Introduction. The paper describes distortions of geometry in buildings and structures under construction as well as those already commissioned, which increase the risk of an emergency. The paper also shows the reasons for controlling the geometry for its compliance with design form and stability, as well as possible impact of deviations in the design geometry on adjacent buildings and structures.Aim: to analyze and describe the application of geodetic methods for preventing emergencies in the construction and operation of buildings and structures.Materials and methods. The paper presents methods and techniques for measuring the deformations of buildings using modern robotic tacheometers, inclinometers, satellite equipment, as well as hydrostatic leveling, in order to obtain reliable and valid parameters of the deformed state of building structures under both static and dynamic effects on the building or structure.Results. The paper explains the operating principles of measuring systems using automatic geodetic monitoring systems. The authors describe the process of determining displacements and deflections during the erection of large-span shells of unique buildings. These include the steel framed dome of the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, which has the largest unsupported span for structures of this class (310 m), large-span transformed shell of the Gazprom Arena Stadium in Saint Petersburg, and large-span shell of the Kazan Arena Stadium in Kazan, Russia. Deflections and displacements of the reference points of the steel pyramid were determined for the Opening Ceremony at the Kazan Arena Stadium. The paper also presents the methods for determining the parameters of deformations during the construction of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Center in Luzhniki, metro lines in Moscow, and Kashirskaya–Karacharovo section of the Moscow ring railroad. Measurement methods have been developed and implemented for all these facilities.Conclusion. The above measurement methods are successfully used to determine horizontal displacements and deflections for monitoring the deformations of buildings and structures, which increases their reliability and safety during construction and operation.