Chemical Release Source Identification Using Meteorological Constraints
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying the source and rate of an intentional chemical release in public locations is challenging for hazmat personnel due to the lack of known release sources, contrasting with accidental releases where sources are typically identified quickly.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing meteorological data such as wind speed, direction, and stability, combined with concentration measurements from substance sensors, to predict the source location and release rate by narrowing search domains and evaluating trial locations and rates for minimal prediction error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive source location search is performed without meteorological data constraints, then search thoroughness is improved, but computational cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the search space into multiple discrete grid cells and systematically evaluates each cell as a potential source location. This segmentation allows the system to comprehensively search through possible source locations while managing computational complexity through structured evaluation of constrained regions rather than unrestricted space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by using meteorological data (wind speed, direction, stability) to pre-constrain the search domain before conducting the full source location analysis. This preliminary constraint reduction narrows down the search space to likely source regions, significantly reducing computational cost while maintaining prediction accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple trial release locations and rates are evaluated, then prediction accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evaluates multiple trial release locations and rates (excessive action) within the constrained search domain to achieve high prediction accuracy. By testing multiple scenarios within the meteorologically-constrained region rather than only the most likely candidate, the system achieves accurate concentration predictions while managing processing time through the constraints that limit the total number of evaluations needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for predicting a source location and release rate of a hazardous substance uses the basic knowledge of meteorological information (wind speed, direction, and stability) and two or more concentration measurements of the chemical released. Horizontal dispersion information obtained from surface meteorological data at sensor locations are used to narrow the search domain for the release location, reducing the computational cost. Each of the possible release locations in the search domain and possible release rates are evaluated in a process that predicts a concentration measurement at a sensor, based on a predicted location and release rate. The location and release rate that results in a least error when compared to an actual concentration measurement at the sensor are chosen as the source of the chemical and the release rate from the source.