Survey estimates are more accurate when sections and control stations are visible and the lengths of traverses and level runs can be determined with the Google Earth distance tool. MWI routinely uses Google Earth for estimating and planning survey projects, route selection, construction inspection, and testing services with a net savings of many hours in both the field and office. For others, I hope that the topic may be of historical or academic interest. If you work in a public land state, I do not need to emphasize the importance of the PLSS. The third major application, described in this issue, provides direct access to real-time BLM data, including section geometry and land records. Merely knowing the 24k quad name can be the key to finding other survey data that is categorized by USGS quadrangle. USGS topos often make a good base map for large-scale planning, permitting, and presentation, or may be required by a permitting body. The 24k quadrangle map sometimes represents the best available topographic information, and QUADS provides access to thousands of high-resolution, georeferenced PDFs (GeoPDFs), which are now supported by Global Mapper. The second major application in the Earth Survey toolkit was QUADS (see " USGS Quadrangles in Google Earth," October 2009), which includes USGS orthoimagery, topo maps, and a quadrangle index.
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We are currently able view output from NGSCS in Google Maps on an Android smartphone or pad and dispense with printed maps and datasheets altogether. NGSCS (see " Visualizing National Geodetic Control Stations in Google Earth," November 2008) was the first tool in the Earth Survey geodetic toolkit. Initially, I made static KML maps of NGS control in our ten-county service area with links to datasheets, and then realized that what I really wanted was real-time access to the latest NGS data, not just for datasheets, but also for the placemarks themselves. The first timesaving measure we took was simply to add Google Earth placemarks at control station locations, set the view size for print output, save an image, and print it. Our reasoning was that, equipped with the orthophotos, party chiefs could more quickly find unfamiliar job control, but the amount of time spent in the office to prepare the maps was significant. (MWI) was making AutoCAD base maps with orthophotos in the vicinity of NGS control stations.
Over the past few years, I have become convinced that Google Earth represents an extraordinary opportunity to visualize and communicate survey data, though I too was skeptical of its value as a professional land surveying tool in the beginning.
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A 2.575Mb PDF of this article as it appeared in the magazine-complete with images-is available by clicking HERE