Turtle Mountain Deformation Monitoring 2008-2011

Abstract

Deformation monitoring was carried out in two epochs on Turtle Mountain, Alberta using a high-precision total station, a terrestrial laser scanner, and geodetic quality GNSS receivers. From the total station observations, coordinates were computed for seven signalized target points in a least-squares network adjustment. Then, a deformation analysis using a multi-parameter transformation was performed to derive movements between epochs. Precise point positioning was performed using GNSS receivers at another set of target points and control points, with another least squares network adjustment performed on this network. Terrestrial laser scanning was performed in the saddle region, with registration via an iterative closest point algorithm performed on the two point clouds to determine movement between the two epochs. Movement into the saddle from North Peak and South Peak was detected by analysis of 2008 and 2011 high-precision total station observations. This movement was also detected by analysis of 2008 and 2011 terrestrial laser scanner observations. Movement of 10 of 18 target points on Turtle Mountain was detected by analysis of 2010 and 2011 precise point positioning observations. Backward or sideways tilting with little or no downhill translation occurred at 6 points, while downhill translation and/or forward tilting occurred at 4 points.