The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) was founded in 1941 as a nonprofit organization devoted to improving education in the fields of surveying, mapping and other similar disciplines.
Today, it continues to promote various educational programs, resources and publications that serve the interests of people in these professions. It offers resources to help professionals in the surveying and mapping fields stay on top of all of the constant changes that occur within the industry. Members of the organization include land surveyors, mapmakers and other similar professionals across a variety of sectors, including academia, government agencies and private businesses.
Here’s an overview of the current state of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping and what professionals in related industries should know about it.
Organizational makeup
There are four member organizations that make up the ACSM: the American Association for Geodetic Surveying, the Geographic and Land Information Society, the National Society of Professional Surveyors and the Cartography and Geographic Information Society. Individuals no longer join the Congress directly, but rather join one of these four member organizations and thus become a member of the ACSM.
However, there are students who do join the ACSM, and thus are considered members of all four of these member organizations. This path gives these students of the field the broadest range of possible careers.
There are more than 8,000 professionals who currently count themselves as members of the ACSM through its various four member organizations. The organization holds a convention every spring, which usually draws about a quarter of those members. The meeting provides networking opportunities, continuing education and other chances for these professionals to update their knowledge and skills.
Members also receive a bi-monthly bulletin from the organization and a subscription to Surveying and Land Information Systems or Cartography and Geographic Information Systems. These publications offer additional ways for surveyors and mapping professionals to stay current on all of the issues related to their field.
Full members of the organization usually are required to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field or four years of active professional experience in surveying, mapping or a related field. Associate memberships are available to people interested in the fields, but must gain the necessary experience or education to become full members. Those full members are then required to maintain the appropriate state licensure for their fields.
The Congress also sets the ALTA/ACSM survey standards, which are a set of rigorous guidelines for surveys in commercial properties and other types of properties that require boundary surveys. Any surveyor who works at a property must be familiar with these standards and ensure their work adheres to them.
Interested in learning more about the American Conference on Surveying and Mapping, and the benefits that come with working with an ACSM professional? We encourage you to reach out to the team of licensed state land surveyors in Texas at D.G. Smyth & Co., Inc. with any questions you have, and we will be happy to further explain our qualifications and capabilities.