Cost-Effective dGNSS-Based System for Monitoring Slope Instability in Western Canada

January 7, 2026

The University of Alberta, in collaboration with industry partners, has developed a cost-effective and innovative differential Global Navigation Satellite System (dGNSS) for monitoring slope movement. The system uses off-the-shelf SparkFun Electronics Inc. components, supplemented with additional elements to create a robust solution. It provides reliable displacement data that supports geotechnical risk assessment and enables earlier responses, complementing other monitoring and risk assessment techniques. Achieving millimetre-level accuracy, the improved dGNSS effectively detects subtle slope movements. By avoiding cloud storage and third-party processing, it operates independently of cellular networks and associated costs, making it suitable for remote sites with periodic site visits. This paper presents the system’s design, installation, and testing under controlled conditions, as well as its six-month deployment at an Alberta mine. The results demonstrate its accuracy and reliability in the field, confirming its application as a viable method for monitoring slope movements and contributing to geotechnical risk assessment.

Rodriguez, J., Grapel, C. 2025 " Cost-Effective dGNSS-Based System for Monitoring Slope Instability in Western Canada,” in Proceedings of the GeoManitoba 2025 Conference, 21-24 September 2025, Winnipeg,: Canadian Geotechnical Society and Canadian Permafrost Association (CGS and CPA)