Structural　monitoring　and　structural　health　monitoring　could　take　advantage　from　different　devices　to　record　the　static　or　dynamic　response　of　a　structure.　A　positioning　system　provides　displacement　information　on　the　location　of　moving　objects,　which　is　assumed　to　be　the　basic　support　to　calibrate　any　structural　mechanics　model.　The　global　positioning　system　could　provide　satisfactory　accuracy　in　absolute　displacement　measurements.　But　the　requirements　of　an　open　area　position　for　the　antennas　and　a　roofed　room　for　its　data　storage　and　power　supply　limit　its　flexibility　and　its　applications.　Several　efforts　are　done　to　extend　its　field　of　application.　The　alternative　is　local　positioning　system.　Non-contact　sensors　can　be　easily　installed　on　existing　infrastructure　in　different　locations　without　changing　their　properties:　several　technological　approaches　have　been　exploited:　laser-based,　radar-based,　vision-based,　etc.　In　this　paper,　a　number　of　existing　options,　together　with　their　performances,　are　reviewed.　Copyright　(C)　2014　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.