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For more than a century, New York City’s Park Avenue has been one of the most recognizable streets in America. But despite its name, the famous Midtown corridor has gradually become much more “avenue” than “park.” Now, New York City is working to change that. A recently updated plan from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) would transform 11 blocks of Park Avenue, from East 46th Street to East 57th Street, into a greener, more pedestrian-friendly corridor

Most drivers traveling down Tates Creek Road probably do not spend much time thinking about what is underneath them. Civil engineers do. Beginning September 21, portions of the inbound lane of Tates Creek Road between New Circle Road and Dove Run Road are scheduled to close as work continues on Lexington's Merrick trunk sewer project. According to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the overall project will replace approximately 7,200 feet of sanitary sewer pipe al

If your property is located in or near a mapped floodplain, you may have encountered terms such as Elevation Certificate, LOMR, LOMA, or LOMR-F. These FEMA-related documents can affect everything from development and permitting to flood insurance requirements and property transactions. The process can also become complicated quickly. Accurate surveying, elevation data, mapping, and—depending on the project—engineering analysis are often critical to obtaining the information F

If you hear that every official latitude, longitude, and elevation in the United States is changing, it sounds as though the country itself is moving. In a sense, it is—but that isn't really what is happening here. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), part of NOAA, is in the process of modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), the framework that provides the fundamental positioning information used throughout the United States. That means the numbers we use to

For decades, thousands of abandoned mines across the United States have remained a difficult environmental problem. Long after mining operations ceased, waste rock and mine tailings can continue to affect streams, soil, wildlife habitat, and surrounding communities. A recent project in Washington State may signal a new way forward. In September 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the first permit issued under the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Har

Kentucky’s landscape is known for rolling farmland, wooded hillsides, streams, and diverse native vegetation. But across the Commonwealth, invasive plants and animals are quietly changing those landscapes—sometimes long before property owners realize there is a problem. A recent Lexington Herald-Leader article highlighted several invasive species that have become prominent in Kentucky, including bush honeysuckle, Callery or Bradford pear, tree of heaven, emerald ash borer, ze

Most of us think of GPS as the little blue dot on a phone screen. For surveyors and engineers, it is much more than that. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)—including the U.S. GPS system—have become an important part of the technology used to establish positions, collect field data, map infrastructure, support construction, and perform surveys with remarkable efficiency and precision. That is why a recent BBC Future article examining the growing fight to protect the w

For many Americans, September 11, 2001, is remembered not only through the images we all saw on television, but through the very specific details of where we were and what we were doing when the world suddenly changed. For Abbie Jones, that morning began in a high-rise office building in Atlanta, located within the flight path of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, commonly known as PDK. Like so many others, she watched the events unfold in disbelief. She saw the second plane strike th

Rain may seem like a simple part of nature, but once land is developed, managing stormwater becomes an important engineering responsibility. When natural ground is replaced with rooftops, pavement, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces, less rainfall can soak into the soil. Instead, more water flows across the surface—and it can move much faster. Without appropriate stormwater management, that runoff can contribute to flooding, erosion, drainage complaints, infrastructure

Before engineers can design a site, they need to understand what is already there. That is where a topographic survey becomes essential. A topographic survey documents the physical characteristics of a property and creates an accurate representation of existing conditions. Unlike a boundary survey, which primarily focuses on property lines, a topographic survey captures elevations and visible features across a site. This information becomes the starting point for many civil e

One of the most expensive problems on a development project is discovering a major site constraint after design is already underway. Early civil engineering planning can help property owners, developers, and project teams identify potential challenges before significant time and money have been invested. Whether the project involves a commercial building, residential development, industrial facility, utility improvement, or public infrastructure, understanding site conditions

When most people think about a land survey, they picture a surveyor locating property corners and placing stakes in the ground. While boundary identification is certainly an important part of surveying, a professional land survey can provide much more information—and can prevent costly problems before they begin. A survey establishes the location of property boundaries based on deeds, plats, monuments, historical records, field evidence, and applicable standards. This informa

Boundary surveys are the foundation of land ownership clarity, property development, and risk mitigation. Whether you’re buying property, developing land, or settling a dispute, the right type of boundary survey ensures accuracy, legal protection, and peace of mind. Here are four of the most common types we provide at AJC: 1. Mortgage/Title Survey Often required during property sales or refinancing, this survey confirms boundary lines, improvements, and potential encroachme

Stormwater regulations are changing across the region, reflecting increased development pressure, updated rainfall data, and heightened awareness of flood risk. Municipalities and state agencies are paying closer attention to post-development runoff, detention performance, and downstream impacts. For developers and property owners, this means stormwater considerations must be addressed earlier in the project lifecycle. AJC regularly assists clients with stormwater planning th

One of the most common challenges we see on projects isn’t poor design—it’s late survey involvement. When surveyors are brought in after layouts are finalized, issues such as boundary conflicts, easement overlaps, and utility clashes often emerge. Resolving these problems during construction is far more costly than addressing them early. AJC emphasizes early coordination between surveying, engineering, and project stakeholders to identify constraints before they become delays

As public investment in infrastructure continues nationwide, the role of surveying has never been more visible—or more critical. Transportation corridors, utility upgrades, airport improvements, and municipal projects all rely on accurate survey data as their foundation. Errors or gaps at the survey stage can cascade through design and construction, driving up costs and causing delays. AJC supports infrastructure projects with precise control, topographic surveys, and constru

In recent years, lenders, title companies, and attorneys have placed renewed emphasis on strict compliance with ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards . What was once treated as a routine checklist item is now a key risk-management tool in commercial real estate transactions. This shift is driven by tighter underwriting requirements, increasingly complex developments, and a growing recognition that survey gaps often surface late—when they are most expensive to fix. At Abbie Jo

Every successful project begins with good data. Accurate mapping allows engineers, planners, and owners to make informed decisions with confidence. At AJC, we focus on producing survey deliverables that are not only accurate, but also clear, usable, and tailored to the needs of each project. From boundary and topographic surveys to mapping that integrates seamlessly into design workflows, quality data supports better outcomes. Good mapping helps teams: Identify constraints e

When we think about vertical construction, we often picture the steel, concrete, and glass that rise into the skyline. But what lies beneath—the civil engineering and site design—plays an equally critical role in determining the success, efficiency, and longevity of any building project. At AJC, we understand that a strong foundation isn’t just structural—it’s strategic. Every element of the site, from topography and drainage to utilities and traffic flow, informs and support

Infrastructure projects—from airports to roadways—often face a critical early hurdle: securing the right environmental permits. Whether your project involves stream crossings, wetland impacts, or earth disturbances, navigating these regulatory requirements can make or break your timeline. At Abbie Jones Consulting, we understand that clear, early coordination with agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state EPAs, and local floodplain administrators is essential. O