Page 13 - NYSAPLS 2026 Conference Journal

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

NSPS Certified Floodplain Surveyor Course Latent Ambiguities
NY LS/PE: 20.0; NH 5.0; VT 20.0; NJ 20.0 NY LS/PE: 2.0; NH .50; VT 2.0; NJ 2.0
John Chagnon, PE, PLS CFM & Mark Condodemetraky, PE, LLS Amy Hopkins, PLS
Monday, 1/26/26 – Wednesday 1/28/26 10:00am – 12:00pm
This program and course are designed to enable the surveyor This session will discuss what latent ambiguities are and include
to learn much more that has always been within the discipline examples of survey scenarios where latent ambiguities exist. It will
of floodplain management, thus filling the gap between land provide attendees with possible courses of action when dealing
surveying and floodplain management. Attending this course with latent ambiguities such as field evidence that doesn’t match
and passing a 125-question exam allows participants to show deed geometry; parol evidence; uncalled for monuments; gaps and
that they have the particular expertise required as a Certified overlaps; and historic vs. modern survey deed descriptions. The
Floodplain Surveyor and authority in the field. For more session will also discuss how to develop confidence with being able
information on the course and exam, please view page 17. to defend a surveyors opinion, should they make it to court.

MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026 GNSS Best Practices
NY LS/PE: 2.0; NH .50; VT 2.0; NJ 2.0
Morning Sessions Daniel J. Martin
10:00am – 12:00pm
General Session: Legislative Updates for Land Surveyors The use of GNSS technology has become common within the
in New York and Beyond surveying profession. This is especially true when it comes to the
NY LS/PE: 1.0; NH .25; VT 1.0; NJ 1.0 use of real-time techniques (Real-Time Kinematic) and Real-Time
Jeremy E. Thompson, LS & Timothy Burch, PLS Networks (RTN). These techniques offer methods that significantly
8:15am – 9:30am increase productivity, with little degradation of accuracy. But a tool
This session will review legislation passed in 2019, which became by itself does not produce accuracy or confidence. The procedures
effective April of 2021 that now includes an educational component used, and attention to detail by the user is what helps to ensure
for Licensed Surveyors in New York. The law eliminated the you achieve the results you are aiming for. In this workshop, we
all-experience pathway and replaced it with various pathways will discuss the GNSS tools and techniques that are available,
requiring either a bachelor’s degree or higher in land surveying; an their adequacy for common survey tasks, and take an in-depth
accredited associate’s degree in land surveying, or an associate’s look at “best practices” that have been developed by practitioners
degree or higher in engineering, math, or related science with (including two of your own) that are designed to catch blunders,
acceptable credits in land surveying that have been approved by eliminate common systematic errors, and increase confidence
the New York State Department of Education. The session will also in surveying results. We will also look at the newly released NGS
include a presentation regarding efforts being made at the national Standards and Specifications, which include the use of Real-
level to promote the profession of surveying through workforce Time techniques, and provide research showing why certain
development. The presentation will have a brief government affairs specifications or techniques are required.
update to share any recent changes to legislation affecting land
surveyors and review the status of the transition to the new datums From Drone to CAD with Carlson Software
in the modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) NY LS/PE: 2.0; NH .50; VT 2.0; NJ 2.0
affecting surveyors. The goal is to benefit both the attendees as Michael Hyman
well as their colleagues and coworkers once they return to the 10:00am – 12:00pm
workplace and share what they have learned.
Drones are being used for a multitude of projects for the Land
Ethics for the Geomatic Professional Surveying professional. This course will discuss and show the
NY LS/PE: 2.0; NH .50; VT 2.0; NJ 2.0 growing use of technology around Photographic as well as LiDAR
Scott R. Reeser, PLS drone usage and what to do with all the data. We will discuss the
10:00am – 12:00pm workflow and how to use point cloud and orthophotography data
Attendees will review published definitions of Professional Ethics, as into a CAD for mapping and deliverables. We will then get into a
well as cultivate a group definition. The Canons of Ethics, published presentation highlighting industry leading software from Carlson
by the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors, Software producing several deliverables like a Field-to-Finish
will be reviewed, as well as ethical codes from other surveying and mapping, Feature Extraction, Topographic Mapping as well as
engineering professional organizations. Ethical requirements of the point cloud use and clean up from the data collected from drones.
New York State Department of Education, as they relate to surveyors
and other Geomatics Professionals, will also be discussed. This
session is geared toward group participation; the presenter
will encourage participation by all attendees in a manner that
encourages thought and exchange of ideas.
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