First Experiences with the Deformation Analysis of a Large Dam Combining Laserscanning and High-accuracy Surveying

Monitoring the static and dynamic behaviour of large dams has always been a topic of great importance, due to the impact these structures have on the whole landscape where they are built. Many instruments and surveying methods have been applied so far in order to continuously access to the safety of this kind of huge structures. However, the common approach in a lot of developments has been focused towards the possibility of measuring, with high accuracy and reliability, displacements of a singular number of points. This paper presents preliminary ideas and first results of a project in progress for monitoring displacements of big structures such as large dams using new technology, terrestrial laser scanner. Particularly, this paper proposes the development and testing of a methodology that allows us to perform the recording and structural monitoring of large concrete dams combining laserscanning and high-accuracy surveying. For this purpose, a test field has been established on the dam of ‘Las Cogotas’ (Avila, Spain). First results and analyses have been focused on two main aspects: the network design; and the network adjustment that incorporates statistic tests in order to provide more accuracy and reliability. Finally, some future proposals for the deformation analysis of the large dam exploiting the power of laserscanning technology are outlined.