High-Mountain cable car surveying

High-Mountain cable car alignment – Topographic Precision in the Pirineos

Surveying for infrastructure in extreme conditions by Aratop Topografía

Aratop Topografía S.L. is a surveying company founded in Huesca in 2004. Over the years, the company has grown through innovation and a commitment to precision. With projects in Spain, France, Jordan, and Romania, Aratop offers high-quality, reliable surveying services to a wide range of clients, from large construction firms to public entities. One of their most recent challenges was verifying alignment and elevation data for the future installation of a cable car connecting the ski resorts of Candanchú and Astún, in the Aragonese Pyrenees.

Objectives

Verify project coordinates and elevations: The primary objective was to accurately check the georeferenced points for the placement of pylons, as well as the embarkation and disembarkation stations of the new cable car. This included validating project elevations and identifying potential interferences with existing structures.
Adapt to alpine and technical terrain: The team had to operate in high-mountain areas above 2200 meters in altitude during spring, where persistent snow and rugged terrain required both surveying expertise and mountaineering skills.
Optimize resources with GNSS technology: Instead of relying on slower or less precise traditional methods, the team used advanced GNSS technology to maximize field efficiency.

Solution

Aratop Topografía performed a thorough verification of the axes for the pylons, stations, and the surrounding area using the Leica GS18 GNSS receiver and Leica CS20 field controller. The work also included height measurements of nearby buildings and existing ski lift crossings, helping plan the precise placement of the new cable car infrastructure.

Due to the snow-covered and steep terrain, accessing several points required the use of crampons and ice axes, blending topographic work with technical mountaineering.

Equipment used

Leica GS18: This self-learning GNSS receiver was essential for verifying coordinates and elevations in challenging mountain areas. Despite the rugged terrain and altitude, the GS18 maintained strong signal and coverage, allowing for continuous and reliable measurements.
Leica CS20: The CS20 field controller facilitated efficient data collection and analysis of building heights and crossings, offering an intuitive and robust interface in demanding field conditions.

Benefits

High reliability in extreme conditions: Even in areas with ravines, steep walls, and snow, the GS18 never lost signal, ensuring consistent and accurate results.
Time and effort savings: GNSS technology eliminated the need for slower methods like total stations in difficult terrain, significantly reducing project execution time.
Adaptation to the environment: The team’s experience and the rugged reliability of Leica equipment allowed them to work safely and effectively in a unique blend of technical surveying and alpine conditions.
Readiness for future phases: The data collected will be crucial for the safe and precise installation of the new cable car, ensuring that all elements are placed according to project specifications.