Real-time inclinometer using accelerometer MEMS

TL;DR

This paper presents a real-time inclinometer system using MEMS accelerometers for soil displacement monitoring, aiming to provide a low-cost early warning solution for landslides.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, simple, and low-cost inclinometer design using MEMS accelerometers for real-time soil displacement detection.

Findings

System can detect soil displacements relevant to landslides

Uses small electrical signals from MEMS sensors for inclination measurement

Proposed system is accurate enough for early warning applications

Abstract

A preliminary design of inclinometer for real-time monitoring system of soil displacement is proposed. The system is developed using accelerometer sensor with microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. The main apparatus consists of a single MEMS sensor attached to a solid pipe and stucked pependicularly far away below the soil surface. The system utilizes small fractions of electrical signals from MEMS sensor induced by the pipe inclination due to soil displacements below the surface. It is argued that the system is accurate enough to detect soil displacements responsible for landslides, and then realizes a simple and low cost landslide early warning system.