Embedded Wireless Nodes for Building Moisture Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for monitoring moisture levels in building elements, such as prefabricated concrete and sandwich panels, are inefficient and costly, especially when errors or accidents lead to moisture ingress, as external inspection devices struggle to detect internal moisture effectively, and retrofitting with monitoring systems can visually impact the building.
Innovation Solution
Embedding internal nodes within building elements capable of wireless radio communication, allowing them to transmit and receive signals, form a network, and determine condition information like moisture levels without external cabling, enabling efficient and cost-effective internal monitoring without visual impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external inspection devices are used to monitor moisture levels, then the building structure remains visually clean, but the detection precision of internal moisture is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds monitoring devices directly inside building elements during manufacturing, nesting the measurement function within the structure itself. This internal placement enables precise moisture detection from within the element, resolving the contradiction between detection precision and external device limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces external mechanical inspection devices with embedded wireless sensor nodes that use electronic and wireless communication systems. This substitution enables internal moisture monitoring without requiring external physical access or complex external inspection equipment.
2Reliability
If retrofitting structure-braking monitoring systems is performed after building construction, then monitoring capability is added, but the cost increases and visual impact is negative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates monitoring devices during the initial manufacturing and assembly phase of building elements, rather than retrofitting later. This preliminary action reduces costs by incorporating sensors into the manufacturing process and avoids visual impact by embedding devices within the structure before finishing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the monitoring function with the building element manufacturing process itself, merging what would otherwise be separate construction and instrumentation phases. This integration reduces overall cost and ensures the monitoring system becomes part of the structural element without additional visual impact.
3Measurement precision
If multiple external sensors are installed to monitor building elements, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and visual impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring function into multiple distributed wireless sensor nodes embedded within individual building elements. Each node independently monitors its local environment, providing comprehensive coverage through distributed measurement points rather than requiring fewer external sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from external two-dimensional surface monitoring to internal three-dimensional distributed monitoring by embedding sensors within the building elements themselves. This dimensional change enables comprehensive moisture monitoring throughout the volume of structures without requiring proportional increases in external sensor数量.
Data Source
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AI summary
A building element, building structure, an apparatus and a method for monitoring condition of the building element or structure is disclosed. There is provided a building element, comprising at least two internal nodes located inside the building element and capable of wireless radio communications, wherein at least one internal node is configured to determine condition information of the building element based on at least one signal sent between the internal nodes.