Regular as-built surveys have become a necessary input for building information modelling. Such large-scale 3D data capturing can be conducted effectively by combining structure-from-motion and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Using a RTK-GNSS equipped UAV, 22 repeated weekly campaigns were conducted at two altitudes in various conditions. The photogrammetric approach yielded 3D models, which were compared to the terrestrial laser scanning based ground truth. Better than 2.8 cm geometry RMSE was consistently achieved using integrated georeferencing. It is concluded that the RTK-GNSS based georeferencing enables reaching better than 5 cm geometry accuracy by utilising at least one ground control point.

Applicability of SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology for mine surveys and subsequent 3D modelling of post-extracted surfaces is assessed. The resulting surface geometry is validated via terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) acquired reference data. Typical discrepancies remained within 2 and 5 cm in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. Discrepancies between TLS, SLAM-enabled handheld scanner and conventional surveying results are small and fully satisfy the contemporary accuracy requirements, yet evidence that the conventional mine survey results are affected by the subjectivity of the surveyors. The SLAM-enabled laser scanning hence appears to be the most suitable method for underground mining surveys.

An essential role of the FAMOS international cooperation project is to obtain new marine gravity observations over the Baltic Sea for improving gravimetric geoid modelling. To achieve targeted 5 cm modelling accuracy, it is important to acquire new gravimetric data, as the existing data over some regions are inaccurate and sparse. As the accuracy of contemporary geoid models over marine areas remains unknown, it is important to evaluate geoid modelling outcome by independent data. Thus, this study presents results of a shipborne marine gravity and GNSS campaign for validation of existing geoid models conducted in the eastern section of the Baltic Sea. Challenging aspects for utilizing shipborne GNSS profiles tend to be with quantifying vessel’s attitude, processing of noise in the data and referencing to the required datum. Consequently, the novelty of this study is in the development of methodology that considers the above-mentioned challenges. In addition, tide gauge records in conjunction with an operational hydrodynamic model are used to identify offshore sea level dynamics during the marine measurements. The results show improvements in geoid modelling due to new marine gravimetric data. It is concluded that the marine GNSS profiles can potentially provide complementary constraints in problematic geoid modelling areas.

Tide gauge (TG) time series and GNSS measurements have become standard datasets for various scientific and practical applications. However, the TG and geodetic networks in the Baltic Sea region are deforming due to vertical land motion (VLM), the primary cause of which is the glacial isostatic adjustment. Consequently, a correction for VLM, either obtained from a suitable VLM model or by utilizing space-geodetic techniques, must be applied to ensure compatibility of various data sources. It is common to consider the VLM rate relative to an arbitrary reference epoch, but this also yields that the resulting datasets may not be directly comparable. The common height reference, Baltic Sea Chart Datum 2000 (BSCD2000), has been initiated to facilitate the effective use of GNSS methods for accurate navigation and offshore surveying. The BSCD2000 agrees with the current national height realizations of the Baltic Sea countries. As TGs managed by national authorities are rigorously connected to the national height systems, the TG data can also be used in a common system. Hence, this contribution aims to review the treatment of TG time series for VLM and outline potential error sources for utilizing TG data relative to a common reference. Similar consideration is given for marine GNSS measurements that likewise require VLM correction for some marine applications (such as validating marine geoid models). The described principles are illustrated by analyzing and discussing numerical examples. These include investigations of TG time series and validation of shipborne GNSS determined sea surface heights. The latter employs a high-resolution geoid model and hydrodynamic model-based dynamic topography, which is linked to the height reference using VLM corrected TG data. Validation of the presented VLM corrected marine GNSS measurements yields a 1.7 cm standard deviation and −2.7 cm mean residual. The estimates are 1.9 cm and −10.2 cm, respectively, by neglecting VLM correction. The inclusion of VLM correction thus demonstrates significant improvement toward data consistency. Although the focus is on the Baltic Sea region, the principles described here are also applicable elsewhere.

Even though the entire Baltic Sea is included in previous geoid modelling projects such as the NKG2015 and EGG07, the accuracy of contemporary geoid models over marine areas remains unknown, presumably being offshore around 15–20 cm. An important part of the international cooperation project FAMOS (Finalising Surveys for the Baltic Motorways of the Sea) efforts is conducting new marine gravity observations for improving gravimetric quasigeoid modelling. New data is essential to the project as the existing gravimetric data over some regions of the Baltic Sea may be inaccurate and insufficiently scarce for the purpose of 5 cm accuracy geoid modelling. Therefore, it is important to evaluate geoid modelling outcome by independent data, for instance by shipborne GNSS measurements. Accordingly, this study presents results of the ship-borne marine gravity and GNSS campaign held on board the Estonian Maritime Administration survey vessel “Jakob Prei” in West-Estonian archipelago in June/July 2016. Emphasis of the study is on principles of using the GNSS profiles for validation of existing geoid models, post-processing of GNSS raw data and low-pass filtering of the GNSS results. Improvements in geoid modelling using new gravimetric data are also discussed. For example, accuracy of geoid models including the new marine gravity data increased 11 mm as assessed from GNSS profiles. It is concluded that the marine GNSS profiles have a potential in providing complementary constraints in problematic geoid modelling areas.