Testing Multi-Frequency Low-Cost GNSS Receivers for Geodetic Monitoring Purposes

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology is widely used for geodetic monitoring purposes. However, in cases where a higher risk of receiver damage is expected, geodetic GNSS receivers may be considered too expensive to be used. As an alternative, low-cost GNSS receivers that are cheap, light, and prove to be of adequate quality over short baselines, are considered. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the positional precision of a multi-frequency low-cost instrument, namely, ZED-F9P with u-blox ANN-MB-00 antenna, and to investigate its potential for displacement detection. We determined the positional precision within static survey, and the displacement detection within dynamic survey. In both cases, two baselines were set, with the same rover point equipped with a low-cost GNSS instrument. The base point of the first baseline was observed with a geodetic GNSS instrument, whereas the second baseline was observed with a low-cost GNSS instrument. The results from static survey for both baselines showed comparable results for horizontal components; the precision was on a level of 2 mm or better. For the height component, the results show a better performance of low-cost instruments. This may be a consequence of unknown antenna calibration parameters for low-cost GNSS antenna, while statistically significant coordinates of rover points were obtained from both baselines. The difference was again more significant in the height component. For the displacement detection, a device was used that imposes controlled movements with sub-millimeter accuracy. Results, obtained on a basis of 30-min sessions, show that low-cost GNSS instruments can detect displacements from 10 mm upwards with a high level of reliability. On the other hand, low-cost instruments performed slightly worse as far as accuracy is concerned.

Investigation of the Precision in Geodetic Reference-Point Positioning Because of Temperature-Induced Pillar Deflections

To perform geodetic measurements of displacements of the ground and manmade constructions, stabilised reference points are needed from which control points on the object or its surroundings could be measured. Reference points are most commonly stabilised with reinforced concrete pillars; however, they are not always constructed in an appropriate manner. The influence of temperature variation within a pillar on the position of the fixed screw for forced centring is not negligible and should be considered when performing precise measurements. In this research paper, the displacement of a pillar was calculated as a result of the temperature changes in the pillar, and then an experiment was performed in which the pillar was heated from one side, and the horizontal displacement of the fixed screw for forced centring was measured. Both, calculations and measurements, show that at a temperature difference of 16.2 °C, the fixed screw on a 1.5 m high pillar moves by approximately 1 mm, which is a displacement that should be taken into account in precise measurements.

Use of terrestrial laser scanning technology for long term high precision deformation monitoring

The paper presents a new methodology for high precision monitoring of deformations with a long term perspective using terrestrial laser scanning technology. In order to solve the problem of a stable reference system and to assure the high quality of possible position changes of point clouds, scanning is integrated with two complementary surveying techniques, i.e., high quality static GNSS positioning and precise tacheometry. The case study object where the proposed methodology was tested is a high pressure underground pipeline situated in an area which is geologically unstable.