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Flexible Inclinometer (Shape Array, SAA)

A spine-structure 3D deformation monitoring array for large deformation and complex conditions. Segmented like building blocks, it can be assembled on site, dismantled at project end and redeployed on the next project.

SCIS-SAA-02 · 3-AXIS · SEGMENTED & RECOVERABLE

SCIS-SAA-02 flexible inclinometer: rigid segments joined by flexible hinges, folded for transport

Overview

3D deformation, segmented & recoverable, multi-mode layout

The SCIS-SAA-02 measures displacement in X, Y and Z simultaneously through a spine-structure array of rigid sensing segments and flexible hinges. AutoID + RS485 chain up to 128 segments on a single cable — vertical in a borehole, horizontal in a trench, or ring-laid around a tunnel section.

✓
3-axis measurement, 0–360° coverage
Full all-direction sensing with no blind spots — hard to exceed range even in large deformation.
✓
±0.002° measurement accuracy
Equivalent to 0.02 mm per 500 mm, with 0.005 mm displacement resolution.
✓
180° maximum bending
Flexible hinges naturally adapt to curved layouts — tunnels, ring sections, uneven trenches.
✓
IP68 · 3 MPa, tested to 4 MPa
Backed by a Ministry of Water Resources 4 MPa test report; 8 MPa custom available.

±0.002°

Measurement Accuracy

0.005 mm

Displacement Resolution

180°

Max Bending

4 MPa

MWR Test Report

How it works

A Spine of Rigid Segments and Flexible Joints

Rigid sensing tubes alternate with flexible joints — the tubes measure, the joints take the deformation. Each rigid segment carries a 3-axis MEMS sensor that measures its own orientation in space across 0–360°; chaining every segment's vector end-to-end reconstructs the full 3D deformation shape of the borehole or structure.

Outputs: 3D shape curves, a per-segment orientation matrix and per-segment temperature records — synced automatically to the monitoring cloud.

01 · Sense

Every rigid segment measures its 3-axis orientation across 0–360° and logs its own temperature in real time.

02 · Flex

Flexible joints between segments take the bending, so measurement and deformation are cleanly separated.

03 · Reconstruct

Segment vectors are chained into the 3D shape curve; torsion correction aligns all segments to one coordinate system, better than 0.5°.

Data output

A Continuous Profile, One Point per Segment

Every rigid segment is a measurement point, so the array returns a continuous displacement profile with no blind spots — and because acquisition is automated, the deformation trajectory can be replayed in real time as it develops.

Representative shape-array output: the displacement profile along a horizontally buried array, rebuilt segment by segment; successive automated readings trace the deformation as it develops. Axes are unitless for illustration.

Specifications

Full Technical Specifications

Segment lengths of 0.3 m, 0.5 m or 1 m to match your measurement-density requirements, with sampling up to 10 kHz for dynamic events.

Parameter	Specification (SCIS-SAA-02)
Measurement dimensions	3D (X/Y/Z)
Angular range	0 ~ 360°
Measurement accuracy	±0.002° (0.02 mm / 500 mm)
Displacement resolution	0.005 mm
System stability	±0.3 mm / 30 m
Max bending angle	180°
Segment length	0.3 m / 0.5 m / 1 m options
Segments per cable	Up to 128 (AutoID auto-addressing)
Communication interface	RS-485 (Modbus RTU)
Ingress protection	IP68, 3 MPa water pressure (tested to 4 MPa)
Operating temperature	-40 ~ 60 ℃
Sampling rate	Up to 10 kHz

Engineering comparison

Designed for Reuse, Integration and Field Service

SCIS-SAA-02 uses field-assembled segments, so system length can follow each project and individual sections can be inspected, replaced or redeployed. This reduces transport, installation and lifecycle constraints common to fixed-length arrays.

Dimension	SoilCreate SCIS-SAA-02	Conventional Fixed-Length SAA
Sensor	MEMS / high-end electrolytic-solution sensor	MEMS sensor
On-site assembly	Segment-based field assembly; length adjusted on site	Factory-defined length; adjustment depends on supplier
Recovery & reuse	Designed for segment recovery and project-to-project redeployment	Depends on installation method and product configuration
Installation	Centered installation in inclinometer casing	Installation method varies by project
Protection	4 MPa standard; 8 MPa available by configuration	Varies by model
Data access	Direct raw-data interface for system integration	Depends on the vendor software ecosystem
Weight	~0.6 kg/m	Varies by configuration
Commercial model	High-value project pricing with reusable hardware	Imported-system pricing and service model

0.6 kg/m

Lightweight Array

Lower transport, hoisting and on-site handling effort.

VALUE

High-Value Pricing

World-leading accuracy with pricing designed for engineering deployment.

REUSE

Recoverable & Reusable

Dismantle, inspect and redeploy the array after project completion.

360°

All-Direction Deployment

Vertical, horizontal and ring layouts from one product.

Deployment

Three Deployment Modes, One Product

Vertical for inclinometry, horizontal for settlement, ring for convergence — the flexible structure adapts wherever rigid probes cannot go.

Vertical · Inclinometry

Deep displacement of foundation pits and slopes. Drops straight into the inclinometer casing — no guide wheels needed. The most common scenario.

Horizontal · Settlement

Settlement of subgrades and rockfill dams — buried in a trench inside a PVC conduit, pulled in by wire rope from one end.

Ring · Convergence

Tunnel cross-section convergence — laid circumferentially along the wall or lining segments; the flexible structure naturally follows the curve.

Core features

Built around two core capabilities

✓
Segmented & recoverable
Segmented design → flexible on-site assembly → dismantled & recovered at project end → transported to the next project → lower hardware amortization cost.
✓
Torsion correction
Built-in algorithm detects axial torsion → auto-computes azimuth → aligns to a unified coordinate system → correction accuracy better than 0.5°.
✓
AutoID + RS485 bus
One cable chains up to 128 segments with automatic addressing — simple wiring, open protocol, ready for any logger or platform.

Rack of assembled SCIS-SAA-02 stainless-steel sensing segments with flexible hinges

Installation

Installation: Vertical & Horizontal Paths

The deployment modes above tell you where the array goes — this is how it gets there. Vertical (chained in casing) and horizontal (trench-laid) follow two entirely different procedures that are not interchangeable: confirm which one applies before work starts.

Vertical — chained inside the casing

1
Prepare the casing
Seal the casing bottom and fill the casing with clean water.
2
Connect the controller
The lead-out cable at the top of the array connects to the controller.
3
Lower top-down
Lower the array into the casing from the top; slight bending is allowed at each flexible joint.
4
Fix and protect
Fix the array at the top and fit a protective device on the casing mouth.
5
Casing twist self-corrects
If the casing twists during monitoring, the rotation it imparts to the array is corrected automatically by the torsion-correction algorithm.

Horizontal — trench + PVC conduit

Ships as a kit: PVC conduit matched to the run, end caps and mouth fittings, traction wire rope and marker posts.

1
Excavate the trench
Trench bottom flat and level, length matched — avoid local dips.
2
Lay the conduit
Every PVC conduit seam must be sealed with PVC primer + cement — otherwise water gets in later.
3
Pull in — never push
Pull the array into the conduit with the wire rope from one end. Pushing destabilizes the flexible joints and damages the hinges.
4
Check every bend radius
At any curve the bend radius must stay ≥ R_min (about 0.3 m); any section below the limit is re-laid.
5
Finish & seal
Waterproof the lead-out end and seal the end caps.

After Burial: Remote Inspection for Horizontal Layouts

A horizontal run leaves nothing visible at the surface — periodic inspection happens remotely on the cloud platform.

1×/wk

Curve-Shape Check

Review the overall displacement-curve shape remotely every week.

1×/mo

Temperature Comparison

Compare readings against same-period per-segment temperature records.

1×/qtr

Benchmark Check

Verify benchmark stability to separate true displacement from foundation movement.

1×/yr

Metrology Spot Test

Send for a metrology-institute spot calibration every year.

Gallery

Assembly & Structure in Detail

CAD rendering of the flexible inclinometer array: rigid sensing tubes alternating with flexible joints, folded flat — Rigid sensing tubes alternate with flexible joints — the array folds flat for transport and recovery.

SAA flexible array installed around a tunnel section for convergence monitoring — Ring installation around a tunnel section — the flexible array tracks convergence along the lining curve.

CAD rendering of the assembled array folded on its deployment stand — Assembled array folded on its deployment stand, ready to pay out on site.

Lifecycle value

Every Segment Is a Reusable Asset

Recovered segments can be inspected and configured for a new project, allowing the same hardware investment to serve multiple deployments and reducing lifecycle cost with each reuse.

Initial Deployment

Modular assembly — installed by 2 people in 30 minutes.

Monitoring

Automated acquisition, zero manual effort.

Project End

Dismantled and recovered segment by segment.

Multi-Project Amortization

Hardware cost falls with each reuse.

Real monitoring output: cumulative deep-displacement profiles — depth on the vertical axis, displacement on the horizontal; successive automated readings trace the deformation history.

Same-borehole validation

Shaoxing Metro Line 2: validated against the sliding inclinometer

At Paojiang Lianghu Station, a flexible and a sliding inclinometer were installed just 20 cm apart in the same borehole. Over six months, A-axis displacement trends matched closely — proving automated SAA monitoring can fully replace manual sliding surveys with equally reliable data.

✓
Method
Two sensor types buried 20 cm apart in the same borehole.
✓
Duration
6+ months of continuous monitoring.
✓
Result
A-axis trends matched closely; the two datasets mutually verified.

Selection guide

SAA or In-Place Inclinometer — Which to Choose?

A simple rule: complex large deformation, settlement or convergence — choose the flexible SAA. Vertical deep boreholes where small displacements matter — choose the in-place inclinometer. Combining the two delivers the best results.

Feature	Flexible Inclinometer (SAA)	In-Place Inclinometer (IPI)
Structure	Flexible joints, bendable	Rigid rod, must stay straight
Measurement density	Continuous, no blind spots	Discrete (1–3 m spacing)
Range	0–360°, hard to exceed range	±15° / ±30°
Deployment	Vertical / horizontal / ring	Mainly vertical
Weight	~0.6 kg/m	Carbon fiber 0.12 kg/m (lighter)
Best for	Complex large deformation / settlement / convergence	Small displacements in vertical deep boreholes

Monitoring a vertical deep borehole with small displacements? Explore the In-Place Inclinometer →

Track record

Four Benchmark Case Studies

From same-borehole validation to a tidal pattern no human survey could ever catch — each case proves a different capability.

Same-borehole · 2022

Shaoxing Metro Line 2 · Paojiang Lianghu Station

Flexible and sliding inclinometers installed 20 cm apart in the same borehole. Six months of monitoring: A-axis trends matched closely — automation reliably replaces manual surveys.

Alert validation · 2020

Suzhou Metro Line 5 · Jinchu Street Station

Automated monitoring triggered a displacement-rate alert, catching sudden displacement from delayed strut installation — proof of high-frequency response to sudden conditions.

Tidal finding · 2023

Suzhou Xiangcheng Foundation Pit

High-frequency sampling revealed twice-daily periodic fluctuation of the retaining structure — a tidal deformation pattern undetectable by manual surveys, linking groundwater level to structural deformation.

300 m borehole · 2022

Baihetan Hydropower Station · Ultra-Deep Borehole

High-precision monitoring in a 300 m-class ultra-deep borehole, operating stably long-term in harsh conditions — product reliability proven under extreme conditions.

More deployments: Hangzhou Metro Line 3 · Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel (65 units) · Shanghai Metro Line 18 · Nanning CNPC pipeline geohazard monitoring

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Horizontal settlement profiles or tunnel convergence rings — flexible array or in-place inclinometer?

Choose the flexible array. The in-place inclinometer (IPI) is a rigid-rod string deployed mainly vertically, while the flexible array installs vertically, horizontally or in curved/ring layouts. For subgrade and rockfill-dam settlement it is trench-buried horizontally; for tunnel cross-section convergence it is laid circumferentially along the wall or lining segments. The rule works both ways: in a vertical deep borehole where small displacements dominate, the IPI is the better fit — and combining the two delivers the best results.

Does vertical installation need inclinometer casing with guide grooves?

No. The array drops straight into the casing with no guide wheels, and no casing guide grooves are needed. Forced centering inside the casing keeps the array tightly fitted against the casing wall.

What is the minimum bend radius?

Flexible does not mean "bend freely": at any curve the bend radius must stay at or above R_min, about 0.3 m. Bending below that limit sharply shortens the array's design life, so any non-conforming section is re-laid rather than delivered.

Can I push the array into the conduit on a horizontal run?

Never. Pushing destabilizes the flexible joints and can damage the hinges. The array is always pulled into the PVC conduit with a wire rope from the far end.

How does recovery and reuse work between projects?

At project end the array is dismantled and recovered segment by segment, inspected, shipped to the next site and re-assembled to the length required by the new project. Modular assembly takes 2 people about 30 minutes, and each qualified reuse reduces lifecycle hardware cost.

How is axial torsion handled?

A built-in algorithm detects axial torsion, computes the azimuth and aligns all segments to a unified coordinate system, with correction accuracy better than 0.5°. In vertical installs, twist imparted by the casing during monitoring is corrected automatically.

How do I inspect and maintain a horizontal layout once it is buried?

Remotely, on the cloud platform: check the overall curve shape weekly, compare same-period temperature records monthly, verify benchmark stability quarterly, and send for a metrology-institute spot test yearly. A single drifting segment can be located remotely and just that segment lifted; data-uplink interruptions (controller power, 4G link, SIM) are diagnosed remotely first.

The whole curve jumped — or has drifted slowly for months. What does each signature mean?

A sudden jump across the entire curve indicates a broken flexible joint: the full array is lifted and re-laid. Long-term slow drift usually means the trench itself is settling and dragging the array — reconcile readings against the benchmark point to separate true displacement from foundation movement. A drift surge on one single segment points instead to sensor damage or water ingress in that segment; it is located remotely so only that segment needs lifting.