Clinometer (forestry) - Specific Functions

Specific Functions

Inclinometers are used for:

• Determining latitude using Polaris (in the Northern Hemisphere) or the two stars of the constellation Crux (in the Southern Hemisphere).
• Determining the angle of the Earth's magnetic field with respect to the horizontal plane.
• Showing a deviation from the true vertical or horizontal.
• Surveying, to measure an angle of inclination or elevation.
• Alerting an equipment operator that it may tip over.
• Measuring angles of elevation, slope, or incline, e.g. of an embankment.
• Measuring slight differences in slopes, particularly for geophysics. Such inclinometers are, for instance, used for monitoring volcanoes, or for measuring the depth and rate of landslide movement.
• Measuring movements in walls or the ground in civil engineering projects.
• Determining the dip of beds or strata, or the slope of an embankment or cutting; a kind of plumb level.
• Some automotive safety systems.
• Indicating pitch and roll of vehicles, nautical craft, and aircraft. See turn coordinator and slip indicator.
• Monitoring the boom angle of cranes and material handlers.
• Measuring the "look angle" of a satellite antenna towards a satellite.
• Adjusting a solar panel to the optimal angle to maximize its output.
• Measuring the slope angle of a tape or chain during distance measurement.
• Measuring the height of a building, tree, or other feature using a vertical angle and a distance (determined by taping or pacing), using trigonometry.
• Measuring the angle of drilling in well logging.
• Measuring the list of a ship in still water and the roll in rough water.
• Measuring steepness of a ski slope.
• Measuring the orientation of planes and lineations in rocks, in combination with a compass, in structural geology.
• Measuring Range of Motion in the joints of the body
• Measuring the inclination angle of the pelvis. Numerous neck and back measurements require the simultaneous use of 2 inclinometers.
• Measuring the angles of elevation to, and ultimately computing the altitudes of, many things otherwise inaccessible for direct measurement.
• Measuring and fine tuning the angle of line array speaker hangs. Confirmation of the angle achieved via use of a laser built into the remote inclinometer.