Following the Footsteps  —  (Click here to request more information)

This Power Point presentation will carry the surveyor, the student and the attorney into strange and untested areas of surveying and law. The Courts say, "Follow the footsteps!"  The surveyor asks, "What are the footsteps?" And the attorney will say, "You were remiss, because you did not know what to look for in your retracement."  Using actual examples of documents, field evidence and case law, the student will be introduced how these three areas fit together to create a retracement. 

The 2009 BLM Manual;  Friend or foe? — (Click here to request more information)

Since 1855 surveyors, courts and judges have all relied on the Manual in conducting surveys of lands that originated from the original public lands. Using the Manual as well as law, this presentation will examine how the Manual evolved in the last 160 years and its importance that may, or may not be placed on it  by those professionals who rely on it.

Boundaries, Boundaries Everywhere — (Click here to request more information)

This extended presentation will take a hard and in depth look on boundaries; how they are created, how they are changed and how they are described. Looking at the basics of real property, its history and its areas of litigation international, parochial and local boundaries will be examined. The extensive experience of the speaker will permit, both nationally and internationally, to bring home to each student the importance of creating boundaries  and describing them to a degree of satisfaction so as to permit legal retracements.

Historic Boundary Location

Walt has studied, written and testified as to the historical aspects of surveying and mapping in both federal courts and state courts for over five decades. This has included specific states as well as federal history. As the Regional Surveyor for the southeastern U.S., he was responsible for property surveying and claims against the Forest Service for the southern 14 states and Puerto Rico. His area of expertise includes methodology of the historical surveys, interpretation of historic maps, field notes, grants and other historical documents, and their application to present day situations. This area includes both GLO states and metes and bounds states.

Riparian/Water boundaries and Rights Consulting

Walt has served as a consultant both as a surveyor and as an attorney on several occasions regarding riparian rights in federal and state courts (AK, AZ, FL, NY and SC), riparian surveys and riparian boundaries based on practical field training and experience. His books address both littoral and riparian water boundary issues.

Easements

Walt has worked with hundreds of clients to determine the location and extent of easements. Many times these easements were written for a specific purpose. Walt’s experience in legal research enables him to Find the creating documents and determine their significance which is extremely important to understanding the characteristics and extent of the easement. He has also written extensively and taught continuing education courses in the areas of easements and rights of way to attorneys, land surveyors and engineers.

Title

Walt prides himself with being intimately familiar with recorded and unrecorded sources for ownership records which is especially relevant when determining issues of title. He has provided advice to attorneys and land owners for over two decades on issues of quiet title.

Land Tenure

As part of Walt’s assignment in Armenia, he evaluated the land system that was present in the country and then presented recommendations for the implementation of a new land cadastral system to facilitate the orderly transfer of private land parcels from the government to private individuals and for the sale of land parcels and interests in land between private individuals. He also consulted with the respective agencies, including the Department of Justice and Courts, to evaluate a new land code to provide for the litigation of land and title disputes.

Forestry

As a graduate forester I have consulted and testified as to forestry aspects of surveying and boundaries. This includes the interpretation of the meanings of old deeds that refer to trees and other forestry related evidence.

Aerial Photo Interpretation

Walt received a minor degree in college in aerial photogrammetry. He then worked as a photo interpreter. He has testified on numerous occasions as to the interpretation of images on current and historical aerial photographs. As part of this area he has experience to relating aerial photographic interpretation to land boundaries. He also taught photo interpretation at university.

Publications sold through Amazon:

To purchase the following publications by Walter Robillard, please visit Amazon.com:

Brown's Boundary Control & Legal Principles, co-author

Evidence & Procedures for Boundary Location, co-author

Clark on Surveying & Boundaries, co-author

Publications sold directly from Walt:

Send check or money order to purchase the following publications directly from Walter:

Walter Robillard

1601 Berkeley Lane NE

Atlanta, Georgia 30329  USA

Geodaaesia, John Love – (Authentic Reproduction of the 1st American Edition) – $50

The Complete Surveyor, William Leybourn – (Authentic Reproduction of the 1st American Edition) – $50

Boundaries and Landmarks – A practical Manual, A.C. Mulford – (Authentic Reproduction of the 1st American Edition) – $ 20