Recent content by Earthman

Congratulations on passing the exam!

Not even if it was across the street from me. However, if it’s close to you, submit a SWAG on the high side. Maybe you’ll get it.

Droners.io and similar “services” are a waste of time. The “budgets” are so low, I wouldn’t risk putting my drone up if the job was across the street from me. I assume PICs who don’t know what a job is costing them or the risks they are taking are the folks bidding on and doing such jobs, and...

I use white bucket lids (better contrast) drilled thru center so I can carry them on a stringer I made and/or so I can put a large spike thru them if/when needed. I use tripods available at Home Depot and Lowe’s. I think both are less than $80. For scaling, use any two objects that you know...

Sorry, BigA107. I know I'm walking a fine line but I was hoping not to offend anyone with what I was trying to be lighthearted about. I apologize to you, 2edgesword, and others if it doesn't come across that way. If others are offended, I'll edit my post away to the extent that it's possible...

I do all my cringing at work. And for the most part, I don't worry about stuff posted on forums. It's was just "low hanging fruit” and I feel 2edgesword's pain about English Composition.

2edgesword, Clearly, you've made your point - about disliking English Composition! ;) Permit me to elaborate... Capitalize "memorize," Correct spelling of "specific ally" and add a period," Add "of" between "Most" and "my," Change "spend" to "spent," Delete the word "specifically" at the end...

True, unless it is a life or death emergency, in which case you can transmit on any radio/frequency, even if not licensed. A low flying helicopter inspecting power lines while entering your area of operation would be such a situation. However, given how quickly such a situation would play out...

I agree. My understanding is the FAA does not plan to use, nor do they want UAV folks using ADS-B for commercial or recreational small UAVs. The smallest, least expensive, FAA-certified ADS-B out device I’ve seen runs about $2,000, so it seems like it would break the bank for most UAV pilots...

It depends on the type of failure. If it’s a flyaway, the UAV may fly as far as the remaining battery power will carry it. If it’s hovering and loses all power in calm air, it will fall essentially straight down. If it is flying in calm air, but has some forward velocity when it loses all...

GCPs are points (targets) on the ground that are surveyed and visible in the aerial photos. I use white 5-gal bucket lids as GCP targets. I‘ve drilled a hole in the center of the lids so I can pin them to the ground with a large nail and carry them in a stack on a “stringer“ I made. The heads...

Fred, be careful with Google Earth and the like. I don’t know how they georeference the satellite images, but more often than not, the georeferencing is off between historical images. So, a line you draw relative to an image taken one year, ends up in a significantly different location on...

No problem BigAI07. However, keep in mind that attorneys and judges rely on expert witnesses to advise them on issues that are outside their legal training and experience - at least the good ones do. Also, attorneys and judges make mistakes all the time, which is why there are higher courts...

FYI, see attached PA Society of Land Surveyors Statement on Mapping and Positioning Services. The legal teams of the folks who lost their disputes relying on your drawings didn’t do their jobs. Municipal GIS databases don’t include actual property lines and one typically has no idea of the...

In most states in the USA, you are not permitted to show property lines or claim to be providing a map or figure that includes property lines unless you are a licensed surveyor or engineer. You can be reported to the state licensing board by any PE, PLS, or disgruntled client or property owner...