MSS Members in Action - September 2026

A Surveyor in a 1,035-Year-Old Story

Dan Burke, Jr. recently ran into a stubborn land surveyor (redundant?) in a 745-year-old telling of a 1,035-year-old story from Gimhae, South Korea. Samguk Yusa: Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms (compiled c. 1281) by Iryeon features ghosts and a land surveyor that was tasked with surveying the plot of land for the Tomb of King Suro - a real place!

See the excerpt below:

In the second year of Hsun-Hua (991) a land surveyor in Kimhae-pu named Cho Mun-son reported to the King that the acreage set aside for the maintenance of King Suro's shrine was too large and that it should be reduced to fifteen 'kyol' unit of farmland) as under the old system and the remainder divided among the corvee laborers employed in Kimhae prefecture. When the King received this recommendation he rejected it, saying, "A sage-king emerged from an egg from Heaven and ruled over his people for 158 years, until he died. This was a happy event whose equal is rarely found in history of the world since the time of the three legendary emperors (Sui-len, Fu-hsi, and Shen-nung) of ancient China. I am too much in awe of his memory to reduce the acreage which supports King Suro's shrine, which has been hallowed ever since his death by his royal descendants."

But the surveyor persisted in his recommendations, and at length the court agreed that half of the shrine should be given to the corvee laborers. When the division had been completed by royal order, the surveyor had sudenly fell ill and was obliged to take to his bed. There he fell asleep and dreamed that he saw seven or eight ghosts armed with long ropes and sharp swords approaching him with a terrible roar: "You have done us wrong. We shall cut off your head!" Down flashed the swords like lightning upon his neck and up sprang the surveyor from his bed, waking with a scream. He was so frightened that he ran out of the house, and fell dead as he was passing through the city gate. His death prevented him from affixing his seal to the land-survey register (which was necessary to make the transfer of shrine land legal).

Bob Banzhoff Presenting to the Clear Spring Historical Association

Surrounded by fall decorations, Mason Dixon speaker, Bob Banzhoff, shared his deep knowledge about the surveyors. Attendees say the presentation was outstanding!

MSS at the City of Gaithersburg's International Observe the Moon Night

On September 19, the Maryland Society of Surveyors participated in the City of Gaithersburg’s International Observe the Moon Night at Observatory Park, home of the historic Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory.

MSS members David Harman, Tom Manning, and Aaron Worley staffed the Society’s booth, where modern surveying equipment was displayed and attendees had an opportunity to learn more about the land surveying profession. Throughout the evening, members spoke with adults and children about what surveyors do, the technology used today, and the important role surveying plays in our communities. Surveying-related giveaways, provided courtesy of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), were also handed out to visitors.

MSS was joined at the event by representatives from NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS), making Observatory Park an especially fitting setting for the evening. MSS member Dave Doyle was also in attendance. Dave has a long and distinguished history with NGS, as well as a professional and personal connection to the Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory and its role in the history of geodetic surveying.

The evening provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the public to both the history and modern practice of surveying. From the historic geodetic work associated with the Latitude Observatory to the technology surveyors use today, the event highlighted how the profession has evolved while remaining rooted in the science of accurately measuring and understanding the Earth.

Overall, the event was a successful outreach opportunity for MSS. Events like this allow surveyors to engage with the public, introduce young people to a profession they may otherwise know little about, and help build greater awareness of the work surveyors perform. Hopefully, those who stopped by the MSS booth walked away knowing a little more about land surveying and with a positive impression of the profession.

MSS extends its thanks to Karen Yaffe Lottes, Program Coordinator with the City of Gaithersburg’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Department and the Gaithersburg Community Museum, for inviting MSS to participate in this year’s event and providing the opportunity to share the surveying profession with the community.