The RPLS.com Story

In the 1990s, a young surveyor named Mark Eugene Deal had a vision for a virtual worldwide venue where surveyors could gather to share knowledge, experiences and anecdotes. Something of a computer genius, Deal set to work to turn his vision into a reality. In 1996, he launched the bulletin board RPLS.com, which was immediately embraced by the surveying community. It was essentially the first social network for surveyors, established well before "social networking" became a common household term. “The board offers a tremendous potential for learning,” Deal said of the board in 2000. “Often, surveyors in small firms don’t get the opportunity to discuss issues with other surveyors. The board provides that opportunity. That’s its greatest value.”

The popularity of the RPLS.com bulletin board continued to grow. Although Deal upgraded his servers several times, he couldn't keep up with demand. Then, in 2001, Deal learned that he had melanoma. As he courageously battled cancer, Deal knew it was time to entrust RPLS.com to a new owner, one with the resources to allow the site to continue to grow and flourish. In September 2001, Deal sold the bulletin board to POB. He remained an active participant in the discussions until his death in January 2002.

Today, POB is proud to continue Deal's vision. Much more than a simple bulletin board, RPLS.com has embraced technology to become a true global online community where land surveyors and geospatial professionals can easily share events, photos, videos and product reviews as well as discussions. It's a place to gain knowledge, share experiences with your peers and colleagues, and make new connections. RPLS.com is your personalized social network--a professional online community designed specifically for you.

A Tribute to Mark Deal                      

Main Features

• Search for and network with land surveyors and geospatial professionals worldwide
• Join discussions in the forums
• Plan your schedule with an interactive events calendar
• Get insider knowledge from industry experts in the blogs
• Rate industry products and read user reviews
• Share files, photos, videos and more

Community Manager

Kristi Grahl, Editor
As the editor of POB, Kristi oversees all of the editorial elements of the print magazine and its Web site, www.POBOnline.com, and she moderates RPLS.com. She’s also the contributing editor of POB's sister publication, Site Prep. Kristi is an APEX Award-winning editor with more than 15 years of experience in B2B publishing.

As the community manager for RPLS.com, Kristi is here to make sure your social networking experience is the best it can be. If you have any suggestions or comments for RPLS.com, please don’t hesitate to message her through the site or email her directly at pobeditor@bnpmedia.com.

 

How to Advertise

Contact Christin Schrei, Advertising Sales Manager of RPLS.com and POB, through the site or email her directly at schreic@bnpmedia.com to learn more about available opportunities.

 

 

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