RTS Monitoring: Automated 3D Precision

Robotic total station (RTS) monitoring delivers continuous, automated 3D displacement tracking on construction and infrastructure projects, so project teams catch structural and ground movement before it threatens schedule, safety, or asset integrity. Each RTS monitoring system records position data in real time, because reliable control over movement depends on measurements that update continuously rather than on periodic manual surveys.

With more than 20 years of field experience and a track record spanning thousands of installations worldwide, Sixense delivers RTS monitoring as a managed service built on proven technology for critical infrastructure.

Discover Our RTS Monitoring Services

Sixense runs RTS monitoring as a full-lifecycle service, spanning network design, hardware deployment, automated data acquisition, cloud-based reporting, and ongoing field maintenance. Our team designs the network around each site, commissions the instruments, and keeps them running so monitoring data stays reliable from the first reading through project close-out.

Our AMTS monitoring service combines proven hardware products with the Cyclops management system, providing advanced tools and reporting features that give project teams remote access to displacement data across a wide range of applications.

Why Choose Sixense for RTS Monitoring?

What RTS Monitoring Accuracy Do Complex Sites Achieve?

RTS monitoring holds sub-millimetric 3D accuracy even on complex, unstable sites, because the Cyclops platform lets multiple robotic theodolites operate together while preserving each instrument's nominal accuracy. More than 2,000 deployments worldwide, across tunnels, bridges, dams, deep excavations, and high-rise structures, validate that field performance. This is the kind of high reliability and measurement quality critical projects depend on, and it is what makes RTS a strong choice for demanding deformation work.

Real-Time RTS Monitoring Data on a Single Platform

The Beyond Monitoring platform turns raw measurements into real-time data project teams can act on, because every reading flows into one web-based system the moment it is recorded. The platform's features include displacement trends, time-series graphs, live plan views, alert functionality by email and SMS on threshold exceedance, automated reports, and a project journal. Teams get remote access to this information from any location, giving project management direct control over decisions and cutting the time between field measurement and insight to minutes.

Scalable RTS Monitoring Networks for Any Project Phase

An RTS monitoring management system scales to fit any project phase, because network size is based on three drivers that include line-of-sight availability, the number of monitoring points relative to cycle time, and the required reading frequency. Each AMTS unit is placed where it has maximal line of sight to all control and monitoring points, ideally in a protected location where theft is not possible. Most installations use 6 reference prisms for redundancy, above the minimum of 3, so the network keeps working even if a control point is damaged or a sightline is blocked. The same system can run in automatic, semi-automatic, or manual modes, and can turn to denser reading schedules to support evolving conditions across project stages, including construction and long-term monitoring.

Dedicated North American RTS Monitoring Teams

Local teams across the United States and Canada deliver RTS monitoring close to every project, with offices in Bothell, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Silver Springs, Denver, Toronto, and Vancouver. These field teams handle installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance, and they provide the on-site support that keeps monitoring reliable through every project phase. With more than 20 years of experience on major North American infrastructure, including the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, Highway 401 and 409, Climate Pledge Arena, and the LA Outfall Tunnel, our team helps protect both schedule and safety, and we offer this depth of expertise on projects of any scale.

Our Approach to RTS Monitoring

RTS Monitoring Network Design and Installation

Every RTS monitoring system starts with network design based on a detailed site assessment, because the team first maps line-of-sight corridors and identifies the positions where each AMTS can see every control and monitoring prism. Each unit is placed for maximal line of sight to all control points, in a protected location where theft is not possible, and weatherproof enclosures shield the instrument from rain, dust, and temperature extremes. The reference prism network is then established, a minimum of 3 and typically 6 per AMTS for redundancy, using survey-grade tools and advanced post-processingso the management of measurements works reliably from the first reading.

Automated RTS Data Acquisition and Processing

Once installed, the network runs automated measurement cycles at user-defined intervals, recording multiple observation pairs per prism each cycle to confirm measurement quality. Raw data is transmitted to a cloud-based processing server, where least-squares network adjustments and automated quality checks track every result against project tolerances and alert thresholds. Results publish to the Beyond Monitoring platform in real time, giving teams remote access to displacement trends, time-series graphs, live plan views, and automated reports. This advanced technology delivers consistent performance and turns raw information into decisions, while instrument accuracy stays a fixed hardware specification rather than a project setting.

How Often Does RTS Monitoring Equipment Require Field Maintenance?

RTS monitoring equipment needs only light field maintenance, with site visits every 1 to 3 months for prism cleaning, instrument servicing, and reference-coordinate verification. Between visits the system operates unattended and provides automated alerts by email and SMS, so anomalies are caught in real time to help protect both data quality and site safety. This proactive support sustains measurement reliability across the full project lifecycle and, just as well, keeps the network ready for future phases of work.

Frequently Asked Questions About RTS Monitoring

How Does RTS Monitoring Compare to Manual Surveying?

RTS monitoring automates the measurement cycle, so no surveyor has to work at the instrument for every reading. Using automation, the system delivers a high reading frequency, with results in minutes instead of days or weeks, cutting the time and labor each cycle takes while supporting 24/7 management of movement data. Manual surveys still have a place for periodic baseline verification or sites where continuous monitoring is not required.

What Types of Structures Can RTS Monitoring Track?

RTS monitoring can track almost any structure or surface affected by absolute or relative deformation. Common applications include buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, deep excavations, retaining walls, road surfaces, rail corridors, embankments, and landslides. The same method works across construction-phase impact monitoring and long-term structural health assessment, including projects that shift from one phase to the other.

How Many RTS Units Does a Typical Project Require?

The number of RTS units a project needs is based on 3 main factors: line-of-sight availability, the number of monitoring points relative to acceptable cycle time, and the required reading frequency. Faster cycles may call for additional units, while a single AMTS can cover hundreds of prisms when line of sight and cycle time allow. A well-planned management system balances these factors so the network keeps clear control of every monitoring point.

What Accuracy Can RTS Monitoring Achieve?

RTS monitoring achieves sub-millimetric accuracy in three dimensions. Instrument accuracy is a fixed hardware specification rather than something the project sets, while teams define tolerances and alert thresholds based on project requirements. Multiple observation pairs per prism each cycle and a redundant reference-prism network protect data quality and high performance, delivering the reliability that makes RTS a strong choice for demanding deformation work.

How Often Does an RTS Monitoring System Require Maintenance?

An RTS monitoring system requires only routine maintenance, with site visits every 1 to 3 months for prism cleaning, instrument servicing, and reference-coordinate verification. Between visits the system runs unattended, and automated alerts by email and SMS flag anomalies in real time to support both safety and data quality. This proactive maintenance protects measurement quality, extends equipment service life, and keeps the network dependable for future project phases.