Wireless Sensor Network for Utility Consumption Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensor systems for monitoring utility consumption in multi-apartment buildings lack reliable individual monitoring and configuration capabilities, failing to provide accurate data on specific actions' impact on total consumption and allowing operators to customize desired data and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A wireless sensor system with module-based configuration, featuring wireless sensor units that transmit data via radio at specific intervals, a central unit connected to the internet for data upload to a remote database, and a client application for user interface access, allowing data presentation and configuration based on active modules and user credentials, with optional features like data encryption and alarm notifications for threshold breaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wireless sensor system is implemented for monitoring utility consumption, then individual consumption data can be obtained, but the system lacks reliability in providing accurate information on specific actions' impact on total consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments consumption data by apartment, utility type, and time period, allowing precise tracking of individual consumption patterns. Each sensor unit is associated with specific apartments and measures specific utilities (water, heat, electricity) separately, enabling accurate attribution of consumption to specific actions and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by providing consumption information to occupants through user interfaces. This feedback loop allows occupants to see the impact of their actions on consumption in real-time or near-real-time, enabling them to adjust behavior and verify the relationship between specific actions and consumption outcomes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor system is deployed to monitor all utilities, then comprehensive data is collected, but the system complexity increases making configuration difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring infrastructure into independent sensor units, each capable of measuring specific utilities (water flow, heat consumption, electrical power). This segmentation allows the system to scale by adding only the required sensor types for each apartment rather than deploying a complete complex system everywhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor units are designed with universal functionality to measure multiple utility types (water, heat, electricity) using the same basic architecture. Each sensor unit can be configured to measure different utilities based on what is available in the building, reducing the need for multiple specialized systems and simplifying overall configuration.
3Loss of information
If individual apartment monitoring is implemented, then fair cost distribution is achieved, but data access and user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is designed to display consumption information tailored to each user's needs and permissions. Occupants see only their own consumption data and relevant alerts, while building managers can view aggregated data for all apartments. This localized information presentation simplifies the interface for each user type while maintaining comprehensive data availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring users to query the system for specific information, the system actively pushes relevant consumption data and alerts to users through the interface. The interface inverts the traditional query-response model by presenting information proactively based on consumption events, making the system easier to use while maintaining full data transparency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless sensor system for monitoring individual consumption of one or more utilities such as power, water, or heat energy in a multi-apartment building area is provided. The sensor system comprises at least one wireless sensor unit (11) being positioned to measure the consumption of a specific utility and being programmed to transmit measured data via radio at specific time intervals, at least one central unit (12) being connected to the internet and being programmed to receive sensor data via radio, and to upload, at specific time intervals, the received sensor data to a database (20) hosted on a remote server, and an internet based client application (30) which provides access to the database (20) after a call to said server, and thereafter displays the data being fetched from the database (20) via a user interface.