What's New: Certificate of Elevation

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Certificate of Elevation

December 2007

Dear MSPS Member,

As you may be aware, Sgt. Perry Curtis of the Michigan State Police has asked the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors for our help. Using existing technology for Portable Breathalyzer Testers, police agencies throughout Michigan must periodically recalibrate their portable units at a limited number of locations. We have been asked to determine an elevation of all police agencies across the state. Once this is determined and certified to, the agency may then calibrate their units using a new calibration method which uses a dry gas canister. There are various correction factors to apply to the breathalyzer unit, based on the altitude or elevation of the calibration site. This is the reason the State Police have contacted MSPS. We need to determine the agencies elevation to the nearest 10 feet. The police only apply changes to the correction factor with every 500 foot change in elevation. Several months ago, the MSPS Board approved to take on this challenge, and the comprehensive list of the police agencies across the state has been distributed to all chapter representatives.

Here is what is involved and what we are asking for your assistance with on a chapter basis:

1. Each police agency in your county needs to have an elevation established to the nearest 10 foot. This can be done on-line using USGS quadrangle maps. Everyone will be using the same online maps, and the same datum. There is no need to perform any fieldwork or attempt to use any other datum. All subsequent certificates will be done on a uniform datum.

2. You would complete a certificate of elevation provided by the Michigan State Police, that attests to your making the determination of the elevation of each specific police agency in your county.

3. Once you have made the determination, submit the completed Certificate of Elevation to your chapter representative. All chapter representatives will be obligated to distribute and gather the certificates. When each chapter area is completed, the chapter representative will deliver all documents to the Central Office of MSPS for delivery to Sgt. Curtis.

This is a great project for you to participate in and will yield a public relations opportunity for you with your local police agencies. We anticipate completing this project within the next month or so. If you have any questions, contact myself or Central Office. We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,
Michael J. Bartolo P.S.
MSPS Past President