Application of the GPS Technology in Measurement of High Structures' Displacement Due to Weak Winds

The global positioning system (GPS) has been developed for military purposes, such as single-point position determination and navigation. The first civilian GPS applications were for geodetic purposes including baseline measurement using differential methods. When tall structural systems are controlled, we can introduce GPS technology as a method of measuring displacements. In this paper, two experiments were performed to evaluate the accuracy of measurements using GPS. In addition, an assessment of the GPS capability to measure the smallest movements of the Stuttgart television tower and the high industrial chimney of the Opole power plant due to weak winds has been presented.