SurvTech Solutions Company Blog

Fall is Here!

2009-10-12T14:48:00.002-04:00

So here we are in October! A busy month for trade shows for me personally, but only mere days away from one of the most wonderful of all childhood holidays, of course I'm talking about Halloween!
I don't' think we ever outgrow Halloween. Even in some form, whether it's just decorating the house or the vicarious manifestations of the costumes of sons, daughters, friends and family through our suggestions and help.
Halloween is the beginning of what I like to refer to as the Celebratory Triumvirate of the end of the year. As a Christian, and from a southern West Virginia freewill baptist based upbringing, there are alot of misunderstood traditions of Halloween that were demonized when I was a child. An important thing to remember during Halloween is that it is our intention that dictates whether or not something is based in evil or good. Bobbing for apples is not intrinsically evil, it's a children's game as it exist in its current form. So while there are alot of dark things that maybe once meant something bad or were malevolent, we really must realize that now those meanings have changed and the fun costumes, games, and trick or treating are really just a way for us to have fun, share a sense of community, and really a great socially acceptable outlet for self expression and creativity.
In Japan, there are parks where once a week, people are free to dress up in costumes and just be fantastic and outside the box. Perhaps that allowance of just going all out every now and then is why the Japanese social model can allow for working and being so industrious. Perhaps, here in the United States we should allow ourselves to feel the joy of Halloween a little more often.
I also think that Halloween is a great set up for the joy to come with Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holidays are all very different, but at their core, all these events share a commonality of community, family, and a celebration of children and togetherness. So as we give freely of candy to our neighbors and perfect strangers, let us remember the words of Christ as he said "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye have done it unto me." So remember that spirit of giving, and carry it with you through the holidays and on into the new year. We are not defined by our possessions, but my our actions. So live, love, and enjoy the company and the joy of these upcoming holidays.
W. Dwight Hatfield
Marketing Director
SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping
Tampa Florida

Special Interview with B. Brian Blair!

2009-09-24T13:16:00.002-04:00

Up now on the Wrestling Hotseat is a very special Video interview with former WWF Tag Team Superstar, Former Hillsborough County Commissioner, and one half of the Killer Bees! Mr. B. Brian Blair joins me on The Wrestling Hotseat to clear up all the "Masked Confusion" and mass confusion that has followed this talented and passionate man over the last 12 months.
Blair and I speak about his growing up, balancing athletics and academics, the problems with the Iron Sheik, his political career, clearing up misconception and widely circulated lies about what happened with his arrest and the REAL story behind it.
We also discuss a wide variety of other topics, both wrestling and non-wrestling related. Brian Blair also announces his newest political ambition for the Florida House of Representatives. A very exciting topic.
This interview will clear up any of the misconceptions you have had with Brian Blair and you can hear him tell his side of the story without the political bias or barrage of attacks from opponents or media sources with an agenda or bias.
You can view the video in streaming HD at
http://www.myvirtualbc.com/wrestlinghotseat/brianblair.htm
with hosting by MegaVideo in a complete 65 minute video
or you can also view the video on YouTube by visiting this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6J9VMjoSlU B. Brian Blair Part One of Seven on YouTube!

For more information on B. Brian Blair visit www.brianblair.com
This episode of The Wrestling Hotseat was sponsored by www.survtechsolutions.com Tampa Florida Surveying & Mapping Firm.
*The political views discussed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of the interviewer, SurvTech Solutions, or MyVirtualBC.com

District 9 Movie Review

2009-08-16T15:13:00.002-04:00

In the modern world it's hard to tell which films will be good or have any real social significance. The marketing and promotional machines are so in full swing that the previews for even the most idiotic movies can make them seem amazing.
Much has been said about the buzz for District 9. A film set in South Africa, where aliens from another planet have been stranded and for all intents and purposes are forced to live in segregated ghettos. (Hmmm...why does that seem familiar to me?)
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that this movie is awesome. District 9 works on two levels, for stupid people they'll enjoy the blowing up and action sequences without needing to look at the larger social messages behind the film. That's not to say that intelligent people wouldn't enjoy those parts though. They all serve a purpose and while harse aren't what I would consider gratuitous.
On the higher level this film serves as a metaphor for problems that have always plagued the human race. Racism, segregation to name a couple. It doesn't take much insight to see the parallels between how the aliens are treated and apartheid, on some levels it very much reminded me of the United States Government's treatment of Native Americans. You could even place it in a larger context to show how the United States and the UK treat minorities.
This film can make you think, although, it doesn't require you to. It's disturbing, triumphant, depressing, and touching all at the same time. A very difficult task for a film maker.
Will it change the world? Probably not, most people are ignorant and set in their ways. Of course the overall message will be given lip service, but ultimately it's up to the individual to decide whether or not they will judge people on the basis of their actions and attitudes before they will on their appearance, race, sexual orientation et al.
On a personal side note, alot of people forget that Dr. King's speeches typically included poor white Appalachians in them. I'm from poor white Appalachia. Dr. King's true message is for all people and, personally, means alot to me.
I hope that one day we will all view ourselves as one race and that we're all interconnected. I think District 9 serves as an example of the troubles with that vision in today's world, and also as a kick ass sci fi movie.
Dwight Hatfield

WCW Champion Prince Iaukea Christian Testimonial and Interview

2009-08-02T23:40:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday August 1, 2009, I had the pleasure of conducting a 40 minute video interview with former WCW World Television Champion and 2 time WCW World Cruiserweight Champion, Prince Iaukea. In this revealing interview, we discuss everything from training with Dean Malenko, to how he got his name, becoming a Christian and Christian philosophies and so much more.

Prince Iaukea is a great guy and his charm and personality have been well known by those in the wrestling industry for years, but now the fans can access and see in HQ Video why Prince Iaukea was so well liked by his peers and how Jesus Christ has helped this man recover from some of the most horrific and tragic events that anyone can face.
You can view the interview online for free at http://myvirtualbc.com/princeiaukea.htm

This interview was produced in conjunction with http://www.survtechsolutions.com Florida's Premier Land Surveying & Mapping Firm. You can also visit www.wrestlingforacause.com to learn how you can help Florida charities and more!

The Nature of Angels

2009-07-27T11:59:00.004-04:00

Angels are an accepted part of Judeo-Christian theology, they appear all throughout the Bible in various guises and forms. However, a popular misconception of the nature of angels has developed over the last hundred years. These myths have been propagated even further by popular media, the greeting cards industry, and popular imagination. To understand these powerful and enigmatic beings we must first, understand what they are and what is their nature according to scripture.
In the King James Version of the Bible, there are only two named angels, Michael and Gabriel, the "el" part meaning "of God". Michael for example, literally means "The Resemblance of God". Gabriel means "Hero of God". The other angel named is Raphael, but only in the book of Tobit which is not considered canonical in all biblical formats. Of course there are many other examples of angels that are unnamed in the Bible, and literally hundreds of other named angels in mystical and non canon or apocryphal scriptures. In all instances though, angels are manifestation of aspects of God or deeds.
We can deduce that angels were created before man, but no mention is made in particular of their creation. They have a closeness with God and are particularly used by God for intercession action with man.
Man was created with the ability to choose to worship God or to shun him, but with the capacity for forgiveness. It's been said that angels do not have free will, obviously this is not true, as beings without free will could not choose to do anything other than what they are commanded which would negate any talk of rebel or fallen angels. My personal feelings aside, it would appear that angels do have free will, but they do not have the capacity for God's forgiveness.
Seeing as angels are a part of divinity, it appears that they cannot be destroyed. At least, there is no instance given scriptural of an angel being killed. We have instances of them being bound or captured, defeated, and also prophecies of them being cast into fire or chained, but it is never said that they will be killed or destroyed.
Angels have been seen to do many things in the bible, from giving messages of birth such as the Enunciation to the murdering of all the first born of Egypt. In fact the Cherubim described in Genesis that guard the gates of Eden are at once terrifying and murderous.
In every instance where an angel does not disguise itself as a human, the encounter is described as terrifying and disconcerting to the visited. Gabriel's first words to the Virgin Mary are "Be Not Afraid".
Hardly the comforting winged greeting card images we've come to see in the last hundred years.
Another popular untruth is that dead humans become angels. While it's a nice idea to think of the deceased as becoming angels, there is no evidence for this. Humans are humans and angels are angels. Humans do not become angels, they do not become our guardian angels, we do not have dead humans looking out for us. In my harshness I am not sorry. There is no scriptural evidence for this and it's a terrible lie to tell people that their deceased loved ones are with the angels, because they are not.
There are many other things I could mention, but for the sake of your time and space constraints, I will leave you with a brief synopsis.
Angels Are....
Terrifying Messengers, they have, can, and probably will kill human beings on the command of God, they are not human, never have been, never will be, they are a separate created race, they are capable of free will choice, but not of repenting and receiving God's forgiveness. Humans do not become angels.
There are many avenues of further study, simply using your Strong's Concordance to find all the biblical instances of angels to read about them is probably the best. You will soon learn how much of what you thought you knew was wrong and how amazingly complex these beings are.
Dwight Hatfield
Marketing Director SurvTech Solutions

The passing of Michael Jackson

2009-07-07T14:15:00.004-04:00

Honestly, I was on the phone with my best friend, professional wrestling superstar Jake Layton, when his wife chirped in that Michael Jackson had died. We had just been discussing the death of Ed McMahon and how little the media had covered it, considering the impact of Ed McMahon on popular culture and how many stars he'd introduced to the world, well, to be honest, we thought it was pretty crappy how little coverage his passing received. Then it was told to us almost in passing. We both flipped on the news and it was confirmed.
Nothing really prepared me to hear that. Dont' get me wrong, I'm not devastated or anything melodramatic. But unless you hate music, music videos, the way concerts are presented today, and countless other variables then the death of Michael Jackson should mean something to you. I can tell you that almost everyone from the ages of 30-50 bought Thriller when it first came out. I know that Thriller was the first album I bought on my very own, a purchase decision that wasn't influenced by my parents. I really just fell in love with the music, even though the topics and subject matter was completely foreign to me, I could relate enough to it for it to positively influence me. A song like Human Nature still rings so true to this day. I was a fan, and my little brother became a fan too. He had the black and red leather Thriller jacket, I asked my mother to find the picture so I could post it on his myspace page. We both had the Michael Jackson dolls, I still have mine, still in it's package stored away in my mother's small house at the foot of the hill from the big house.
People forget what a positive role model Michael was, he didn't drink or do drugs, wasn't considered to a promiscuous person and that was really rare in the 80's. Here was someone who anyone could and did look up to.
Even in his later life, through all the trials and the media and the circus that surrounded him, he still did so much good for so many people. I couldn't imagine dealing with the jokes and the ridicule and the accusations. I'd probably kill myself.
Even now the media is attempting to sensationalize and go on and on about drug use and stuff like that. I say Who Cares? People are geniunely sad and sometimes an artist should transend the normal rules of society. I often wonder what we'd think of people like Mozart and Da Vinci had all the skeletons in their closets been revealed. That's not to say I approve of everything attributed to Michael Jackson, but there's no way to tell which of it was true and which of it was nonsense. We must also remember that Michael was found innocent and acquitted of all charges.
I offer this warning: we, as a society, need to stop looking to things outside of ourselves for answers. We need to stop going to the corporate controlled media for an unbiased viewpoints, we need to start believing in ourselves and what WE think about people and things. If we like something, we should be proud to embrace that. A wise man once said that just because you are a minority of one, that doesn't mean that everyone else is right. Truth is truth and truth is personal.
Michael Jackson raised millions and millions of dollars for starving children, he created a place for disadvantaged and dying children to come and have fun, and in the process spent millions of dollars doing that. As a society, we need to begin to treasure our artist, in all their eccentricities and uniqueness.
I hope that in the future it doesn't take such a tragic thing as death to make us realize how many national treasures we have in our performers here in the United States. As I write this, I wonder how much just a fraction of the love and adoration shown since his passing would've meant to Michael Jackson. How much of that would've gone a long to helping him?
The United States and the World has lost a true performing genius, who spread a positive message of love, compassion and unity. And regardless of whether he died of drug use, or if he was friends with a chimpanzee, or the other weird things about him, he should be admired for his message and for his committment to helping the children of the world. I've included the Michael Jackson film Moonwalker below for your viewing enjoyment...
May you find the peace in death that eluded you in life Michael Jackson.
Best Regards,
W. Dwight Hatfield
Marketing Director
SurvTech Solutions

LSU-a great networking site

2009-07-03T19:03:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share with any of the surveyors or related industries out there a website called Land Surveyors United. It's essentially a ning social networking site, but unlike other ning sites, the owners have really done alot with it. I would definitely say it's on par with the more well known sites like a myspace or facebook.
So I would definitely suggest you check it out. I've added the link to my profile on there, so you can check it out and see what it's all about.
Take care and Happy Fourth of July!
W.Dwight Hatfield

The Current Negative Climate of the United States

2009-06-23T16:10:00.004-04:00

Now, more than ever, the public at large is experiencing one of the most stressful and negative times in recent memory. It's not just one thing, or even two or three things, in psychology this is what's called "The Dumptruck Effect". Meaning that people are capable of handling quite alot of stress, but eventually when things, events, and situations continue to pile up, even the most resolute eventually reaches a breaking point. This breaking point is more often than not reached and crossed over by something that to the outsider might seem trivial or not all that important. That is the caveat of the dumptruck effect. It's the proverbial "straw that breaks the camel's back".
When a culture or society is experiencing psychotrauma on such a massive scale, with no hope or help in sight (at least perceived), then all things begin to be amplified. We have been consistently bombarded by news of how bad the economy is, how work has dried up, and how miserable the current situation is, compound that with an ongoing war, inept politicians (at least on a national level), crime, traffic, mounting debt, people working through their vacations, the fear of losing one's job (and furthermore that is attached to our superego which validates our very existence) and a host of other things, it's no wonder that at times it seems the entire country is losing their minds.
In situations like this, we can see that the pressure is pouring down on everyone, and humans are highly adept at venting their frustrations on incidental people and objects, be it the person who cuts you off in traffic to the rude girl at the fast food counter. It's a vicious, in the truest sense of the word, cycle.
BUT....
You can break the cycle! At least for yourself and hopefully those in your immediate circle!
Any long time reader of this blog, or anyone who knows me personally knows that I have a philosophy of non participation in things that I do not particularly care for. This isn't the old ostrich with his head in the sand. There's a big difference between non-participation and being oblivious to the world at large.
It starts with an internal choice...will I allow the actions of others that are outside of my control to affect my mood and my behavior? Will I allow someone else to control me? Am I so weak willed and impressionable that the anger and stupidity of others can force me to behave that way?
The thing about those questions is that they all depend on what answer you willingly choose. No one can force you to think a certain way. No one can force you to behave a certain way. Just because everyone around you is stressed out and acts out their frustrations in unhealthy ways doesn't mean that you have to.
Here are some tips to start you off on your road to peace and prosperity...
1. Employ a practice of letting go. What I mean by that is if it doesn't directly concern you, let go of it. We can only do what is in our immediate power to do. It's a hard thing for caring and compassionate people to realize that they cannot save the world. Many times we circumvent our own private pain by taking on the cross of other causes. We must come back to ourselves and let go of what it outside of our sphere of influence. It's our minds, our bodies, our internal peace and happiness that should be of the utmost importance. That's not to say we can't help others or things of that nature, that's not what I mean. Here's an example of What I mean is that if you are a hard worker and do everything that is asked of you, a model employee for all intents and purposes. Then you suddenly get released. Don't place the blame on yourself and wallow in depression or self pity. Let it go, and figure out the next step in your life. Another example would be to let go of complaining. We can't change the price of gasoline, we can augment our behaviors so we are not so dependent on it, but ultimately we can't change something that we don't directly have a say in.
2. Have a back up Plan.
One thing that gets most people in a rut or a depressed or angry state is the enactment of unexpected events. We are taken by surprise and it adds to our level of frustration. How many of us have said "Oh great! This is exactly what I need right now! (sarcastic emphasis)" When we take an approach of proper prior planning then we are more able to adapt to bad situations. For example, what if you got let go? what if one of the kids got sick? Are you prepared for those situations? In many cases, just having a basic plan of what you could do helps alleviate stress. For example, if you lost your job, what could you do? Be prepared to file unemployment, know what the terms and statutes are, have an up to date resume, have networking in place on a personal level to help find a job, cut back one month out of the year and save that money, figure out what your bare minimum shoe string budget is. Have a list of all non essential bills (netflix, ebay, tanning bed, etc.) and how you could eliminate them rather quickly. What are the terms of your insurance? Do you have a health savings account? Are there others in your family who could get supplemental insurance for your children? Be aware of what public programs are available, that way, should the situation arise, you'll be prepared and able to partake in those programs.
3. Don't participate in the negativity of others. There is a different between concern and worry. I am concerned about the economy and how it affects me, but ultimately I'm not worried about it. Worry leads to stress and stress will lead to sadness and anger (didn't mean to get all Yoda on you lol). When we allow others to manipulate our energies, then we begin to lose ourselves. Losing ourselves is the first step that leads to the disintegration of relationships. Further compounding the situation at hand. When we come home from work, and the people in our homes are glad to see us, they have no idea what went on in the world outside that door. BECAUSE IT'S THE WORLD OUTSIDE THAT DOOR! When you bring that back into your home, how do you think it's going to turn out? Leave it out there, it'll be there when you leave your house again. Cherish the people in your life, encourage them with positivity and happiness, that's a circle and a cycle too. Rarely are smiles returned with frowns by those we know and love. Just try smiling and saying "you're great" to those close to you. There's enough people out in the world telling them they aren't.
4. Finally, you've heard don't sweat the small stuff, well, I say, don't sweat anything. Nothing is the end of the world, but the end of the world. If we are self motivated, prepared for situations that could arise, and close with our family and friends, then our positive mental attitude will allow us to land on our feet. Sure, things might not be exactly like we want them to be, but we live in a world full of possibilities and opportunities, it's up to the motivated individual to be able to find them and make the most of the hand we've been dealt.
Peace and Love,
W. Dwight Hatfield
Marketing Director
SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping

Land Surveying 101 with Amy Vitale

2009-05-19T10:06:00.001-04:00

http://www.survtechsolutions.com Welcome to Land Surveying 101 with Amy Vitale! SurvTech Solutions Tampa Land surveyors presents a new web series featuring some of the more common types of surveying services and their descriptions. The series is hosted by model, actress, professional wrestling diva, The Italian Princess Amy Vitale. For more information on Amy, visit http://www.amyvitale.net

The New Star Trek Movie Review

2009-05-09T02:37:00.005-04:00

Well, this isn't typical of my usual posts, but I was fairly impressed by this film, so I'll give you the rundown, without giving any spoilers.
If director J.J. Abrams has taught us anything it is to expect the unexpected. Sometimes that's good, and sometimes it's bad...very bad. While I personally enjoyed Cloverfield, some of Mr. Abrams other projects, not so much to my liking. I like complexity, but there is a fine line between being complicated and becoming mired in confusion.
One the main things that the New Star Trek film was designed to do was to create a "jump on" point for creating new fans of the franchise. Being a former comic book writer myself (Universal Images "Evolutionaries") I am all too familiar with the jump on lingo and usually it spells complete character meltdown for long time fans. I am generally speaking not a fan at all of jump on storylines, as the characters usually end up being the characters in name and look only (and sometimes not even that much). A perfect example was the three X-Men films, which while loved by the public, were personally hated by yours truly.
Not so with the newest Star Trek film. It was exciting, very well paced, the characters stayed in tune with the classics but also were given a contemporary makeover. I wasn't aware of a particular orginal cast member's role in the film, so I won't give it away here, but suffice to say it's allows for everything to make sense. One of the few honestly emoted feel good moments in cinema in quite sometime. Almost like seeing an old friend suddenly out of the blue. Just enough to catch up with and make the world seem right and remind you of all the good stuff, but not so intrusive that it crashes you back to reality.
I left this movie literally giddy. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not prone to giddiness either. lol And while I definitely wouldn't classify myself as a Trekkie or Trekker, I was a fan of the original series, the film franchise, and the Next Generation series. I even owned a few of the action figures when I was younger. Hell, I still own the X-Men/Star Trek crossover comic book series (yes they did make that lol). So I am a fan, though I didn't realize how much of a fan until this film. I have a feeling alot of people are going to feel that way.
One thing is that I'm sure there will be detractors. The film really lacked alot of the social commentary that was so prevelent in the original series. Which if you weren't aware, was truly groundbreaking in it's portrayal of women and minorities. Ahead of it's time by light years. And here we are, in the future for all intents and purposes, an ever increasing elightened and intelligent society, with a progressive African American president, it seems that the social significance of Star Trek can be named as a factor in showing the world the possibility of us all working together for a common good of humanity.
This Star Trek film might be missing the overt social message, but at the same time I think it speaks alot for modern society that the need for such dialogue is better suited to see this idealogy in action. And speaking of action, this film is definitely an action film. It speaks of friendship and loss, while not getting too preachy. It illustrates the struggle that many of us have with balancing our intellect with our emotions. Something even the most base of us have to deal with. And ultimately, it sends you home with a feeling of elation, nostalgia, and, as weird as this sounds, hope.
In a world where we are bombarded with negative news, wars, economic woes, and worry, it's nice to finally sit back and get absorbed into a film where you can be truly and completely entertained for awhile and not feel like you've been talked at.
I highly recommend this film. I also hope that it will encourage people to go back and watch the original series and absorb Mr. Roddenberry's powerful message. The best we can do is continue to implement the ideas of hope, love, community, and goodwill towards all creatures here on Earth and, perhaps, amongst the stars.
Live Long and Prosper,
W. Dwight Hatfield
Marketing Director
SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping
www.survtechsolutions.com

Land Surveyors in The Bible

2009-04-28T15:01:00.000-04:00

Examples of Land Surveyors in The Bible by William D. Hatfield
The Bible has always been a reliable source for the history of the Jewish people. This historic account encompasses many esoteric and otherworldly encounters, but what is often overlooked is the overwhelming accounts of the day to day life, as well as, the professions of the common people. Seeing as how we here at SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping work in the land surveying profession and many of us are Christian, I personally, decided to do some research into examples of the land surveying profession in the Bible.
Land surveying is one of the world's oldest professions, from the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians and many other cultures utlizing land surveying and surveying principles in their monolithic and massive building projects. Such projects could not be undertaken without the skill and precision required with the use of a skilled land surveyor. We all know that maps have existed since the earliest times, but someone had to make those maps and do the field work associated with them. The Bible not only describes acts of land surveying, but also the description of landmarks, laws concerning surveying and boundary markers, surveying technology, measurement units, and even a surveying request for services! It's pretty amazing, but not really surprising. In this article I have mentioned some of the examples and will include a short commentary before the examples. This is not to be confused with simple measurements such as Noah building the Ark, which could be construed as a form of space measurement, but that would fall more under the category of engineering of which there are also many many examples. So for a completely accurate view, I have chosen only those passages which could only be construed as land surveying and directly relating to land surveying.
Section 1: Examples of Laws Concerning Property Boundary and Boundary Markers
Laws concerning many things were very strict in what is referred to as the Old Testament. Here are several examples of law and social conduct applied to the property boundaries and landmarks and boundary markers associated thereof. Why was it so important to not remove the boundary markers? First of all, we can see from the Law of Moses that to entrench on another's rights is wrong and against the word of God. Secondly, as evident in the passage from Job, we can see that dire consequences can arise from remove property markers. Aside from perturbing and defrauding neighbors of their property, the maps and local areas would not match up in the legal descriptions set forth in records. In Job we can see that by removing the landmarks it caused flocks to be stolen from their rightful owners. This can lead to property disputes and in the Job passage even livestock that lives on the property in dispute. This sort of unethical moving of boundaries will then lead to other problems both legally and morally.
Proverbs 22:28
Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.
Deuteronomy 19:14
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Deuteronomy 27:17
Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Job 24:2
Some remove the landmarks; They seize and devour flocks.
Section 2: Descriptions of Surveying Equipment and Technology
While the Zechariah passages are often attributed to allegory regarding the building of God's church, we can also see that the metaphor is based on actual profession and the technology associated with it. In the next passage we see that he is measuring for the building of temple. Using the standard of a measurement for a "reed" we can surmise that no such temple had been built according to such a massive scale, and while this again passes into allegorical or metaphor for God's church, we again see the use of socially accepted measuring devices. In this case the reed and the measuring line. This shows a high degree of skill and precision for the ancient surveyor to consistently utilize the same standard equipment over a substantial period of time.
Zechariah 2:1-2
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, to measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
Ezekiel 42:16-19
He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about.
He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
Section 3: Examples of Surveying Measurement Units
1 long reed (Biblical) = 10.5 foot. As in Section 2, we see that the measuring unit of a "reed" is used again and again. Not only in surveying and engineering, but also in many construction and building projects. This shows that the professions associated with surveying, architecture, engineering, and construction used the same measurement standards between all industries. Since these industries were and still are integral parts of one another, we can then tell that this is nothing new and is just a continuation of technology, standards, measurements, and principles set forth by the ancients.
Ezekiel 42:16-19
He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about.
He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
Section 4: Descriptions of Surveying Boundaries and Landmarks
There are many instances in the book of Numbers of a border description for the Jewish people. These stretch from the universally accepted coastline of the Mediterranean, known as The Great Sea is this passage (which coastlines along bodies of water are still universal in property and legal descriptions) to the borders of known maps of locations and nations. This is huge news in learning how ancient Israel and it's surveyors connected and cross referenced their maps and surveys with other known surveys and maps. What's more is that the description of known landmarks, both man made and natural, is a great modern day resource in retracing and recreating the ancient world.
Again we see the same type of mapping and boundary denotations outlined in the book of Ezekiel. The use of known legal terms (e.g. Great Sea) of known boundary markers and also the use of city names and references to known maps and surveys is given to add to the credibility and accuracy of new maps and boundaries.
Numbers 34:6-7
As for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border; this shall be your west border. And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
Numbers 34:12
And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and the goings out thereof shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to the borders thereof round about.
Ezekiel 47:15
And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;
Section 5: A Royal Request for Surveying Services
The Jewish Historian Josephus relates that the surveying services provided by the Jews were of the highest quality with men who were experts in geometry. Even though many biblical instances are given in generalizations, we can be sure the borders were highly accurate and were mapped as such. Joshua was a military leader and King, the notations of the lands he conquered and how that land was divided was not only of importance to tribal and familial boundary denotations, it was of the utmost importance to the continued military conquest and defense of the promised lands. Note that Joshua not only ask for them to map and denote boundaries, but he also request for physical descriptions of the landmarks. Joshua also requested the surveyed land to be described and written down. In what would be the ancient Judaic version of a Legal Property Description. After everything was written down and described, the land was also divided. This Biblical version of an ancient subdivision is of great importance as it shows that a whole area was surveyed, legally described, entered into records and then subdivided and the property ownership was transferred accordingly.
Joshua 18:8
Then the men arose and went, and Joshua commanded those who went to describe the land, saying, "Go and walk through the land and describe it, and return to me; then I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh."
Joshua 18:9
The men surveyed the land. They described it in a book. The land was divided into seven parts according to its cities. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.
In Closing
We can ascertain from a study of Hebrew history and also Egyptian history that more than likely the ancient Hebrews learned surveying technology and principles from the Egyptians. Furthermore we can see that the basic surveying principles really have not changed that much since ancient times. Of course the technology and accuracy has increased exponentially, but the basic tenets of surveying: boundary law, demarcation, subdivision, legal descriptions, accurate measuring according to social standards of measurements, and universally accepted methods; have only changed according to the cultural standards of measurement and the social legal system.
The Bible continues to be a fascinating exploration of both human spirituality and human technological achievement. We can glean the divine influence in the efforts of these brave men and women of ancient Judea. Furthermore, we learn that land surveying and mapping played an essential role in the establishment of the Promised Land and the defense there of, as well as, the individual's right to own, buy, and sell property according to an agreeable and legally binding standard.
In researching this article I have been very pleased to learn that surveying was so important to the ancient Jewish people. I also have been enlightened and I hope that this article will also enlighten you as to the expertise and technological advancement of the ancient Hebrews. In modern times, we have a tendency to think that those who came before us were so inept and backwards, I hope this article has served to show that not only did the chosen people have an immense amount of knowledge, they also applied that knowledge in ways that we are still using to this very day.
Written by William D. Hatfield April 28,2009
Mr. Hatfield is the Marketing Director SurvTech Solutions Surveying and Mapping. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, www.survtechsolutions.com provides land and hydrographic surveying services to the southeastern United States to a diverse set of clients in a multitude of industries. For more Information visit www.survtechsolutions.com or call 813-621-4929

Land Surveying Career & Student Resources

2009-03-28T00:09:00.004-04:00

With the job market the way it has been lately, I receive many inquiries into how someone can get a new career, in particular many have looked into land surveying as a great career choice. One of the neatest things about pursuing a career in land surveying is that there are many great lifelong careers that someone can have in the industry with only a high school diploma, technical degree, or a college degree.
Here at SurvTech most of our employees are college graduates, with a variety of degrees. The surveying industry allows for many specialized individuals to work within the field. Everyone from environmental to computer specialist can find a rewarding professional environment in land surveying.
So why am I so on fire about surveying? Am I not "the marketing guy"? LOL, while that is true, I wasn't always the marketing guy, I started just like everyone else started, out in the field, as a rodman, lowest guy on the totem pole. I think it's needed for everyone to have the proper perspective of what they're doing and where they work.
One of the many things that makes SurvTech so great is that everyone has field experience, this increases efficiency and communication between the field staff and office staff. I can't tell you how much easier it was to draft a project when I knew exactly what I was looking at because I too had been in the field for similar projects.
So I wanted to create a site to help people who were interested in land surveying. The site has links to the very best surveying schools in the United States, as well as, many great facts and benefits about the surveying profession. Included in the site are links to major professional organizations, who in their own right, have a multitude of valuable and useful links.
In addition, I've also included my Land Surveying for Kids Coloring Book and also made a cool narrated video of that book. While these are meant for grade school children, they are also great starting points for anyone wanting to learn more about land and hydrographic surveying.

I hope this information can be assistance to people, even if you aren't interested in a career, it's always fun to learn about the workings of related industries.
As always, if I can ever answer any questions about land surveying or help you with projects you have, feel free to contact me at anytime.
Best Regards,
W. Dwight Hatfield
Marketing Director
SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping Tampa, Florida
http://www.survtechsolutions.com/

SurvTech Solutions is Going Green !

2009-02-08T00:23:00.004-05:00

Tampa's premier land surveying firm introduces "Green Surveying"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2009
CONTACT: Shannon Rose, (813) 960-8412 or (813) 389-0801; info@mediaproductions.tv
SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping becomes an industry leader in "Going Green" in Tampa, Florida
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SurvTech Solutions introduces their new "Green Initiative" as of February 1st with the addition of their new "Green Page" at www.survtechsolutions.com .The SurvTech Solutions "Green Initiative" was inspired out of a moral and ethical responsibility to do all the firm could do to help alleviate environmental conservation issues within the firm and to educate and inform the hundreds of monthly website visitors on the steps that SurvTech Solutions has taken and steps they themselves can take.. The new initiative outlines the many different and varied ways that SurvTech Solutions is going green . The initiative is designed as a guidebook for not only the employees, but to others in the industry. By making employees and website visitors aware of the actions they can perform, SurvTech Solutions hopes to continue to refine and improve their current methods.
An exceptional part to the "Green Initiative" includes SurvTech Solutions offering a 10% price cost reduction for surveying services related to Environmental Charity work. Interested parties can contact SurvTech Solutions corporate office at 813-621-4929 to see if their project qualifies.
SurvTech Solutions has become an industry leader in the Florida land surveying profession. Forming in May of 2004, SurvTech Solutions has garnered major attention amongst the surveying industry and related industries for their attention to detail and customer service as well as, their innovative marketing campaigns.This initiative is an ever growing process. The idea behind sharing it is to include employees of the firm and clients in the evolution of this initiative. An exciting and fun way this is taking place is the partnership of SurvTech Solutions with Monica Belina of NyPDES Services and the inclusion of "It's Raining!", a down loadable children's coloring book and Teacher's Guide that teaches about water conservation and water environmental issues here in Florida. The down loadable package was created by Ms. Belina with a grant from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. The book and guide can be downloaded at www.survtechsolutions.com/gogreen.htm .
W. Dwight Hatfield, Marketing Director for SurvTech Solutions, had this to say about the initiative " Our Green Initiative was an easy decision to make. SurvTech's dedication to higher moral principles make this not only a necessary step for our firm, but also a fun and passionate one. The initiative enriches the lives of our employees, our clients, and the people we meet in person and through SurvTech Solutions dot com ".
You can see the tenets of SurvTech's "Green Initiative" at the link below:
http://www.survtechsolutions.com/gogreen.htm
To Interview W. Dwight Hatfield, SurvTech Solutions Marketing Director or for more information contact Shannon Rose at 813-960-8412 or info@mediaproductions.tv
SurvTech Solutions Website: www.survtechsolutions.com
ABOUT SURVTECH SOLUTIONS
SurvTech Solutions, Inc. is a land and hydrographic surveying firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The firm routinely performs every type of surveying service in the state of Florida. The company is built on the principles of hard work, quality product, and customer service with a corporate culture centered around moral and ethical values. With an ever growing client base of private businesses and government entities, a GSA contract, and dedicated staff, SurvTech Solutions continues to grow, with a service area that extends to Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
The SurvTech Mission Statement is “To make a difference in the lives of our employees, who, in return, will make the difference for our clients!”
SurvTech Solutions, Inc. is a company dedicated to building the preeminent surveying firm in our profession. A company that our employees and clients are proud to be associated with. A business where the lines of communication are always open and traits like team work and integrity are paramount.

Super Kids with Warrick Dunn & SurvTech's Stacy Brown

2009-01-27T17:14:00.002-05:00

Well, my wife recently roped me into helping her out at her school again. This time it was more than just moving some furniture or books around because she thought it was time for a change. Though, it did involve moving books and other belongings it was for a very good cause. My wife and another teacher at Nelson Elementary had headed up a drive to collect books and used sporting equipment for local children in need. The drive was part of the “Super Kids-Super Sharing” program put on by the NFL and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee.

My job was to drive over to Nelson, load up the truck and transport all of the donations to Jackson Heights Park, here in Tampa, where all of the items were being collected. I can not take all the credit for loading the truck. I did have help from Kelly and 6 of her 5th grade students, who were hand picked to take part in the day’s activities. I must also add that I did have a slightly alternative motive for participating in the charity drive and that was that since my son, Jacob, is enrolled in kindergarten at Nelson Elementary I was able to sign him out so that he and I could spend the day together.

My son rode with me, while Kelly transported her students in our van. Once we arrived at Jackson Heights we were greeted by other volunteers who helped unload the truck and bring the items inside the gymnasium. Inside the gym, besides a boat load of kids from other elementary/middle schools from around the County, there were also about 20 boxes that were 4 foot high. These boxes were being used to sort the books into different reading levels. Everyone took part in sorting the books but the kids were anxious to go back outside where there were four different stations setup. The different stations involved holding a football and running around obstacles, doing some fancy footwork and then completing a pass to a “dummy”, running through a rope grid and then catching a pass and the last one was set up where the kids were able to race each other through an obstacle course.

Before Jacob and I headed out, a little early I might add, he took part in a group picture with all of the students from Nelson. The group picture also included Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running back Warrick Dunn, which made all of the kids even more excited and since the Bucs are Jacob’s favorite team you can imagine how excited he was.

When it was all said and done everyone had a great time and it was all for a very good cause. I believe it is necessary for all of us to do what we can for our community and to teach our kids the same. Even if you don’t have a lot of free time on your hands every little bit counts and if you happen to have fun while doing it then all the better.

Telling the Truth in Marketing Materials

2009-01-26T23:06:00.004-05:00

Now, more than ever, and mostly due to the economic conditions that many Americans are facing, more and more men and women are looking extra careful at their purchasing of goods and services. When marketing first began to rise to prominence in the 1950's the majority of advertising could be viewed as truthful, trustworthy, and honest. Unfortunately, as time has passed, advertising becomes less and less about the actuality of a product and/or service and more about creating the innate desire to acquire these items. However, extreme times call for extreme measures, as they say. There are two ways to view this quandryOn the one hand, you can increase your efforts to create desire which is all good and fine, as long as your wares live up to the expectation of the customer, on the other hand you can also be completely honest in what you are providing.
When advertisers use desire, more often than not, what you are buying is the feeling of buying, the emotion of acquiring, and the personal satisfaction. Sometimes, but not always, you will find that these things are either useless, serve no practical function, and/or would've been purchased for much less or at a greater value by some other manufacturer or service provider.
The extreme I'm talking about is the extreme truth. I don't believe in saying something then doing something else, even if I can't do something someone wishes I could do. The same holds true for marketing, especially, at SurvTech Solutions. Everything contained on our website is absolute truth. At www.survtechsolutions.com you have a complete list of the services we offer, how we offer them, the equipment used, and also an explanation of exactly what those services are and what they entail. Other companies might say they offer this service or that, but how do they deliver the product? What are their methods for doing so? Are they using the most modern techniques Or do they live off the names of business owners who have long since sold the business and died?
I often think of this when looking at older companies: IF a companies' original owners are no longer there, and if the employees are constantly revolving, then what are you really buying or using? Just a name my friend, just a name. And furthermore, rarely do many other companies say who their employees are, Sure you'll see the high ranking corporate officer vanity pages, but those are people you aren't likely to speak with if you have a problem. Furthermore, they are the big picture, and you and your concerns are about specifics.
At SurvTech Solutions, not only do we tell you what SurvTech Solutions is about with our corporate culture, company history, and video interviews with employees, but we also lay out every project manager, office employee, and leadership team member on our About Us pages. These profiles aren't little vanity paragraphs with a cute picture. We want you to know SurvTech Solutions, because these men and women ARE SURVTECH SOLUTIONS. SurvTech Solutions is not just some "name" bought and sold ran by people who aren't hands on. SurvTech Solutions is about as transparent a corporation as you can get. For example, when you send something to us through our contact form or our catch all contact email address, it doesn't just go to an office girl and filed in a junk mail filter, it goes to multiple individuals at all corporate levels. We do this to insure that nothing gets left out, that every request, no matter what it is, gets answered by the appropriate person.
It all goes back to "honesty is the best policy". If I say "This is how you contact SurvTech Solutions" then that's what it is. If I say "this is how SurvTech Solutions performs an ALTA survey" then that's how it is. We perform 100% of our own work, quality work, work you can be proud of. We never sub something out to inferior contractors nor do we hire inferior employees and live off of some "name" that ultimately in both irrelevant to the actual work and meaningless when the final product is delivered.
We, you and I, must be more careful with our money and our purchasing decisions these days. So ask yourself....do you want quality, honesty, dependability? If you answered yes, then SurvTech Solutions is ready to assist you on your project at 813-621-4929 or www.survtechsolutions.com
Truth is the most powerful ally you have if you want the best.
Best Regards,
W.D. Hatfield
Marketing Director
SurvTech Solutions Surveying & Mapping
Tampa, Florida