Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Lunch (On your own): 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Afternoon Session: 1:00 – 4:30 pm
Basic Principles of Geodesy for State Plane Coordinates
The ellipsoid
The geoid
• When water flows up hill
• Elevations are more complicated than you think
• Different types of “heights”
• Latitude/longitude and earth-centered, earth-fixed coordinates
Map Projections
• Why do we use them
• You’re ALWAYS using a map projection when you survey
• Map project tradeoffs
• Map project types
• A simple map projection example
• The relationship between latitude, longitude and projected coordinates
Parts of an Earth Surface Coordinate Reference System
A unit system
An origin
Description of location on the system
Common types of coordinate systems
• Rectangular coordinates
• Polar coordinates
• Spherical coordinates
• Linear referencing coordinates
Key elements of an earth surface coordinate reference system
State Plane Coordinates
Why did they create state plane coordinates?
A brief history of state plane coordinates
Aren’t state plane coordinates outdated?
The benefits of state plane coordinates
Bringing All the Parts Together: How State Plane Coordinates Work
Making an ellipsoid into a horizontal datum
• WGS84/NAD83/NAD27
Choosing a projection
Pinning a projection to the horizontal datum (picking zone constants)
Example: California State Plane Coordinate System Zone 3
Practical State Plane Coordinates
When should I use state plane coordinates?
How do I select a combined scale factor?
Quality assurance/quality control mechanisms
Equipment and software
• What type of distance does a total station actually measure?
• What type of distance does my GNSS receiver actually measure?
• What is my data collector doing to my distances?
• What is my CAD software doing to my distances and coordinates?
• What you need to teach your field crews
Selecting multiple scale factors
• Working on the edge of a zone
• Dealing with large elevation differences
• When state plane coordinates are a poor choice
State Plane Coordinates and the Land Surveying Profession
Legal requirements for using state plane coordinates
Bastardized state plane coordinates
Sample map notes
Should we be testing long-hand state plane coordinates?
State plane coordinates in boundary surveying
State plane coordinates in GIS systems
Credits
This seminar offers California
professional land surveyors and
engineers a 6.5 hour continuing
education opportunity.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers a 6.5 hour continuing education opportunity to California professional land surveyors and engineers. Continuing education is not required for license maintenance in California.
This seminar will qualify for professional land surveyors and engineers with continuing education requirements in most states.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for professional land surveyors and engineers in Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New York (NYSED Sponsor No. 35), North Carolina, and North Dakota. HalfMoon Education is also an approved continuing education provider for Florida and New Jersey engineers.
Attendance will be monitored and reported, as required. Attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
Landon Blake
Mapping Department Manager, Hawkins and Associates Engineering, Inc.Mr. Blake has practiced land surveying throughout central California and western Nevada. He is licensed in both states and is also a certified federal surveyor. He specializes in surveys to support large public works infrastructure projects. He also serves as an expert witness in disputes involving boundary survey or land title issues. He currently works as the Mapping Department manager for Hawkins and Associates in Modesto, California. In his previous positions he worked as the Mapping Department manager for O’Dell Engineering and the assistant surveyor manager for KSN in Stockton, California. Mr. Blake serves as a volunteer on the Land Surveyor Technical Advisory Committee to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. He is currently the president of the California Land Surveyors Association Central Valley Chapter and the vice president of the American Council of Engineering Companies Central California Chapter. Mr. Blake teaches at surveying and GIS events around the Western United States.