Identifying the techniques and challenges of GPS surveying for vertical alignments in high-rise buildings

Abstract

Vertical alignment in high-rise building is a very important aspect. In order to manage the growing demand for spaces in urban cities, the people are now interested in construction of super high-rise buildings. The architects are nowadays interested in improvising untypical complicated morphology in building designs which increase the difficulties in surveying for vertical alignments. Consequently the surveyors are themselves forced to find alternative survey techniques to manage the difficulties. Though the GPS survey techniques are applicable like in other constructions, the majority of the construction society is still depended on the traditional survey methods. As per the existing data sources, operational and spaces related challenges of GPS surveying are common for any kind of GPS applications; and though the GPS survey techniques are applicable for vertical alignment in high-rise buildings, there is lack of data sources to explicitly expose the applicability of different GPS survey techniques and the challenges to be considered in such applications. This study has been oriented to find out the best suitable GPS survey technique for the vertical alignments in high-rise buildings by checking the applicability of all five basic GPS techniques with their accuracy, efficiency, time consuming and cost implications while focusing on identifying further practical challenges apart from the already identified operational and space related problems. The findings prove that the GPS techniques can be used for vertical alignments in high-rise buildings and the best technique among them is Static GPS with the combination of traditional survey methods; and there are some practical challenges to be considered in such GPS applications for vertical alignments in high-rise buildings. The findings have been attained by analyzing the reliable data gained through experts’ comments, case studies and experiments.