Embedded Building Sensors for Early Roof and Foundation Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building monitoring systems fail to detect failures in building systems, such as roofing and foundation issues, in a timely manner, leading to additional damage and increased repair costs due to infrequent visual inspections and inaccessibility of certain areas.
Innovation Solution
A building monitoring system that uses strategically placed sensors embedded within construction materials to collect data on moisture, temperature, and insect infestations, analyzing this data to generate alerts and recommended actions for homeowners and insurance providers, facilitating early detection and mitigation of potential damages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual inspections are used to detect building failures, then the system is simple and low-cost, but detection is delayed and additional damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated sensor-based monitoring systems. Sensors detect moisture, temperature, and other environmental parameters continuously, substituting the mechanical action of human inspection with automated electronic detection that provides immediate alerts when failures occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices between the building structure and the monitoring system. These sensors act as mediators that detect early signs of failure (such as moisture intrusion or temperature changes) and transmit this information to homeowners and insurance providers, enabling detection before visible damage occurs.
2Reliability
If sensors are embedded within construction materials, then early detection capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds sensors within construction materials such as roofing shingles, insulation, and drywall. This nesting approach integrates the monitoring functionality directly into the building structure, allowing sensors to be positioned at critical locations without adding external complexity or requiring separate monitoring infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multi-functional sensors that can detect multiple parameters (moisture, temperature, movement) simultaneously. This universality reduces the number of separate devices needed, simplifying the overall system while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability across different building components.
3Loss of time
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then detection speed is improved, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of sensor data rather than truly continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at intervals and trigger alerts only when parameters exceed predefined thresholds, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective detection capability for active failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where sensor readings are compared against baseline values and threshold levels. This feedback approach allows the system to operate in low-power mode during normal conditions and activate full monitoring only when anomalies are detected, optimizing energy usage while maintaining detection reliability.
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.