Interface Development for the Automation of Temperature Measurement Based on Multi-station Network Applied to Structure Monitoring Using Total Stations

Abstract

The geodetic structure monitoring, using techniques such as three-dimensional polar surveying or trilateration, involves the measurement of temperature, pressure and humidity for calculations referring to first velocity correction in distance measurement. Traditionally, these measures are done at the surveying instrument position. However, in this paper we present the development of a computer interface for integrated use with the total station at real time that allows the measurement of temperature values through a wireless external network, composed by five temperature sensors, and the calculation of the first velocity correction, which is applied to the distances measured during the measurement process. To validate the proposed system (interface software and temperature sensors) the results of an experiment developed during the geodetic monitoring of a dam were analyzed. In the measurement process different temperature values were obtained in each network sensor, according to its spatial location in the study area, which indicates that the use of the proposed system allows a better and more representative estimation of the temperature to be used to work out the correction, and in real time. The results for the experiment show variations of millimeters in the correction, when these are compared with the traditional process of measuring the environmental parameters only in the position of the total station.