Event Details

Partnership with the SW Piedmont Chapter of NCSS

Check-in begins at 7:30 am and concludes at 4:30 pm.  Breakfast and Lunch are included.

Topics

• 8:00am - 12:00pm : 2026 ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Update by Dean Exline, PLS

This session provides a clear overview of the recent updates to the ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards. Attendees will learn what has changed and how the new requirements affect survey deliverables. The focus is on understanding the key revisions and applying them accurately in current practice.

• 1:00pm - 4:30pm : Tree Identification by Craig Oliver

This hands-on Tree Identification Walking Course is designed specifically for surveyors looking to strengthen their field skills and improve the reliability of boundary evidence. Participants will learn practical techniques for identifying common regional tree species using bark characteristics, leaf structure, and overall form—even in less-than-ideal conditions such as dormant seasons. The course emphasizes distinguishing commonly misidentified species, understanding the difference between local and botanical names for clearer communication in deeds and reports, and applying standard methods for measuring tree diameter at breast height (DBH) in the field. By the end of the course, attendees will be better equipped to confidently recognize and document trees referenced in legal descriptions, plats, and easements, enhancing both accuracy and professionalism in their surveying practice.

Instructors

Dean Exline, PLS: Dean is the founder and President of GeoInnovation, PC, with over 30 years of experience as a licensed land surveyor in multiple states and the US Virgin Islands. His expertise spans boundary, construction staking, GPS, and conventional survey control, along with dam deformation measurements, topographic surveys, hydrographic surveys, coal pile quantity surveys, and power line surveys. Currently serving as Past President of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors (NCSS), he is also a speaker at surveying conferences and an author of technical papers on robotic surveying and GPS applications. He is a professional member of several surveying societies, including the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio.

Craig Oliver: Craig Oliver is a graduate of Haywood Community College with a degree in Forest Management and over 13 years of professional experience with the North Carolina Forest Service. With a strong background in applied forestry and field-based resource management, he brings practical, real-world expertise in tree identification, forest conditions, and measurement techniques, making him well-suited to guide surveyors in developing reliable, field-ready skills.