Question and pix for surveyors...

[mjedmondson]

I'm somewhat new to all this, so I apologize if this is a stupid question.

 

At a four-way stop near my office, there are eight new markers placed, two on each section of road leading to the interchange. What purpose would this type marker serve?

 

Thanks,

Michael

 

[survey tech]

Cannot see your pictures, but I would guess they are right-of-way markers, probably set by the state. If so, they would define the lines between public r/w and private land. This would be especially likely if one or both of the roads are state highways and/or if road widening is being done there. Not a stupid question at all, these things are mysterious to most people. Such points would not be in the NGS database.

[+gnbrotz]

quote:

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Originally posted by survey tech:

Cannot see your pictures

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Try these:

http://barusa.tripod.com/marker1.JPG

http://barusa.tripod.com/marker2.JPG

 

Greg

N 39 54.705'

W 77 33.137'

[+embra]

For anyone else trying to see these: I couldn't click straight through on Greg's links, but they did work if I copied them into my browser.

 

Max

Often wrong but seldom in doubt

[+gnbrotz]

Weird....I pasted them before I posted, but assumed once the link was there for all to see it would work....oh well, do what Max said.

 

Greg

N 39 54.705'

W 77 33.137'

[mjedmondson]

Sorry if the pictures are causing problems. They appear fine here. You can also get to them at this address...

http://barusa.tripod.com/twomarkers.html

 

-Michael

[+Black Dog Trackers]

The twomarkers.html website didn't help. After a bunch of clicking around and pasting like embra said, I finally got both pictures to arrive.

 

I see loads of these surveyor marks around. I figure it means that something new is going to be built (such as a road widening, storm drain, building, undergrounding of utilities, bridge, etc.) in the area soon. Building starts with surveying.

 

They are of no particular interest to our benchmark hunting, except to wonder if the beginning of their survey is a local geodetic disk.

[Z15]

I can't be certain but they look like some kind of work points to me. Probably set here because working in the road is to dangerous. I would guess there is some construction planned or other work that required a engineering survey (mapping) etc.

 

The appear close to the road to be ROW etc but the only ones that would know is those that set them.

 

Note-Just because a survey crew etc sets a point does not always mean its meant to be permanent. For instance they could set a point in a safe area and map from that work point. As long as they have enough control in the area the survives they can always work from a new point and get on the same datum. Not easy to picture unless you are involved in the work, and they is never just one way to do something. Surveying is basically geometry and trigonometry in practice on the ground.

[mjedmondson]

Thanks to all of you for responding. I'd never seen clusters of stakes like these, and just wondered if there was any significance to the metal rods they were posted around.

 

Appreciate it,

-Michael

[mjedmondson]

I never had a problem viewing the pictures from home, where I posted the question. Once at work, though, I see the problem you've all had. I think I've corrected it by creating a new web page, linked below. Apparently, the folks at Tripod didn't care for the last page, or the links to the pictures. This link, I hope, works better.

 

http://barusa.tripod.com/lagrange/twomarks.htm

[+FloridaSurveyor]

These points, as mentioned above, are too close to the pavement to be R/W markers. They are most likely "traverse" points for instrument setup, possibly for a design or r/w survey of the road. Often with road surveys, these points will link traverses that are physically measured on the ground and most times connect control monumentation like the ones discovered with benchmark hunting. All the stakes around the point indicate someone thought it was quite important. Often these points will be referenced to additonal, similar points or physical objects so that they can be re-established or re-set. The wood stakes have a tendency to dissappear fast (kids like them)

[mjedmondson]

quote:

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All the stakes around the point indicate someone thought it was quite important.

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This was why they caught my attention. Seems like I see a single stake around every corner, but to see eight of these three-stake groupings at one intersection... that made me curious.

 

Thanks,

- Michael