One of Triad’s core values is service.  When we speak about it in the business sense, we refer to “prompt service, open communication, and high-quality work as our goal for every project”.  When we think about it beyond business, service takes on a meaning of community engagement and volunteerism.  This idea is nothing new to Triad, and in fact, we make an effort to connect to the communities where we work, live, and play.  Our actions, our ideas, and our involvement foster a connection that transcends the next big project or top client.  Our activities enable a human connection, the creation of better communities, and a genuine sense of purpose.

Research shows volunteering and community engagement provides the following benefits:

• Provides a natural sense of accomplishment
• Builds your network
• Boosts self-confidence and self-esteem
• Presents a sense of community and belonging
• Teaches you valuable skills
• Brings diversity into your life
• Gets you out of your comfort zone

What good are you putting into the world?

What is an ALTA Survey?

An “ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey” (or simply, “an ALTA survey”) is a term that is commonly used in the realms of civil engineering and real estate. The term refers to a specialized type of survey of real property, with specifications that have been defined jointly by the American Land Title Association and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. ALTA surveys are performed mostly for commercial properties where title insurance is required. This type of survey typically addresses detailed information regarding property boundaries, easements and encumbrances, encroachments or evidence of use by other parties, rights-of-way and access, onsite cemeteries, existing structures, and the record description of the property, as well as optional items that may be specified by the client, such as zoning classifications, flood zone classifications, or topographic relief.

Because an ALTA survey involves elements that are not usually addressed by a standard boundary survey, a title commitment document or title report is required to complete the work. Land surveyors work closely with title companies to ensure that all information is accurate and provides a comprehensive view of the property in question.

An ALTA survey combines data from property records with onsite surveying measurements to fulfill the needs of title companies or insurers. While an ALTA survey isn’t required for every property acquisition, it can represent one of the most exhaustive types of surveys that are available to a client. Due to the additional effort required to complete all the components of an ALTA survey, the cost is generally higher than for a standard boundary survey. The following list highlights some of the steps involved in this type of survey work:

• Land records related to the subject property are carefully researched, typically by the client’s attorney or title agent.
• The attorney or title agent prepares a title commitment or title report that lists all encumbrances or appurtenances of record that appear to affect the subject property. This title commitment or report is then provided to the land surveyor along with copies of all the record documents.
• The survey field personnel collect data at the subject property regarding boundaries and other relevant features.
• The surveyor analyzes the field data in conjunction with a careful review of the information provided in the title commitment or report and associated documents.
• The surveyor prepares a plat or map of the survey that addresses the various potential title items that were identified by the title commitment or report.
• A draft of the plat is provided for review and comment to the client, the title company, and any other interested parties.
• Upon acceptance of the plat by the interested parties, the surveyor signs and seals the plat, providing certification that it is accurate to the best of the surveyor’s knowledge.

Although an ALTA survey is not necessary for every transaction involving real estate, there are situations that call for additional effort and expense. This type of survey is often recommended under the following circumstances:

• Buying or selling Commercial Real Estate – When a parcel of commercial property is mortgaged or transferred, title insurance companies and/or lenders often require an ALTA survey to be completed. This is because commercial purchases frequently come with “survey risks,” such as boundary line disputes, encroachments, or other conditions that may not be discernible from the public records.
• Buying a piece of Vacant Land – An ALTA survey may be advisable to determine whether there are boundary, ownership, or encroachment issues that may not be otherwise apparent at the time of purchase, but which could become a nasty surprise at a later date.
• Resolving a Property Dispute – In instances such as right-of-access or boundary line disputes between adjoining landowners, an ALTA survey can ascertain critical facts that will equip litigation professionals with the material information needed to best advise their clients.

Triad Engineering has performed many ALTA surveys for commercial and industrial clients. If you would like more information regarding ALTA surveys, or if you would like to discuss whether an ALTA survey might be appropriate for your project, please contact our office in Morgantown, West Virginia, at 304-296-2562.

Sources: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys (Effective February 23, 2021). https://www.nsps.us.com/page/2021ALTA

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Are you aware that April is stress awareness month?  Stress can have a major impact on the productivity and satisfaction of company employees.  It is important to remain aware of stress in the workplace so that it can be mitigated and not create a hostile work environment.

Signs of stress in the workplace:

• Working too many hours.
• Becoming tired and irritable.
• Seeming nervous on a regular basis.
• Not taking leave or vacation.
• A decline in the performance or productivity of the employee.
• Overly sensitive to the things around them.
• Seeming lethargic or less sensitive.

How can we help to reduce stress in the workplace?

• Provide discounts on wellness programs.
• If possible, allow for flexible hours or remote working.
• Allow for team-building exercises and for employees to get to know one another.
• Offer on-site or other counseling services.
• Pay attention to any of the above signs of stress listed above and be proactive.

Mental health and stress are at an all-time high in today’s society.  Looking for signs and taking care of the situation early on, versus later, is important for the employee and the employer.  Do you pay attention to your employees?  Do they seem happy? Do they seem tired and overworked? Ask yourself these questions the next time you are around your employees and if you sense any signs of stress, find ways that you can be of help.

Did you know that March is Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month?

Why is this important and why should engineering companies take notice? According to the U.S. Census Bureau “women are vastly underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and math workforce.” As reported that while women have made gains since the 70s, women account for only 27% of STEM jobs. Among the STEM professions, the percentage of women in engineering is the lowest, at about 15%. It’s proven that companies with more gender diversity on their executive teams significantly outperform those with less diverse representation, giving a strong case for gender diversity.

So, what is STEM? It is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  Traditionally STEM fields have fewer women in them.  Why? Girls were not traditionally encouraged to consider science, or engineering as possible careers.  This results in a large gender disparity with boys being encouraged to take the STEM path, then filling the positions later on.

Times they are a-changin’.

In the last few decades, we have seen a rise in awareness of gender disparities and the growing equality of encouragement for STEM education through many education programs.  Not only are we seeing STEM toys being marketed equitably we’re also seeing an increasing number of bootcamps, labs, and groups dedicated to training girls to pursue careers in science, tech, or engineering.

As the influx of women in the STEM industries rise, girls are beginning to see themselves represented in the STEM niche and the gender gap is slowly starting to close.  Triad is passionate about spreading the word and encouraging awareness. We participate in events throughout the year designed to encourage girls and women into engineering and other science based disciplines.  We look forward to stepping up our game in the coming years and seeing our numbers equalize.

This month, and every month, it’s time to encourage girls and women to pursue their passions.

Wetlands Day is observed on February 2 to recognize and celebrate the importance of wetlands to the world, and the diversity of life that they support.

What constitutes jurisdictional waters of the U.S. has been difficult to navigate over the past seven years due to three different defining rules. On December 30, 2022, the agencies announced the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States'” rule. On January 18, 2023, the rule was published in the Federal Register; the rule will be effective on March 20, 2023. The agencies’ final rule reportedly establishes a clear and reasonable definition of “waters of the United States” and reduces the uncertainty from constantly changing regulatory definitions. For more information see: https://www.epa.gov/wotus/revising-definition-waters-united-states.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reclassified the northern long-eared bat as Endangered, effective January 30, 2023. If a project requires federal action and has the potential to affect suitable habitat for the northern long-eared bat, coordination with the USFWS will be required. At this time, coordination is expected to result in either a time of year restriction (TOYR) of April 1 to November 15 (no tree clearing during this time), or a presence/absence survey will have to be performed with a negative result for the northern long-eared bat (and other federally listed bat species) for the TOYR restriction to be lifted.

Triad’s wetland delineation capabilities have recently been enhanced with a subscription to the Ecobot cloud and mobile platform that reduces data collection time and minimizes post-processing allowing wetland determination data forms to be prepared faster and with fewer errors. In addition, Triad recently obtained a Trimble® Catalyst™, a revolutionary GNSS receiver, for accurately mapping wetlands more cost-effectively than traditional methods.