Continuous Deformation Monitoring with GPS
Abstract
The US Army Corps of Engineers makes extensive use of modern instrumentation for measuring the behavior of large structures. One of these instrumentation programs is high precision geodetic surveying which provides a reliable measure of displacement as a function of time. Typically, accuracies of 5-10 mm can be achieved. Final accuracy of the displacement is a function of many factors, including: network geometry, field procedures, survey crew experience, and equipment. Unfortunately, the high precision geodetic survey is labor intensive, time consuming and rather expensive. For this reason, surveys are made infrequently, or sometimes not at all unless there is a suspicion of structural distress. The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System has the potential to be used in an automatic mode to continuously monitor structural deformations. During the next few months, a system will be developed to operate such a system. It will then be installed at the USACE Corps of Engineers Dworshak Dam in Idaho for demonstration. Testing of presently owned government GPS equipment indicates the system will detect movements of about 6 mm in three dimensions if reference points and object points are within a few kilometers of each other.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 12, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA196447
Entities
People
- Stephen R. Deloach
Organizations
- Geospatial Research Laboratory