Journal of Surveying Engineering

Operational Considerations for Terrestrial Laser Scanner Use in Highway Construction Applications Case Study

Wei Hong Johnson and Andrew M. Johnson
Based on the results of a 2010 survey of terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) usage among state highway agencies, TLS is being increasingly used for highway construction applications among transportation agencies in the United States and Canada. To observe variations in TLS measurements for typical highw ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000084] posted Fri Feb 10, 2012.

Estimation of Focal Length Variations of a 100 m Radio Telescope's Main Reflector by Laser Scanner Measurements

Christoph Holst, Philipp Zeimetz, Axel Nothnagel, Wolfgang Schauerte, and Heiner Kuhlmann
Due to gravitation, the main reflector of a radio telescope underlies a deformation which causes a change in focal length depending on the variations of the elevation angle of the telescope. In order to estimate these gravity dependent deformations of the main reflector of the 100m radio telescope a ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000082] posted Wed Feb 1, 2012.

The Evolution of NAD 83 in the USA: A Journey from 2D Towards 4D

Richard A. Snay
In 1986 Canada, Greenland, and the United States of America (USA) adopted the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) to replace the North American Datum of 1927 as their official spatial reference system for geometric positioning. The rigor of the original NAD 83 realization benefited from the extens ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000083] posted Wed Feb 1, 2012.

Basic Concepts of Optimization and Design of Geodetic Networks

A. R. Amiri-Simkooei, J. Asgari, F. Zangeneh-nejad, and S. Zaminpardaz
This contribution reviews a few basic concepts of optimization and design of a geodetic network. Proper assessment and analysis of networks is an important task in many geodetic surveying projects. Appropriate quality control measures should be defined and an optimal design should be looked for. The ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000081] posted Wed Feb 1, 2012.

A New-Median-Approach to Define Configuration Weakness of Deformation Networks

Serif Hekimoglu and Bahattin Erdogan
The main problem in the conventional deformation analysis (CDA) is that if there is more than one displaced point in a given monitoring network, the least squares estimation (LSE) smears the disturbing effects of the displaced points over all other points. Therefore, only one displaced point can be ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000080] posted Sat Jan 14, 2012.

OPUS for Horizontal Subcentimeter-Accuracy Landslide Monitoring: A Case Study in the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Region

Guoquan Wang and Tomas Soler
This study demonstrated the usefulness of an approach based on the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) provided by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to process GPS data and conduct long-term landslide monitoring in the Puerto Rico and ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000079] posted Mon Jan 2, 2012.

Approximation of the Curvature of the Parthenon Stylobate using Least Squares Techniques

George Georgopoulos and Elisavet Telioni
The subtle curves of the masterpiece of ancient Greece, the Athenian Parthenon, have been the object of many investigations of scientists of various disciplines. A lot of discussion has taken place about the shape of the monument's curved stylobate surface and the kind of mathematical curve that bes ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000078] posted Tue Dec 20, 2011.

Identifying the Relationship between GPS Data Quality and Positioning Precision: A Case Study on IGS Tracking Stations

Ta-Kang Yeh, Yi-Da Chung, Chien-Ting Wu, Chuan-Sheng Wang, Kefei Zhang et al.
The number of Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking stations is increasing, primarily because the stations are multifunctional: in civil engineering, they can be used for precision positioning; in earth sciences, they can be used to monitor faults and earthquakes; and in atmospheric sciences, the ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000077] posted Tue Dec 20, 2011.

Review of CORS and OPUS for Engineers. Tools for Surveying and Mapping Applications, edited by T. Soler

John V. Hamilton
Abstract not available. [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000067] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Second Order Design of Geodetic Networks by the Simulated Annealing Method

Sergio Baselga
The problem of determining the required precision in observations in order to obtain a desired precision in final parameters, classically known as the second order design problem, is revisited in this paper and proposed to be solved by the simulated annealing method. An example and a flexible implem ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000053] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

MINQUE of Variance-Covariance Components in Linear Gauss-Markov Models

Peng Junhuan, Shi Yun, Li Shuhui, and Yang Honglei
For heterogeneous and correlated observations, the variance components and the covariance components sometimes must be estimated. The forms of best invariant quadratic unbiased estimate (BIQUE) and Helmert-type estimation of variance and covariance components have already been derived by Koch and Gr ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000050] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Evaluation of GPS/Galileo RTK Network Configuration: Case Study in Greece

Maria Tsakiri
Network-based real-time kinematic (NRTK) positioning in local or regional reference networks has been proven to be an efficient technology for high precision global positioning systems (GPS) positioning over the last few years. With a view to GPS modernization and the development of the European Gal ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000054] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Reviewers

Abstract not available. [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000065] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

An Improved Weighted Total Least Squares Method with Applications in Linear Fitting and Coordinate Transformation

Xiaohua Tong, Yanmin Jin, and Lingyun Li
This paper presents an improved weighted total least squares (IWTLS) method for the errors-in-variables (EIV) model with applications in linear fitting and coordinate transformation. In addition, an improved constrained weighted TLS (ICWTLS) method is further obtained based on the IWTLS algorithm. F ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000055] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Machine Learning Techniques Applied to the Assessment of GPS Accuracy under the Forest Canopy

Celestino Ordonez, Jose R. Rodriguez-Perez, Juan J. Moreira, J. M. Matias, and Enoc Sanz-Ablanedo
The geographic location of points using global positioning system (GPS) receivers is less accurate in forested environments than in open spaces because of signal loss and the multipath effect of tree trunks, branches, and leaves. This has been confirmed in studies that have concluded that a relation ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000049] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Detection of Outliers in GPS Measurements by Using Functional-Data Analysis

C. Ordonez, J. Martinez, J. R. Rodriguez-Perez, and A. Reyes
The identification of outliers in global positioning system (GPS) observationsto compare equipment, positioning methods, or working conditionshas traditionally been performed using univariate or multivariate statistics. However, these methods have certain drawbacks when processing data collected by ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000056] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Deformation Assessment Considering an A Priori Functional Model in a Bayesian Framework

Barbara Betti, Noemi Emanuela Cazzaniga, and Vincenza Tornatore
Monitoring Earth-surface deformations with surveying instruments plays a key role in the knowledge of dynamics and the evolution of geophysical phenomena. During this stage, it is important to adopt an appropriate check of the statistical significance of point displacements. We verified the advantag ... [J. Surv. Eng. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000052] published Fri Dec 16, 2011.

Sensitivity Analysis for the Principal Strain Parameters of a Deformation Monitoring Network

Jen-Yu Han, Jenny Guo, and Ze-Yuan Zheng
Strain tensor analysis plays an essential role in geophysics and engineering applications since it provides a numerical measure on the relative deformation behavior of the object under investigation. A strain tensor can be estimated by observing the positional coordinates of the deforming network at ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000076] posted Fri Dec 2, 2011.

Accuracy Evaluation of Terrestrial LiDAR and Multibeam Sonar Systems Mounted on a Survey Vessel

Michael Dix, Amr Abd-Elrahman, Bon Dewitt, and Lou Nash
This research provides a performance test of terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) scanners integrated with Global Navigation Satellite System/Inertial Navigation System (GNSS/INS) positioning and orientation on a survey vessel platform. To measure the acc ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000075] posted Fri Dec 2, 2011.

Structural Deflection Measurement with a Range Camera

Derek D. Lichti, Sonam Jamtsho, Sherif Ibrahim El-Halawany, Herve Lahamy, Jacky Chow et al.
Range cameras offer great potential for the measurement of structural deformations due to their ability to directly measure video sequences of three-dimensional co-ordinates of entire surfaces, their compactness and their relatively low cost in comparison to other active imaging technologies like te ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000074] posted Sat Nov 19, 2011.

Road Construction Earthwork Volume Calculation Using 3D Laser Scanning

Kerry T. Slattery, Dianne K. Slattery, and James P. Peterson
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology can be used to create a detailed model before and after construction to determine earthwork quantities. Cost-effective implementation of this technology requires that field operations are planned to efficiently acquire sufficient scan data and that data pr ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000073] posted Sat Nov 19, 2011.

To Level or Not to Level: Laser Scanner Inclination Sensor Stability and Application

Evon P. Silvia and Michael J. Olsen
Many modern terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs) are equipped with inclination/tilt sensorsalso referred to as level compensatorsthat can correct out-of-level imperfections in an instrument setup. Some users elect to disable the inclination sensor when their scanner is equipped with one. Those who do u ... [Journal of Surveying Engineering doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000072] posted Sat Nov 19, 2011.