Embedded Building Sensors for Early Leak and Crack Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building system failures, such as roofing leaks or foundation cracks, often go undetected for extended periods, leading to additional damage and increased repair costs due to inaccessibility and infrequent visual inspections.
Innovation Solution
A building monitoring system that uses strategically placed sensors embedded in 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 early intervention and preventive measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual inspection methods are used to detect building system failures, then detection capability is limited by accessibility and inspection frequency, but implementing comprehensive visual inspection systems increases time and labor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated sensor-based monitoring systems. Sensors embedded in building materials continuously monitor conditions such as moisture levels, structural integrity, and environmental factors, automatically detecting failures without requiring human inspection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The building monitoring system enables self-detection of failures through embedded sensors that continuously assess building material conditions. The system autonomously identifies issues such as moisture intrusion or structural degradation without requiring external inspection, allowing the building to monitor itself continuously.
2Reliability
If sensors are embedded in construction materials for continuous monitoring, then early detection capability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds monitoring sensors within existing construction materials during the building construction process. Sensors are integrated into materials such as drywall, insulation, and structural components, allowing the monitoring system to be nested within the building structure itself rather than adding separate external monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system uses multi-functional sensors that can detect various types of building failures including moisture intrusion, structural degradation, and environmental conditions. This universal approach allows a single sensor network to monitor multiple building systems simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity compared to dedicated sensors for each function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If frequent visual inspections are conducted to detect failures early, then additional damage is reduced, but productivity and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring through embedded sensors that operate 24/7 without interruption. Unlike periodic visual inspections, the sensor network continuously detects changes in building material conditions, ensuring that failures are identified immediately upon occurrence rather than waiting for the next scheduled inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces labor-intensive visual inspections with automated sensor monitoring, freeing up personnel for other productive tasks while maintaining continuous detection capability. The electronic monitoring system requires no human intervention to operate, preserving operational efficiency while providing superior detection coverage.
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.