Construction Phase Monitoring and Preservation of Evidence During Construction
Civil engineering work, excavation, and diaphragm walls cause the ground to shift well beyond the property line. Our sensors continuously monitor these movements, providing evidence for any future liability issues.
Before breaking ground, measurement points are set up on adjacent buildings and excavation walls. The sensor and reference object are each secured with two screws—no special tools are required, and there is no damage to the structural integrity. Activation is achieved by placing a magnet against the sensor or connecting the battery cable. This establishes the initial condition as a documented baseline value.
During construction, each measurement point transmits its position data wirelessly to our data hub. The 6D sensor records localized settlements and tilts, while our GNSS system captures the overall geometry of the construction site. The movement history can be accessed at any time as a time series without the need for anyone to be on site.
You define the critical values for each measurement point in advance. If these values are exceeded, our system sends an email notification to the designated recipients. The continuous series of measurements taken before, during, and after the work also serves as evidence in the event of any liability issues.
Depending on the range and measurement point, both sensors work together within the same project.
For large-scale geometric monitoring across the construction site and over several hundred meters. Detects the absolute position of multiple measurement points relative to a fixed reference within a radius of approximately 2 km. *(Sensor recommendation pending; to be confirmed by Oliver Brandl.)*
For precise data collection on adjacent buildings. Measures settlement and tilt at the same measurement point with a single measurement. *(Sensor recommendation pending; to be confirmed by Oliver Brandl.)*
Specific differences compared to retrospective damage assessment and simple point-based measurement.
Our GNSS system maps the geometry of the entire construction site and supplements point measurements with a wide-area view. This means that even a neighboring building located far away—several hundred meters away—can still be measured within the system’s range.
In the event of a dispute, the documented history of movements from the initial value to completion replaces "he said, she said" with hard data. The question of liability is based on data, not on memory.
The 6D sensor measures settlement and tilt in the adjacent building in a single measurement. If threshold values are exceeded, our system sends an email notification. Critical settlement is detected before it causes visible damage to the adjacent building.
The reference point and sensor are each secured with two screws, and the GNSS antennas are positioned at a few key locations. No special tools are required, and there is no interruption to ongoing construction work. Measurement begins immediately after activation.
Selected monitoring projects from the construction phase and the preservation of evidence.
Real-time structural monitoring following a tunnel fire to enable rapid reopening during ongoing restoration work.
Wireless 3D measurement of concrete segments in tunnel construction.
Continuous monitoring of structural movements in the historic reception building during the critical construction phase
High-precision building monitoring of settlement and crack development to assess damage caused by subway construction work.
Monitoring of bearing and abutment movements and structure temperature during operation.
“Following a tunnel fire, the 3D sensors from SuessCo Sensors FlexCo were deployed to monitor the affected tunnel arch segments. Continuous monitoring made it possible to maintain temporary operations until final repairs could be completed. As part of the safety management plan, alarm thresholds were defined, and a specific group of people would have been notified via email and SMS if the alarm threshold was reached. The system stands out for its precise measurements and the wireless remote transmission of data to a portal that experts can access at any time without disrupting operations.”
Reinhold Czizsek, Engineer
Asset Management, ASFINAG Bau Management GmbH
“Our collaboration with SuessCo Sensors has always been professional and solution-oriented. For expert assessments, the continuous measurement data from the SuessCo sensors is a major advantage, as changes can be objectively documented and reliably evaluated." "With the XT 3D sensors, we receive precise and stable measurement data wirelessly in three dimensions. This enables reliable remote monitoring of sensitive tunnel areas and significantly reduces our on-site workload."
Mohammed Ismail
Geomatics Engineer, TABERG Engineering and Consulting Firm, LLC
"Thanks to the high-precision sensors from SuessCo Sensors, we have been able to continuously monitor changes in the Palm House. This data helps us protect this wonderful building and its historic structure."
Helmut Heninger, B.S. in Engineering
Austrian Castle Administration
"SuessCo's sensors have proven to be extremely precise and easy to install. What is particularly impressive is that they withstood the extreme conditions of the Swedish winter without any problems. Our collaboration with SuessCo has always been reliable and professional."
Paul Collins
Sales Manager, GEOFIX Sweden
"With the SuessCo 6D sensors, we always have up-to-date measurements available. This naturally saves us money and improves quality."
Georg Gotthart
Plant Technician, Bridge Construction, ÖBB
For targeted data collection on adjacent buildings, we recommend the 6D sensor because it measures settlement and tilt at the same measurement point. For large-scale monitoring of the construction site, we recommend the GNSS system, which tracks large-scale movements throughout the entire area affected by construction work. In large-scale projects, both systems work together within the same setup. *(Recommendation pending, to be confirmed by Oliver Brandl.)*
Before construction begins, we take a baseline measurement as a reference point, continuously record movements throughout the project, and conclude with a final measurement upon completion. This ensures that, for each measurement point, we have documented exactly what changes occurred and over what period of time. The complete history of movements is available as evidence for any future liability issues.
Yes. The area affected by civil engineering work and the excavation extends over several hundred meters. Our GNSS system records the absolute positions of multiple measurement points relative to a fixed reference point within a radius of about 2 km, making large-scale movements across the entire construction site visible.
Our 6D sensors and GNSS system measure displacement, settlement, and rotation, not high-frequency vibrations. Separate vibration sensors are required for vibration measurement, as were additionally used in the Stuttgart 21 project. *(Open): Clarify the availability of vibration sensors in Oliver Brandl’s product portfolio.*
The sensor and reference object are each secured with two screws, without the need for special tools. Once the magnet is attached or the battery cable is connected, the measurement point is active. This allows the reference measurement to be set up before construction begins, without a lengthy lead time.
You define the critical thresholds for each measurement point in advance. If these thresholds are exceeded, our system automatically sends an email notification to the designated recipients. This allows you to intervene in the construction process before critical settlement leads to damage.
