[Back to the Online Library]

Wisconsin's need for a State Surveyor

Prepared by
Diann Danielsen
September 1993

Introduction

The Wisconsin surveying community has witnessed drastic changes in technology and practice in recent years. Such activities as the release of geodetic data on two new geodetic datums (and an additional datum readjustment), the geographic framework and parcel mapping needs of the Wisconsin Land information Program, and growing cooperative participation by various groups (federal and state, state and local governments, private and public sector) have placed new and increased demands on this community of professionals.

In particular, the following activities and programs are rapidly moving forward, making demands on surveyors, private firms, and public agencies in a way that requires a different way of responding to them than current methods afford:

• The advent of the global positioning system technology has pushed the application of geodetic surveying into a new field of users and is now common place practice. Surveyors are actively densifying local control networks, referencing the statewide networks established in Wisconsin by the National Geodetic Survey and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
• PLSS remonumentation has surged forward in activity, in large part due to the immediate demands of the Wisconsin Land information Program for a geographic framework that can be referenced to the "legal" framework describing property.
• The establishment of county coordinate systems allows geodetic precision in a way that is more convenient for local users. Some of these coordinate system are already in existence; a statewide set of systems is currently under development
• Land information activity has increased the need for data sharing and the need to find reliable survey information. The State Cartographers Office has historically filled the need for some of this information but as the demand grows, there is an increasing need for further coordination and participation by more parties. The federal data housed at the SCO needs to merged with that produced by state agencies and other parties.
• State needs for such things as a geodetic control information clearinghouse are hindered because of the lack of an agency or office dedicated to using its resources to serve this need - to serve statewide, to serve independent of other agency needs, and to serve the surveying community and its clientele.
• A large volume of digital surveying information is being produced by a variety of sources. This includes not only geodetic control information but all forms of automated survey information. Without a designated advisory office for assistance and problem resolution it is difficult to integrate and take full advantage of this information. Similarly, Counties With serious documented survey problems have needed assistance and have found it difficult to find help at the state level.
• The changes in surveying practice and programs leads to the current need for continuing educational efforts regarding datums, map projections, transformations between datum and coordinate systems, etc. This is needed both by surveying practitioners and by others seeking to merge information from a variety of sources into a geographic/land information system or mapping program.
• There is potential for state participation in federal programs such as the BLM's imaging of original patents, the USGS 3rd Order Leveling Data transfer to the NGS, and a geodetic data distribution center for NGS in this state. All of these may flounder due to the lack of a central office specifically mandated and funded to coordinate such activities.
• The potential to further coordinate surveying practice and to develop new programs is hindered in Wisconsin by the lack of a statewide coordinated effort devoted to furthering surveying interests in our state. Ideas such as a Peer Review Council for PLSS Remonumentation are difficult to implement without a central oversight office to promote their value and use in the state.

All of these mentioned activities have grown to be pressing needs in just the last 5 years. They are indicative of the way surveying practice is changing and illustrate the needs the surveying community will have in future years. A 1990 report to the Wisconsin Land Information Association by its Technical Research Committee (Myron Bacon, Chair), recommended the establishment of an advisory committee and staff to deal with surveying issues such as these at the state level. That need is still with us and continues to grow.

Therefore this report proposes that a detailed study is urgently needed at this time. A study to assess the status of Wisconsin's surveying community and its activities, to research the role of State Surveyor's Offices in other states, to determine whether there is a need for such an office in Wisconsin, and if so, to determine how to proceed with its establishment.

The Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office has recognized the stress placed upon its resources in trying to continue to serve Wisconsin's surveying community while also maintaining the primary mandates of its office. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation while taking the lead expertise in many of Wisconsin's recent endeavors, does not have the mandate nor the resources to meet general public needs in addition to agency needs. The Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors and many County Surveyors and County Land Information Officers have long recognized the need for a central office to respond to the needs and interests of the surveying community. The University of Wisconsin - Madison's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, long active and supportive of the state professionals, also recognizes the need for cohesive state oversight of important surveying activities.

This proposal offers a scenario of possible issues to be considered, questions to be asked, and parties who may be interested in participating. The need to look at this issue today has been outlined in this introduction. A preliminary list of study questions follows, along with a list of potential interested parties and their representative roles. It is hoped that the groups and individuals named will respond to the need to investigate a Stare Surveyor's Office and recognize the timeliness of this issue for Wisconsin. Efforts to legislatively establish a State Surveyor's Office may take years, but those efforts must begin with an assessment study. The time to begin is now.

Questions to be Studied:

I) What is the current status of State Surveyor's Offices across the country?

• How did they come to be established?
• History, driving needs and forces.
• What were the mandates that established these offices?
• What role does the office play in the state today?
• Active programs.
• inter-relationship with other government agencies (federal. state, regional and local).
• Relationship with the private sector and professional organizations.
• How is the Office set up?
• source(s) and stability of funding
• administrative organization
• staff (size and make-up)physical space and equipment needed
• physical space and equipment needed

This portion of the study can be accomplished by survey and questionnaire; possibly by visits to offices of particular interest. This study question begins by contacting the Association of State Surveyors.

2) What is the current status of Wisconsin’s surveying activities?

• Brief history bringing us to today.
• Current activities.
• Trends and possible programs for the future.
• Historic and current role of the State Cartographer's Office with regard to the surveying community.

3) Where, and by whom, are Wisconsin s surveying activities and programs being conducted? (private industry, associations, state agencies?)

4) How could the current status be improved by bringing these activities under the oversight of a State Surveyor's Office'?

5) What are the potential roles of such an office in Wisconsin?

• Liaison and relationship with federal, state, and local groups, and associations
• Programs to be undertaken:
• Existing programs that would possibly be moved from another location to this new office.
• New programs that could be undertaken if this office were created.
• Relationship with the NGS State Advisor Program.
• Relationship with State Cartographer's Office.
• Who would oversee/administer the office?
• Ex: a state agency? a cooperative agreement with interested parties? an oversight committee similar to CSC?

6) How would the establishment of this office benefit the Wisconsin public and the surveying community?

• Coordination of efforts.
• Guidance and assistance on technical matters and programs.
• Clearinghouse for surveying information.
• Liaison with federal, state, and local governments private industry, and professional organizations.

7) How could such an office be established in Wisconsin?

• Who would need to be supportive?
• How would a legislative process happen?
• What would the associated costs be for:
• Establishing the office
• Maintaining the office
• Where would the office be located?
• Ex: in a state agency? a neutral UW setting like the SCO? a shared office and staff within the existing structure of SCO? Attached to NGS?

8) is there a need for, or a means for, establishing an interim office while legislation proceeds to establish a formal office?

• What will happen to current and upcoming surveying activities if interim plans are not made?
• Could an interim office be established under:
• The umbrella of the cooperative agreement between the NGS and the WIDOT?
• The auspices of the State Cartographer's Office?
• The umbrella of the upcoming cooperative agreement between the NGS and the SCO?

9) What would be the authority of the State Surveyor's Office?

• Establish standards and procedures?
• Technical assistance?
• Advisory only?
• information repository and/or clearinghouse?
• Education and outreach efforts?

Possible Task Force Members:

John Haverberg
Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation
Board Member, Wisconsin Land Information Board

Matthew J. Janiak
Richland County Surveyor
President, Wisconsin County Surveyors Association

Ted W. Koch
Wisconsin State Cartographer
Board Member, Wisconsin Land information Board

D. David Mover
Wisconsin State Advisor, National Geodetlc Survey

Michael J. Romportl
Oneida County Land information Officer
President, Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors

Alan P. Vonderohe, Professor
Professor, UW - Madison, Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Nancy von Meyer
Fairview industries
President. Wisconsin Land information Association

representatives from:

Department of Natural Resources
Department of Trade, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection

[Back to the Online Library]