MALSCE Sustaining Members: Allen & Major Associates, Inc., Beals and Thomas, Inc., Bluesky Geospatial Limited, Bracken Engineering, Brennan Consulting, Inc., BSC Group, Inc., Crocker Design Group, DGT Associates,

E.T. Engineering Enterprises, Feldman Geospatial, Field Resources, Inc., Hancock Associates,

Maine Technical Source, Merrill Engineers & Land Surveyors, Nitsch Engineering, Samiotes Consultants Inc., Spiller's, Topcon Solutions Store, VHB, Inc., Waypoint Technology Group, WSP

By Paul S. Campbell, PE, PLS, Principal and Owner, CHESS Engineering, and MALSCE President

Dear fellow MALSCE members and associates,

Happy New Year! Our Annual Convention has been announced for March 6th and 7th at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center. The full schedule is available and features an important update to the 2026 ALTA/NSPS Standards. I look forward to seeing you there. ... Read more

2026 MALSCE Annual Convention

Friday, March 6 - Saturday, March 7, 2026

Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center

242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA 01719

8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Friday, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Saturday

Convention Exhibit

Featuring live exhibitor demonstrations

New ALTA/NSPS Standards

Gary R. Kent, PS, Meridan Land Consulting, LLC.

Riparian Boundaries

Davey Edwards, PhD, PLS, Survey Technical Director, Dunaway

Surveyor Jeopardy

Gary R. Kent, PS, Meridan Land Consulting, LLC..

Importance of Historic Research

Davey Edwards, PhD, PLS, Survey Technical Director, Dunaway

How to Prepare an Original Land Grant

Davey Edwards, PhD, PLS, Survey Technical Director, Dunaway

Click here to register.

Fundamentals of Surveying Exam Refresher Course

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center

242 Adams Pl, Boxborough, MA 01719

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

MALSCE is offering a Fundamentals of Surveying Exam Refresher Course this spring to help participants prepare to take the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam. This course features an eight-hour review of the knowledge areas you are likely to be tested on during the FS Exam.

Click here to learn more and register.

Reserve Your Overnight Room for the Convention

by Monday, February 16!

Until Monday, February 16, 2025, a block of discounted overnight rooms for 2026 MALSCE Convention participants has been reserved at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center for the nights of Thursday and Friday, March 5 & 6.

Click here to learn how to get a discounted room rate.

The 2026 MALSCE Plan and Field Notes Contests Are Open for Entries – Submit Yours Today!

Help us make sure the 2026 MALSCE Plan & Field Notes Contests are as successful as past contests! Don’t wait, submit a plan and/or field notes for judging during the 2026 MALSCE Convention, which is being held Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center. Submit your entries and see how your plans and/or field notes stack up against the competition. You could be a contest winner and receive a commemorative plaque in recognition of your achievement.

Click here to learn more.

Sponsor the 2026 MALSCE Convention!

Promote your organization to MALSCE Convention attendees and other MALSCE members by becoming a Convention Session, Function, and/or Booklet Sponsor!

Click here to learn more.

Exhibit at the 2026 MALSCE Convention!

Promote your organization’s products and/or services to MALSCE members by exhibiting during the 2026 MALSCE Convention, which is taking place on Friday and Saturday March 6 and 7 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center. The convention exhibit is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Friday.

Click here to learn more and register.

Save the Date!

Wetlands Webinar

Thursday, March 12, 2026

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Zoom Webinar

Speaker:

Christopher M. Lucas, PWS, CWS, RPSS

Certified Wetland Scientist/Professional Soil Scientist, Lucas Environmental, LLC

Look out for registration information in future emails!

Donate to the MALSCE Education Trust

The MALSCE Education Trust is a 501(c) (3) organization that invests in students and educators for the future of the land surveying and civil engineering professions. Current initiatives include the annual MALSCE Education Trust scholarships for students of land surveying and civil engineering who are Massachusetts residents and ongoing support for the University of Maine Surveying program. Donations to the MALSCE Education Trust make these and other undertakings possible and available for you and future professionals. Please consider contributing today!

You can donate to the Trust by downloading and completing a donation form, or click here to donate online.

Donate to the Gerard A. & Odette R. Racette Scholarship Fund

The Gerard A. & Odette R. Racette Scholarship Fund was established in December 2025, at the University of Maine for Surveying Engineering Technology students. The scholarship is for high school graduates in New England with preference given to Massachusetts high school graduates. Donations to the scholarship fund may be sent to:

University of Maine Foundation
Two Alumni Place
Orono, Maine 04469-5792

Please write "SVT Racette Scholarship Fund" on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your support of the Surveying Engineering Technology Program.

MassDOT Seeking Surveying Instructor

The UMass Transportation Center is seeking a surveyor to teach Highway/Construction Surveying trainings. The commitment would be for 6 full-day (6-7 hour) classes, scheduled at MassDOT districts across the state.

An example of the training outline is below.

This workshop will introduce participants to the most common measurement techniques encountered in the highway and construction environment. Topics will include Taping, Electronic Distance Measurement, Instrument set up, Leveling, and Angular Measurements. More advanced topics will be introduced, such as GPS, and GIS, if time allows.

Applied Field Exercises will include:

Testing the accuracy of Leveling Equipment.
Calculating & Laying out grade stakes for roadways, gutters, curbs, and pipelines.
Introduction to the Total Station, and Topographic Surveying.

Those interested should contact Mary Ann Donze at donze@umass.edu.

Job Board

Experienced PLS – Western Massachusetts – Five Colleges Area

Our second generation, family owned, land surveying business is seeking an experienced PLS with the potential for future ownership.

Responsibilities include:
– Field & office coordination
– Boundary analysis
– Document preparation

Skills:
– Knowledge of Carlson Software
– Exceptional attention to detail
– Ability to communicate with clients, various Town boards and a willingness to attend Planning and Zoning Board meetings as needed

Salary, benefits and start date negotiable. To inquire, email Randy at rizer@eatonsurvey.com.

Looking to promote a job to MALSCE members? Click here to learn more about posting on the MALSCE job board.

Look to MALSCE News and the MALSCE website for information on available surveying education opportunities. UMaine has several different surveying degree and certificate programs available online, click here to learn more. Franklin Cummings Tech offers online courses for professionals currently working in the land surveying field who wish to become registered Professional Land Surveyors in Massachusetts. Other universities with online surveying and geomatics programs options include Ferris State University and Oregon Institute of Technology.

Check Out "Surveyor Says" NSPS' Podcast

Want to hear from the movers and shakers of the surveying profession? Each week, NSPS brings you conversations with the trendsetters and difference-makers that are helping to shape the world of surveying. Your host, NSPS Executive Director Tim Burch, sits down with various personalities to discuss all things surveying, all bundled in a 30-minute conversation.

Click here to listen to a recent episode.

Become a Certified Survey Technician

No matter what the future holds, prepare to meet challenges head on. Future-proof your resume by becoming a Certified Survey Technician (CST). This unique four-level certification program indicates official recognition by NSPS that a person can perform surveying tasks at a specific technical level. Show what you can do! Decide between the field or office track. Click here for more information.

MALSCE News is a monthly publication of the Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers. This newsletter highlights the program and activities of MALSCE and reports on national and local matters of interest to land surveyors and civil engineers. While we cannot promise to print all news items that we receive, if you have one to share with your fellow MALSCE members please forward it to Michelle Monette at mmonette@engineers.org.