Measuring Displacements in Engineering Structures by Means of a Coordinate Laser Station

The application of geodetic methods to examine structures consists in the determination of their displacements relative to an established geodetic reference datum or in the definition of the geometry of their individual components. Such examinations form a picture of changes happening between specific points in time. Modern measurement technologies used in geodetic engineering enable undertaking more and more challenging measurements with increasing accuracy. The purpose of this article is to present a measurement technique involving a Leica TDRA 6000 total station to measure displacements in engineering structures. The station features a direct drive technology to achieve an accuracy of 0.25 mm in 3-dimensional measurements. Supported by appropriate software, the unit makes a perfect instrument for the monitoring of civil engineering structures. The article presents the results of measurement of static and dynamic displacements in a few engineering structures. The measurements were carried out both in laboratory conditions and on actual, operated civil engineering structures.