Society of Surveyors

Please Note: The original room for the venue has been changed to Odell Williamson Auditorium.

Partnership with the South Brunswick Chapter of NCSS

Check-in begins at 7:30 am and concludes at 5:00 pm.  Breakfast and Lunch are included.

Topics: 

• "Board Case Analysis" by Mike Benton, PLS
• "Ethics and Standards of Practice" by Mike Benton, PLS

Mike Benton will present an actual case analysis from his years of service on the NC Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors and discuss surveyors' ethical responsibilities.

• "E-Recording" by Doug Suttles, PLS

Everything you need to know about e-recording a plat. See how easy it is to get the plat from your office to the register of deeds, and the great part is that it stays 100% digital. We will go through each step, starting with what E-signature vendors to set up your agreements with the Register of Deeds.

• "GPS and LiDAR Best Practices" by David Lee, PLS, Michael Kitchin, PLS, and Christian Kohnle, SI

Part 1: Baseline Control

• Definition and significance of baseline control in surveying.
• Methods used by NCDOT to establish baseline control.

Part 2: GPS Localization

• Explanation of GPS (Global Positioning System) technology and its role in surveying.
• Best practices for precise localization for GPS projects.

Part 3: LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Technology

• Introduction to Aerial LiDAR technology and its applications in surveying and mapping.
• LiDAR Processing and Mapping
• Control Procedures

 Instructors:

Richard M. (Mike) Benton, PLS - Mike Benton was born and raised in Goldsboro, NC. He graduated from Eastern Wayne High School in 1976 and attended the college transfer program at Wayne Community College from 1976-1978. He graduated from Coastal Carolina Community College with an AAS degree in Surveying Technology in 1982. In 1991, after living and working several years in Greenville, NC, Mike moved back home to Goldsboro and established Benton & Associates Land Surveying and Mapping, PA. Mike has been an active member of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors (NCSS) since 1991, serving as the chairman of the Formal Education Committee from 1993-2000, President of NCSS in 2003 and the North Carolina Delegate to the Board of Governors for the National Society of Professional Surveyors from 2008-2013. On November 06, 2012, Mike was appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue to serve on the Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.

Doug Suttles, PLS - Doug Suttles assumed leadership of Suttles Surveying in 2016 but began his career in 1990 after obtaining an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Surveying Technology from Coastal Carolina Community College. He has been involved with surveying since 1986 and his expertise includes data management and output from AutoCAD and various software packages as well as information technology management. Doug has served as a Council member of the North Carolina Electronic Recordation Council for 10+ years as well as being a member of the following associations and boards. The North Carolina Society of Surveyors (Foothills Chapter President), Director of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors Education Foundation, Member of Western Piedmont Community College Advisory Panel, Member of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors Education Enhancement Committee, Chairman of the McDowell County Utility Coordinator Council (UCC) and is the co-chairman of the Burke/Caldwell Utilities Coordination Committee.

J. David Lee II, PLS - David graduated from Richmond Community College in 1990 with an Architectural Diploma. He started his career by spending the first 7 years with NCDOT before moving into the private sector and earning his Surveying License in 1999. For the next 27 years, David served as Principal and Survey Program Manager for CALYX Engineers + Consultants, an NV5 Company, as Geomatics Director for SEPI Engineering Division Manager over Transportation Surveys at ESP Associates, Inc., and as Office Manager for Wadelynn Geospatial, LLC in the Charlotte Region. he oversees survey operations for the DOT’s in both North Carolina and South Carolina, including project management, quality control, and project delivery. Since joining the private sector 27 years ago, David has worked statewide on numerous location and survey projects. From extensive GPS network control to boundary surveys, he is proficient in all aspects of land surveying. David served on the NCSS Board of Directors as the Mecklenburg Chapter President. He is currently serving as Past President of the NCSS Board and has served many roles over the past 8 years on the NCSS Education Foundation. He has been a member of NCSS since he was licensed.

Michael Kitchin, PLS- is the Survey Manager at Wadelynn Geospatial, where he oversees Surveying, LiDAR, and Photogrammetry projects. Michael is a graduate of North Carolina A&T with a BS in Geomatics and has over 17 years of experience in Surveying, LiDAR, and Photogrammetry. Michael holds an NC, SC, and KY Professional Surveyor license and is proficient in utilizing the latest surveying technologies, including aerial, mobile, and static Lidar sensors. Known for meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, Michael has successfully completed numerous projects for a diverse clientele, including government agencies, real estate developers, and private landowners. Beyond technical expertise, Michael prides itself on clear communication and exceptional client service, ensuring that project goals are met efficiently and effectively.

Christian Kohnle, PLS - Mr. Kohnle has practiced land surveying for 19 years. He is fully proficient in all aspects of surveying, including location, topography, GPS, High-Definition Laser Scanning, Aerial LiDAR, and Mobile LiDAR. He has worked on many projects for the Department of Transportation in NC and SC along with several municipalities, including but not limited to the City of Charlotte (NC), the City of Hickory (NC), Union County (NC), and Mecklenburg County (NC). He has used his skills in surveying and LiDAR services to help complete projects on many major contracts throughout his career. He served as field staff for 10 years before furthering his career in project management and then into department management.

He has helped service NCDOT and SCDOT contracts for his entire career. Christian has extensive knowledge in laser scanning, Aerial LiDAR and mobile reality capture (mobile LiDAR). Christian is very driven to make projects succeed and think outside the box. He has shown these strengths throughout his career.