What is this photograph?
 

I drove down Summit Road towards Governors Island on Saturday, 17-Apr-04. I stopped to take photographs of the ice. Then, across the street, I noticed a house with a most unusual "ornament" on the front lawn. The white stuff is either plastic or fabric about 12-15 inches wide. It was at least 30 feet from the street. I did not want to trespass to get a good look, so this is as much as I saw. On the street pavement, someone had spray painted "GPS-004" which is the same thing written on the wooden stake.

Anyone hazard to guess what's going on here? I'll post my guess in a couple of days.

The house, incidentally, has a FOR-SALE sign that is not visible in the photograph.
http://www.bizer.com/apr17/04417Q8_Summit_Rd.jpg

My guess
 

Where the house is for sale, I wonder if it is a mark for an aerial survey by someone like Eastern Topo out of Wolfeboro. They fly surveys and take aerial photos, which would likely show the the "T" and probably the writing in the street as well.

Possible guess
 

Maybe it's a Geocaching site.
Check http://www.geocaching.com

stone marker?
 

If it's a stone marker, looks like it might designate a county or town road, maybe with a GPS mark for GIS mapping.

That is more than likely a benchmark or control point for aerial mapping. This is the time of year that aerial mapping is photographed due to favorable sun angle and lack of foliage on trees etc. Many towns are now doing this for accurate mapping and aerial photos of their town. My town did this several years ago. The photos are such high resolution you can even pick out catch basin and manhole locations from the air.

Blue Thunder

my guess
 

I think upthesaukee got it, I think it is an aerial survey too.
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or a well preserved "show angel" :rolleyes:

Hey Bizer
 

So Bizer, what is your thought on the picture??????

My guess was pretty much the same as Blue Thunder. It's to mark the spot at a known location for aerial mapping. I don't think the house-for-sale was an issue. Just my guess.

That geocaching site is awesome! Sounds like real fun! :banana:

That's exactly what it is- a GPS "ground truth" location for aerial mapping (Which is WAY different from aerial photography!). If you look around, you'll find 3 more marking the corners of a square- probably 500 yards or so away.

White thing
 

I have seen these things before and have been told that they are markers for the US Geological Survey and are photographed by planes for topographical mapping. Just what I have heard, I'm more of a chart guy than a map guy.

Misty Blue