Building Health Scoring Using Weighted Sensor Data Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems lack comprehensive methods to assess and improve the health, safety, and performance of building environments using integrated sensor data and control systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for determining composite indices of health, safety, and performance using sensor data from multiple sources, including environmental sensors, building access data, surveys, and user input, to control building systems such as tintable windows, and provide actionable insights for improving these indices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive sensor data integration is implemented to assess building health and safety, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building management system into multiple independent sensor modules, each responsible for specific parameters (temperature, humidity, air quality, occupancy). These modular sensors communicate through a standardized protocol to a central controller, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive monitoring capabilities while maintaining individual component simplicity and ease of replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-functional controller that integrates data reception, processing, analysis, and actuation control capabilities. This single controller serves multiple functions including receiving data from diverse sensor types, computing health and safety indices, generating remediation recommendations, and controlling various building systems (HVAC, lighting, access control), thereby reducing overall system complexity through consolidation.
2Reliability
If real-time sensor data processing and dynamic index adjustment are implemented, then building safety and health monitoring effectiveness improve, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of sensor data at predetermined intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The controller receives and processes sensor inputs at scheduled time points, updates composite indices periodically, and generates remediation recommendations based on accumulated data trends. This periodic operation maintains reliable safety monitoring while significantly reducing computational load and energy consumption compared to continuous real-time processing.
3Loss of information
If multiple composite indices (health, safety, performance) are calculated and tracked, then information completeness improves, but loss of time in processing and analyzing data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-defines the structure and weighting of multiple composite indices (building health index, safety index, performance index) during system setup. Each index comprises predetermined combinations of sensor parameters with assigned weights. When sensor data arrives, the controller directly computes these pre-configured indices using stored formulas, avoiding the need to dynamically determine index structures and significantly reducing processing time while maintaining comprehensive information coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms multiple detailed sensor parameters into aggregated composite indices that capture essential building performance characteristics. By converting numerous individual measurements (temperature, humidity, CO2, occupancy, etc.) into synthesized health, safety, and performance scores, the system preserves comprehensive information while presenting it in a condensed, easily interpretable format that reduces analysis time for facility managers.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of determining composite indices such as, e.g., health, safety, and performance indices, of an enclosure from weighted values of contributing metrics including sensor data and/or controlling one or more building systems based on the composite indices.