The objective of The Handbook remains intact the logical evolution of the profession along with the need to recognize constructive criticism led to the second edition. New chapters have been added on water boundaries boundary law and geodetic positioning satellites. The chapter on land data systems was rewritten to provide a dramatic updating of information thus broadening the coverage of The Handbook. The same may be said for the state plane coordinate chapter. The material on public lands and construction surveying was reorganized as well. Appendices were added to tabulate some information that was buried in the earlier edition in several places. Numerous other changes were incorporated to help the handbook retain its profession-wide scope one step beyond the scope of an upper-division college textbook. Along with the most sophisticated techniques and equipment the reader can find information on techniques once popular and still important.