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Photogrammetric techniques for monitoring tunnel deformation

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Abstract

This paper presents two innovative methods for tunnel monitoring that are based on digital photogrammetry. Both have been conceived to speed up operations that are currently accomplished by using engineering geodesy techniques and instruments. On the same time, proposed solutions are cheap and affordable. The first one is aimed at measuring relative deformations of transversal cross-section of tunnels. Some special targets are placed on the tunnel vault and their coordinates are measured by means of a small photogrammetric block made up of four images. A wire is used to setup the scale and to make all measurements comparable overtime. The second method can be applied for the measurement of vertical deformations along the longitudinal profile of tunnels. A new image-based approach called ‘photogrammetric levelling’ is discussed here, which is based on the metric rectification of each single image depicting a couple of special rods to be hung on levelling benchmarks. This technique can be used to replace traditional optical and digital level instruments. Both applications can be carried out by using a calibrated amateur camera. Some experiments in controlled and real environments allowed assessing performances and limitations of these techniques for operational surveys in tunnel monitoring.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Province of Lecco (Italy) and in particular Dr. Fabio Valsecchi, who made available the tunnel in Parè di Valmadrera for the experiments. Moreover, acknowledgements go to Alessandro Guadagnuolo and Marco Mazzoni, who gave a remarkable contribute during the preparation of the test site and the photogrammetric data processing. This study has been also supported by the 973 Basic National Research Program of China (No. 2013CB733204) and benefited of funding from the FIRB 2010 National Research Program of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Center for Spatial Information Science and Sustainable Development Applications, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Tumu Building, 200092, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    M. Scaioni

  2. Politecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture and Building Constructions, via Bonardi 2, 2032, Milan, Italy

    L. Barazzetti & M. Previtali

  3. Politecnico di Milano, Lab IC&T, Polo Territoriale di Lecco, via Promessi Sposi 29, 23900, Lecco, Italy

    A. Giussani & F. Roncoroni

  4. Cimolai S.p.a., via Ungaresca 38, 33170, Pordenone, Italy

    M. I. Alba

Authors
  1. M. Scaioni
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  2. L. Barazzetti
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  3. A. Giussani
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  4. M. Previtali
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  5. F. Roncoroni
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  6. M. I. Alba
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Scaioni.

Additional information

Communicated by: R. Perko

Published in the Special Issue “Application of Surveying in Land Management” with Guest Editor Dr. Roland Perko

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Scaioni, M., Barazzetti, L., Giussani, A. et al. Photogrammetric techniques for monitoring tunnel deformation. Earth Sci Inform 7, 83–95 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-014-0152-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-014-0152-8

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