Recent approaches in geodesy and geomatics for structures monitoring

Abstract

Monitoring the time history of structures and infrastructures has always been an important area of application of geodetic and geomatic methods. Here we shall concentrate on the item of monitoring ancient buildings because, beyond its intrinsic interest, it provides a good illustration of some of the most recent monitoring techniques. Identifying the overhang, progressive changes of inclination, differential movements of the structure and detailing the study of structural elements are just some examples of the many fundamental and necessary information for structural engineers. Those data are required to study and analyze the behavior of a structure with the purpose to assess the stability. Looking at the several methods offered by Geomatics, laser scanning appears to be the best technology to provide an effective 3D solution to those requirements. Surveying by means of a terrestrial laser scanner, allows to detect a huge number of 3D information with high accuracy in a relatively short time and high accuracy. Just analyzing the point clouds, interesting information along with useful products can be obtained in order to draw some considerations about the investigated structure. This research aims at suggesting a new philosophy for using 3D models in a diagnostic perspective in order to study structures along with their actual dimensions, their stability and so on. Traditionally, indeed, laser scanning is chosen for artistic and architectural studies and the resulting three-dimensional model represents what often is of concern. Furthermore, the use of more classic techniques, such as total station and digital leveling, and LST is fundamental as an integrated approach for the monitoring of ancient buildings. The integration of different techniques allow a redundancy of observation and the possibility to verify the results obtained form independent techniques as is shown throughout some experimental applications.

Critical Issues and Key Points From the Survey to the Creation of the Historical Building Information Model: The Case of Santo Stefano Basilica

“…Integrated survey technologies, such as laser scanning and modern photogrammetry, require to choose the proper instruments paying also attention to their integration. The laser scanner needs to balance resolution and precision with speed capabilities; moreover the presence of the internal dualaxis compensator, which allows to adjust for the identification of precise verticality (Castagnetti et al, 2012;Capra et al, 2015), is also crucial. Referring to the highest portions or in case of big extension, laser scanning is successfully integrated by the new technologies based on aerial image collection and processing, that allow to obtain a 3D point cloud thanks to the modern photogrammetry algorithms (Gaiani et al, 2016;Menna et al, 2016).…”

Nivelación geométrica de precisión para el control de los desplazamientos verticales en la recuperación y refuerzo de una viga de concreto, .

“…Traditionally, great size constructions are monitored through techniques and high precision and accuracy geodetic equipment, including precision levels, total stations, laser scanner and photogrammetric equipment (Mills and Barber, 2004) (Costantino and Angelini, 2014) (Sabuncu and Ozener, 2014) (Beshr, 2015) (Capra et al, 2015) (Mill et al, 2015) (Lienhart, 2017) (Lienhart et al, 2017) (Kovačič and Motoh, 2019). More recently, these techniques have been implemented with the use of satellite positioning, GNSS technology (Global Navigation Satellite System) (Acosta et al, 2018).…”

Image-Based Virtual Tours and 3d Modeling of Past and Current Ages for the Enhancement of Archaeological Parks: The Visualversilia 3d Project

“…Cultural heritage and technologies are today strongly linked: the modern technologies related to geomatics and information technology offer significant potential applications for the documentation, the representation, the fruition and the multimedia communication of cultural heritage (Böhler et al, 2001). In recent years the studies regarding the use of new technologies applied to cultural heritage have turned their attention mainly to technologies suited to reconstruct and narrate the complexity of the territory and cultural heritage, including 3D modeling and augmented reality (Noh et al, 2009;D'Agnano et al, 2015), which, as the name implies, allow the user to enrich the reality through the visualization of digital graphic contents overlapped to the real vision of what he/she is seeing (Fritz et al, 2005).…”

“…In recent years the studies regarding the use of new technologies applied to cultural heritage have turned their attention mainly to technologies suited to reconstruct and narrate the complexity of the territory and cultural heritage, including 3D modeling and augmented reality (Noh et al, 2009;D'Agnano et al, 2015), which, as the name implies, allow the user to enrich the reality through the visualization of digital graphic contents overlapped to the real vision of what he/she is seeing (Fritz et al, 2005). The use of 3D survey technology applied to the study of historical buildings is, indeed, become an established method for determining the geometry of the structures, because it provides comprehensive and accurate analysis even in complex architectures (Guarneri et al, 2004;Neubauer et al, 2005;Castagnetti et al, 2012;Capra et al, 2015;Tucci et al, 2016), allowing the perception of geometrical details difficult to be detected with traditional techniques. The result is a 3D database that is helpful for improving the knowledge and for the design of any intervention aimed at conservation.…”