Inertial surveying for the purpose of survey control densifications — A trial and comparison with photogrammetric block adjustment

Abstract

Abstract Space technology has come down to earth and is no w applied in ordinary surveying tasks. Surveying techniques using satellites, interferometry and inertial systems are becoming increasingly important. This report empirically assesses an Inertial Survey System: it describes the planning and field procedures of survey control densifications with an average separation of 250 m and compares the results technically and economically with a photogrammetric block adjustment previously carried out over the same area. The Inertial Survey System gave double-run accuracies with a standard deviation (σ) of σx = 4.6 cm, σy = 4.4 cm and σz = 2.1 cm; operations were smooth and quick (6.6 minutes per point). It is argued that the FERRANTI Inertial System proved to be an accurate, rapid and economical alternative for control densification. For 50 points, costs per point for photogrammetric block adjustment and Inertial Survey System (I.S.S.) were identical ($100/point). For 100 points or more photogrammetric block...