Tiltmeters in Construction

Measure and track changes in inclination and tilt on the ground and surfaces

Get the Most Out of Your Tiltmeter with Inzwa Cloud:

Inzwa Cloud provides a versatile, plug-and-play solution for managing sensors in Construction and geotechnical endeavors. It accommodates a broad array of sensors and data loggers, delivering round-the-clock remote data access, user-friendly visualizations, and notifications via SMS and email. The platform streamlines workflows through pre-configured dashboards, automated report templates, and options for hosting third-party devices. Additionally, users can create tailored formulas for sophisticated, multi-device analyses, supporting accurate and efficient groundwater monitoring.

What are Tiltmeters?

A tiltmeter is a highly sensitive device designed to detect very small changes in the inclination of a surface, commonly utilized in geotechnical and structural monitoring. Older tools like spirit levels or manual inclinometers served similar purposes, but they lacked modern tiltmeters’ precision and automation. Within the construction field, tiltmeters are used to track the stability of structures such as buildings, bridges, dams, and retaining walls, ensuring that even subtle shifts in inclination are identified early to prevent potential damage or failure. The advantages of using a tiltmeter include real-time monitoring, exceptional accuracy, and seamless integration with automated systems for continuous data collection, enhancing safety, improving decision-making, and reducing the need for manual labor.

Tiltmeters from top manufacturers provide quality instruments used by engineers in Construction and geotechnical settings. The top three manufacturers are:

RST Instruments
Geokon
Durham Geo Slope

Other leading automated total station manufacturers are Inzwa, Jewell Instruments, The Fredericks Company, Wyler AG, and BeanAir GmbH.

How Tiltmeters are used in Construction:

Tiltmeters play a critical role in Construction and geotechnical applications by monitoring minute changes in the inclination of structures and surfaces. They are commonly used to assess the stability of buildings, bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, and dams during Construction or after completion. Additionally, tiltmeters help in detecting ground movement, landslides, or subsidence that could compromise structural integrity. By providing precise and real-time data, they enable engineers to identify and address potential faults such as tilting, shifting, or uneven settlement before they escalate into serious hazards. This proactive monitoring enhances safety, prevents costly damage, and ensures the long-term reliability of critical infrastructure.

What are the Main Types of Tiltmeters?

Tiltmeters use different mechanisms to measure inclination, and they can be placed into two categories: wireless and wired.

Wireless tiltmeters

Wireless tiltmeters are battery-powered instruments that transmit data remotely through wireless networks, offering flexibility and ease of deployment. Their key advantage lies in their ability to operate in hard-to-reach or remote locations without requiring extensive cabling.

The types of wireless tiltmeters include:

Wired Tiltmeters

Wired tiltmeters are connected to a data logger through cables, providing continuous power and highly reliable data transmission for long-term structural and geotechnical monitoring. Their primary advantage is consistent performance in environments where stable power and connectivity are essential.

Types of wired tiltmeters include:

Electrolytic Tiltmeters: A liquid-filled sensor is used to measure tilt with high precision, and it is connected to a data logger for continuous monitoring.
Beam Tiltmeters: Mounted on rigid beams to measure differential displacement or settlement along structures.
In-Place Inclinometers: Installed in boreholes or structures to monitor long-term tilt and deformation trends.

Integrate with Any Sensor

Inzwa Cloud is device agnostic, so you can seamlessly integrate with all your geotechnical instrumentation – without the long configuration time and even longer learning curve of other vibration monitoring systems. Alternatively, Test your devices by creating a free account on our platform.

Construction Site Case Studies

Construction Vibration Monitoring While Pile Driving on Lake Michigan

“I could see clear rises in vibration levels with each pile being driven. PPV levels remained well below the parameters of the project, which gave us all peace of mind that the home’s structural integrity was not compromised. And the data is captured for future use, should it be needed.“