Lewis A. Lapine, PLS

Teaching Associate
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1990

Department of Geography
Callcott Building, Rm. 122
email: lapinel@mailbox.sc.edu

Biographical Sketch:

Education:   Cleveland Heights High School. (1965), The Ohio State University, BS (1969), MS (1976), and PhD (1990).  All three degrees are in the field of Geodesy and Photogrammetry. 

From 1970 until 1998 I was a commissioned officer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) attained my final rank as Captain (O-6) in 1992.   I have served on three hydrographic and one oceanographic ship and various geodetic field parties.  I was assigned to the staff of the National Ocean Service and responsible for developing survey and mapping policy at a national scale and reported to the Director for all policy and budget formulation.  From 1989 until 1993 I served as Chief of the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Remote Sensing Division and in 1993 was promoted to Director of NGS.  I managed the National Spatial Reference System comprised of some 1.5 million historic survey markers, a national mapping program for the official U.S. coastline used on nautical charts and definition of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the production of 980 aeronautical charts portraying airport facilities and obstructions in the national airspace.  I developed GPS technology that enabled the connection of the U.S. Virgin Islands and 19 Pacific Rim Island into a worldwide geodetic network.  I initiated production of the first all digital mapping products including the procurement of advanced technologies such as Global Positioning System receivers, Forward Motion Compensated cameras, and real-time ground to aircraft data links to meet program commitments and improve field operation activities through program.   

In 1998 I retired from NOAA and became the Chief of the South Carolina Geodetic Survey where I have continued to build and maintain a unified coordinate system that supports all aspects of mapping, cadastre, construction and the intelligent use of our natural resources.  In particular, this activity insures the continued modernization of the South Carolina State Plane Coordinate System through the use of the Global Positioning System, its maintenance and adequate technical outreach for a better understanding of its value and use.  The state's framework of geographic coordinates is essential for the reliability of transportation, communication, mapping and charting, and a myriad of scientific applications including precision agricultural and mining.  I implemented the findings of the National Geodetic Survey, National Height Modernization Study, to provide for measuring precise changes of elevation.  We are achieving high accuracy and a 10-fold increase in productivity.  I work cooperatively with the Emergency Preparedness Division to determine the precise position and elevations for schools in seven coastal counties.  These schools were potentially located in hurricane hazardous areas which depending on the elevation may make them unsuitable for sheltering the evacuated population.  To facilitate access to the coordinate system, a 52 station GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) network provides real time centimeter level positioning accuracy anywhere in the state using a single mobile dual frequency receiver and cellular modem technology.  Technical assistance and grant funding for state mapping is provided to continue assistance to the counties for improving base mapping and modern geographic information systems.  To date, all 46 counties (up from 19 counties in 1998) are being assisted with upgrading their digital mapping programs.  Base mapping, digital orthoimages and geographic information layers increase the potential for South Carolina counties to attract new economic growth.  A seamless high resolution high accuracy orthoimage data set for the entire state is on-line and available 24/7 for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Offices. 

I am presently an Adjunct Professor at Midlands Technical College and the University of South Carolina. 

Positions, Employment and Duties:
1970–98 NOAA Corps, retired in 1998 with the rank of Captain
1982-83 Chief NGS Operations Division
1989-92 Chief NGS Remote Sensing Division
1993-98 Director National Geodetic Survey
1998-Present Chief, SC Geodetic Survey

Professional Training:
In addition to my formal training, I have Professional Surveying licenses in NC and SC.  I have attended the SC Senior Management School and I am a SC Certified Project Manager.

Professional Memberships:
National Academy of Sciences
Chair, Midlands Technical College Curriculum Review Committee
SC Society of Professional Land Surveyors
NC Chapter of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
Former President of the American Association of Geodesy, ACSM
Former President of the Potomac Region, ASPRS  

Teaching Assignments:
Geography 562 – GPS and Satellite Mapping