In the world of competitive athletics, victory or defeat can hinge on mere millimeters. Gone are the days of relying on measuring tapes for such critical measurements. Modern technology ensures fairness and precise measurement at local competitions as well as the grand stage of the Olympic Games.
Contributed by Hans-Martin Zogg, Business Director TPS, Geomatics Division at Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon to Geo Week.
Precision sensor technology is a natural part of sport today. Whether football, ice hockey, Formula 1, alpine skiing or athletics – high-precision measuring instruments and special software are used everywhere to ensure fair decisions and accurate results at the most crucial of times when they have to be right.
In athletics, technology from Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has been used for measuring distances and heights for more than 30 years. The latest technology along with custom software help officials in measuring various disciplines including long jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin throw, discus throw, hammer throw, high jump and pole vault. Stationed at the sidelines, the total stations measure and record the precise distances that will determine the medal winners and perhaps even a new World Record.
From tape measures to total stations
Before the introduction of laser measurement devices, judges and officials had to rely on more rudimentary methods of measurements. In the pre-1990s, manual measurements with measuring tapes were the norm for track and field events.
Total stations have been used in athletics events since the late 1990s, where laser measuring devices were first employed for distance measurements in competitions. These devices were still verified against traditional steel tapes to ensure accuracy during events like the hammer throw. However, from the 2010s onwards, high-precision total stations have become the standard for elite sporting events.
While Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) systems are used to accurately time track events, total stations are specifically designed for precise distance measurements. Total stations are typically used in a surveying context yet these devices have an unsung, but crucial, role in high-stakes sporting environments. Here, the accuracy of the measurement equipment could be the difference between gold and silver or staying in the running and disqualification.
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