Probabilistic Downscaling for High-Resolution Weather Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current environmental computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are computationally intensive and cannot be deployed on modern edge devices due to memory, power consumption, and data transmission constraints, limiting their use for in-the-field decision-making, especially in harsh conditions with limited cloud connectivity.

Innovation Solution

Development of a method and system that uses probabilistic downscaling mapping functions to increase the spatial resolution of gridded spatial-temporal data on weather and climate-related physical variables, employing machine learning models to fuse observational and numerical simulation data, and incorporate physical constraints, enabling efficient computation on various devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If process-driven CFD simulation is used to generate high-resolution spatial-temporal data, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and computational resources increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoidcomputational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a statistical copy of the complex CFD simulation process through trained neural network models. These models learn the mapping from coarse-resolution boundary conditions to fine-resolution physical parameters, enabling rapid generation of high-resolution data without re-running expensive CFD simulations. The neural networks are trained once on CFD data and then serve as efficient surrogates for repeated predictions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-training the neural network models offline using comprehensive CFD simulation data. This training phase captures the complex physical relationships in advance, allowing the models to quickly predict fine-resolution parameters when deployed. The heavy computational lifting is done beforehand, enabling fast real-time or near-real-time predictions during actual use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If process-driven CFD simulation is used to generate high-resolution spatial-temporal data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases making deployment on edge devices impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex CFD simulation engine with simplified neural network copies that capture essential physical relationships. These neural networks have significantly fewer computational requirements and can be deployed on edge devices with limited resources. The models maintain accuracy by learning from comprehensive CFD training data while using simplified architectural structures suitable for edge deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical CFD simulation process (solving partial differential equations numerically) with a data-driven neural network system. This substitution replaces complex iterative numerical computations with direct neural network inference, dramatically reducing computational complexity and enabling deployment on resource-constrained edge devices while maintaining predictive capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If data assimilation in process-based models is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to high computational intensity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates statistical copies of the data assimilation process through neural networks trained on CFD simulation data. These neural network copies rapidly predict fine-resolution physical parameters from coarse-resolution inputs without performing iterative data assimilation computations. The training phase captures the assimilation relationships, enabling fast inference that maintains accuracy while dramatically improving processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary data assimilation during the offline training phase, where neural networks learn the optimal mapping from boundary conditions to physical parameters using comprehensive CFD data. This preliminary learning enables the models to quickly make accurate predictions during deployment without performing repeated data assimilation iterations, thus maintaining accuracy while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If cloud-based CFD simulation is used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to data transmission constraints in harsh conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates local copies of the simulation capability through edge-deployable neural network models. These models run directly on local devices without requiring continuous cloud connectivity, eliminating data transmission delays. The neural networks are trained on comprehensive CFD data and then serve as standalone prediction systems that provide accurate results immediately without cloud round-trips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary model training and parameter optimization offline before deployment in harsh conditions. This preliminary preparation enables the edge devices to autonomously perform accurate predictions without needing to communicate with cloud systems during operation, thus eliminating data transmission time delays while maintaining simulation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11720727B2Method and system for increasing the resolution of physical gridded data
Publication Date: 2023.08.08 TERRAFUSE INC
  • US11720727B2 patent drawing
  • US11720727B2 patent drawing
  • US11720727B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for increasing a spatial resolution of gridded spatial-temporal data on weather and climate-related physical variables are disclosed. One method includes obtaining weather and climate data including at least a coarse resolution and a fine resolution, or observational data that includes physical data, pre-processing the weather and climate data, training one or more probabilistic downscaling mapping functions of the at least one of the gridded numeric simulation data or the observational data comprising applying interpolation filters to successively interpolate the pre-processed weather and climate data to generate output data having a resolution that is equal to the fine resolution, and generating high-resolution physical parameters for at least one of a plurality of applications utilizing the trained probabilistic downscaling mapping functions receiving different weather and climate input data that has different times or locations than the pre-processed weather and climate data used in the training.