7:00am - 5:30pm.......................................................................................................................................................................REGISTRATION

7:00am - 8:15am..............................................................................................................................................................................BREAKFAST

7:00am - 5:45pm......................................................................................................................................................................EXHIBITS OPEN

8:15am - 11:45am....................................................................................................TUESDAY MORNING CONCURRENT SESSIONS​

• 103: Expert Witness Testimony for Surveyors and Engineers

  • Presenter: Jeff Lucas

  • Description: The role of the engineer or surveyor as expert witness will be studied and explored. The basis of this study will be the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures (FRCP). Currently, 42 (or more) of the 50 states have adopted these rules as their own thereby rendering the Federal Rules highly relevant in any discussion of expert witness testimony. This seminar will go through the basics of a civil lawsuit from initial complaint, the discovery process, and the trial. The role of the expert as a witness and the testimony that the expert can give under the rules will be explored. Ten fundamental questions that every expert witness must know before testifying will be asked and answered. At least four pivotal court cases on the issue of expert witness testimony will be studied and discussed. OBJECTIVE: To enhance professional competency and improve practitioner’s knowledge of the law as it relates to the practice of land surveying.

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 205: Riparian Boundary Retracement - From a Land Surveyor's Point of View

  • Presenter: Donald Housley and David Housley

  • Description: This session will provide instruction and discussion on the pre-project research and the understanding of the deliverable. We will also discuss the process through the retracement of property lines along Riparian Boundaries in Pennsylvania.

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 303: Stormwater Management Methods Using HydroCAD (Part 3 of 4)

  • Presenter: Thomas Seybert

  • Description: This 2-day workshop (broken into 4 parts) will present methods in stormwater management design for quantity control. Methods developed by the National Conservation Resource Service (NRCS) will be presented, including runoff estimates using curve numbers, travel time and time of concentration, the dimensionless unit hydrograph method for creating hydrographs, and detention basin size estimates. Additionally, NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data, detention basin sizing, and basin outlet structure design will be addressed. The 2-day workshop uses the HydroCAD model. Participants are required to bring a Microsoft Windows-based laptop computer to the workshop and download a free HydroCAD sampler from hydrocad.net before or on the morning of the first day of the workshop. Participants should bring a hand calculator to complete some of the minor calculations. Paper copies of the notes will be helpful during workshop exercises, yet if participants work in groups of two, one group member can display the notes on their laptop (paperless) while the other can run the HydroCAD model. In this case there would be no need for printed notes. *You must take all 4 parts of this 2-day workshop

  • Credit: 3.5 

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• 504: Practical Geodesy for Practical Surveyors

  • Presenters: Dave Doyle

  • Description: This presentation details the historical and contemporary developments of the horizontal and vertical geodetic datums of the United States including: the North American Datum, North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27), North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83), the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), as well as the accepted global system, the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The session will highlight significant changes in measurement and positioning technologies and their impact on the development of reference ellipsoids, geoid models, and contemporary high accuracy reference frame enhancements. The presentation is designed to provide a foundation for further discussions that will focus on the rationale for national reference system changes by the National Geodetic Survey now scheduled for 2025.

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 703: Surface Modeling in Carlson Software

  • Presenters: Mike Hyman & Mark Fisher

  • Description: This workshop will demonstrate some techniques to prepare a better surface in Carlson Software. Topics will include surface creation, surface edits, and solutions to common problems in creating and displaying contours. Data formats for surfaces and import/export surface data with other software platforms will also be discussed.

  • Credit: 3.5

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8:15am - 9:45am........................................................................................................TUESDAY MORNING CONCURRENT SESSIONS

• 404: Deriving Astronomical Azimuths from Polaris Observations

  • ​Presenter: Kevin Brockett

  • Description: Participants will receive an introduction to fundamentals of celestial observations for surveying applications, with a focus on utilizing direct field observations of the star Polaris to derive the astronomical azimuths of lines on the ground. Following the presentation of underlying concepts and sources of ephemeris data, a real-world case study will serve as the framework to guide participants through the data-reduction methods outlined in The Astronomical Almanac and The Star Almanac for Land Surveyors. Additional real-world data will be provided to participants for self-study exercises.

  • Credit: 1.5

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• 603: Mapping It Out With Mobile Mapping

  • ​Presenter: Brent Fico

  • Description: The method (art) of data capture has greatly changed over the years. One of the most efficient ways to collect lidar data is utilizing Mobile Mapping Technology. This session will look at various mobile mapping technologies that are available on the market today and their associated workflows. We will conclude the presentation by looking at customer stories (case studies) and how they used Mobile Mapping Technology to maximize their time and profits.

  • Credit: 1.5

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10:15am - 11:45am..................................................................................................TUESDAY MORNING CONCURRENT SESSIONS

• 405: Basis of Bearings

  • Presenter:​ Scott Reeser

  • Description: This session will review the different types of Basis of Bearings used by geomatics professionals. The session will blend discussion on the different methodologies along with a brief review of the mathematical processes used in each method. Potential errors in each methodology will be discussed. Attendees to this session are encouraged to participate in the discussion on the viability of each method as well as share their personal experiences in dealing with different methods. This session is intended to be a review for the experienced surveyor as well as the up and coming surveyor.

  • Credit: 1.5

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• 604: Laser Scanning – Which Problem Solving Solution is Right for You?

  • Presenter:​ Ken Fronheiser

  • Description: The method (art) of data capture has greatly changed over the years. One of the more advanced ways of collecting data is to use a Laser Scanner. From a Professional Land Surveyor turned Sales Consultant, I am often asked what the difference is between “these scanners”. When considering taking the “dive” into this type of advanced technology, it can be difficult to choose the scanner that meets all of your needs. Laser scanners today sit on tripods, are mounted on top of vehicles or can be handheld. This session will look at various laser scanners that Trimble offers and their associated workflows. We will conclude the presentation by looking at customer stories (case studies) and how they used laser scanners to maximize their time and profits.

  • Credit: 1.5

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• 801: GIS and the Surveyor; Supporting Each Other

  • Presenter:​ Patrick Gahagan

  • Description: This course will educate surveyors as to how to support their private and public GIS clients and government agencies as well as their own businesses. We’ll learn about data sharing, analysis and survey deliverables that increase the value of our survey data and surveys. The workshop is a shortened version of a workshop co-developed and co-presented recently at the NY State Surveyors conference by Mr. Gahagan and J. Peter Borbas, PLS, PP, owner/operator of Borbas Surveying and Mapping, LLC.

  • Credit: 1.5

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11:45am - 1:00pm.....................................................................................................................................................................................LUNCH

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1:00pm - 4:30pm.................................................................................................TUESDAY AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS​

• 104: Mock Trial II

  • Presenter: Jeff Lucas

  • Description: This mock trial is loosely based on the case of Dillehay v. Gibbs, a case involving neighbors who own old family land where the common boundary line has become obliterated over the decades. A dispute arose between the neighbors, and surveyors were hired to survey the common boundary line. Two surveyors attempted to survey the line from the deeds, which all called for adjoiners (bounds only) who were long since gone along with their memories of where the boundary line used to be located. Based solely on the statement of locals that the boundary line was “down yonder” in the holler, the third surveyor based his survey entirely on extrinsic evidence—evidence outside the deeds. This seminar will explore the world of civil litigation through a mock trial based on a real-life boundary dispute case. Through audience participation, volunteers will play the roles of attorneys, landowners, lay witnesses and expert land surveyor witnesses; the seminar leader plays the role of judge. The remainder of the audience will be divided into jury pools, each with a foreman spokesperson. The size and number of juries will be determined by the size of the remaining audience. The trial will include elements of Dillahay v. Gibbs, with features of other boundary dispute cases utilized as appropriate. The trial will be held, and the juries will deliberate. Following deliberation, each jury will then render their verdict, and discuss their reasoning. Each jury will be required to field questions from the trial participants and other juries and defend their verdict. This seminar is designed to demystify the litigation process and explain the rules of engagement that will be used in court. Volunteers will be required to play the roles of the attorneys, the parties, and the witnesses. If you are interested in being a volunteer actor, please contact psls@psls.org. 

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 206: Technical Elements of Client Selection and Communication

  • Presenter: Mark Amirault

  • Description: During this course, the attendees will take away some keys to open and honest communications with their clients and prospects, along with tips on contract reviews and negotiations. Through review and examination of some onerous client drafted contracts, this open forum course will allow for attendees to discuss ways the surveyor can confidently modify these contracts.

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 304: Stormwater Management Methods Using HydroCAD (Part 4 of 4)

  • Presenter: Thomas Seybert

  • Description: This 2-day workshop (broken into 4 parts) will present methods in stormwater management design for quantity control. Methods developed by the National Conservation Resource Service (NRCS) will be presented, including runoff estimates using curve numbers, travel time and time of concentration, the dimensionless unit hydrograph method for creating hydrographs, and detention basin size estimates. Additionally, NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data, detention basin sizing, and basin outlet structure design will be addressed. The 2-day workshop uses the HydroCAD model. Participants are required to bring a Microsoft Windows-based laptop computer to the workshop and download a free HydroCAD sampler from hydrocad.net before or on the morning of the first day of the workshop. Participants should bring a hand calculator to complete some of the minor calculations. Paper copies of the notes will be helpful during workshop exercises, yet if participants work in groups of two, one group member can display the notes on their laptop (paperless) while the other can run the HydroCAD model. In this case there would be no need for printed notes. *You must take all 4 parts of this 2-day workshop.

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 406: Ethics for the Geomatics Professional

  • Presenter: Scott Reeser

  • Description: This session will discuss ethical considerations for surveyors but also applies to engineers. Attendees will review published definitions of Professional Ethics, as well as cultivate a group definition. The Code of Ethics included within the Engineer, Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law will be reviewed, as well as ethical codes from other surveying and engineering professional organizations. Discussion on the development of surveyor ethics will be discussed. This session is geared toward group participation, the presenter will encourage participation by all attendees in a manner that encourages thought and exchange of ideas.

  • Credit: 3.5

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• 505: Rationale for and Expectations of the Planned Geodetic Datum Changes

  • Presenter: Dave Doyle

  • Description: Enhancements and additions to the network of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) including: the U.S. NAVSTAR Global Positioning System, Russian GLONASS, European Union GALILEO and China's BeiDou are significantly improving the use and positional integrity of space-based positioning systems. To meet the anticipated demands for an improved geospatial framework that these developments will accommodate, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is implementing a strategy for the modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) rigorously aligned with the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). Among the various topics outlined in this presentation are discussions of the rationale for and magnitude of the anticipated horizontal and vertical positional changes and how these may impact existing federal, state, and local spatial data management systems (GIS).

  • Credit: 3.5​

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• 704: Data Flow, Data Processing and More with Carlson Software

  • Presenter: Mike Hyman and Douglas Aaberg

  • Description: Let’s look within Carlson Software on some of the more important functionality related to ‘Data Flow and Data Processing.’ We will start with some important project setup settings for starting up your boundary, topographic and general mapping projects. We will then move onto best practices on file exchange and data preparation from Carlson’s field Software SurvCE/SurvPC into Carlson Survey. Other field software solutions will be discussed for best deliverables into Carlson Desktop Software. We will also discuss the importing and exporting of Civil 3D files, what to look for and ask for. LandXML data exchange formats will be discussed and reviewed. PASDA Data Import options will also be discussed and the options within Carlson to best utilize the various types of data sets available ie. Images, ESRI Shape Files, Point Clouds, Contours for import into Carlson. From there we will review processing and utilizing raw data files from total station and GPS data sets. Reducing and processing raw data files (.rw5). A brief review of Compass and Least Sq Adjustments will also be reviewed within Carlson Survey. Deed Entry and Deed Correlation processing options will be reviewed. We will then finish up with some of the enhanced capabilities within Carlson’s Field-To-Finish for final mapping options. Overall, this class will highlight some of the years training events that Carlson Software has done in Pennsylvania. Additionally, items will also be reviewed with your input as time allows.

  • Credit: 3.5​

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1:00pm - 2:30pm.................................................................................................TUESDAY AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS​

• 605: What Tools are Available to Create an Effective Deliverable?

  • Presenter: Ken Fronheiser & Richard Johnston

  • Description: In recent years technology has really "taken off". The advancement in both hardware and software has allowed the surveyor to combine these technologies to create a cost effective deliverable. This presentation is designed to take a look at what hardware and software options are available and different workflows that can be used to create a comprehensive and cost effective deliverable.

  • Credit: 1.5 ​​​

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3:00pm - 4:30pm.................................................................................................TUESDAY AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS

• 606: Obtaining and Maintaining Multiple State Licenses

  • Presenter: Don Groesser

  • Description: The presenter, Don Groesser, has active professional land surveyor licenses in six states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, and Arizona. In addition, he is the Corporate Survey/Geospatial Practice Lead for Civil & Environment Consultants, Inc., that includes a team of over 180, with 35 professional land surveyors licensed in 26 states. He will step you through various state requirements, license applications, test preparation, managing continuing education requirements, and using the NCEES website for all of the above needs.

  • Credit: 1.5 

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5:00pm - 5:45pm...........................................................................................................................................RECEPTION & NETWORKING

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6:00pm - 8:30pm..........................................................................................DINNER & EVENING PROGRAM (RAFFLE & AUCTION)