Geodesic inventory of scaffolding geometry

Abstract Scaffolds are assembled from components. At the points where these elements connect, there are clearances causing inaccuracies of the structures and, as a result, imperfections. The paper presents a new method of making a geodesic inventory of scaffolding geometry. The method consists in measuring the mutual position of scaffolding points by means of tachymeters, and then determining the position of the points of connecting stands. Every step of the method, geodesic data processing and necessary calculations, are described in detail. Furthermore, histograms of local and global scaffolding imperfections are presented. The paper also comprises an analysis of measurement error. The method in question enables control of global imperfections immediately after the scaffolding is assembled and during construction works, which still poses a serious problem at construction sites. The realization of geometry measurements for 120 scaffoldings has proved the usefulness of the method, as well as the necessity to control the condition of a scaffolding in operation. In future, the results will be used in the process of the imperfection simulation in the numerical models of scaffoldings, to perform reliability analysis, to determine partial safety coefficients and, finally, in the process of their design.