Topic: (program) Line labeler

[rugaroo]

Well I tried looking through NAC, but couldn't find much that helped me on this. Maybe you maybe able to spot it a bit easier there Dent. I don't want to sit here and tell someone they are wrong, when I truly am.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-625.html

[Dent Cermak]

Appears they dance around it by saying other regulations apply as necessay without outlining them. No real guidance is provided for plat preparation. The labeling of bearings is a "back to basics' issue that they do not address. I have quoted 3 sources and haven't gotten into National Map Accuracy Standards. My approach is from a surveying/mapping viewpoint. This viewpoint is aligned with the requirements used by land title attorneys and ALTA members. The best sources are the publications put out by ALTA, ACSM and NSPS.
Today it's a matter of "do what you can get away with." Standards no longer exist. except in my office. Do it the way you want to, but if you ever come to work for me, you better know the "right" way or you won't last long.
Show me just one text book, reference manual (NOT to include GIS or Cad software, because they have been corrupted by the ill informed) or national specification or standard that uses the N00d00'00"E notation. One text or lesson plan from an accredited institution. I DO NOT want, "My PM or Engineer says that's right." I want a certified source. I do not want, "That's the way we do it here." Any document from USGS, Corps of Engineers, Rand McNally even. ANY survey trext book. NOMENCLATURE DOCUMENTATION. I have given multiple PRINTED references and sources from national mapping and survey institutions. I will not be challenged with anything of lesser stature. (see engineer slinking off muttering, 'well, he's just wrong. I know he is.")
I just don't believe that I have been wrong for 40 years. All those editors that I have slipped by!! All those state boards of registration. All those ALTA/ACSM surveys. JEEZ!! I've been lucky, huh ?!
(Another source that backs me up. The BLM Manual on Land Surveying. That's the document that 95 percent of all of the states based their minimum standards upon.)

{Now do ya'll want me to take off on "major' and "minor" contours or the practice of making the "major" contours every fourth line when you are doing metric contours? THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS MAJOR AND MINOR CONTOURS AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PROPER NOMENCLATURE, YOU NEED TO GO INTO ANOTHER FIELD. OOOOOOH!! I love soap boxes!!}

[Dinosaur]

Nice routine, Mark.  Too bad Dent scared everyone off talking about ALTA surveys - VILE things, those - the only thing worse is a HUD survey.  I had a whole collection of similar routines for r10 that provided a good share of the functions of the old DCA software.  Now that I see how you made this work for the newer versions perhaps I can rewrite some of my favorites that have not been provided with LDD 2k5.

All you guys talking about cardinal directions - When do you ever get a chance to use them?  In this area all plats and certified surveys are required to be rotated to a state plain bearing system and only the happiest of accidents return a true cardinal direction.  Most of our section lines are 3 - 10 degrees off grid after the conversion.  It makes thing real fun when abutting an older plat that wasn't rotated.

[Dent Cermak]

I LOVE ALTA/ACSM surveys. they are really much easier to do, but because everyone thinks they are bears, you can charge more for them. No more long hours digging through musty deed books! It all comes in a Handy-Dandy report and that is all that you have to certify to. If the title company misses something, they are liable, not me. COOL!! My crew runs our normal survey, I have a little more typing to do than normal - and as ypiypu can c i's an ecxelllllant tiopist. Then I charge a bigger fee, SWEET!!
Now, I have done a ton of HUD surveys and they are nasty beasties. But then what do you expect from a government agency?

[Dinosaur]

We have had a lucky streak of properties that we had previously surveyed.  The surveyors drive by and note anything that has changed We just make any revisions, modify the certification and nail them for a full fee.  Talk about CAKE!  The first time through, though is a headache.  Invariably the title company will list all of the exceptions they want shown but none of the actual docments we need to draw them.  By the time they give us the full package, they are already wanting the thing finished to close the sale.  THEN the lawyers get hold of it and want a completely different certification verbage.
My first HUD survey covered about 8 city blocks in downtown Denver.  It was also the only thing I ever drew in r11 and my first venture into viewports.  Every clothesline pole, sand box, swingset and play gym was located.  There were even a few shots with no descriptors that I think could have been dog piles since they had shot everything else.

[Dent Cermak]

Many people request an ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey when there is absolutely no need for it. What we have done, is when the client calls for an ALTA we remind them that the specs REQUIRE them to send us a FULL Title Insurance Committment report. We require this document BEFORE we start the survey.
You should NEVER accept a partial Title Insurance Committment Report. We have lucked out and have trained  our local clients without them knowing it. We have refused Bock & Clark Surveys because , even the guys that "wrote the book" tried to send us a partial report. Some people have sent us a title abstract and then tried to tell us that was all we needed. We sent them a copy of the ALTA/ACSM manual with all of the good parts high lighted and told them that until they did their part, we couldn't do our part. Over time it worked.
I have had people demand ALTA/ACSM surveys for leased property.I try to explain that someone is making a bad decision, but I'm glad to take the EXTRA money.After discussing their actual survey needs with them, many realize that a high quality survey meeting State Standards is more than adequate for their needs. Many times you will find that the only reason that an ALTA/ACSM survey is requested is that, somewhere along the line, some"New Kid" fresh out of college  has heard the term "ALTA Survey" and he really believes that they are required for any and all projects. I will reccommend an ALTA to anyone doing high dollar development, but I can't see wasting money doing one for a lease, or the average home sale. IF they insist that I take all of that money, well, I won't argue TOO hard.
OH, if you want a set of survey specs that's a real "winner", do a survey for a Family Dollar Store. Evidently EVERYONE in the office got to put an item in the spec list, including the janitor. They require that all property lines have a bearing and distance and an interior angle shown on the drawing. You must show the zoning and setbacks for your property AND ALL property within 200 feet in all directions from the subject property. When we pointed out that this would requie surveying the adjacent properties in order to show all of the setbacks, they said "Fine, and don't forget we want all the buildings and structures on those parcels too". Then they couldn't understand why that should cost extra.

[Dinosaur]

Many of our ALTA requests come from friends of our owner.  They are used to him getting them a quick start with a promise the title company will fax us the report asap.  We do the start, but invariably have to wait for the second fax to get a full and accurate, up to date report.  We complain to him every time, but that is the way he wants to run his business.  He must be doing something right.  We are a tiny 10 man shop that has enough work backlogged to keep at least one more technician and a third survey crew busy.  If a client gets too demanding, he just "fires" them and will accecpt no more further orders from them.  It helps that he has the reputation as being the best in the area for complicated construction staking.

[Mark]

New version, see the included .html file.
http://theswamp.org/lilly_pond/_code/lisp/label_line.zip?nossi=1