Building data platform with air quality analysis based on mobile air quality sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building systems with stationary sensors face challenges in achieving high spatial resolution of air quality measurements across various spaces without excessive power consumption, network bandwidth usage, and maintenance requirements, while lacking effective localization and data correlation with building spaces and occupants.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mobile air quality sensor that moves throughout the building, collecting data with high spatial resolution, and utilizing a digital twin to store and process measurements, reducing the need for multiple stationary sensors and enhancing data correlation with building entities and occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If stationary sensors are deployed in every location to achieve high spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption and network bandwidth usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor functions (air quality sensing, location tracking, wireless communication) into a single mobile sensor unit. This consolidation allows one device to perform the work of multiple stationary sensors, reducing total power consumption while maintaining spatial resolution through strategic movement and location-aware data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system transitions from static stationary sensors to a dynamic mobile sensor that moves throughout the building. The mobile sensor adapts its location based on occupancy patterns and air quality conditions, collecting high-resolution spatial data efficiently without requiring continuous operation of multiple fixed sensors
2Measurement precision
If stationary sensors are deployed in every location to achieve high spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sensor unit is designed as a universal platform that can operate in multiple locations and adapt to different building spaces. It combines air quality sensing, GPS/location tracking, and wireless communication capabilities in one device, eliminating the need for multiple specialized stationary sensors and simplifying deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile sensor acts as an intermediary between the building environment and the data processing system. It collects data from multiple locations sequentially and transmits consolidated information to the server, reducing the complexity of having multiple direct sensor-to-server connections while maintaining comprehensive spatial coverage
3Measurement precision
If stationary sensors are deployed in every location to achieve high spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating multiple sensor functions into a single mobile unit, the system reduces the total number of devices requiring maintenance. One mobile sensor replaces multiple stationary sensors, meaning fewer units need calibration, battery replacement, and troubleshooting
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile sensor includes self-diagnostic capabilities and automated calibration features. It can detect its own operational status, communicate maintenance needs to the server, and perform self-adjustment to maintain measurement accuracy without requiring frequent manual intervention
4Device complexity
If stationary sensors lack localization capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sensor is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs air quality measurement and location tracking. By integrating GPS or other positioning capabilities with sensing functions, it captures both environmental data and spatial context in one unified data stream without requiring separate localization hardware
Data Source
AI summary
A building system operates to receive air quality measurements of a plurality of spaces of the building from a mobile air quality sensor, the mobile air quality sensor configured to collect the air quality measurements of the plurality of spaces while the mobile air quality sensor moves throughout the plurality of spaces of the building and provide the collected air quality measurements to the one or more processors. The air quality measurements include data identifying locations and times at which the air quality measurements were collected The building system operates to cause the one or more processors to store information, or a link to the information, in a database based on the collected air quality measurements, the database including a contextual representation of the plurality of spaces of the building and perform at least one operation using the information based on the air quality measurements.