Resource Tracking System with Aggregated Heat Map Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large projects face inefficiencies and bottlenecks due to the difficulty in monitoring and tracking resources across wide geographic areas, especially in remote locations, and existing tools generate excessive data that is hard to process, leading to inaccurate delay impact assessments.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising GPS tracking devices associated with resource categories, a server for data collection and visualization, and a graphical user interface for displaying resource locations and movements, enabling near real-time and historical tracking, efficiency analysis, and delay impact quantification through heat maps and geo-fences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS tracking devices are used to track each resource individually, then location accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual resource tracking data streams into a single aggregated view displayed on a map interface. Resources of the same type are grouped together, and their locations are visualized collectively rather than requiring separate analysis of each individual tracker, thus reducing data processing complexity while maintaining location accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives raw GPS data from multiple tracking devices, processes and filters this data, and presents it in a simplified format through a map interface. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of processing numerous individual data streams by aggregating and visualizing them collectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If area managers physically monitor workers on site, then real-time oversight is improved, but labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time oversightVSAvoidlabor requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service monitoring where the tracking devices automatically collect and transmit location data without requiring human observers. The resources themselves provide the data through their equipped tracking devices, eliminating the need for manual monitoring while maintaining real-time oversight capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human managers physically monitoring workers with an automated electronic tracking system. GPS devices and communication systems substitute for human observation, providing continuous monitoring without the labor requirements of physical presence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If manual monitoring methods are used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but coverage area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidcoverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking system is designed to be universally applicable across large geographic areas and multiple resource types. The same basic tracking infrastructure can monitor diverse resources including workers, equipment, and materials across extensive project sites, providing broad coverage while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 efficient resource monitoring and tracking, allowing for accurate analysis of project efficiency and delay impacts, reducing labor-intensive manual oversight and improving resource allocation and safety in large projects.

Implementation Method 1

The tracking devices may include a GPS sensor, configured to determine a location of the tracking device (and thereby project resource) according to data from satellites.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal reception:

Data Source

PatentUS20240354673A1Intelligent resource monitoring and tracking system

Publication Date: 2024.10.24 LWARE PTY LTD

AI summary

A system is provided that is able to monitor project resources, such as plant and workers, in near real-time or historically, in a project. The system includes: a plurality of tracking devices, for tracking each of a plurality of project resources, each of the plurality of tracking devices associated with a resource category; and a server configured to receive tracking data from each of the tracking devices and associate the tracking data with the resource category of the associated tracking device. The server is configured to generate a graphical user interface to display the data associated with the received tracking data according to the resource category.