Environment monitoring and management systems and methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current environment monitoring systems are inadequate in providing comprehensive and real-time data on ambient air quality parameters, failing to effectively mitigate adverse health effects from air pollution and noise, especially in indoor settings.
Innovation Solution
An environment quality monitoring system comprising multiple sensors for particulate matter, gases, temperature, humidity, and noise, connected to a network for continuous data collection and analysis, with a processor generating an environment quality score and alerts, and the ability to automatically control devices like air purifiers and HVAC systems to mitigate adverse conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to monitor comprehensive environment quality parameters, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (particulate matter sensors, gas sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, noise sensors) into a single integrated environment quality monitoring device. This merging approach allows comprehensive measurement of multiple environment quality parameters while managing device complexity through unified design and integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device is designed with multi-functionality to measure various environment quality parameters simultaneously including particulate matter concentration, gas composition, temperature, humidity, and noise levels. This universal approach enables a single device to perform multiple measurement functions, improving comprehensive monitoring capability.
2Reliability
If continuous real-time monitoring is implemented, then reliability of environment quality data is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling of environment quality parameters rather than truly continuous monitoring. Sensors take measurements at regular intervals, which provides reliable data for tracking changes in environment quality while reducing power consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where environment quality scores are calculated based on sensor data, and when scores exceed predetermined thresholds, alerts are generated and mitigation actions are triggered. This feedback-driven approach allows the system to maintain reliability by monitoring key parameters while managing energy consumption through event-driven operations rather than constant high-power operation.
3Productivity
If automatic control of mitigation devices is implemented, then productivity of environment quality improvement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes threshold values for environment quality scores and has predetermined mitigation actions ready to execute. When sensor data indicates that scores exceed these pre-set thresholds, the system automatically triggers pre-planned actions such as activating air purifiers or adjusting HVAC systems, enabling rapid response without complex real-time decision-making algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic feedback control where environment quality sensor data continuously feeds into score calculations, and when scores exceed thresholds, the system automatically controls mitigation devices. This feedback loop enables productive automatic response to poor air quality conditions while managing complexity through threshold-based control logic rather than complex optimization algorithms.
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 provides continuous, comprehensive monitoring of indoor and outdoor environments, enabling timely alerts and automatic adjustments to improve air quality, thereby enhancing occupant health and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors in the housing and configured to generate sensor data including a plurality of environment quality parameters characterizing ambient environment
Implementation Method 2
a network communication device configured to communicate the sensor data over a network
Implementation Method 3
an alert configured to indicate an environment quality score of the ambient environment, where the environment quality score is based on at least a portion of the sensor data
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing air quality may include, at one or more processors, receiving sensor data comprising a plurality of air quality parameters for an environment, wherein the sensor data is generated by one or more environment quality monitoring devices located in the environment, predicting an adverse air quality event based on the sensor data, and automatically controlling one or more devices to mitigate the adverse air quality event. An environment quality monitoring device may include a housing, a plurality of sensors in the housing and configured to generate sensor data comprising a plurality of environment quality parameters, a network communication device configured to communicate the sensor data over a network, and an alert configured to indicate an environment quality score of the ambient environment, where the environment quality score is based on at least a portion of the sensor data.