Development and Performance Assessment of a Low-Cost Arduino-Based Structural Tilt Monitoring System for Real-Time Civil Infrastructure Safety

Document Types

Paper Presentation

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Computer and Software Technology, and Robotics (CSR)

School Name

National University - MOA

Track or Strand

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Balili, Jun P. & Marticio, Jordan Austin O.

Start Date

25-6-2026 10:30 AM

End Date

25-6-2026 12:00 PM

Zoom Link/ Room Assignment

Online - https://zoom.us/j/91936856247?pwd=oCMfMsh44I2wb0dYsEgoInDJy59bOq.1 Meeting ID: 919 3685 6247 | Passcode: research

Abstract/Executive Summary

Civil infrastructure in the Philippines faces persistent structural risks from seismic and hydrological hazards, yet most local government units and public institutions lack access to affordable structural monitoring tools. Existing inclinometer systems, while precise, often exceed ₱650,000 per installation, rendering them impractical for resource-limited settings. This study aimed to develop and evaluate STRATA (Structural Tilt Response and Assessment Apparatus), a low-cost Arduino-based tilt monitoring prototype integrating an Arduino Nano microcontroller and an MPU6050 MEMS accelerometer-gyroscope sensor, for preliminary civil engineering applications. A quantitative quasi-experimental design was employed, wherein STRATA was tested against a smartphone-based digital inclinometer application (Clinometer + bubble level) across five incremental angular positions under controlled laboratory conditions. Performance indicators included measurement agreements in pitch and roll, angular resolution, and drift stability over a 24-hour monitoring period. Results showed that STRATA produced mean roll and pitch measurements closely aligned with the reference instrument, with percentage errors ranging from 0.65% to 4.00% for roll and 0.83% to 3.16% for pitch. Independent samples’ t-test at α = 0.05 yielded no statistically significant differences across all tested angles, leading to failure to reject the null hypothesis. Both drift analyses confirmed stable output with no observable variation over 24 hours, and an operational resolution of 0.1° was demonstrated for both axes. The total assembly cost of STRATA was also significantly lower than commercial alternatives. These findings support the viability of STRATA as an accessible supplementary tool for preliminary structural tilt monitoring in hazard-prone, resource-limited Philippine infrastructure contexts.

Keywords

structural tilt monitoring, MEMS sensor, MPU6050, low-cost inclinometer, civil infrastructure safety

Statement of Originality

yes

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Jun 25th, 10:30 AM Jun 25th, 12:00 PM

Development and Performance Assessment of a Low-Cost Arduino-Based Structural Tilt Monitoring System for Real-Time Civil Infrastructure Safety

Civil infrastructure in the Philippines faces persistent structural risks from seismic and hydrological hazards, yet most local government units and public institutions lack access to affordable structural monitoring tools. Existing inclinometer systems, while precise, often exceed ₱650,000 per installation, rendering them impractical for resource-limited settings. This study aimed to develop and evaluate STRATA (Structural Tilt Response and Assessment Apparatus), a low-cost Arduino-based tilt monitoring prototype integrating an Arduino Nano microcontroller and an MPU6050 MEMS accelerometer-gyroscope sensor, for preliminary civil engineering applications. A quantitative quasi-experimental design was employed, wherein STRATA was tested against a smartphone-based digital inclinometer application (Clinometer + bubble level) across five incremental angular positions under controlled laboratory conditions. Performance indicators included measurement agreements in pitch and roll, angular resolution, and drift stability over a 24-hour monitoring period. Results showed that STRATA produced mean roll and pitch measurements closely aligned with the reference instrument, with percentage errors ranging from 0.65% to 4.00% for roll and 0.83% to 3.16% for pitch. Independent samples’ t-test at α = 0.05 yielded no statistically significant differences across all tested angles, leading to failure to reject the null hypothesis. Both drift analyses confirmed stable output with no observable variation over 24 hours, and an operational resolution of 0.1° was demonstrated for both axes. The total assembly cost of STRATA was also significantly lower than commercial alternatives. These findings support the viability of STRATA as an accessible supplementary tool for preliminary structural tilt monitoring in hazard-prone, resource-limited Philippine infrastructure contexts.

https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2026/BoA_CSR/6