International Association of Geodesy   COMMISSION 4: Positioning & Applications Sub-commission 4.2: Applications of Geodesy in Engineering

Sub-commission 4.2 web site ... click here ...

The "7th Conference on Optical 3-D Measurement Techniques" was successfully held in Vienna, Austria, 3-5 October 2005. Click here for report.

Terms of Reference

Rapid developments in engineering, microelectronics and the computer sciences have greatly changed both instrumentation and methodology in engineering geodesy. To build higher and longer, on the other hand, have been key challenges for engineers and scientists since ancient times. Now, and for the foreseeable future, engineers confront the limits of size, not merely to set records, but to meet the real needs of society minimising negative environmental impact. Highly developed engineering geodesy techniques are needed to meet these challenges. The SC will therefore endevour to coordinate research and other activities that address the broad areas of the theory and applications of engineering geodesy tools. The tools range from conventional terrestrial measurement and alignment technology (optical, RF, etc.), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), geotechnical instrumentation, and software systems such as GIS, decision support systems, etc. The applications range from construction engineering and structural monitoring, to natural phenomena such as landslides and ground subsidence that have a local effect on structures and community infrastructure. The SC will carry out its work in close cooperation with other IAG Entities, as well as via linkages with relevant scientific and professional organisations such as ISPRS, FIG, IEEE, ION.

Steering Committee

Heribert Kahmen (Vienna Univ. of Tech., Austria) - Chair
Gethin Roberts (IESSG, Nottingham University, UK) - Vice-Chair
Guenther Retscher (Vienna Univ. of Tech., Austria) - Secretary
Wolfgang Niemeier (Tech. Univer. of Braunschweig, Germany) - Member at Large

Objectives

• To monitor research and development into new technologies that are applicable to the general field of 'engineering geodesy', including hardware, software and analysis techniques.

• To study advances in dynamic monitoring and data evaluation systems for buldings and other manmade structures.

• To study advances in monitoring and alert systems for local geodynamic processes, such as landslides, ground subsidence, etc.

• To study advances in geodetic methods used on large construction sites.

• To study advances in the application of knowledge-based systems in engineering geodesy.

• To document the body of knowledge in this field, and to present this knowledge in a consistent frame work at symposia and workshops.

• Through the SC4.2 Working Groups to promote research into several new technology areas or applications.

Working Groups

WG4.2.1 Measurement Systems for the Navigation of Construction Processes

Chair: Wolfgang Niemeier (Tech. University of Braunschweig, Germany)
Co-Chair: Guenther Retscher (Vienna University of Technology, Austria)
Terms of Reference: To study and report the performance of the currently used navigation/guidance systems for construction machinery, and to promote the development of new methods and techniques for controlling construction processes.

WG4.2.2 Dynamic Monitoring of Buildings

Chair: Matthew Tait (University of Calgary, Canada)
Co-Chair: Gethin Roberts (IESSG, Nottingham University, UK)
Terms of Reference: To study and report the performance of currently used building monitoring systems, including techniques based satellite and terrestrial measurements, and to promote new the application of new sensor technology.

WG4.2.3 Application of Knowledge-based Systems in Engineering Geodesy

Chair: Klaus Chmelina (GeoData, Austria)
Co-Chair: John Bosco Miima (Tech. University of Braunschweig, Germany)
Terms of Reference: To study and report on topics such as control of measurement- and guidance-systems, deformation analysis, control of alert systems, and the evaluation of their complex data stream through the use of knowledge-based systems. To implement new research outcomes in Artificial Intelligence for deformation analysis and measurement system control.

WG4.2.4 Monitoring of Landslides & System Analysis

Chair: Gyula Mentes (Geodetic & Geophysical Research Institute of HAS, Hungary)
Co-Chair: Zhenglu Zhang (Wuhan University, China)
Terms of Reference: Worldwide landslides are one of the major types of natural hazards killing or maiming many people, and causing considerable damage to infrastructure. There has already been done a wide range of research work on landslides. Most of this work had a bias towards one discipline, such as remote sensing or geology. The proposal of the WG is to promote multi-disciplinary integration of different methods. The main goal is to establish an integrated workflow for landslide hazard management.