ASPRS - Presentation on Mobile Mapping

Baker’s resident LiDAR Scientist, Dr. Srinivasan “Srini” Dharmapuri, presented a paper on Urban Surveying using Mobile Mapping and its Related Complexities at ASPRS 2012 Annual conference in Sacramento, CA on 3/22/12.

The conference theme, Imaging and Geospatial Technologies – Into the Future showcased more focused discussions on various geospatial technologies including mobile mapping using LiDAR. Srini’s presentation conveyed the project life cycle for a typical Mobile Mapping/LiDAR project, and highlighted the key complex areas in executing project in urban conditions. The diverse group of international attendees included prominent individuals from the public and private sectors, as well as academia.

As Baker's resident LiDAR Scientist, Dr. Srini is responsible for application development, QA/QC methodologies, technical writing, improving processing efficiency and other related LiDAR (static, mobile and aerial) activities. Also presently, Srini is the Chair of the ASPRS Mobile Mapping Committee involved in arriving at the “best practices document for Mobile Mapping”.

If you have a topic for Srini to write about, please leave it as a comment and we'll include it the Ask the Doctor series.

Cheers!

Stephen

National Surveyor's Week

Three of these men were Surveyors

Tomorrow marks the conclusion of National Surveyor's Week.  It's the time of the year to recognize Surveying as a founding profession - one that was instrumental in defining our country, it's boundaries and infrastructure. As a Professional Surveyor, I take exceptional pride in the profession I've chosen - even more so when discussing the history with people unfamiliar with what we do.

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. was founded as a surveying firm seven decades ago.  And our recent addition to the Baker family, RBF, has a similar legacy.

Perhaps the most personal discovery regarding our history was uncovered during a visit to my wife's grandparents in rural North Carolina.  Unbeknownst to me, it turns out that her grandfather started at Baker in 1943 as a survey rodman.  He worked is way up to run a party before heading off to World War II.  Upon his return from the war, he was offered his job back, but decided to take an alternate route.  He eventually retired from Florida DOT after 40+ years as a bridge engineer.  Upon hearing the story from him, I pulled out my laptop and proceeded to show him Mobile LiDAR data.  To say he was blown away is an understatement.

Poster on display at Baker and RBF offices nationwide.

To my fellow surveying professionals, cheers!  I'm having a pint tonight to celebrate.

Stephen

For more information on the profession and it's history, go to:

American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
National Society of Professional Surveyors
National Museum of Surveying

Like us on Facebook

Some time ago, I created a Facebook page for our operation - an informal place to share photos and other materials in addition to the blog.  Late one evening last week, I applied the new Timeline view to the page and created a URL.  As the days, weeks, months and years pass by, it becomes increasingly more difficult to remember our history.  Hopefully this helps.

I've tasked our crew with providing additional content as they journey about the country. If you're so inclined, Like us on Facebook.

Cheers!
Stephen