Foundation Stabilization via Soil Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Structures such as buildings or homes experience shifting or settling over time, which can lead to damage and costly repairs, especially due to weather events, necessitating effective detection and remediation systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors placed throughout the structure and in the soil around it to monitor elevation shifts, with a controller that activates an irrigation system to stabilize the foundation by adjusting soil conditions based on sensor feedback, providing notifications and recommendations for remedial actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If structures are monitored for elevation shifts using sensors and remedial actions are taken, then structural damage is prevented, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting soil moisture conditions and activating irrigation before actual structural shifting occurs. The controller monitors soil moisture levels and preemptively irrigates the soil to maintain proper moisture content, preventing foundation settlement before it happens rather than merely detecting and responding to damage after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensors for detecting structural elevation and soil moisture conditions, a controller for processing data and making decisions, and an irrigation system for remedial action. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Stability of the object's composition
If irrigation is used to stabilize soil and prevent foundation shifting, then structural settlement is reduced, but water usage and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring soil moisture levels with sensors and using this information to control irrigation activation. The controller receives feedback from moisture sensors and only activates the irrigation system when soil moisture falls below optimal levels, preventing unnecessary water application and energy consumption while maintaining soil stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of soil moisture content through controlled irrigation to maintain optimal conditions for preventing foundation settlement. By monitoring and adjusting soil moisture levels dynamically based on actual conditions rather than applying irrigation continuously, the system achieves soil stabilization with minimal energy expenditure.
3Loss of time
If continuous monitoring of structure and soil conditions is performed, then shifting is detected early, but operational costs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring structural and soil conditions, processing data, and executing remedial irrigation actions without requiring continuous human intervention. The controller autonomously evaluates sensor data and activates irrigation when needed, reducing operational costs while maintaining continuous monitoring capabilities for early detection of potential issues.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively mitigates significant elevation shifts, preventing damage and costly repairs by proactively stabilizing the structure through targeted soil irrigation, thus enhancing structural integrity and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
activate the irrigation system, based on a detected shift in the elevation, to irrigate a specific portion of the soil
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring shifting of a structure includes one or more hardware processors. The system also includes a non-transitory memory, the non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or hardware processors, causes the one or more hardware processors to perform actions. The actions include monitoring the structure for a shift in elevation in a portion of the structure. The actions also include receiving, from a first plurality of sensors, feedback related to a condition of a foundation of a structure. The actions further include determining whether a portion of the foundation of the structure has shifted in elevation based on the feedback. The actions still further include providing a notification when the portion of the structure has shifted in elevation.