SC 4.4: Engineering Geodesy

Chair: Janis Kaminskis (Latvia)
Vice-Chair: Eimuntas Parseliunas (Lithuania)

Terms of Reference

Engineering geodesy focuses on the capture, setting-out, and monitoring of local and regional geometry-related phenomena, emphasizing quality assessment, sensor systems, and reference frames. An engineering geodesist must possess advanced technical skills and be well-versed in the terminology of adjacent disciplines and related industries. As an application-oriented science, engineering geodesy employs its own conceptual and methodological approaches. Initially defined by its applications in civil engineering, it is increasingly recognized as a discipline within an interdisciplinary field. The development and optimization of measurement concepts, setups, and data analysis strategies, considering both technical and non-technical criteria and employing theoretical-methodological as well as numerical simulation and optimization techniques, are among the core competencies of engineering geodesy.

This Sub-Commission intends to unite scientists, researchers, and professionals under the theme: “Engineering geodesy - continuous innovation in modern space andtime”. Looking forward, we anticipate that engineering geodesy will continue to evolve technically and creatively, leading to innovative developments and next-level technical achievements.

Objectives

• Surveying and field measurements.
• Setting-out is defined as the transfer of predetermined geometric dimensions from a planning model to the construction site.
• Monitoring based on data acquisition, observation, and supervision of natural and artificial systems.
• Geometry-related phenomena (to determine and model further spatial parameters).
• Quality assessment and management (quality of the measurements and analysis of results).
• Sensor technology and geodetic metrology.
• Reference systems (observation domain and coordinate domain).

Program of Activities

• To promote research collaboration among geodetic groups and other branches worldwide dealing with engineering geodesy.
• To organize and/or participate in scientific and professional meetings (workshops, conference sessions, etc.).
• To maintain a web page concatenating the Sub-Commission’s activities and reports.
• To encourage journal special issues on research, applications, and activities related to the topics of this Sub-Commission.
• Close cooperations with other entities of the IAG and GGOS.

WG 4.4.1: Novel GNSS applications in engineering geodesy

Chair: Junbo Shi (China)
Vice-Chair: Li Zhang (Germany)

Terms of Reference

This WG focuses on the methodology development for novel GNSS applications in engineering geodesy. We intend to establish the theoretical framework of local engineering coordinate reference frame. We are also dedicated to exploring the maximum concurrency user volume of GNSS CORS network. We will optimize GNSS positioning methods to meet the demands of complex engineering projects, which are large in horizontal size and in height difference. Finally, we intend to provide a multi-modal, multi-scale, high-quality engineering geodetic dataset and support it by AI methods. Through our efforts, we aim to drive innovation and advancement in the field.

Objectives

• Establishing the theoretical framework for the transition from global ITRF coordinate reference frame to local engineering coordinate reference frame, as well as methods for the maintenance and updating of the local coordinate reference frame.
• Exploring the optimal division scheme for GNSS CORS virtual grids in engineering application scenarios with high-concurrency users.
• Optimizing GNSS high-precision positioning and projection methods for complex engineering projects with large height difference and long horizontal distance.
• Developing fine-grained signal separation methods for GNSS positioning coordinate sequences in ultra-large and ultra-high engineering projects.
• Constructing the multi-modal, multi-scale high-quality engineering geodetic dataset, and developing corresponding AI-enabled data mining and prediction methods.

Members

• Junbo Shi (China); Chair
• Li Zhang (Germany); Vice-Chair
• Hongzhou Yang (Canada)
• Chenhao Ouyang (China)

WG 4.4.2: InSAR engineering geodesy for infrastructurehealth monitoring

Chair: Liming Jiang (China)

Terms of Reference

Due to various geological issues and human activities, structural deformation is a serious threat to large-scale infrastructure safety, typically including bridges, air-ports, buildings, highways, railways, subways, dams, and heritage sites. As an imaginggeodesy, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques have distinct advantages over other engineering methods for infrastructure deformation monitoring, with large-scale and noncontact monitoring capabilities, high spatial resolutionand acceptable measurement accuracy. This WG focuses on InSAR theoretical methods, cut-edge algorithms, and new ground-based/UAV SAR instrument towards novel applications in engineering geodesy for infrastructure health monitoring.

Objectives

• To promote algorithms and technologies of InSAR geodesy for improving accuracy and robustness in monitoring surface deformation and infrastructure health.
• To develop new ground-based/UAV SAR instruments to be integrated with space-borne InSAR measurements for performances and resilience in InSAR engineering geodetic applications and monitoring.
• To combine multidisciplinary knowledge (such as hydrology, geology, geotechniques,and meteorology), numerical models and emerging cutting-edge technologies (e.g.deep learning, 5G communication services) to develop early-warming decision-making systems to assist in the maintenance of urban infrastructures.
• To establish links with other WGs of SC 4.4 addressing the infrastructure health monitoring problem with other engineering geodetic sensors, such as GNSS, TLS.

Members

• Liming Jiang (China); Chair
• Peifeng Ma (China-Hong Kong)

WG 4.4.3: Multisensor Displacement and Deformation Monitoring

Chair: Maya Ilieva (Bulgaria)
Vice-Chair: Jan Kapłon (Poland)

Terms of Reference

This WG is dedicated to advancing the field of displacement and deformation monitoring by integrating various observation and computation techniques, exploiting new technologies, and developing effective strategies for monitoring the changes of Earth’ssurface, infrastructure and objects. On one hand, the challenges imposed in the integration of data from different sensors and measuring techniques are mostly related with the difference in the temporal and spatial resolution of the data coverage, format and coordinate frames. While, on the other hand, the combination of data acquired by satellite, aerial and terrestrial measurements also adds the scale variable for the monitoring objects. Another still open question is the presentation of a proper weightframe for the data in the integrated models. This WG focuses on providing a scientific platform for discussion and seeking for solutions to the above-mentioned arguments.The WG is also adopting the fastly developing ML algorithms in multisensor dataintegration and 3D spatial analyses. The knowledge gained from the synthesis of distinctive data will strengthen the possibility of building comprehensive deformation monitoring systems and developing early-warning systems for strategic infrastructureand territories.

Objectives

• Propose strategy for integrated deformation monitoring systems.
• Evaluation of the mathematical modeling of multisensory observations.
• Explore the integration of measurement techniques for monitoring of non-linear deformation.
• Explore the new generation of space-borne radar and terrestrial sensors.
• Developing scenarios for displacement and deformation monitoring utilising the real-time and non real-time sources of multisensor data.
• Promote real-time and near-real time deformation monitoring using geodeticobservation techniques, e.g. satellite, aerial and terrestrial.
• Study the displacement and deformation information for early warning systems.
• Explore new ML methods in displacement and deformation detection.

Members

• Maya Ilieva (Bulgaria); Chair
• Jan Kapłon (Poland); Vice-Chair
• Jacek Paziewski (Poland)
• Jacek Rapiński (Poland)

WG 4.4.4: TLS and LiDAR Scanning for Building Information Modelling (BIM) Services

Chair: Janina Zaczek-Peplinska (Poland)
Vice Chair: Ales Marjetic (Slovenia)

Terms of Reference

In the construction investment process, there are several stages in which geodetic surveying and inventory measurements are necessary. They are necessary during the execution of construction works, installation of machinery and equipment, commissioning and trial operation of facilities, and inventory of the completed stage of work. Routine, cyclic observations related to the monitoring and analyzing of their geometry and technical condition are required for many construction, industrial, and technical infrastructure elements put into operation. For this purpose, satellite, aerial, and ground measurement technologies are used. Currently, LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) laser scanning techniques are gaining popularity. Laser scanners provide precise and detailed data on measured objects. Thanks to their universal applicability, terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) are increasingly replacing and displacing other equipment and classical surveying techniques. Laser scanning is a measurement method in which the measured object's surface is sampled with a laser beam. Information about the position of points representing the object is collected during spatial measurement. In addition, data on the color and intensity of the reflection of the laser beam from the measured elements are recorded. The collected information can be used in many industries. Most often, the products of this technology are used to create digital documentation in the form of 2D drawings or 3D spatial models, to build databases about objects, BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology, or spatial information systems.

The goal of the Working Group will be to study and develop laser scanning techniques in the broad field of engineering surveying. The experience gathered will be aimed at, among other things: verifying the precision and accuracy of measurement of building structures, optimizing laser scanning techniques, building algorithms for conducting measurements, and processing data. The research will contribute to increasing efficiency in applying laser scanning techniques for BIM.

Objectives

• Development of BIM technology in rail transport;
• Development of BIM technology in the construction and monitoring of concrete dams;
• Application of TLS technology and LiDAR scanning in surveying engineering;
• Application of TLS technology for monitoring natural objects and engineering structures;
• Develop algorithms that optimize laser scanning techniques for higher accuracy in determining the geometry of building objects;
• Assessment of the possibility of using laser scanning techniques for diagnostic tests of building objects.

Members

• Janina Zaczek-Peplinska (Poland); Chair
• Ales Marjetic (Slovenia); Vice-Chair
• Zbigniew Muszyński (Poland)
• Michał Strach (Poland)
• Maria Kowalska (Poland)