A review of the research conducted until present on the subject of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) hardware-induced phase and code biases is here provided. Biases in GNSS positioning occur because of imperfections and/or physical limitations in the GNSS hardware. The biases are a result of small delays between events that ideally should be simultaneous in the transmission of the signal from a satellite or in the reception of the signal in a GNSS receiver. Consequently, these biases will also be present in the GNSS code and phase measurements and may there affect the accuracy of positions and other quantities derived from the observations. For instance, biases affect the ability to resolve the integer ambiguities in Precise Point Positioning (PPP), and in relative carrier phase positioning when measurements from multiple GNSSs are used. In addition, code biases affect ionospheric modeling when the Total Electron Content is estimated from GNSS measurements. The paper illustrates how satellite phase biases inhibit the resolution of the phase ambiguity to an integer in PPP, while receiver phase biases affect multi-GNSS positioning. It is also discussed how biases in the receiver channels affect relative GLONASS positioning with baselines of mixed receiver types. In addition, the importance of code biases between signals modulated onto different carriers as is required for modeling the ionosphere from GNSS measurements is discussed. The origin of biases is discussed along with their effect on GNSS positioning, and descriptions of how biases can be estimated or in other ways handled in the positioning process are provided.

QC 20170922

This is the accepted version of a paper published in Automation in Construction. This paper has been peer-reviewed but does not include the final publisher proof-corrections or journal pagination.

Terrestrial laser scanning technology has developed rapidly in recent years and has been used in various applications but mainly in the surveying of different buildings and historical monuments. The use for terrestrial laser scanning data for deformation monitoring has earlier been tested although conventional surveying technologies are still more preferred. Since terrestrial laser scanners are capable of acquiring a large amount of highly detailed geometrical data from a surface it is of interest to study the metrological advantages of the terrestrial laser scanning technology for deformation monitoring of structures. The main intention of this study is to test the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning technology for determining range and spatial distribution of deformations during bridge load tests. The study presents results of deformation monitoring proceeded during a unique bridge load test. A special monitoring methodology was developed and applied at a static load test of a reinforced concrete cantilever bridge built in 1953. Static loads with the max force of up to 1961 kN (200 t) were applied onto an area of 12 m² in the central part of one of the main beams; the collapse of the bridge was expected due to such an extreme load. Although the study identified occurrence of many cracks in the main beams and significant vertical deformations, both deflection (–4.2 cm) and rising (+2.5 cm), the bridge did not collapse. The terrestrial laser scanning monitoring results were verified by high-precision levelling. The study results confirmed that the TLS accuracy can reach ±2.8 mm at 95% confidence level.

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The technology of terrestrial laser scanning has evolved rapidly in recent years and it has been used in various applications, including monitoring vertical and horizontal displacements of constructions but significantly less in road frost heave assessment. Frost heave is categorised as one of the main causes of pavement surface damage in seasonal frost regions. Frost heave occurs in wintertime and in early spring at the freezing process of the ground supported structures such as roads. The major change in the structure is the increase of soil volume due to freezing of its water content. This contribution assesses vertical displacements caused by frost heave on a road using novel terrestrial laser scanning technology. The study emphasises on benefits using the technology in determining accurate magnitudes and spatial distribution of frost heave of roads. The results of case study revealed uneven spatial distribution of frost heave, which may also be an evidence of relatively poor road design quality. Therefore it is also advisable using terrestrial laser scanning in applications such as quality assessment of existing roads and in the pre-reconstruction design stage for detecting any frost heave sensitive areas in existing embankments.