DEM Clipper

We here in North Carlina are lucky to have access to tons of great data. The specific data I mean (for this post anyway) is LIDAR data. As you may know, a few years ago the State assumed responsibility for creation and maintenance of FEMA flood maps. The complaint was that our maps, indeed lots of FEMA Flood maps, were crap.

Of course, the state taking over didn't automatically mean that magically the maps were good. Creating maps that were better than the previous maps took better raw data.

Enter LIDAR technology. I won't go into details here. But in general, the state gathered x,y,z data on a fairly tight grid across the entire state.

The good news (at least for us surveyors) is that we have access to this same data. The bad news is the data files are massive and virtually unusable as they are.

The good new is Donnie Stallings has developed a very cool program called DEM Clipper. This program allows the user to extract points from the data files.

I could go on and on with details about how the program works. But I won't do that. Instead, here is a video that shows how it works.



Later I'll show exactly how to get the data files you need.

If DEM Clipper looks interesting, go here to download a fully functional demo version of the program.


Larry P

Speaking of Renewing your License

Speaking of renewing your license, you will be asked to indicate the number of hours or Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) you are claiming for the current year. Each licensee is required to obtain 15 hours per year. It's not that tough so I'd just as soon not hear anyone bellyaching about this requirement. Most years I could probably claim 50 or more hours.

The maximum you can carry from one year to the next is 15 so I don't actually claim 5o hours, there is no point in doing that.

Here is a bit of advice for those who are about to renew and do not actually have the required hours. Be very careful. Permit me to explain.

Some years ago the Executive Director of the Board came and talked to our local chapter of NCSS. As usual the presentation was informative and well received. (Yes, attending that presentation did earn those present some time.)

As a part of the discussion the E.D. was asked about the Board audits for CPC. He explained that the Board does do a random audit and that a surprisingly large percentage of licensees audited had no real CPC activity.

When asked what happens to those persons we were told that they are given a fairly short period of time in which to get the required credits.

Those of us present at this meeting entered into a rather spirited discussion about this point. As I recall, nearly everyone in the room agreed that not having the credits wasn't all that big a deal. But we all thought that lying on your renewal form claiming credits you knew you did not have was a very big deal.

One gentleman commented something to the effect that "If they will lie about something that minor what other major things are they lying about?"

Now let me be very clear about one thing. I do not in any way speak for the Board, or any staff person at the Board office, or any individual member of the Board. Everything I say here is my opinion or is fact that is traceable back to published sources.

But I certainly hope the days of "get some credits in the next month and you'll be ok" days are over. Maybe they are and I just don't know it. That is entirely possible.

Thus the whole point of this post. When you renew your license, you better have the required time and you better have your CPC Actvitiy log up to date.

CPC Activity log? "What the heck is that?", you say. Better go to that link to a page on the Board Web site for further information

Larry P

It's that time of year again

Time to renew the old license with the Board of Examiners.

Over the years I've seen the process evolve.

Early in my days as a PLS, the board would send me a notice every year. I would confirm my address and send it back with a check. (Doesn't just about every government run thing include that last part about including a check?)

Not too long after I started my own business the board started asking for an email address. It was (is) easier for the board to communicate via email. Email works quicker, cheaper and easier than snail mail. That is a pretty unbeatable combination.

But, there is one problem. Once the board has your email address, that address becomes public record. Yep, you guessed it, if anyone asks, the board is required to give out your email address.

Oh boy, that just exactly what I want, not!

So, I resisted. The Board staff knew my email address. In fact I have communicated via email regularly with the Executive Director, the Staff Attorney, and quite a few of the Board members over the years. I've always found them to be willing to help.

Still, I was not sold on the fact that if someone asked, they had to give out my email address. So, even though they all knew it, I never officially entered it into their database.

Finally I came up with a solution that works for both of us; well, maybe.

I got one of the free Internet based accounts and set it up specifically for use when the data might be released to others. So far, so good with that. I get some spam at that address of course. But none I could trace back to the Board.

Flash forward to 2009. I've finally decided to go ahead and go whole hog (so to speak). I will be renewing my license online. No more paper forms and written checks. No more sealing envelopes and buying stamps. This is a good thing, I think.

Larry P

Think it's no big deal to practice without a license?

Think again. Want proof?

See this article about a man who was arrested and convicted in court.

"...arrested for practicing land surveying...."


Larry P

Some Links I find helpful

Here are a few Links I find helpful in my daily business.

NC Board of Examiners for Engineers and Land Surveyors

New Board Rules Effective May 1, 2009

Board Rules broken into sections

North Carolina Society of Surveyors

NC Department of Transportation Maps

Need to look up a State Road Number or Name? Secondary Roads Lookup App

NC Flood Maps

Regional Radar (If you want to see more detailed coverage of your area click on the map.)

What is this all about?

Welcome to my first post on the North Carolina Surveyor.

Over the coming days, weeks, months, even years (I hope) this blog will feature items of interest to the Professional Land Surveyors in North Carolina. Those from other states might find some of the items of interest. But the focus will be mostly on North Carolina.

Why? Why do we need a North Carolina Surveyor blog?

I'm sure some will contend we do not need this blog. Anyone who feels that way is welcome to go somewhere else. There will be nothing magic about this blog . There will be no pot of gold at the end of the proverbial blog rainbow.

There will be topics I hope the reader will find interesting. I'll be talking about everything from court cases and board decisions to equipment to fighting bees and swattin' flies. Along the way it might even be semi entertaining once in awhile. <----- Note that this is not a guarantee as there are those who will contend surveyors as a group talk about the dullest things.

Speaking of dull, I'll close this initial entry (version 1.0) before anyone else dozes off.

Larry P