Evaluation of Wireless Sensor Node for Measuring Slope Inclination in Geotechnical Applications

Digital inclinometers are used in geotechnical engineering to monitor lateral deformations of excavation walls, retaining walls, embankments and landslide areas. Current conventional slope inclination measurement requires a person to manually lower a probe into a grooved casing and record inclination at prescribed intervals as the probe is drawn upwards. Developing an automated inclinometer system would enable continuous monitoring for use in intelligent construction as well as provide significant savings in terms of equipment, material and labor costs. This paper investigates the use of lowcost wireless sensor nodes as an alternative to traditional inclinometer systems used in geotechnical engineering applications.