Building Deformation Monitoring

This paper is focusing on determining the capability of reflector-less total station in
monitoring building's deformation as well as to check the deformation of Universiti
Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Academic Complex canopy system. Monitoring building
deformation is an essential practice in order to determine whether the structure is
within a safe behavior or not. There are numerous methods to be used such as the
application of close-range photogrammetric, application of fiber optics, application
of LiDAR technologies as well as geotechnical method (inclinometer, accelerometer,
and tiltmeter). However, there are certain limitation and constrain faced by the
mentioned methods in order to perform deformation monitoring at the building edges
and critical area. Therefore, this project is to check the capabilities of reflector-less
total station (R TS) in monitoring deformation of structure as well as the accuracies of
the data obtained by performing a field data measurement. Topcon GPT 7501 series
is used in this field data measurement for monitoring the deformation of canopy
system situated in front of building 13 and building 14, UTP academic complex with
4 observation points. The spatial data coordinate obtained in the first reading will be
used as a base data for subtracting with the following continuous reading performed.
Total displacement recorded based on field data measurement shows the maximum
movement is 1.61 mm towards the structural beam on column 3 and 4 in front of
building 14, Universiti Teknologi Petronas. Even though the result of monitoring
displacement up to millimeter movement has been achieved, the result is
insignificant as the movement recorded is not within the boundary of the capability
reflector-less total station as the accuracy of the instrument is ±5 mm in its non-prism
mode. Therefore the displacement or movement does not occur as after subtraction
being done, the movement is below ±5 mm accuracy of the equipment. However,
based on the field data measurement conducted, the overall objective of this project
has been achieved for checking the capability of reflector-less total station in
monitoring deformation.