ACMS – Mapmakers and Surveyors

ACMS – A trackback link from “Point of Beginning” the newsletter of the American Congress of Mapmakers and Surveyors (ACMS), and a Viewpoint article by Frank Hissong on cultural change and the value of agility in surveying and mapmaking in the digital world. Intrigued because of the references to Tom Peter’s with whom I updated links recently.

Some snippets – Irrationality really is better. Avoid “rational / comprehensive models”, they don’t work. Ready, Fire, Aim – said Peters yonks ago – likening business to a guided missile. We need to “move faster and faster until the thrill of the speed overcomes the fear of death” says Hunter S Thompson. Leap of faith. Tipping point. It’s all there, all completely counter-intuitive, but essential for successful business. [See Manifesto]

(Interesting for me to follow the ACMS link further – my father used to be a cartographic surveyor – all their little stories and competitions about “throwing a chain” and pacing a distance and estimating an angle rang bells. Is it an art or a science ? Should we make any distinction ? Is this “Rta” or plain old Quality ?)

3 thoughts on “ACMS – Mapmakers and Surveyors”

  1. “thowing a chain”, probably considered archaic these days, was a means by which a flat, one-piece, steel surveyor’s “chain”, after being wound in a figure-eight pattern, could be could be coiled into circular form by some sort of wrist action that I used to know how to do but have forgotten in the nearly 50-years since I last did it. Does anyone know where I might find directions for accomplishing this handy means of coiling lengths of flat strap steel?

  2. Interesting. The chain I recall being thrown in experience with my father’s surveying was in fact a chain … of 22 rigid 1 foot links I believe.

  3. E-Mail Reply from Coleman Holt.

    That’s the dual meaning I ran across when researching this question. In a linked chain, I understand that the “throw” means just that.

    For a brief discussion on “throwing a chain” of the type to which I refer, I found the following in: SURVEYING-THEORY AND PRACTICE, 3rd edition, Davis-Foote, McGraw-Hill, 1940, or EDWARD R. MORROW, Joseph E. Persico, McGraw-Hill, NY, 1988; re: Throwing a Chain in the Style of Edward R. Murrow, Journalist, Timber Cruiser, by Charles L. Hornbeck, PE, PLS.

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