A Smart-Sensor based on MEMS Technology for Monitoring Landslides

The authors propose the project of an innovative and automated inclinometric measurement system for the study of landslides. The classical approach for monitoring deep land movements is based on rigid inclinometric tubes and mobile probes; in this case measurements are directly done by skilled workers. These measurement campaigns are very expensive, so they are done once or twice a year and for this reason is not available a large amount of data. Moreover data are often affected by errors because of the used measurement method, also error contributions are due to the use of mobile probes. The development of a low cost system, based on MEMS technology, allows continue observation of deep land movement and a better modeling of such phenomena to be performed. The new inclinometric column has also flexible joints to follow better land movement and to solve problems caused by deformations of the common columns used in practice.