Page 25 - NYS_ESS_03-2024

Friday W ebinar Series
Friday Webinar Series

Join us on a Friday of every month as we present lectures on a Featured May Program…
variety of business, project management and surveying subjects.
All from the convenience of your office! And most courses have FEMA Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs)
been approved for NY CE credit! Register on our website,
www.nysapls.org. Presented by William Nechamen, CFM
May 3, 2024
Featured April Program… Registration Fees: $49 members, $75 non-members
1.0 NY CE hour for LS/PE
Aerial Mapping Ground Control
FEMA Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) are used to fine tune a FEMA
Best Practices Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to determine if a structure on natural

Presented by Zachary Radel, CMS ground, or all or part of a parcel of land, is at or above the Base Flood
April 5, 2024 Elevation (elevation of the one percent annual chance flood). Because even
Registration Fees: $49 members, the most precise maps are not accurate to tenths of a foot, a LOMA as filled
$75 non-members out by a licensed surveyor may be used if it is determined that the lowest
1.0 NY CE hour for LS/PE grade adjacent to an existing structure, or the lowest point on a parcel or
portion of a parcel, is at or above the Base Flood Elevation. A successful
This webinar is geared towards all Land Surveyors, whether LOMA does not remove any chance of a flood, but it does remove federal
just beginning their career or seasoned professionals. It will mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements, and may be used to
cover all facets of aerial ground control and Photo Identifiable prove to local permitting agencies that a structure is not subject to floodplain
Points and why it is important to understand how and where development requirements. The course will go over when a LOMA may or
to choose the best locations for these points. We will go may not apply, how to properly fill out the LOMA form (MT-EZ or MT-1), and
in-depth on the process of photogrammetric, LiDAR and UAV how to obtain the FEMA Based Flood Elevation.
aerial triangulation and cover best practices and things to By the end of this session participants will be able to:
avoid for success.
By the end of this session participants will be able to: 1. Explain the purpose of a Letter of Map Amendment.
2. Describe when a LOMA may be used and when it cannot be used.
1. Detail the history of aerial mapping, the basic stages of
photogrammetry, and the key people who have gotten us 3. Explain what information is needed to fill out and submit a LOMA to FEMA.
where we are today. About our Speaker
2. Explain standard photogrammetry aerial triangulation, Bill Nechamen is Principal and owner of Nechamen Consulting, LLC of
UAV triangulation and LiDAR registration. Schenectady, NY, a company dedicated to providing training and information
related to flood risk and the National Flood Insurance Program. Bill was the State
3. Describe all the types of ground control, Panels and PIDS Floodplain Management Coordinator for the New York State Department of
and why it is important for the overall solution and Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) from 1996 until 2017. He is the past
accuracy requirements. Check Points or Ghost Points will chair of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and serves as
also be fully discussed. co-chair of the ASFPM Floodplain Regulations committee. He was a founding
About our Speaker member and the first Chair of the New York State Floodplain and Stormwater
Zachary Radel has worked in the Geospatial community for more Managers Association (NYSFSMA) and currently serves that organization as
treasurer and co-chair of the public policy committee.
than 22 years, specializing in aerial photography acquisition,
flight management, metric camera management, and total Through Nechamen Consulting, Bill provides a variety of floodplain management
related services, including managing ASFPM’s state to state mentoring program,
project management. Zachary has managed over 1,000 aerial developing and providing floodplain management related training, and
mapping projects ranging from local, state and federal levels. With providing subject matter expertise. He has provided expert written testimony for
his understanding of aerial mapping, UAV/UAS, GIS and his the New York State Office of Attorney General regarding the impact of the Waters
familiarity with data management, he is an integral member of of the U.S. rule on flood risk. He has also worked on several flood mitigation
the Cooper Aerial management team. Zachary is also the holder of studies in New York State. He was appointed by the Governor to the Reimagining
the Certified Mapping Scientist UAV certification from ASPRS. He the Erie Canal Task Force and the Upstate (NY) Flood Mitigation Task Force.
has done a lot of public speaker over the last 10 years, and enjoys Bill has an MS in geography with a concentration in water resources from the
spreading knowledge on aerial mapping, UAV’s, technology, LiDAR University of Massachusetts in Amherst. In 2016, he was awarded the Meritorious
Lifetime Achievement in Floodplain Management award by the Association of
and professional Land Surveying.
State Floodplain Managers.
Register online at www.nysapls.org

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 2 2024 • MARCH/APRIL 23