An inclinometer or clinometer is an instrument for measuring angles of slope (or

tilt), elevation or depression of an object with respect to gravity. It is also known as

a tilt meter, tilt indicator, slope alert, slope gauge, gradient meter, gradiometer,
level gauge, level meter, declinometer, and pitch & roll indicator. Clinometers
measure both inclines (positive slopes, as seen by an observer looking upwards)
and declines (negative slopes, as seen by an observer looking downward) using
three different units of measure: degrees, percent, and topo. Astrolabes are
inclinometers that were used for navigation and locating astronomical objects from
ancient times to the Renaissance.

Compass with inclinometer

Military model

Inclinometer Casing

Inclinometer Casing

An inclinometer system has two components: (1) inclinometer casing and (2) an inclinometer
measurement system.
Inclinometer casing provides access for subsurface measurements. Grooves inside the casing
control the orientation of the inclinometer sensor and provide a uniform surface for
measurements.
Inclinometer casing is usually installed in a borehole. It can also be embedded in fill, buried in a
trench (horizontal inclinometers), cast into concrete, or attached to a structure.

Portable Measurement Systems

Digitilt Classic System

Digitilt AT System

Portable measurement systems include a probe, cable, and readout. Portable systems are
economical because they can be carried from site to site. They are accurate because the entire
length of the casing is measured twice in each survey.

The first survey establishes the initial profile of the casing. Subsequent surveys are compared to
the initial. Changes in the profile indicate that movement has occurred.
Slope Indicator offers the Digitilt Classic System, which has been the world standard in precision
and reliability for many years, and the Digitilt AT System, which takes advantage of newer
technologies.
Inclinometers generate more data than most other types of sensors. For example, an ordinary
survey may generate several hundred data points. Over time, tens of thousands of data points
must be reduced, compared, plotted, and archived. Slope Indicator's DigiPro2 Software is
designed to speed these tasks.

accuracy
Certain highly sensitive electronic inclinometer sensors can achieve an output resolution to
0.0001 degrees - depending on the technology and angle range, it may be limited to 0.01. An
inclinometer sensor's true or absolute accuracy (which is the combined total error), however, is a
combination of initial sets of sensor zero offset and sensitivity, sensor linearity, hysteresis,
repeatability, and the temperature drifts of zero and sensitivity - electronic inclinometers
accuracy can typically range from .01 to 2 depending on the sensor and situation. Typically in
room ambient conditions the accuracy is limited to the sensor linearity specification.

Sensor technology
Tilt sensors and inclinometers generate an artificial horizon and measure angular tilt with respect
to this horizon. They are used in cameras, aircraft flight controls, automobile security systems,
and speciality switches and are also used for platform leveling, boom angle indication, and in
other applications requiring measurement of tilt.
Important specifications to consider when searching for tilt sensors and inclinometers are the tilt
angle range and number of axes (which are usually, but not always, orthogonal). The tilt angle
range is the range of desired linear output.

Common implementations of tilt sensors and inclinometers are accelerometer, Liquid Capacitive,
electrolytic, gas bubble in liquid, and pendulum.
Tilt sensor technology has also been implemented in video games. Yoshi's Universal Gravitation
and Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble are both built around a tilt sensor mechanism, which is built into the
cartridge. The PlayStation 3 and Wii game controllers also use tilt as a means to play video
games.
Inclinometers are also used in civil engineering, for example to measure the inclination of land to
be built upon.
Some inclinometers provide an electronic interface based on CAN (Controller Area Network). In
addition, those inclinometers may support the standardized CANopen profile (CiA 410). In this
case, these inclinometers are compatible and partly interchangeable.

2-Axis Digital Inclinometer

Traditional spirit levels and pendulum-based digital levels are commonly constrained by (i)
single axis (ii) narrow angular tilt measurement range, and (iii) susceptible to cross axis error.
However, precision levelling, angle measurement, alignment and surface flatness profiling tasks
essentially involve a 2-dimensional plane rather than two independent single-axis objects. The 2Axis inclinometer utilizing advanced MEMS technology provides simultaneous 2-axis and wide
angle measuring range features that the traditional single-axis digital and 'bubble' levels are
unable to offer.

2-Axis Digital Inclinometer

Advantages of new 2-Axis digital inclinometer over conventional single-axis leveling
instruments:

2-axis technology enables simultaneous 2D (X-Y plane) tilt angles measurement (i.e.
pitch & roll), completely eliminates tedious trial-and-error (i.e. going back-and-forth)
experienced when using single-axis levels to adjust machine footings to achieve a precise
leveling position.

2-axis MEMS driven inclinometers can be digitally compensated and precisely calibrated
for non-linearity and operating temperature variation resulting higher angular accuracy
and stability performance over wider angular measurement range.

Digital graphical bulls eye with numerical data and a built-in vibrometer enable machine
installer to track alignment in real-time and verify positional stability by comparing
machine's leveling profiles before and after setting up, i.e. accountability & quality
works.

2-axis MEMS inclinometer effectively eradicates constraints experienced when using

conventional single-axis instrument that requires leveling tasks to be conducted one axis at a
time with tedious alignment iterations, and the numerical display prevents parallax error when
reading bubble vial position from a distance.

2-Axis Digital Inclinometer

Applications
Inclinometers are used to monitor subsurface movements and deformations. Typical applications
include:

Detecting zones of movement and

establish whether movement is constant, accelerating, or responding to remedial
measures.

Checking that deformations are within design limits, that struts and anchors are
performing as expected, and that adjacent buildings are not affected by ground
movements.

Verifying stability of dams, dam abutments, and upstream slopes during and after
impoundment.

Monitoring settlement profiles of embankments, foundations, and other structures

(horizontal inclinometer).

n-Place Measurement Systems

In-Place Inclinometer Sensors

In-place measurement systems are installed when continuous monitoring is required for
construction control or safety.
The in-place system consist of one or more dedicated sensors connected to a
data logger. The sensors are positioned to span the zones where deformation is likely to
occur.
In-place inclinometer systems generate even more data than portable systems, and often
the data must be processed and distributed immediately. Slope Indicator's Atlas webbased monitoring performs this task, automatically processing the readings, checking for
alarms, and generating graphs and reports.

Spiral Checking

A spiral sensor provides readings that can be used to correct inclinometer data obtained
from spiraled casing. Spiral surveys are recommended when the installation is very deep,
when inclinometer readings indicate movement in unlikely directions, or when
difficulties were experienced during installation.