Drain inspection notification system

Abstract

To provide a system which remotely monitors a drain with a simple and inexpensive configuration to detect the inspection time thereof.SOLUTION: A system for detecting the inspection time of a drain comprises: a reflection board 24 which is installed close to a drain and reflects light to be applied to the drain; a first illuminometer 22 for measuring the illuminance of reflection light on the reflection board 24; a second illuminometer 30 for measuring the illuminance of the light to be applied to the drain; and a server. The server stores a difference of a measured value of the first illuminometer 22 relative to a measured value of the second illuminometer 30 in a state where foreign matter does not deposit on the reflection board 24 in a storage unit as a standard illuminance difference. The server receives the measured values of the first and second illuminometers 22, 30 at a predetermined sampling period to calculate a measured illuminance difference as a difference of the measured value of the first illuminometer 22 relative to the measured value of the second illuminometer 30. The server detects the inspection time of the drain by comparing the standard illumination difference with the measured illuminance difference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system for notifying when it is time to inspect a drain. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-62643 (Patent Document 1) discloses a discharge device for discharging sediments such as sand, earth, and fallen leaves that have accumulated in rain gutters. In Patent Document 1, a sediment sensor and an optical sensor are installed in the rain gutters to detect the presence or absence of sediment in the gutters. The outputs of these sensors are sent to a control panel installed on the exterior wall of the house. The control panel is configured to send water into the rain gutters to discharge the sediments if the presence of sediment is detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-62643 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to remotely monitor drains and determine when they need to be inspected, it is necessary to use a sensor to detect the presence or absence of deposits in the drain and transmit the sensor's output signal over a long distance to a remote monitoring device. If a highly accurate sensor such as an imaging camera is used to accurately detect the presence or absence of deposits, a large amount of data will be transmitted from the sensor to the monitoring device, requiring a wide communication bandwidth. As a result, there is a concern that the operating costs of the system will increase.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system that can remotely monitor a drain with a simple and inexpensive configuration and detect when it needs to be inspected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for detecting when a drain needs to be inspected. The system includes a reflector installed near the drain for reflecting light irradiated onto the drain, a first illuminance meter for measuring the illuminance of the light reflected by the reflector, a second illuminance meter for measuring the illuminance of the light irradiated onto the drain, and a server connected to and communicating with the first and second illuminance meters. The server includes a storage device and is configured to store in the storage device a difference between the measurement value of the first illuminance meter and the measurement value of the second illuminance meter when no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector as a reference illuminance difference. The server receives the measurement values of the first and second illuminance meters at a predetermined sampling period and calculates a measured illuminance difference, which is the difference between the measurement value of the first illuminance meter and the measurement value of the second illuminance meter. The server detects when the drain needs to be inspected by comparing the reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a system for remotely monitoring a drain and detecting when it needs to be inspected can be constructed easily and inexpensively. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a drain inspection timing detection system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] Plan and side views of the rooftop. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a drain detector. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a process executed by a server to detect when to inspect a roof drain; FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a basic illuminance difference DB. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a measurement value DB. [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inspection necessity determination table. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process executed by a server. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the drain inspection timing detection system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a diagram for explaining a process executed by the server for detecting the time for drain inspection; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated in principle.

[0010] <Configuration of drain inspection timing detection system> 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a drain inspection timing detection system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Drain inspection timing detection system 100 according to the present embodiment is a system for automatically detecting the time for drain inspection and notifying a user. A drain is a drain outlet or a drainage equipment item attached to a drain outlet.

[0011] The drain is, for example, a roof drain installed on the roof of a building. Figure 2 shows a plan view (Figure 2(A)) and a side view (Figure 2(B)) of the roof. A drain ditch 12 is formed around the outer edge of the roof. Roof drains 18 are installed at the four corners of the drain ditch 12. The roof drain 18 is prone to becoming clogged with foreign matter such as garbage, dirt, and fallen leaves that accumulate in the drain ditch 12. For this reason, the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected and cleaned regularly to prevent the flow of wastewater from being obstructed.

[0012] On the other hand, because the likelihood of clogging with foreign matter is affected by factors such as wind volume, rainfall, and the amount of foreign matter, it is difficult to determine when to inspect the roof drain 18. One method for determining when to inspect the roof drain 18 is to install a camera on the roof to capture images of the roof drain 18 and remotely monitor the roof drain 18. However, this method requires the camera to transmit a large amount of captured image data to the monitoring device, which requires a wide communications bandwidth, raising concerns that this could increase the operating costs of the system.

[0013] Therefore, this embodiment provides a method for detecting the time for inspection of the roof drain 18 and notifying the user of this with a simpler and less expensive configuration.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the drain inspection timing detection system 100 includes a drain detector 20, a street light illuminance meter 30, a communication device 40, a server 50, a weather forecast server 60, and a user terminal .

[0015] The drain detector 20 is used to detect the accumulation of foreign matter in the roof drain 18. As shown in Fig. 2, the drain detector 20 is disposed in the vicinity of the roof drain 18. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the drain detector 20.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3(A), the drain detector 20 includes a drain illuminance meter 22 and a reflector 24. The reflector 24 is a plate for reflecting light that is irradiated onto the roof drain 18. The reflector 24 is installed at the bottom of the drain ditch 12 with its reflective surface facing vertically upward. The drain illuminance meter 22 is disposed above the reflective surface of the reflector 24. The drain illuminance meter 22 measures the illuminance of light reflected by the reflector 24. A known illuminance meter can be used for the drain illuminance meter 22. The drain illuminance meter 22 corresponds to one embodiment of the "first illuminance meter."

[0017] FIG. 3(A) shows the drain detector 20 when no foreign matter has accumulated in the drain ditch 12. The wastewater flowing through the drain ditch 12 is discharged through the roof drain 18. Because no foreign matter has accumulated in the roof drain 18, no foreign matter is placed on the reflector 24 disposed close to the roof drain 18. In this case, as shown by the arrow in the figure, sunlight L is incident on the reflective surface of the reflector 24 and is reflected by the reflective surface. The drain illuminance meter 22 measures the illuminance of the reflected light.

[0018] In contrast, when foreign matter such as fallen leaves 200 has accumulated in the drain ditch 12, the fallen leaves 200 are washed away by the drainage and accumulate in the roof drain 18, as shown in Figure 3(B), making it difficult for the drainage to flow. Fallen leaves 200 are also placed on the reflector 24 arranged close to the roof drain 18. These fallen leaves 200 prevent sunlight L from reaching the reflective surface of the reflector 24, so the amount of sunlight L incident on the reflector 24 is reduced compared to the state shown in Figure 3(A). As a result, the illuminance of the reflected light measured by the drain illuminometer 22 also decreases.

[0019] The drain illuminance meter 22 is provided with a wireless communication device (not shown). The wireless communication device transmits a signal indicating the measurement value of the reflected light to the communication device 40 at a predetermined sampling period using a communication method conforming to a wireless communication standard such as LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). LPWA is a wireless communication technology that enables long-distance data communication with low power consumption. LPWA uses a low-speed narrow band, making long-distance data communication over distances of more than 10 km possible. Since long-distance communication is essential for remote monitoring of the roof drain 18, LPWA is suitable for transmitting and receiving data at regular time intervals using an illuminance meter that transmits a small amount of data, although its communication speed is slower than Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0020] Returning to FIG. 1, the streetlight illuminance meter 30 is a device for measuring the illuminance of sunlight shining on the roof drain 18. The streetlight illuminance meter 30 corresponds to one embodiment of the "second illuminance meter." As shown in FIG. 2, the streetlight illuminance meter 30 is attached to a streetlight 14 installed on the roof. A known illuminance meter can be used for the streetlight illuminance meter 30. The illuminance meter is not limited to being installed on the streetlight 14, and may be installed in any position where it can constantly measure the illuminance of sunlight without being obstructed by other equipment.

[0021] The streetlight illuminance meter 30 is provided with a wireless communication device (not shown). The wireless communication device transmits a signal indicating the measured value of solar radiation to the communication device 40 at a predetermined sampling period using a communication method conforming to a wireless communication standard such as LPWA.

[0022] The communication device 40 functions as a relay device for transferring data from the drain detector 20 and the street light illuminance meter 30 to the server 50. The communication device 40 is connected to a communication network such as the Internet. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 40 is attached near an entrance / exit 16 provided on the roof of a building. The communication device 40 transmits signals received from the drain detector 20 and the street light illuminance meter 30 to the server 50 using a communication method complying with a wireless communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution).

[0023] The server 50 is a server for managing the inspection timing of the roof drain 18. The server 50 is connected to a weather forecast server 60 and a user terminal 70 via a communication network so as to be able to exchange data. Specifically, the server 50 transmits location information of the area in which the building is located to the weather forecast server 60. The weather forecast server 60 transmits information about the weather in the area in which the building is located to the server 50 based on the location information.

[0024] The user terminal 70 is a communication terminal owned by a manager who manages the cleaning of a building, etc. The user terminal 70 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet, or a personal computer.

[0025] The server 50 is configured to detect the time to inspect the roof drain 18 based on the measurement values of the drain detector 20 and the street light illuminance meter 30, and weather information. Specifically, the server 50 has a measurement value DB (database) 52, a basic illuminance difference DB 54, and an inspection necessity determination table 56. These DBs and tables are stored in a storage device 88 of the server 50 (see FIG. 2).

[0026] The measurement value DB 52 is a DB for storing measurement values transmitted from the drain detector 20 and the street light illuminance meter 30 via the communication device 40 at each sampling period. The basic illuminance difference DB 54 is a DB for storing, as a "basic illuminance difference," the difference between the measurement value of the street light illuminance meter 30 and the measurement value of the drain detector 20 in a state where no foreign matter has accumulated in the roof drain 18 (see FIG. 3(B)). Each DB will be described in detail later.

[0027] The server 50 uses the measurement value DB 52 and the basic illuminance difference DB 54 to determine whether or not the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected. The result of the determination as to whether or not the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected is recorded in an inspection necessity determination table 56. Based on this determination result, the server 50 detects when it is time to inspect the roof drain 18 and notifies the user terminal 70. The server 50 will be described in detail later.

[0028] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server 50. As shown in Fig. 4, the server 50 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 80, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 82, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 84, an I / F (Interface) device 86, and a storage device 88. The CPU 80, RAM 82, ROM 84, I / F device 86, and storage device 88 exchange various types of data via a communication bus 90.

[0029] The CPU 80 loads a program stored in the ROM 84 into the RAM 82 and executes it. The program stored in the ROM 84 describes the processes to be executed by the server 50.

[0030] The I / F device 86 is an input / output device for exchanging signals and data with the communication device 40, the weather forecast server 60, and the user terminal 70. The I / F device 86 receives measurement values from the drain detector 20 and the street light illuminance meter 30 from the communication device 40 using a communication method conforming to a wireless communication standard such as LTE. The I / F device 86 also receives weather information for the area where the building is located from the weather forecast server 60. The I / F device 86 transmits a notification to the user terminal 70 that it is time to inspect the roof drain 18.

[0031] The memory device 88 is a storage for storing various types of information, and stores position information of the drain detector 20 and the streetlight illuminance meter 30, etc. The memory device 88 also stores the measurement value DB 52, the basic illuminance difference DB 54, and the inspection necessity determination table 56. The various types of data stored in the memory device 88 will be explained in detail later. The memory device 88 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), etc.

[0032] <Operation of the drain inspection timing detection system> Next, the operation of the drain inspection timing detection system 100 will be described.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the process executed by the server 50 to detect when the roof drain 18 should be inspected.

[0034] FIG. 5(A) shows a state in which no foreign matter has accumulated on the roof drain 18 and no foreign matter has been placed on the reflector 24 of the drain detector 20. As indicated by the arrows in the figure, sunlight L is incident on the reflector surface of the reflector 24 and is reflected by the reflector surface. The drain illuminance meter 22 measures the illuminance of the reflected light at predetermined sampling intervals. The measured value of the illuminance of the reflected light by the drain illuminance meter 22 is transmitted to the server 50 via the communication device 40.

[0035] The street light illuminance meter 30 measures the illuminance of sunlight L at each sampling period. The sampling period of the drain illuminance meter 22 and the sampling period of the street light illuminance meter 30 are the same. The measurement value of the illuminance of sunlight by the street light illuminance meter 30 is transmitted to the server 50 via the communication device 40.

[0036] When the server 50 receives the measurement values of the drain illuminance meter 22 and the street light illuminance meter 30, it stores the received measurement values in the basic illuminance difference DB 54. The server 50 also receives weather information for the measurement date and time from the weather forecast server 60, and stores the received weather information in the basic illuminance difference DB 54.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the basic illuminance difference DB 54. As shown in Fig. 6, the basic illuminance difference DB 54 includes data on weather information, measurement times of the street light illuminometer 30 and the drain detector 20, street light illuminance measured by the street light illuminometer 30, drain illuminance measured by the drain detector 20, and basic illuminance differences.

[0038] The server 50 calculates the basic illuminance difference by subtracting the drain illuminance from the street light illuminance for each measurement time. As will be described later, the basic illuminance difference is used to determine whether or not the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected. The server 50 records the calculated basic illuminance difference in the basic illuminance difference column for the corresponding measurement time. For example, the first line of the basic illuminance difference DB 54 indicates that at 6:00 on a sunny day in January, the street light illuminance is 60,000 (lux) and the drain illuminance is 40,000 (lux). The basic illuminance difference is 60,000 - 40,000 = 20,000 (lux).

[0039] 6, the sampling period is set to 30 minutes. On a sunny day in January, the server 50 stores the street light illuminance and drain illuminance every 30 minutes in the basic illuminance difference DB 54, and also stores the basic illuminance difference calculated from these measurement values in the basic illuminance difference DB 54. The measurement start time and measurement end time for each day can be set according to the sunshine hours on that day.

[0040] Similarly, on cloudy and rainy (or snowy) days in January, the server 50 stores the street light illuminance and drain illuminance every 30 minutes in the basic illuminance difference DB 54, and also calculates the basic illuminance difference from these measured values and stores it in the basic illuminance difference DB 54.

[0041] In this way, the server 50 is configured to acquire the streetlight illuminance and drain illuminance on sunny, cloudy, and rainy days when no foreign matter has accumulated in the roof drain 18, and the basic illuminance difference, which is the difference between these measured values, for each month throughout the year, and store these values in the basic illuminance difference DB 54. This takes into account that sunlight illuminance changes with the seasons and weather. For example, in Japan, the sun's altitude is highest around the summer solstice and lowest around the winter solstice, so streetlight illuminance tends to be relatively higher in summer than in winter. Furthermore, sunlight illuminance is lower on cloudy and rainy days than on sunny days, so streetlight illuminance also tends to decrease. As a result, even when no foreign matter has accumulated in the roof drain 18, the basic illuminance difference changes with the seasons and weather. By storing the changes in the basic illuminance difference over the course of a year in a database, it becomes possible to accurately determine whether the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected, regardless of the season or weather.

[0042] The basic illuminance difference DB 54 is created as a preliminary preparation for executing a process to detect when the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected. The basic illuminance difference DB 54 needs to be created once, when no foreign matter has accumulated on the roof drain 18. The street light illuminance on sunny days for each month stored in the basic illuminance difference DB 54 may be the average value of the street light illuminance obtained on sunny days for that month. The drain illuminance on sunny days for each month may be the average value of the drain illuminance obtained on sunny days for that month. The street light illuminance and drain illuminance on cloudy days and rainy days for each month may also be the average value of the street light illuminance and drain illuminance obtained on cloudy or rainy days for that month.

[0043] Returning to FIG. 5, FIG. 5(B) shows a state in which foreign matter has accumulated on the roof drain 18 and is also on the reflector 24 of the drain detector 20. As indicated by the arrows in the figure, part of the sunlight L is incident on the reflector surface of the reflector 24 and reflected by the reflector surface. As the amount of accumulated foreign matter increases, the amount of incident light decreases, and therefore the reflected light also decreases. The drain illuminance meter 22 measures the illuminance of the reflected light at each sampling period. The measured value of the illuminance of the reflected light by the drain illuminance meter 22 is transmitted to the server 50 via the communication device 40.

[0044] The street light illuminance meter 30 measures the illuminance of sunlight L at each sampling period. The measured value of the illuminance of sunlight by the street light illuminance meter 30 is transmitted to the server 50 via the communication device 40.

[0045] When the server 50 receives the measurement values of the drain illuminance meter 22 and the street light illuminance meter 30, it stores the received measurement values in the measurement value DB 52. The server 50 further receives weather information at the measurement date and time from the weather forecast server 60 and stores the received weather information in the measurement value DB 52.

[0046] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the measurement value DB 52. As shown in Fig. 7, the measurement value DB 52 includes data on weather information, measurement times of the street light illuminometer 30 and the drain detector 20, street light illuminance as a measurement value of the street light illuminometer 30, drain illuminance as a measurement value of the drain detector 20, and the measured illuminance difference.

[0047] For each measurement date and time, the server 50 calculates the measured illuminance difference by subtracting the drain illuminance from the street light illuminance. The server 50 records the calculated measured illuminance difference in the measured illuminance difference column for the corresponding measurement time. For example, the second row of the measurement value DB 52 shows that at 11:30 on November 13th, a sunny day, the street light illuminance was 80,000 (lux) and the drain illuminance was 40,000 (lux). The measured illuminance difference is 80,000 - 60,000 = 20,000 (lux).

[0048] The measured illuminance difference increases as the drain illuminance decreases relative to the streetlight illuminance. As described above, the drain illuminance decreases as the amount of foreign matter accumulated in the roof drain 18 increases. In other words, as the amount of foreign matter accumulated in the roof drain 18 increases, the measured illuminance difference also increases.

[0049] The server 50 stores the street light illuminance and drain illuminance in the measurement value DB 52 every sampling period (30 minutes), and also stores the measured illuminance difference calculated from these measurement values in the measurement value DB 52. The measurement start time and measurement end time for each day can be set according to the sunshine hours on that day.

[0050] The server 50 determines whether or not the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected based on the basic illuminance difference stored in the basic illuminance difference DB 54 and the measured illuminance difference stored in the measurement value DB 52. The server 50 records the determination result in an inspection necessity determination table 56. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection necessity determination table 56. In FIG. 8, the basic illuminance difference DB 54 and the measurement value DB 52 are shown together with the inspection necessity determination table 56.

[0051] The server 50 reads from the basic illuminance difference DB 54 the basic illuminance difference measured in the same month and time and in the same weather as the measured illuminance difference stored in the measurement value DB 52. In the example of Fig. 8, as indicated by the solid arrow, the basic illuminance difference acquired at 11:30 on a sunny day in November, corresponding to the measured illuminance difference when the weather is sunny at 11:30 on November 13, is read from the basic illuminance difference DB 54. Furthermore, as indicated by the dashed arrow, the basic illuminance difference acquired at 10:00 on a cloudy day in December, corresponding to the measured illuminance difference when the weather is cloudy at 10:00 on December 15, is read from the basic illuminance difference DB 54.

[0052] Next, the server 50 compares the read-out basic illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference. Specifically, the server 50 calculates the ratio of the measured illuminance difference to the basic illuminance difference by dividing the measured illuminance difference by the basic illuminance difference. If the measured illuminance difference is 20,000 lux on a sunny day in November at 11:30, and the basic illuminance difference on a sunny day in November is 20,000 lux, the ratio is 20,000 / 20,000 = 100%. Similarly, if the measured illuminance difference is 20,000 lux on a cloudy day in December at 10:00, and the basic illuminance difference on a cloudy day in December is 5,000 lux, the ratio is 20,000 / 5,000 = 400%.

[0053] The server 50 records the calculated ratio in the comparison result column of the inspection necessity determination table 56. As shown in Fig. 8, the comparison result of 100% is recorded in the row for 11:30 on November 13th in the inspection necessity determination table 56. The comparison result of 400% is recorded in the row for 10:00 on December 15th.

[0054] Next, the server 50 determines whether or not the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected based on the comparison result recorded in the inspection necessity determination table 56. Specifically, the server 50 compares the ratio, which is the comparison result, with a predetermined threshold value. The threshold value is set to a value greater than 100% (for example, 300%). The administrator can change the threshold value as appropriate depending on the amount and type of foreign matter accumulated on the roof.

[0055] If the comparison result (ratio) is smaller than the threshold value, the server 50 estimates that the amount of foreign matter accumulated in the roof drain 18 is small. In this case, the server 50 determines that inspection of the roof drain 18 is not necessary, and records "No" in the inspection necessity column of the inspection necessity determination table 56. In the example of Fig. 8, the comparison result (ratio) at 11:30 on November 13th is 100%, which is below the threshold value of 300%, so the server 50 determines that inspection of the roof drain 18 is not necessary.

[0056] On the other hand, if the comparison result (ratio) is greater than the threshold value, the server 50 estimates that there is a large amount of foreign matter accumulated in the roof drain 18. In this case, the server 50 determines that an inspection of the roof drain 18 is necessary, and records "required" in the inspection necessity column of the inspection necessity determination table 56. In the example of Fig. 8, the ratio at 10:00 on December 15th was 400%, which exceeds the threshold value of 300%, so the server 50 determines that an inspection of the roof drain 18 is necessary.

[0057] The server 50 notifies the user terminal 70 of the time to inspect the roof drain 18 based on the inspection necessity determination table 56. Specifically, if "necessary" is recorded in the inspection necessity column of the inspection necessity determination table 56, the server 50 notifies the user terminal 70 that it is time to inspect the roof drain 18. The manager can find out when it is time to inspect the roof drain 18 via the user terminal 70.

[0058] 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing executed by the server 50. The series of processing shown in this flowchart is executed at each predetermined control cycle. Hereinafter, step will be abbreviated as S. Note that, prior to execution of this flowchart, the basic illuminance difference DB 54 (see FIG. 6) is stored in the storage device 88 of the server 50.

[0059] 9, in S01, the server 50 receives the measurement value of the illuminance of sunlight (streetlight illuminance) by the streetlight illuminance meter 30 from the communication device 40. In S02, the server 50 receives the measurement value of the illuminance of reflected light by the drain detector 20 (drain illuminance) from the communication device 40.

[0060] In S03, the server 50 receives weather information for the measurement date and time from the weather forecast server 60. In S04, the server 50 stores in the measurement value DB 52 the measurement values and weather information received in S01 to S03.

[0061] Next, in S05, the server 50 calculates the measured illuminance difference by subtracting the drain illuminance from the streetlight illuminance at the measurement date and time. The server 50 records the calculated measured illuminance difference in the measured illuminance difference column for the corresponding measurement date and time.

[0062] In S06, the server 50 reads from the basic illuminance difference DB 54 the basic illuminance difference measured in the same month and time as the measured illuminance difference stored in the measurement value DB 52, and in the same weather.

[0063] Next, in S07, the server 50 compares the basic illuminance difference read in S06 with the measured illuminance difference calculated in S05. In S07, the server 50 calculates the ratio of the measured illuminance difference to the basic illuminance difference by dividing the measured illuminance difference by the basic illuminance difference.

[0064] In S08, the server 50 compares the comparison result (ratio) with the threshold value. If the comparison result (ratio) is greater than the threshold value (YES in S08), the server 50 determines in S09 that inspection of the roof drain 18 is necessary. The server 50 proceeds to S10 and records "necessary" in the inspection necessity column of the inspection necessity determination table 56.

[0065] Next, in S11, the server 50 notifies the user terminal 70 that it is time to inspect the roof drain 18. The manager can know the inspection time for the roof drain 18 via the user terminal 70.

[0066] In S08, if the comparison result (ratio) is equal to or less than the threshold value (NO in S08), the server 50 determines in S12 that inspection of the roof drain 18 is unnecessary. In this case, in S13, the server 50 records "No" in the inspection necessity column of the inspection necessity determination table 56, and ends the processing.

[0067] <Effects of the embodiment> As explained above, the drain inspection time detection system 100 according to this embodiment comprises a streetlight illuminance meter 30 that measures the illuminance of sunlight shining on the roof drain 18, and a drain detector 20 that measures the illuminance of light reflected from the reflector 24 arranged close to the roof drain 18, and is configured to detect the time for inspection of the roof drain 18 based on the illuminance difference, which is the difference between these measured values. This makes it possible to easily and inexpensively build a system for remotely monitoring the roof drain 18 and detecting its inspection time by using an illuminance meter with a low amount of communication data and wireless communication technology such as LPWA that achieves long-distance communication with low power consumption.

[0068] Furthermore, taking into account that sunlight illuminance changes depending on the season and weather, the drain inspection time detection system 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to obtain basic illuminance differences from measurement values on sunny, cloudy, and rainy days when no foreign matter has accumulated on the roof drain 18, for each month throughout the year, and store these in the basic illuminance difference DB 54. The system is then configured to read from the basic illuminance difference DB 54 the basic illuminance difference measured in the same month and time as the measured illuminance difference stored in the measurement value DB 52, and use this for determination. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not the roof drain 18 needs to be inspected, without being affected by changes in sunlight illuminance.

[0069] <Other configuration examples> In the above-described embodiment, an example configuration of the drain inspection time detection system 100 for detecting the time to inspect the roof drain 18 installed on the roof of a building has been described, but the drain inspection time detection system 100 according to this embodiment can also be applied to a configuration for detecting the time to inspect a drain installed indoors.

[0070] As an example, as shown in FIG. 10, the street light illuminance meter 30 can be changed to an indoor illuminance meter 32 for measuring the illuminance of indoor lighting, and the drain detector 20 installed in the drain can be configured to have a reflector 24 that reflects indoor lighting and a drain illuminance meter 22 that measures the illuminance of the reflected light.

[0071] 11, the basic illuminance difference DB 54 includes data on the measurement times of the indoor illuminometer 32 and the drain detector 20, the indoor illuminance measured by the indoor illuminometer 32, the drain illuminance measured by the drain detector 20, and the basic illuminance difference. Note that, since the measurement is indoors, weather information and information on the date and time of measurement are basically unnecessary. However, if the brightness of the illumination light changes depending on the time of day, it is necessary to record information on the time of measurement.

[0072] When the server 50 receives the measurement values of the drain illuminance meter 22 and the indoor illuminance meter 32 at each sampling period, the server 50 stores the received measurement values in the measurement value DB 52. The measurement value DB 52 includes data on the measurement times of the indoor illuminance meter 32 and the drain detector 20, the indoor illuminance measured by the indoor illuminance meter 32, the drain illuminance measured by the drain detector 20, and the measured illuminance difference.

[0073] The server 50 determines whether or not a drain inspection is necessary based on the basic illuminance difference stored in the basic illuminance difference DB 54 and the measured illuminance difference stored in the measurement value DB 52, and records the determination result in the inspection necessity determination table 56. At this time, the server 50 reads out from the basic illuminance difference DB 54 the basic illuminance difference measured at the same time as the measured illuminance difference stored in the measurement value DB 52, and uses this for the determination. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not a drain inspection is necessary without being affected by changes in the illuminance of the illumination light.

[0074] If it is determined that the drain needs to be inspected, the server 50 notifies the user terminal 70 that it is time to inspect the drain.

[0075] [Note] The above-described embodiment is a specific example of the following additional notes.

[0076] (Appendix 1) A system for detecting when to inspect a drain, a reflector disposed adjacent to the drain for reflecting light irradiated onto the drain; a first illuminometer that measures the illuminance of light reflected by the reflector; a second illuminance meter that measures the illuminance of light irradiated onto the drain; a server connected in communication with the first and second illuminance meters; the server includes a storage device, and is configured to store in the storage device a difference between the measurement value of the first illuminance meter and the measurement value of the second illuminance meter in a state in which no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector, as a reference illuminance difference; The server receiving measurement values from the first and second illuminance meters at a predetermined sampling period; calculating a measured illuminance difference, which is the difference between the measured value of the first illuminance meter and the measured value of the second illuminance meter; A drain inspection time detection system that detects the time to inspect the drain by comparing the reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference.

[0077] (Appendix 2) The drain is installed outdoors, The reflector is configured to reflect sunlight that is incident on the drain, the server is configured to store in the storage device the reference illuminance difference between the measurement values of the first and second illuminometers in a state where no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector, in association with information on the date and time when the measurement values were taken and information on weather, The server At each sampling period, the reference illuminance difference, which corresponds to the measured illuminance difference and the date, time, and weather at which the measured value was measured, is read from the storage device; The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1, wherein the time to inspect the drain is detected by comparing the read-out reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference.

[0078] (Appendix 3) The drain is installed indoors, The reflector is configured to reflect illumination light that is irradiated onto the drain, the server is configured to store in the storage device the reference illuminance difference between the measurement values of the first and second illuminometers in a state where no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector, in association with information relating to the time at which the measurement value was measured; The server For each sampling period, the reference illuminance difference at which the measured illuminance difference and the measurement value were measured at the same time is read from the storage device; The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1, wherein the time to inspect the drain is detected by comparing the read-out reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference.

[0079] (Appendix 4) The drain inspection time detection system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the server calculates a ratio of the measured illuminance difference to the reference illuminance difference, and determines that inspection of the drain is necessary when the ratio exceeds a threshold value.

[0080] (Appendix 5) 5. The drain inspection time detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the server notifies a user terminal of the time to inspect the drain.

[0081] (Appendix 6) 6. The drain inspection time detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a communication device for receiving measurement values from the first and second illuminometers and transmitting the measurement values to the server.

[0082] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present disclosure is defined by the claims rather than the above description, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 12 Drain, 14 Street light, 16 Entrance / exit, 18 Roof drain, 20 Drain detector, 22 Drain illuminance meter, 24 Reflector, 30 Street light illuminance meter, 32 Indoor illuminance meter, 40 Communication device, 50 Server, 52 Measurement value DB, 54 Basic illuminance difference DB, 56 Inspection necessity determination table, 60 Weather forecast server, 70 User terminal, 80 CPU, 82 RAM, 84 ROM, 86 Storage device, 90 Communication bus, 100 Drain inspection time detection system, 200 Fallen leaves.

Claims

1. A system for detecting when to inspect a drain, a reflector disposed adjacent to the drain for reflecting light irradiated onto the drain; a first illuminometer for measuring the illuminance of light reflected by the reflector; a second illuminance meter that measures the illuminance of light irradiated onto the drain; a server communicatively connected to the first and second illuminance meters; the server includes a storage device, and is configured to store in the storage device a difference between the measurement value of the first illuminance meter and the measurement value of the second illuminance meter in a state in which no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector, as a reference illuminance difference; The server receiving measurement values from the first and second illuminometers at a predetermined sampling period; calculating a measured illuminance difference, which is a difference between the measured value of the first illuminance meter and the measured value of the second illuminance meter; A drain inspection time detection system that detects the time to inspect the drain by comparing the reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference.

2. The drain is installed outdoors, The reflector is configured to reflect sunlight that is incident on the drain, the server is configured to store in the storage device the reference illuminance difference between the measurement values of the first and second illuminometers in a state where no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector, in association with information on the date and time when the measurement values were measured and information on weather, The server At each sampling period, the reference illuminance difference, which corresponds to the measured illuminance difference and the date, time, and weather at which the measured value was measured, is read from the storage device; The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the drain inspection time is detected by comparing the read reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference.

3. The drain is installed indoors, The reflector is configured to reflect illumination light that is irradiated onto the drain, the server is configured to store in the storage device the reference illuminance difference between the measurement values of the first and second illuminometers in a state where no foreign matter has accumulated on the reflector, in association with information relating to the time at which the measurement value was measured; The server For each sampling period, the reference illuminance difference at which the measured illuminance difference and the measurement value were measured at the same time is read from the storage device; The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the drain inspection time is detected by comparing the read reference illuminance difference with the measured illuminance difference.

4. 4. The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1, wherein the server calculates a ratio of the measured illuminance difference to the reference illuminance difference, and determines that inspection of the drain is necessary when the ratio exceeds a threshold value.

5. The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the server notifies a user terminal of the time to inspect the drain.

6. The drain inspection time detection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication device for receiving the measurement values of the first and second illuminance meters and transmitting the measurement values to the server.

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