Good thoughts, Bob. I see your points. What I am not totally grasping is how an online submission would preclude "getting a feel" for how someone approached the measurement task.
The autofill certificate is an example of this. That this form is semi-automated in no way precludes our need to review it for accuracy. If you don't like the elevation numbers on a certificate, you are not likely to like them on an automated submission, right? Measurers would still be required to provide a brief narrative of the measuring techniques they employed for each individual measurement, just as I and others have done for many years. Unless you are a handwriting analyst, I am not certain how seeing it can enhance the submission and review process, but I could be missing something here.
As far as PDFs are concerned, I have no interest in a campaign for replacing our .png format with them, though this is the format all of my clients request their maps and certificates in. I have a huge amount of respect and gratitude for all that Bob Baumel has done and continues to do for all of us. Bob and I just have differing opinions about file formats, and I do not see that changing any time soon, if ever. I'm OK with it.
My thing is that, while I am inspired by the ongoing meticulous attention by members of our community to aspects of measuring and mapping that help ensure the high quality product that we produce only gets better and better, I for one do not always sense the same interest in employing certain administrative technologies to take us even further than we have come. If USATF has no IT Director, this is an obvious and unfortunate reason to maintain the status quo, I agree. Nevertheless, I feel confident that our submission system will, one day, be far more automated than it is today. I have solid reasons for saying this. There is nothing wrong with our current system. But an analogy may help express my feelings.
Up until a few weeks ago, I had a 2009 car that I took conscientious mechanical care of. Though the exterior and the interior had suffered years of indignities of bike racks and race equipment hauling, this car functioned perfectly well, and it was safe. A few months before deciding to upgrade my vehicle, I had occasion to drive a certain late-model rental SUV. It impressed me so much that I decided to trade in my old car and purchase a new one that is just like the rental. With all its safety and comfort features, driving this new vehicle was a minor epiphany for me. I was now able to load my bike in the back. Out of the weather and no rack required. I could haul race equipment without destroying the seats and headliners. The feel was different, but it was and is much better. Features such as in-console bluetooth phone calls and text and email message text-to-voice reading options make it convenient to stay connected as needed while driving. The parking camera and blind spot radar are nice.
Now, I realize what a reach this little comparison may be in considering an upgrade to automated submission on our site may be. I don't do a great job of articulating my reasons for mentioning the many benefits such a system can provide us with. I just hope our minds are open about this, because I see so many benefits that we have yet barely touched upon. Maybe someday, or maybe not. Regardless, we perform a valuable service with our current system that I am proud to be a part of.