Metrological comparison between instruments for status monitoring of buildings after earthquake

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the possibility of using measuring instruments to obtain objective indications of the state of a building following an earthquake, to facilitate the planning of interventions in safe conditions and to design provisional structures. The use of such tools would also be useful for monitoring both buildings and provisional structures over time. In particular, a Laser Scanner and a Total Station are examined and compared from a metrological point of view, to evaluate the possibility of using them in emergency situations, which present particular criticalities for measurements, if the reliability of the results has to be guaranteed. The façade of a historical building is used as a test case, and is subjected to measurement campaigns, distributed over time, with the aim of evaluating repeatability and reproducibility of results. Furthermore, applying known thicknesses to the monitoring points, the systems measuring thresholds are evaluated. This work would like to represent a first step towards the standardization of procedures for the adoption of Laser Scanner and Total Stations by rescuers in emergency situations.