HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

PRESIDENTIAL PRIVILEGE

Dear LSPS Members,

With the arrival of fall, we are finally looking at milder temperatures. As Thanksgiving approaches, I would like to thank our membership for a great year. This has been a busy year for LSPS. We had a successful annual convention in the spring, and an office move in the summer. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our success this year.

I have enjoyed participating in a few district meetings over the last month or so. It is good to see old friends and meet new people at these meetings. This has been a vital learning experience for me as I have seen the profession from new perspectives. Most people who have attended these meetings have been receptive to the discussions we have had regarding updates to standards of practice and the definition of survey in state statute. With the new year, I challenge everyone to attend their district meeting and bring a friend. The organization’s goal is to improve our profession statewide.

Everyone I have spoken with in the past few months has had close to the same workload this past year and projections for the upcoming year. Looks like the current climate in survey is very promising in Louisiana. We have major projects in the northern part of the state and increased activity on L&G export facilities in the southwestern part of the state. I have also heard DOTD has some movement on large highway projects. It is a great time to be a surveyor.

That being said, I have been thinking a lot about promoting our profession. Over the years, the path to licensure has become more accessible, as we now have three great programs that can facilitate licensure in Louisiana. I would like to thank the many people involved in getting these programs up and running. I believe it is our responsibility to encourage young people to join our profession. We can use more licensees, but I feel we also need to promote the CST program for the field and office staff. I would like to encourage everyone to try contacting a high school or a local trade school to explore opportunities to promote surveying.

As we move forward, I plan to attend more district meetings to meet more members.

Please contact me, or your District Chairman, with any ideas or questions you may have. Thank you for this honor and privilege.

Sincerely,
Shawn MacMenamin
(225)278-8227(C)
shawn@gulfsouthls.com

WE
NEED
YOUR
HELP!

We want to help worthy students join us in the Land Surveying profession!
Please donate to:
1.The Education Foundation grants scholarships while providing guidance by assisting worthy students to obtain instruction and training in land surveying and higher education.
2.The Every Member Campaign (EMC), which began in 2006, was created solely for the purpose of supporting the Geomatics Program at Nicholls State University.

Donate to the Disaster Fund so that we can always stand ready to give relief when disaster hits our area.

Donate to the Legislative Fund so that we can be ready to address legislation affecting our Surveying Profession.

Louisiana FFA Organization

In early October, Derek Wheat judged a Forestry competition for the Louisiana FFA organization (Area IV). The competition was held at the LSU-Lee Memorial Research Station in Pine, La. Seven schools were represented by approximately 30 students. The event in this photo was "Map Reading".

He also judged a "Compass & Pacing" event.

LSPS DISTRICT INFORMATION

District Announcements:

DISTRICT 7 - Garry Johnson, Chairman
District 7 held a meeting on October 23. New Officers were voted in. Chairman: Garry J Johnson, Vice-Chairman: Kade Van Norman, Secretary: Brennan Marque

DISTRICT 9 - Cory MacMenamin, Chairman
District 9 held a meeting on November 11. Dennis Gowin was gracious enough to prepare a 1-hour presentation on Riparian and Littoral rights to share with the group. We spent approximately 2 hours on the topic, and the younger generation of surveyors seemed to enjoy hearing about Dennis’s unique experiences and diving deep into the subject matter.

If you are not an LSPS member, we would like to invite you to attend a District meeting in your area. Contact the LSPS office at lsps@lsps.net, or the chairman in your area noted above for details about upcoming meetings.

SAVE THE DATE!

LSPS 64th Annual Convention

April 15 - 17, 2026

GOLDEN NUGGET LAKE CHARLES

BE a SURVEYOR

BE a SURVEYOR .COM

Revamped and Ready to Educate: beasurveyor.com

Beasurveyor.com has undergone a complete redesign, tailored specifically to engage K-12 audiences. With a sleek new design and user-friendly interface, the website is geared towards making surveying accessible and exciting for young minds. The updated aesthetics, curated videos, and intuitive navigation are sure to captivate students and educators alike.

Surveying Outreach Resource Page

One of the standout features of the redesigned website is the Surveying Outreach Resource Page. This section is a treasure trove for surveyors interested in outreach and educators looking to incorporate surveying into their curriculum. It offers a variety of valuable resources. You can download lesson plans for classroom activities, access surveying presentations, play videos, and even order materials for speaking engagements or career fairs.

For those new to outreach, the "Outreach 101" section offers guidance on how to effectively engage students and the broader community in surveying. It's the perfect starting point for surveyors eager to share their knowledge.

Why Focus on K-12 Education?

The decision to cater to K-12 audiences is a strategic move. After a yearlong research project, results pushed for outreach efforts to be aimed mainly at K-12 demographics. By introducing surveying to students at an early age, beasurveyor.com aims to kindle an interest that could turn into a lifelong passion and a career choice. Although K-12 is the main target audience, the website and outreach plan will incorporate college students, ex-military, and others looking for a change in career.

Get Started Today

Together, we can inspire the next generation of surveyors and change the way they perceive the world around them. Visit the new and improved beasurveyor.com today and be a part of the surveying revolution!

NICHOLLS GEOMATICS PROGRAM UPDATE
November 2025

By: Dr. Esra Tekdal-Yilmaz

Greetings from the Nicholls Geomatics Program,

As we approach the end of the Fall 2025 semester, we are pleased to share several updates and highlights from our program.

We will be hosting GIS Day 2025 on November 19 at Nicholls State University, along with our National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Awards Ceremony.

We also held our Advisory Board Meeting on August 15th. We extend our sincere appreciation to our advisory board members for their time, guidance, and continued support of our students and program. We also would like to take a moment to honor the memory of Mr. Will Fontenot, a valued member of our board. We are deeply grateful for his dedication and contributions to our program; he will be remembered with profound respect and appreciation.

As part of our GEOM 104 Service Learning course, we hosted representatives from 2B Engineering, T. Baker Smith, and Hargrove Engineers & Constructors. We thank them for engaging with our students and supporting their professional development.

We are proud to share that Dr. John Dennis has been elected to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) Surveying and Geomatics Division (SGD) Executive Committee (ExComm).

Additionally, Dr. Esra Tekdal Yilmaz presented her poster, “Creating a Digital Twin with Point Cloud Data for Construction and Planning,” at the 2025 ASPRS International Technical Symposium (ITS), held virtually in October 2025.

As this is our final newsletter of the year and with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Louisiana surveying and geomatics community, LSPS, our faculty, and our students for their continued support and dedication.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By: Harper Duncan & Associates, LLC

Mark your calendars! LSPS will host a Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 17th during National Surveyors Week (March 15–21, 2026).

We will have a table in the rotunda of the Capitol to help raise awareness about the surveying profession and engage with legislators on key issues impacting our field. This is a prime opportunity to promote the importance of surveying in Louisiana’s infrastructure, economy and public safety.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. Your participation is crucial as we continue to advocate for our profession and educate policymakers about the importance of surveying.

Updates from the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board (LAPELS)

The October edition of the Louisiana Register included two updates from LAPELS.

LAPELS will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at its Baton Rouge office.
This hearing allows licensees and the public to provide feedback on any LAPELS rule that may be outdated, unnecessary, overly complex, or contrary to law. This is a great opportunity for surveyors to engage directly with the regulatory process that governs our profession.

LAPELS Adopts Bylaw Amendments

LAPELS also approved updates to its bylaws. These revisions include the following:

Clarify how upcoming board vacancies are identified and communicated.
Update the mileage reimbursement rate to align with the state’s travel policy.
Adjust the timeline for officer elections to occur by the first board meeting each year.
Transfer one of the secretary’s duties to the executive director; and
Rename and update the responsibilities of the Education Credential Evaluation Review Committee.

Louisiana Highway Priority Program: Public Hearings Scheduled

Each year, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) compiles a Highway Priority Construction Program, a list of transportation projects planned for the coming fiscal year, ranked by priority and available funding.

The draft program is reviewed through a series of public hearings known as the “Road Show,” hosted by the Joint Highway Priority Construction Committee. These hearings allow residents and local officials to comment before the final program is sent to the Legislature for funding.

2025 Road Show Schedule:

Mon, Dec. 1 – 10:00 a.m. | Winnsboro, LA
Mon, Dec. 1 – 2:00 p.m. | Monroe Civic Center
Tue, Dec. 2 – 8:30 a.m. | Shreveport City Council Chambers
Tue, Dec. 2 – 2:30 p.m. | Pineville City Hall
Wed, Dec. 3 – 9:00 a.m. | Lake Charles, LA
Wed, Dec. 3 – 1:30 p.m. | Lafayette, LA
Mon, Dec. 8 – 9:30 a.m. | New Orleans, LA
Mon, Dec. 8 – 2:30 p.m. | Livingston Parish Council Chambers
Tue, Dec. 9 – 9:00 a.m. | Louisiana State Capitol

Surveyors play a vital role in many of these projects, from planning and design to construction and safety. We encourage LSPS members to attend these hearings. Your expertise and advocacy are essential in shaping Louisiana’s infrastructure priorities.

A Modern Louisiana Geodetic Control Network

J. Anthony Cavell, PLS, CFedS - State Geodetic Coordinator – C4G/LSRC

Modern society depends on geographic data that is accurately and reliably spatially referenced. In response to this and the decreasing availability of up-to-date traditional control (reference) data LSU C4G & LSRC has initiated and is developing - GULFnet. The initial implementation of the statewide geodetic network, as detailed herein, had its genesis in 2002 by Professor Roy Dokka with the partnership between the LSU Center for GeoInformatics (C4G) and NGS creating the Louisiana Spatial Reference Center (LSRC), which has developed a master plan for a modern statewide geodetic control network for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

It inherited earlier efforts from Professor Gary Kelly and the LSU Remote Sensing and Imagery Laboratory of the Civil Engineering Department. located on the rooftop of the Center for Engineering and Business Administration (CEBA) Building (now Patrick Taylor Hall) and a Cooperative Base Network Control Station named “LSU 1”. Part of the High Accuracy Reference Network (HARN). It was also designated as a Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS). LSU 1 was updated with newer equipment and designated 1LSU In 2003.

According to plan, each network station shall have at least the following geodetic values – latitude, longitude, northings, eastings, height (orthometric & ellipsoidal), velocity (magnitude & direction), and stated accuracies. This network will also achieve the goals of the federal National Height Modernization initiative as determined by the LSRC in consultation with NGS.

C4G’s mission is to be the vanguard for providing and ensuring an accurate, precise, and consistent geographic reference framework for the State, utilize the positional data collected over time to produce an exceptional level of research and service to the State for mitigating the hazards attributed to subsidence.

LSRC’s goal is to establish a geodetic control network consisting of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) statewide control network (GULFnet). However, the implementation includes passive (in-ground) stations, as well as CORS, primarily because of their value for monitoring geologic changes and historical significance, as well as educational laboratories. The master plan includes systematic network maintenance procedures that minimize the unique challenges within Louisiana to maintain control values up to date, i.e., procedures that monitor temporal changes in geodetic coordinates due to subsidence, tectonic motion, and anthropogenic activity.

The described statewide network fully utilizes the existing CORS and related data-processing infrastructure that have been established by decade of investments, totaling over millions of dollars. Thus, the planned network not only provides an accurate, consistent foundation for Louisiana’s spatial referencing needs, but also facilitates the continuation of this vital scientific research.

CORS are to be located throughout the state with the goal of a nominal spacing of 70 kilometers (43 miles). Passive stations (in-ground monuments) are an accessory to the network supplementing the CORS and function as sensors for more detailed observations the geologic changes. Pre-existing passive stations exist primarily along selected transportation corridors and other areas, primarily set previously by others. New passive marks are often established as reference marks for CORS and/or as gravity monuments and some for student training.

The implementation, as outlined, can be accomplished as sufficient funds are available. This includes constructing new CORS, installing new passive station monuments, and performing observations, data processing, and adjustments for the entire network. The on-going support and maintenance efforts are accomplished by LSRC staff. The operational costs tend to be less than $1 million annually and are currently achieved through the support of subscribers to the Real-Time-Network services (C4Gnet.XYZ).

C4G and the LSRC have received outside support from time to time from NSF, NGS, NGA, the Legislature, the LSU Board of Regents, La. DOTD and others. At present, there are no grants or other funding sources. Annual (on-going) funds are critical to the long-term success of the network because of the cost of equipment improvement and maintenance as well as the significant geologic motion and subsidence issues throughout Louisiana.

Access to the GULFnet basic geodetic data, is available at no charge to all users. The C4Gnet.XYZ service is available by subscription and is the foundational funding for minimal day-to-day operations.

LSPS Member Supports Scouts’ Surveying Education at Camp Edgewood Winter Camp

This November, David Matte, RPLS, a District 7 member of the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors, volunteered as a Surveying Merit Badge Counselor during the Boy Scouts of America Winter Camp held at Camp Edgewood near Lake Charles. The event brought together Scouts from across the region—including two participants from Troop 22 in Gillis, Louisiana—all working to advance their skills and progress toward the rank of Eagle Scout. Surveying served as one of the featured technical merit badges, providing a unique opportunity for youth to engage directly with a licensed professional.

Matte was joined by two Morrison Surveying, Inc. employees and fellow Eagle Scouts—David Lee Matte and Jack Trahan—who assisted in delivering instruction, field demonstrations, and professional guidance. Together, the team led Scouts through all merit badge requirements, pairing conceptual instruction with practical, real-world application. As a highlight of the field component, the group visited the southeast and northeast corners of the Camp Edgewood property, where they located and examined existing boundary markers and associated witness trees. This hands-on exercise allowed the Scouts to observe boundary evidence firsthand, understand accessory ties, and appreciate the critical role of monumentation and historical record comparison in professional surveying practice.

By contributing their time and expertise, the Morrison Surveying team helped reinforce the surveying profession’s long-standing commitment to mentorship, education, and service—while inspiring future leaders within Scouting and the broader community.

A Brief History of Camp Edgewood

Camp Edgewood, located in DeQuincy, Louisiana, has been a central outdoor training facility for Scouting in southwest Louisiana since its establishment in the early 1960s. Developed through the combined efforts of local Scout leadership and community supporters, the camp was created to provide a dedicated environment where youth could practice outdoor skills, develop leadership, and participate in advancement programs. Over the years, Camp Edgewood has hosted countless district and council events, merit badge sessions, and leadership courses. Its decades-long service to the region reflects its continued importance as a place where Scouts learn through experience, teamwork, and tradition.

JOIN LSPS:
The Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors is organized to enhance the Surveying Profession. Our goal is to carry out our mission by maintaining high technical and cultural standards in our field, working with educational institutions for the maintenance of high standards of education in Land Surveying, requiring a high standard of ethical practice by our members, and encouraging the personal and professional development of young Land Surveyors.

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Click the link below to submit your photos.

EMAIL PHOTOS

November 2025