Useful Information On Slope Indicator

By Karen Wood


Angles of depression, elevation, and slope with respect to gravitational force are measured used special pieces of equipment called slope indicators. Other names for a slope indicator are tilt meter, slope gauge, level gauge, level meter, gradient meter, declinometer, and gradiometer among others. Currently, the number of declinometers on the market has increased a lot. This gives buyers a variety of gadgets to pick from according to their needs.

The use of inclinometers involves measuring both negative and positive slopes. Positive slopes are those where observers look upwards at objects while in negative slopes, observers look downwards. Units of measurement in most inclinometers are three and they include topo, percent, and degrees. Astrolabes are certain types of tilt gauges that were used in the Renaissance years.

The Renaissance period saw astrolabes being used widely. Their use was in navigation and location of astronomical objects. Astrolabes declined in use as technology advanced and better devices started being developed. Current tilt meters are highly functional and very developed. Sometimes turn coordinators incorporated in aircrafts are called tilt meters.

Application of technology in these devices has led to achievement of high levels of accuracy. Modern electronic level meters have sensors that allow them to reach an output resolution of up to 0.0001 degrees. The accuracy is dependent on such factors as angle range and technology used. Some lower level technologies can only achieve accuracies of 0.01 degrees. Absolute accuracy of sensors is usually a result of a combination of factors including hysteresis, sensor linearity, repeatability, zero offset, sensitivity, and temperature.

There is a lot of variance in the accuracy of electronic level meters. The variance is often dependent on the situation and the model of the device in use. The range within which accuracy usually falls is 0.01 degrees to negative or positive two degrees. Accuracy remains within the linearity specifications of a sensor under room ambient conditions.

There are many applications in which level gauges find use. Typically, they are used by engineering in the monitoring of subsurface deformations and movements. They come in handy in detecting zones of movement for the purpose of establishing consistency or acceleration in movement. During and after impoundments, the gadgets verify upstream slopes, dam abutments, and stability of dams.

Inclinometer measurement systems and inclinometer casings are the two main components that all modern inclinometers contain. Casings are for providing access for taking subsurface measurements. They come with grooves to control orientation of the sensor inside the gadget and to provide a uniform surface for one to take measurements. Casings could be cast into concrete, embedded in fill, buried in trenches, attached to structures, or installed in boreholes.

Two major types of inclinometers exist today, that is, in-place measurement systems and portable measurement systems. Like the names suggest, the former model can be moved from one place to another to measure tilt, while the latter is permanently fixed in a location. Situations that need continuous monitoring for construction control or safety are usually installed with in-place measurement systems.




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