Guatemala
Guatemala

In June 2014, we had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala to work with a group of archaeologists and teach them the basics of using surveying instrumentation. Our classes were held at the public Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. For several days, we provided instruction on surveying techniques, the use of robotic instrumentation to log data, and general data collection principles.

At mid-week, we traveled to the excavation site at Finca Pacaño, located in Patzicia, Chimaltenango, in the Guatemalan Highlands and about 120 miles west of Guatemala City to assist the team in practical application of their new skills at the dig site.

Linda and I worked with the team on this site for several days, providing instruction in instrument setup, traversing, and topographic and feature collection practices. At weeks end, we returned to our location in Antigua where we provided further classroom instruction on downloading the accumulated data from the data collector, the basics of file management, basic CAD mapping commands, and creating surface models of their work.


Antigua

Streets of Antigua

Balcony View

Balcony View

Finca Pacifico

Finca Pacaño

Our Living Room

Our Living Room

Pedestal Sculpture

Pedestal Sculpture

Pottery Shard

Pottery Shard

Classroom Instruction

Classroom Instruction

Dr. Robinson with Pedestal Sculpture

Dr. Robinson with Pedestal Sculpture

Field Instruction

Field Instruction

Data Collection

Data Collection

Team Photo

Team Photo

COGO Instruction

COGO Instruction


A more comprehensive article chronicling this unique travel / teaching experience was published in Point of Beginning, a national surveying journal, in October 2014. A copy of the article can be viewed here.


Alfred W. DiOrio, RLS, Inc.
Professional Land Surveyors and Land Use Consultants




P.O. Box 999
Ashaway, Rhode Island 02804-0009




(401) 377-8124