Validation of applied digital level of automation system in determining the settlements

The main goal of this research is to validate a digital level automation system developed in a PhD. Thesis by Andolfato (2010) and presented to the Geodetic Science postgraduate program from Federal University of Paraná. The validation procedure consists in applying the digital level to determine height differences between targets distributed at different distances in relation to the digital level. Settlements simulations were performed by fixing pins in several wall columns at different heights. In the first stage the height differences and consequently the settlements were determinated by the conventional leveling method where observations were acquired by a qualified technical. Afterwards, these same differences were determined using the method named SAND - Sistema de Automação de Nível Digital (Digital Level Automation System). After finished the surveyings, the results obtained by the SAND method were compared with results from conventional method and it was observed differences within the tenth of millimeter in the computed settlements. The variances of the height differences in both cases were tested using the F- Snedecor test, at a significance level of 5%, and most values were approved, what means that they were determined with the same degree of precision

Keywords:
Digital level; monitoring; automation; settlement; SAND