Tarentum, Pa. —R.A. Smith National — civil engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, geographic information systems (GIS) and 3D visualization consultants — recently demonstrated the use of GPS (global positioning system) for land surveying purposes to a class of 12 civil engineering technology students at Point Park University. The demonstration was led by R.A. Smith National’s John Frydrych, eastern regional manager (an alumnus of Point Park University) and Pete Brothers, survey manager.
The presentation included a discussion of GPS equipment features; how GPS is used to collect geographic data from satellites; and today’s use of GPS in the survey industry for conventional and other types of surveys. Point Park University has asked R.A. Smith National’s Frydrych and Brothers to conduct the same GPS demonstration during future semesters as part of the University’s four-year Civil Engineering Technology Program in the School of Arts and Sciences.
R.A. Smith National’s John Frydrych is an alumnus of Point Park University, having obtained a bachelor’s degree in the Civil Engineering Technology Program in 1991 and a master’s degree in Engineering Management in 2003. Frydrych has remained an active participant at the university as a member of the Industrial Advisory Committee since 2003 and a member of the Pioneer Alumni Recruitment Team since December 2009. The Industrial Advisory Committee meets in the fall and spring to review course curriculum, industry trends, software updates and industry standards. The Pioneer Alumni Recruitment Team is a voluntary group that meets with applicants as well as incoming students to address questions, respond to concerns and share their perspective of the various programs of study.
About R.A. Smith National, Inc.
R.A. Smith National, Inc., www.rasmithnational.com, is one of Wisconsin’s leading consulting engineering firms, providing multi-disciplinary services to government and the land development industry. Our comprehensive services include civil engineering, surveying, construction services, ecological services, landscape architecture, irrigation design, water resource engineering, geographic information systems (GIS), visualization and 3D laser scanning. Our offices are located in Brookfield (corporate headquarters) and Appleton, Wis., Orange County (Los Angeles), Calif., and Tarentum (Pittsburgh), Pa. Established in 1978 as R.A. Smith & Associates, Inc., the firm acquired National Survey & Engineering in 1994. National Survey & Engineering, founded in 1929, operated as a division of R.A. Smith & Associates, Inc. until the R.A. Smith National brand was created in March 2008. R.A. Smith National’s mission is to deliver excellence, vision, and responsive service to our clients. The company is driven by core values that include accountability, client satisfaction, innovation, positive work environment, ethics and integrity, and community and professional involvement.