This study developed a MEMS IMU based multi-segment ground displacement sensor integrated with a groundwater-level sensor to overcome the limitations of conventional manual inclinometers for continuous and unmanned field monitoring. Indoor verificatio...
This study developed a MEMS IMU based multi-segment ground displacement sensor integrated with a groundwater-level sensor to overcome the limitations of conventional manual inclinometers for continuous and unmanned field monitoring. Indoor verification using a jointed aluminum-profile frames revealed that displacement errors may increase under certain conditions due to assembly tolerances at joints, accumulated orientation errors, and inter-axis coupling. To mitigate these effects, a linear correction matrix A accounting for cross-axis coupling was introduced, and its application demonstrated error-reduction capability in the indoor validation.
An in-situ comparison test-bed was then used to impose lateral deformation in three incremental pulling steps and to compare the proposed sensor with a manual inclinometer. The maximum error ratio was within 2.91% for the manual inclinometer and within 5.66% for the multi-segment sensor, confirming practical accuracy while highlighting a key advantage of the embedded multi-segment approach: measurements can continue even when casing curvature prevents probe passage. The groundwater-level sensor was also evaluated in a triaxial pressure chamber up to an equivalent head of 30 m, confirming reliable pressure-to-head conversion. Finally, a ~10-month site deployment recorded a maximum lateral displacement of 16.15 mm and groundwater level fluctuations within 5.04-9.29 m, demonstrating long-term, integrated displacement-water-level monitoring from a single borehole.