Network-Aided Reduction of Slope Distances in Small-Scale Geodetic Control Networks

Abstract

Most of the human-made infrastructures (e.g., dams) need very precise geodetic networks and constant monitoring to detect risks of failure and to plan civil engineering maintenance works. The combination of different measurements helps in determining displacements with high precision; therefore, the risk of damages is reduced. In this paper, we present a new approach, which considers a special geodetic observation strategy as a method to significantly reduce the volume of operations of a precise geodetic network and changes the designing concept of such networks. Decrease in data collection time and cost while keeping or increasing the quality of control networks has been one of the most important goals of any network designer. This paper proposes a method exploiting network properties to convert slope distances to the horizontal ones to be used in the classic terrestrial geodetic two-dimensional (2D) networks. We have evaluated the proposed method in different dam geodetic control networks in Iran. The network adjustment results show the acceptable performance of the presented method compared with the methods that are currently in use.