Calibration issues of a total station for the assessment of buildings in emergency conditions

In this paper the use of a Total Station for the evaluation of the structural state of a building, is analysed from a metrological point of view, taking into account the operational constraints imposed by an emergency situation. The facade of the considered building has been subjected to measurement campaigns, distributed over time, with the aim of evaluating repeatability and reproducibility of results for both displacement and inclination measurements. Applying known thicknesses to the monitoring points also the system measuring threshold has been evaluated. This work would like to provide a preliminary contribution to the draft of standard procedures for the adoption of Total Stations by rescuers in emergency situations.