Measurement technology.

To ensure construction works are carried out properly, it is increasingly necessary – and required by the client – to preserve evidence regarding any adverse effects on the urban environment. Through vibration measurements, we monitor, amongst other things, existing structures for the effects of vibrations caused by the construction site.

The measurement data collected serves as the basis for documenting and assessing potential impacts. Furthermore, predefined threshold and alarm levels can be monitored, enabling potential risks to be identified at an early stage and appropriate countermeasures to be initiated. This ensures that any necessary protective measures can be implemented in good time.

Since 1990, our teams have been working with fibre-optic measurement technology. Among the first projects were the instrumentation of the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark as well as the instrumentation of permanent anchors at the Edertal Dam.

In 2014, fibre-optic measurement technology experienced a new renaissance in special civil engineering thanks to Distributed Strain Sensing and Distributed Temperature Sensing.

Thanks to its many years of experience in the application of Distributed Strain Sensing in special civil engineering, PORR Spezialtiefbau has established itself as an experienced provider of fibre-optic measurement technology solutions. This is underpinned, amongst other things, by two key publications on Distributed Strain Sensing in civil engineering.

A preliminary inspection is required to ensure the proper installation of slim piles and large-diameter bored piles in construction projects. Integrity testing enables potential defects or anomalies to be identified at an early stage and assessed before the piles are covered by the superstructure. This allows any necessary remedial or repair work to be initiated at an early stage.

Our staff’s many years of experience, as well as the use of integrity testing based on the low-strain method and the cross-hole method, contribute to quality assurance and provide important information for the assessment of the structure.

In addition to planning, our core measurement technology expertise also includes the carrying out of the necessary static and dynamic load tests. Our expertise and the experience of our staff form the basis for the professional execution of pile load tests in accordance with the recommendations of the Working Group on Piles (EA-Pfähle) as well as concepts developed specifically for each project.

Depending on the structure and the individual requirements of the construction project, we have access to appropriate steel girders and calibrated presses. This enables us to carry out static load tests of up to 20 MN. With the aid of our load heads, we can increase the test load to up to 24 MN if required.

In construction projects, noise monitoring may be required to assess sound pressure levels. This involves using measurement technology to record noise emissions in the area where construction work is taking place.

The measurement results are analysed to verify compliance with applicable limit values and guideline values. On this basis, any potential impacts on the surrounding area can be assessed and documented.

In accordance with environmental and occupational health and safety requirements, emission monitoring for particulate matter is required on many construction sites. This involves measurement technology for dust emissions in the vicinity of the construction site, which is used to determine dust mass, particle count and particle size.

The analysis of the measurement results from long-term monitoring serves to assess the measured values against applicable limit and guideline values. This enables potential pollution to be identified at an early stage and appropriate measures to be taken where necessary.