC That Will Impact Your Profession
- Stone Walls and Surveying
- Panel Discussion – Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Update
- MALSCE Annual Meeting – What MALSCE is Doing for You
- Innovative Land Surveying Technologies
- Educational Requirements for the Professional Land Surveyor
- Smart Urban Corridors
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Did You Miss "Twelfth Annual Legal Perspectives on Land Surveying"? There is Still Time to View the Recording!
MALSCE leaders wish to remind members that recordings of the "Twelfth Annual Legal Perspectives on Land Surveying" webinar which took place on January 28 and 29, 2021, will be available for viewing until March 31, 2021. Click here to learn more about this program and email Emily Devane at edevane@engineers.org to learn about the cost and process for viewing the webinar.
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Promote Your Business at the 2021 MALSCE Convention
Convention Exhibiting:
Promote your organization’s products and/or services to MALSCE members by exhibiting during the Virtual 2021 MALSCE Convention. This three-day event, which is expected to attract more than 100 participants, will occur on the mornings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March 17, 18, & 19, 2021. Virtual Convention exhibitors will be included in convention exhibitor listings and recognized during opening remarks. Exhibitors will also be able to participate in a six-hour virtual exhibit and featured during a convention session. Click here to learn more about exhibiting.
Convention Sponsorship:
New this year, organizations have the opportunity to sponsor one or more Virtual 2021 MALSCE Convention session and/or student registrant. All sponsors will be thanked during the convention opening remarks, on the MALSCE website, and have their logo printed in the convention booklet. Session sponsors will also be thanked at the beginning of the sponsored session and have the opportunity to have their logo used in the creation of a virtual background for the speaker during the session. Sponsoring a student will enable MALSCE to allow students to participate in the MALSCE Convention for no fee. Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Convention Booklet Advertising:
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Enter the 2021 Online Plan and Field Notes Contests
The MALSCE Convention Planning Committee is excited to announce that in addition to the MALSCE Plan Contest, the Virtual 2021 MALSCE Convention will also feature the inaugural MALSCE Field Notes Competition. Just like the plan contest, participants are invited to submit field notes in multiple categories to be displayed and voted on by convention attendees. Plans and Field Notes will be available for online viewing and voting during the three day convention. All contest winners will be announced during the Convention Virtual Reception & Awards Ceremony on Friday, March 19, 2021. Submitters of the category winners and the plan and field notes of the year will receive plaques in recognition of their achievement. For more information about the contest or to submit an entry, click here.
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Donate an Item to the MALSCE Education Trust Benefit Auction
Grab a beverage and join the Virtual 2021 MALSCE Convention reception on Friday, March 19, 2021! This reception will include an online benefit auction to support the MALSCE Education Trust. This auction will give you the opportunity to try out being an auctioneer as participants will be auctioning off their own items. If you have any questions, please email Rich Keenan.
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Become the Massachusetts CST Coordinator!
MALSCE leaders are looking for a member to volunteer to be the National Society of Professional Surveyors’ Certified Survey Technician (CST) Program Coordinator for Massachusetts. Unlike the NCEES surveying licensure examinations, the CST Program, a nationally recognized certification for survey technicians, employs a testing format that is geared to minimize the costs for the applicants and thus relies primarily on the volunteering of others to set up a site for the examination and to proctor the applicants as they take the examination.
The ideal proctor is a professional land surveyor who is a “disinterested third party” with no direct personal benefit in the success of the examinees. MALSCE's NSPS Director John Lloyd will be on hand to help any candidate transition into the role. If you are interested in this position, please reach out to MALSCE's Executive Director, Rich Keenan at rkeenan@engineers.org.
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MALSCE Government Affairs Update - February 2021
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Surveying Education Opportunities
MALSCE is happy to share any information about surveying education opportunities that it learns about with members. UMaine has several different surveying degree and certificate programs available online, click here to learn more. Wentworth has a online Professional Land Surveying Certificate program click here to learn more. Idaho State University has recently announced online options for their surveying and geospatial program, click here to learn more.
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MALSCE Member William J. Montuori Passes Away
MALSCE is saddened to report the February 10th passing of MALSCE Life Member and longtime Eastern MA chapter member William J. Montuori at the age of 95. He was the beloved husband of more than 57 years to the late Dorothy E. (Markowsky) Montuori, who predeceased him in 2015. After graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in Civil Engineering, Bill worked for the Federal Highway Administration and several private engineering firms before starting ASEC Corporation in 1978 with John Monteiro. At ASEC, where Bill worked into his 80s, he served as the director of land surveying, and his many projects included work on the Boston Big Dig, Central Artery, and the 3rd Harbor Tunnel. He was known for his attention to detail, accuracy, and the completeness of his project plans and was a professional mentor to many engineers and surveyors. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Friendship Home, P.O. Box 916, Norwell, MA 02061 (friendshiphome.net) or the Scituate Animal Shelter, 780 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Scituate, MA 02066 (www.scituateanimalshelter.org). Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home 781-545-0196. Please click here to read more about Bill.
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There is no doubt that the repercussions resulting from COVID-19 have impacted our respective, and collective, abilities to serve our membership and the Surveying profession. Still, many lessons have been learned regarding alternative ways and means to provide services, and continue our advocacy efforts. Accordingly, NSPS will offer its series of competitions (see list below) for 2021. All Deadlines are June 30.
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Become a Certified Survey Technician
No matter what the future holds, prepare to meet challenges head on. Future-proof your resume by becoming a Certified Survey Technician (CST). This unique four-level certification program indicates official recognition by NSPS that a person can perform surveying tasks at a specific technical level. Show what you can do! Decide between the field or office track. Visit http://www.cstnsps.com for details.
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Former NSPS and NHLSA President Passes Away
Earlier this week, NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner shared the sad news that 1987 NSPS president Robert B. Todd, Sr. passed away peacefully on February 18, 2021 at the age of 81. A retired land surveyor and professional forester, Bob was also a longtime member and former president of the New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association (NHLSA) and the New Hampshire Association of Wetland Scientists.. Bob was the proprietor of a forestry and land survey consulting business, Todd Land Use Consultants for 45 years. He served many of the state’s residents’ land surveying, forestry and land management needs. A life-long resident of New Boston, New Hampshire, Bob was well respected throughout his career and his love for his work kept him going strong.
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Affiliate Association Events |
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GIS User Group Meeting
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Zoom Meeting
1:00 - 1:15 pm - Welcome / opening remarks
1:15 - 2:00 pm - The State Plane Coordinate System of 2022 - Dan Martin, Northeast
Regional Geodetic Advisor
2:00 - 2:45 pm - ArcGIS Field Maps - Krithica Kantharaj and Carl Nylen, ESRI, Inc.
2:45 - 3:00 pm - Break
3:00 - 3:45 pm - Redistricting using ArcGIS - Richard Leadbeater and Aaron Hrenak,
ESRI, Inc.
3:45 - 4:30 pm - RI Redistricting Timetable, and an update on the 2020 Census
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Classified Advertisements |
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Service Technician Opportunity
Maine Technical Source (MTS) is looking for a Service Technician to join their Woburn, MA office! The Service Technician provides customer support and service for company sold products. This person is responsible for equipment repair and completing service to factory specifications. The Service Technician may also provide customer service, sales, and warehouse support as needed. We provide training!
MTS sell supplies, hardware, software, and instrumentation (small optical instruments, GPS, total stations, High Definition Scanning) for the survey, engineering, and construction sectors. For more information go to www.mainetechnical.com or email marie@kmahr.com.
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Surveying Opportunities in MA and NY
WSP’s Geospatial team has surveying opportunities in New York (Albany and Valhalla) and Massachusetts (Boston and Worcester).
All positions require a HS Degree/GED; travel as projects require; successfully completion/pass Motor Vehicle screen; and potential to be subject to client mandated drug/alcohol testing.
Additional requirements include:
• Crew Chief (Valhalla/Albany) – 7+ years exp w/3+ years as a Crew Chief; exp w/Robotic Total Station
• Crew Chief (Boston) – 5+ years exp; exp w/Robotic Total Station; prior Crew Chief exp preferred
• Survey Manager (Worcester) – 9+ years exp; project mgt, budgeting, scheduling exp
• Sr. Instrument Operator (Valhalla) – 1-3 years of surveying exp
WSP USA Inc., WSP USA Buildings Inc., and WSP USA Services Inc. (collectively “WSP USA”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status
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MALSCE News is a monthly publication of the Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers. This newsletter highlights the program and activities of MALSCE and reports on national and local matters of interest to land surveyors and civil engineers. While we cannot promise to print all news items that we receive, if you have one to share with your fellow MALSCE members please forward it to Rich Keenan at rkeenan@engineers.org.
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