Time Series Analysis of Rapid GNSS Measurements for Quasi-static and Dynamic Bridge Monitoring

Since 1996, GPS and GNSS have been used to measure position and time on large structures, notably long span bridges. Receivers act simultaneously as dynamic deformation sensors. The use of high rate GNSS receivers to generate time displacement series—typically 10 Hz or greater—provides improvements in accuracy through both processing techniques and the use of multi GNSS. Filter techniques to isolate noise effects, and especially the treatment of multipath errors is presented. The use of other sensors such as accelerometers, pseudolites, Locatalites and total stations used to augment and verify the GNSS data is explained. Data analysis gives position and frequency that may be used in conjunction with appropriate models, and correlation to other sensor data to assess structural characteristics giving engineers extensive information for the assessment of structures. Case studies of extensive bridge campaigns are presented. Future developments in the technology of both data generation and application are discussed in the context of needs for real time alarms and assessment of engineering structures.