Investigation into the effectiveness of reflectorless technologies on structural surveillance monitoring

Abstract

This project investigates and evaluates total station reflectorless measurements and their effectiveness and accuracy in various surveying situations. Instruments tested in this investigation include the Trimble S6, Leica Flexline TS09 and the Topcon GPT9005A. Technology has aided manufacturers of reflectorless total stations to quote accuracies for reflectorless measurements comparable to that of traditional electronic distance measurements (EDM). This technology enables distances to remote objects to be measured with similar ease as a conventional surveying prism. The instruments selected for this investigation have undertaken various field-testing to determine the effects that varying the angle of incidence has on the distance obtained. Additionally testing also has included analysing limitations of obstructions to the line of sight and minimum approach distances to surface edges. Results obtained from this investigation indicate that the angle of incidence can have a significant effect on the accuracy of the distance measured, and all instruments tested observed similar inconsistencies with respect to the angle of incidence. This investigation concludes with recommendations on best practices for utilising this technology and possible future field testing to expand on results obtained from this investigation