Embedded Building Monitoring for Hidden Leaks and Structural Damage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Building system failures, such as leaks or structural damage, often go undetected for extended periods due to inaccessibility and infrequent visual inspections, leading to additional damage and increased repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A building monitoring system that uses strategically placed sensors embedded within construction materials to collect data on moisture, temperature, and other environmental conditions, analyzing this data to detect potential failures and alert homeowners or insurance providers, facilitating timely remedial actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If visual inspections are performed infrequently due to inaccessibility of building areas, then inspection cost and time are reduced, but detection of building system failures is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The building monitoring system enables self-service by automatically detecting and reporting building system failures without requiring manual inspection. Sensors embedded in construction materials continuously monitor conditions and autonomously identify issues such as moisture intrusion, eliminating the need for frequent manual visual inspections of inaccessible areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection mechanisms with electronic sensing and automated monitoring systems. Sensors, data loggers, and communication systems substitute for human inspectors physically accessing building areas, enabling continuous monitoring without the operational constraints of manual inspection.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are embedded within construction materials, then detection precision of building system failures is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system uses a nested structure where sensors are embedded within construction materials, which are themselves integrated into the building structure. Data loggers are nested within or near the sensors, and the entire system is nested within the building's existing framework, allowing precise monitoring without adding significant external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed with multi-functionality to justify the increased complexity. Sensors monitor multiple parameters (moisture, temperature, structural integrity), provide early warning capabilities, enable predictive maintenance, and integrate with existing building management systems, making the embedded complexity worthwhile through diverse operational benefits.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then reliability of building system detection is improved, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system implements periodic sampling of building conditions rather than truly continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at predetermined intervals, and data loggers record information periodically, maintaining reliable detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to constant real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to adjust monitoring intensity based on detected conditions. When parameters are within normal ranges, monitoring operates at lower intensity to conserve energy. When anomalies or threshold violations occur, the system increases monitoring frequency and alerts stakeholders, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A building monitoring computer system for monitoring building integrity may be provided. Various types of sensors may be embedded throughout or within certain portions of different types of building or construction material making up the building, such as within roofing, foundation, or structural materials. The sensors may be in wireless communication with a home controller. The sensors may be water, moisture, temperature, vibration, or other types of sensors, and may detect unexpected or abnormal conditions within the home. The sensors and/or home controller may transmit alerts to a mobile device of the home owner associated with the unexpected condition, and/or that remedial actions may be required to repair the home or mitigate further damage to the home. The sensor data may also be communicated to an insurance provider remote server to facilitate the insurance provider communicating insurance-related recommendations, updating insurance policies, or preparing insurance claims for review for home owners.