By Barbara Burns


There are many applications in real life situations that require the measurement of the slope, elevation, or depression of an object in respect to gravity. The instrument that is used for this purpose is referred to as a slope indicator. Other names used to refer to the instrument are level gauge, declinometer, gradient meter, slope alert, and roll indicator among several other names.

When measuring a slope of an object using a declinometers, both the positive and negative slopes are measured. That implies that measurements are taken as seen when an observer is looking both upwards and downwards. Units of measurements used are usually three in number and they include degrees, topo, and percentage. Astrolabe is the predecessor inclinometer from which the modern version evolved. Astrolabes were used during Renaissance.

The accuracy level in modern-day declinometers is very high. Various factors determine accuracy in these devices. Some of the determining factors include technology incorporated and the angle range. Output resolutions of over 0.0001 can be reached by those that incorporate modern technology. On the other hand, typical accuracy falls between 0.01 and positive or negative 2 degrees. Besides technology, accuracy is also dependent on temperature, repeatability, sensor linearity, sensitivity, and hysteresis.

Different technologies are incorporated in modern devices. Most commonly, these devices work by generating an artificial horizon with respect to which angular tilt is measured. Devices that use this technology are most commonly incorporated in automobile security systems, specialty switches, aircraft flight controls, and cameras. When one is in search for tilt sensors, the two fundamental factors to consider are the number of axes and the tilt angle range.

Modern life finds many uses for inclinometers. These devices are valuable in the monitoring of subsurface movements and/or deformations. In this application, they are utilized in the detection of motion to establish if motion is accelerating, constant, or responding to countermeasures. Also, deformations that are within limits can be told through the use of the instrument. This assists in ensuring that subsurface motion does not affect adjacent structures.

After an area has been impounded, the stability of structures such as dam abutments, dams, and upstream slopes must be verified. This verification is done by inclinometers. Settlement profiles of structures such as embankments and foundations can also be monitored using horizontal inclinometers. Therefore, from the various applications of inclinometers, it is obvious that it is a vital instrument in construction and related industries.

An inclinometer is usually composed of two components, that is, the measurement system and the casing. The casing component enables access to subsurface measurements. It contains grooves within it that control the orientation of the sensor of the device and offer the whole system with a uniform surface from which measurement can be taken.

Various platforms can be used for the installation of inclinometer casings. Most common places and techniques of installation are fitting inside boreholes, embedding in fill, burying in trenches, attaching to structures, and casting into concrete. Some of the factors one should remember when buying casings are groove shape, casing diameter, and coupling style.




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