Promoting Advancement in Surveying and Mapping

ACSM Bulletin | August 2008 | #234

EDITORIAL

 

08-08-2008

by Ilse Genovese

The world’s ultimate sporting competition, the 29th Summer Olympic Games, opened in Beijing on August 8th with a smoothly choreographed extravaganza of fireworks and pageantry performed before a worldwide television audience of 4 billion. More than 10,500 of the best international athletes competed for the 302 gold medals up for grabs in 28 sports disciplines. Before the closing ceremony brought down the curtains on the 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, the U.S. team earned 36 gold medals—including eight by Michael Phelps, a Baltimore, Maryland, born and raised swimming prodigy—and 38 silver and 36 bronze medals. more >>

SCIENCE

 

Collaborating in Virtual Environments

by Christian Stock

Imagine a valley swept by drought caused by climate change and threatening the economic survival of the local township. Or, another valley which predominantly farms cattle pressured to adopt alternative economic land-use choices because of dropping beef prices caused by consumers frightened of Mad-Cow Disease. Or, a coastal harbour front which may face an increase in storm floods and oceanic sea level rises as a result of global warming. Or, fire fighters trapped in a burning indoor environment fighting for their lives. Each of these environments poses complex challenges to the individuals involved, and (sometimes quick) decisions have to be made to act upon those challenges. more >>

 

Geospatial technology & its role
in land surveying

by Ann K. Deakin

The use of geospatial technology in the context of land surveying is the subject of intense, ongoing debate. A few surveyors believe that, in an effort to “safeguard life, health, and property, and to promote the public welfare,” the use of such technology should be in the hands of licensed surveyors only. more>>
 

Tidal current predictions:
Helping ships navigate safely
in U.S. coastal waters

by Laura Rear and Christopher Paternostro

Knowledge of the speed and direction of the tidal current is important for maneuvering ships through tight channels, or coming into port at the correct stage of tide to dock without damaging the ship and/or pier. Search and rescue operations use tidal current predictions and real-time current information to determine where a missing target may travel. In addition, HAZMAT personnel use currents information to track and predict oil spill hazards. Fishermen use tidal current information to determine optimal fishing conditions.
more>>
 

Chill out! Stop fighting over global warming—here’s the smart way to attack it.

by Bjorn Lomborg

All eyes are on Greenland’s melting glaciers as alarm about global warming spreads. In 2007, delegations of U.S. and European politicians made pilgrimages to the fastest-moving glacier at Ilulissat, where they declared that they see climate change unfolding before their eyes. Curiously, something that’s rarely mentioned is that temperatures in Greenland were higher in 1941 than they are today. Or that melt rates around Ilulissat were faster in the early part of the past century, according to a new study. I point this out not to challenge the reality of global warning or the fact that it’s caused in large part by humans, but because the discussion about climate change has turned into a nasty dustup, with one side arguing that we’re headed for a catastrophe and the other maintaining that it’s all a hoax. more>>

HISTORY

   

Heritage trails to link Georgia’s
historic Civil War sites

by Steven W. Longcrier and Alex Wiley

During the Civil War, Atlanta quickly developed into a leading industrial city in the South.  Vital railroad lifelines supplied the Confederate Army with necessary goods and provisions. The city’s warehouses stored war materials; numerous factories churned out essential items such as cannon, rifles, saddles, and rail cars. Atlanta was also home to important military hospitals. more>>
 

Sportsmanship of Olympian proportions

by Jim Adams

This summer’s Olympic Games, and the record-breaking performances of Baltimore, MD-based swimmer Michael Phelps, have revived memories of another U.S. triumph in another Summer Olympics. They are the memories of Indian Country’s greatest athlete, Jim Thorpe, who stunned the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, with one of the most dominant and versatile performances ever seen. The Sac and Fox tribesman, who claimed descent from the great Chief Black Hawk, went on that year to other, equally historic victories built on a literal team effort by Indians of many tribes. more>>