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Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology

Robert Liimakka is assistant professor and coordinator of the Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology Program

Robert Liimakka

Clinical Assistant Professor / Coordinator Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology

Office: Roy F. Christensen Complex 271

208-282-5705

liimrobe@isu.edu

Robert Liimakka is assistant professor and coordinator of the Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology Program. He is a licensed surveyor in the states of Idaho, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mr. Liimakka has extensive surveying experience in both the public and private sector having worked for the USFS in retracement surveys and private surveying and engineering firms performing construction, boundary, and land development surveys. Mr. Liimakka is the State Coordinator for the National Society of Professional Surveyors – Certified Survey Technician (CST) program. He served as Secretary of the Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors and is Chair of the ISPLS Education Committee.   Most recently, he has received certificates in online course development and delivery.

Education

Ph.D. In progress, University of Maine, Major: Civil Engineering

MS, University of Maine, 2000, Major: Spatial Information Science and Engineering

BS, Michigan Technological University, 1986, Major: Land Surveying

AAS, Gogebic Community College, 1983. Major: Engineering

Areas of Expertise

  • 13 years professional surveying experience prior to academia
  • Boundary Surveying
  • Construction Surveying
  • Geodesy
  • Land Surveying Consultant (legal issues, boundary resolution, professional practice, zoning, technology and methods)

Research Interests

  • Large network adjustments
  • 3D laser scanning
  • Mobile and aerial mapping
  • GPS data analysis

Teaching Experience / Interests

  • Beginning Surveying
  • Boundary Surveying Principles
  • Public Land Survey System
  • Autonomous Mapping Systems
  • Land Use Planning
  • Survey Computations
  • Surveying Field Practice
  • Capstone Design Projects
  • GPS/GNSS
  • Geodesy

Professional affiliations

  • Idaho Society of Professional Surveyors
  • National Society of Professional Surveyors
Rajendra R. Bajracharya, Ph.D., P.L.S. Professor Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology

Rajendra R. Bajracharya, Ph.D., P.L.S.

Professor / Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology

Office: Roy F. Christensen Complex 109

208-251-3360

bajrraje@isu.edu

Education

  • Ph. D. in Geospatial Information Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • MS in Geodetic Science from Ohio State University
  • BSc (Hons) in Land Surveying Sciences from North East London Polytechnic, England
  • BSc from Tri-Chandra College, Kathmandu

Career Highlights

Instructional

  • Faculty at Idaho State University since 2001 to current
  • Fulbright Scholar, Taught at Kathmandu University, Fall 2014
  • Faculty at University of Colorado, Denver 1995-2001
  • Faculty at University of Colorado at Boulder, 1995
  • Instructional Survey Officer at Survey Training Center, Nepal, 1977-1981

Others

  • At ISU, established GPS Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) at three ISU Centers for Real Time Kinematic (RTK) surveys.
  • He prepared Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) –Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) Self-Study Questionnaire for accreditation process of the Geomatics Technology Program at ISU in 2005 & 2011
  • Chair of Faculty Research Committee for three years at ISU.
  • Performed Research for Monitoring Structural Deformation of Standley Dam in Denver, CO.
  • Worked at Arrow Land Surveying, Westminster, CO. 1996-2001 part time.
  • Team Leader Surveyor for International Boundary Survey between Nepal and India 1983-84
  • United Nations Volunteer Team Leader Surveyor in Laos, to perform survey for irrigation canals from Mekong River, and land acquisition survey, 1981 – 83.
  • Terra Survey, Wales, UK to extract property information for Wales National Water Authority 1977 Jan-Feb.

Favorite Professional Experience     

It has been my pleasure to see our senior year students/graduates pass their Land Surveying Intern national exam (LSI) towards becoming a Professional Land Surveyor. Since I joined ISU, about 35 graduates have passed the LSI national exam and 18 graduates have gone on to earn their professional surveying licenses. Three of the Professional Land Surveyors are the owners of their own surveying companies.

One professional experience that I will never forget is a surveying experience I had in Nepal. I walked with another surveyor every day along trails and the sides of fast moving rivers for an entire month to perform a feasibility survey study for the construction of a road in a remote portion of Nepal. Some days our work took us apart, and I did not see another human the whole day and spent nights alone under a beautiful sky ceiling.  The total length of the road now constructed is about 500 km, and it gives me pride to think I was part of such a significant project in such a wonderful country.

Jeannie Vahsholtz-Liimakka

Jeannie Vahsholtz-Liimakka

Clinical Assistant Professor

(208) 670-0987

vahsjean@isu.edu

Professional Work Experience

  • Clinical Assistant Professor of Surveying & Geomatics/Civil Engineering Technology – Current Position
  • District Land Surveyor for Idaho Transportation Dept. for 9+ years
  • Second Year Instructor for Civil Engineering Technology/Geomatics 8 years
  • 35+ years’ work experience

Career Highlights

  • Master of Science in Engineering Technology University of Maine 2023
  • President of the Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors
  • Bachelors in Geomatics Idaho State University College of Technology 2010 
  • Idaho Professional Surveyor’s License 2008
  • Associate of Applied Science Civil Engineering Technology Idaho State University College of Technology 1987

Favorite Professional Experience

My favorite professional experience was surveying in Butte County for Lutheran Camp Pekins, and walking the boundary with the Director of the Camp and the USFS representative. The survey was for a 99-year lease, and the Camp was in need of a larger boundary area. I set pins, sealed a legal description, and filed a record of survey, up near Red Fish Lake. My sister and my daughter both helped me with that boundary survey. I re-traced GLO Brass Caps set in 1918 as part of the section work.

A little about me…

My husband is also a surveyor and Associate Professor of the Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology. I have three sons, a step-son and a daughter. My husband and I have six grandchildren which are such a joy! Camping and the great outdoors in Idaho is one of my favorite things to do. I love to travel, especially to see the grandkids. Recently I traveled to Minnesota to a Women Surveyor’s Summit. The first ever Women Surveyor’s Summit I attended in August 2019 in Austin Texas. My favorite animal is a dog, and I have always had one. My old girl is getting up there in age, she’s almost 12, her name is Sandstone Rue (Rue for short). I had the honor Spring of 2023 to pin anchors on my second son’s collar, he advanced to Chief in the USCG