Estimation of the damping ratio using high sampling rate GPS and RTS measurements

“High sampling rate” GPS/GNSS (Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite System) and RTS (Robotic Total Station) measurements were used to extract the vibration functions of, respectively, ca. thirty buildings hosting permanent GPS stations and the ties of four masonry arches of a church. The logarithmic decrement, frequency response, frequency domain decomposition and spectral response methods were applied to the measurements to estimate the damping ratio ζ. The methods’ costs, times, calculation codes and application to the case studies were compared to evaluate whether “high sampling rate” GPS and RTS are suitable for estimation of the damping ratio ζof a building or a tie.