ABSTRACT
The falling tendency of precision GPS receiver equipment pricing and their miniaturization, along with their decreasing power requirement, spurred a product development project addressing the remote monitoring of small movements as found in landslides, landslips or earth settlements as well as structures such as buildings, dams or bridges. The system consists of a number of small receivers installed on the object to be monitored. A control center provides for data collection, post-processing, and monitoring for correct operation of the network. Depending on the application, the communication between the single remote receivers and the control station can employ a radio link, cellular modem, or a cable. Ancillary sensors such as distance meters, pluviometers, or inclinometers may be added to the single receiver units. The equipment itself needs no maintenance, and fitting it with an accumulator and a solar panel enables autonomous operation over extended periods of time. The control center may be programmed to initiate special actions when relative position differences or the velocity of movement are found to be over a certain pre-set limit.
