MULTI-UTILITY INTEGRITY MONITORING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM

Numerous embodiments are disclosed for monitoring multiple utility networks and structures, such as gas pipes, water pipes, electricity networks, traffic lights, street lights, sewers, and other utilities. Local sensors detect leaks, short-circuits, and other incidents. Data from the local sensors are collected by data collection units and sent to a server over a fiber optic or wireless connection. The server optionally can superimpose depictions of the incidents over a map, blueprint, photograph, or live image using a geographic information system (GIS) or augmented reality application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Numerous embodiments are disclosed for monitoring multiple utility networks and structures, such as gas pipes, water pipes, electricity networks, traffic lights, street lights, sewers, and other utilities. Local sensors detect leaks, short-circuits, and other incidents. Data from the local sensors are collected by data collection units and sent to a server over a fiber optic or wireless connection. The server optionally can superimpose depictions of the incidents over a map, blueprint, photograph, or live image using a geographic information system (GIS) or augmented reality application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Managing and maintaining utility systems is a herculean task. Gas pipes, water pipes, electricity networks, sewers, and other utilities can span hundreds of miles within dense cities and into the rural countryside. Any number of incidents can occur at any time to cause leaks and other problems with the utilities. For example, in recent times, short-circuits within electric towers carrying high voltage power lines have caused rampant forest fires, resulting in billions of dollars in damage to businesses and residential communities.

The prior art does not include an automated mechanism for identifying incidents within a utility network, generating an alert in response to the incident, and generating a visual identification of the exact location within the utility network where the incident occurred. The prior art also does not include the ability to using data analytics to analyze incidents or to predict where future incidents will occur.

What is needed is a smart utility monitoring system comprising sensors that detect incidents and communicate information about those incidents over a network to a server. What is further needed is the ability to superimpose depictions of such incidents on a map, photograph, or blueprint within a GIS. What is further needed is a data analytics module can analyze incidents and predict where future incidents will occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Numerous embodiments are disclosed for monitoring multiple utility networks and structures, such as gas pipes, water pipes, electricity networks, traffic lights, street lights, sewers, and other utilities. Local sensors detect leaks, short-circuits, and other incidents. Data from the local sensors are collected by data collection units and sent to a server over a fiber optic or wireless connection. The server optionally can superimpose depictions of the incidents over a map, blueprint, photograph, or live image using a GIS or augmented reality application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1depicts multi-utility integrity monitoring system100. Multi-utility integrity monitoring system100comprises server400, which the applicant refers to as “PHOSPHOROUS,” and which performs many of the functions described below. Server400comprises reporting module405, which applicant refers to as “BOSS” (Business Objectives Support System) and which performs a data analytics and reporting function. Optionally, server400can comprise a single hardware server or it can include a plurality of hardware servers.

Multi-utility integrity monitoring system100further comprises sensors101,102,103, and104; sensor hubs105and106; data collection unit107; third-party servers401and401; clients300-1,300-2,300-3, and300-4; network110; GIS111; and GIS output112. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the components depicted inFIG. 1are exemplary and that many other instances of each type of component can be present. For example, for a municipal utility system, hundreds of sensors and sensor hubs may be used. GIS111can be a stand-alone computing device, or it can be executed within server400itself.

A wired link or network (such as a fiber optic connection, Ethernet network, etc.) or a wireless link or network (such as a 3G, 4G, or 5G cellular connection, an 802.11 connection, etc.) is used between: sensors101and102and sensor hub105; sensors103and104and sensor hub106; sensor hubs105and106and data collection unit107; data collection unit107and server400; third-party servers401and402and server400; clients300-1and300-2and server400; server400and network110; clients300-3and300-4and network110; and server400and GIS111. Network110can be a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), the Internet, or other type of network.

In the particular example shown inFIG. 1, sensors101and102and sensor hub105form sub-system113, and sensors103and104and sensor hub106form sub-system114. Each of sub-systems113and114detect a particular type of incident for a particular type of utility. For example, sensors101and102can be pressure measurement devices for a gas pipeline, and sensors103and104can be ground current detection devices for an electric tower within an electricity network. Using sub-systems such as sub-systems113and114, multi-utility integrity monitoring system can detect numerous incidents that might occur within a utility network, such as explosions, leaks, machinery-caused defects, plugs or ruptures caused by landslides, and issues due to extreme temperatures, vibrations or noise.

Server400can operate as an asset management and integrity system that ensures the proper functionality of all municipal networks and collects data from all network assets via specialized sensors101,102,103, and104, in structures such as gas networks, storm water systems, sewers, water, electric networks, telecommunications, transportation and any kind of hard infrastructure like storm water catch basins, water mains pressure valves, fire hydrants, poles, streetlights, traffic lights, traffic cameras, parking meters, etc. Sensors101,102,103, and104can be proprietary sensors or off-the-self sensors (including SCADA). Server400collects data from these sensors, and reporting module405can generate numerics, perform decision analysis, and extract valuable quantitative and qualitative results regarding the functionality of the monitored networks and structures, in addition to providing recommendations and alerts of network overflow capacity, malfunctioning, and upgrading of the networks.

Server400also can incorporate additional information derived from various maintenance services such as CCTV video pipe inspections, cleanup and flushing, and sewer inspections, and can integrate this information with functionality data in order to ensure proper integrity of the monitored networks and components. Such integrity functionality is essential prerequisite during emergencies and natural disasters such as flooding and fires and in assisting all emergency responders in providing relief services. Server400monitors improper or insufficient functionality of the networks and provides information and generates alerts for repairs by creating automated emergency and regular work orders pertaining to maintenance and other types of asset-related work in order to prevent infrastructure failure and promote public safety.

For example, heavy rains can cause extensive flooding in urban residential areas, and there is a need to maintain full capacity water flow through storm water catch basins and to clean the storm system to ensure water flow without damaging the pipes. Ongoing monitoring via server400can establish allowable water flow pressure thresholds in storm waterpipes prior to rupture and generate alerts for emergency response services.

As another example, water leaks in water mains account for a high percentage of water usage/waste in all developing countries and in some developed countries. Such losses can reach extreme amounts of up to 60% of the total water usage and become a dramatic loss of vital resource and a burden for the citizens. Server400is able to monitor the flow at various points in the water network and relate it to consumed amounts of water recorded in billing systems accessible by serer400. Server400can establish areas of leakage by data correlation and enable on-site underground inspections to localize the leaking sources.

FIG. 2depicts hardware components of computing device200, which can be used for any of sensor hubs105,106, data collection unit107, server400, third-party servers401and402, clients300-1,300-2,300-3, and300-4, and GIS111inFIG. 1. These hardware components are known in the prior art.

Computing device200comprises processing unit201, memory202, non-volatile storage203, positioning unit204, network interface205, image capture unit206, graphics processing unit207, and display208. Client device200can be a server, client, smartphone, notebook computer, tablet, desktop computer, gaming unit, wearable computing device such as a watch or glasses, or any other computing device.

Processing unit201optionally comprises a microprocessor with one or more processing cores. Memory202optionally comprises DRAM or SRAM volatile memory. Non-volatile storage203optionally comprises a hard disk drive or flash memory array. Positioning unit204optionally comprises a GPS unit or GNSS unit that communicates with GPS or GNSS satellites to determine latitude and longitude coordinates for client device200, usually output as latitude data and longitude data. Network interface205optionally comprises a wired interface (e.g., Ethernet interface) or wireless interface (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, GSM, 802.11, protocol known by the trademark “BLUETOOTH,” etc.). Image capture unit206optionally comprises one or more standard cameras (as is currently found on most smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers). Graphics processing unit207optionally comprises a controller or processor for generating graphics for display. Display208displays the graphics generated by graphics processing unit207, and optionally comprises a monitor, touchscreen, or other type of display.

FIG. 3depicts software components that are installed in and operated by computing device200to form client device300(such as any of client devices300-1,300-2,300-3, and300-4inFIG. 1). Client device300comprises operating system301(such as the operating systems known by the trademarks “WINDOWS,” “LINUX,” “ANDROID,” “IOS,” or others), client application302, and web browser303.

Client application302comprises lines of software code executed by processing unit201to perform the functions described below. For example, client device300can be a smartphone or tablet sold with the trademark “GALAXY” by Samsung or “IPHONE” by Apple, and client application302can be a downloadable app installed on the smartphone or tablet. Client device300also can be a notebook computer, desktop computer, game system, or other computing device, and client application302can be a software application running on client device300. Client application302forms an important component of the inventive aspect of the embodiments described herein, and client application302is not known in the prior art.

Web browser303comprises lines of software code executed by processing unit201to access web servers, display pages and content from web sites, and to provide functionality used in conjunction with web servers and web sites, such as the web browsers known by the trademarks “INTERNET EXPLORER,” “CHROME,” AND “SAFARI.”

FIG. 4depicts software components that are installed in and operated by computing device200to form server400.

Server400comprises operating system401(such as the operating systems known by the trademarks “WINDOWS,” “LINUX, “ANDROID,” “IOS,” or others), server application402, web server403, database application404, and reporting module405.

Server application402comprises lines of software code executed by processing unit201to interact with client application302and to perform the functions described below. Server application402forms an important component of the inventive aspect of the embodiments described herein, and server application402is not known in the prior art.

Web server403is a web page generation program capable of interacting with web browser303on client device300to display web pages, such as the web server known by the trademark “APACHE.”

Database application404comprises lines of software code executed by processing unit401to generate and maintain a database, such as an SQL database.

Reporting module405comprises lines of software code executed by processing unit401to perform data analytics and reporting functionality, such as analyzing network load, performing risk analysis for failure or rupture of components within the monitored networks and structures, analyzing network integrity and the failure of networks and structures, and calculating cost and other financial information.

GIS111can be a server400or a client device300running a GIS software application and having access to maps, photographs, and blueprints as discussed in greater detail below.

FIG. 5depicts gas sensor sub-system500, which contains an exemplary set of sensors101and a sensor hub105for detecting gas leaks in gas pipelines501and502. Gas sensor sub-system500is an example of sub-system113and114shown inFIG. 1.

Fiber optic cable503runs alongside gas pipeline501, and fiber optic cable504runs alongside gas pipeline502. Periodically, a sensor is placed on gas pipelines501and502to measure pressure or throughout within the pipeline at that particular location, and the sensor transmits collected data to sensor hub105. In this example, sensors101-1and101-2are placed on pipeline501, and sensors101-3and101-4are placed on pipeline502. Sensor hub105collects data from sensors101-1,101-2,101-3, and101-4and provides the data to data collection unit107, which in turn provides the data to server400.

A leak in one of the pipelines can be identified if the data collected from one sensor is inconsistent with the data collected from another sensor. For example, if sensor101-1detects a pressure X within pipeline501, and sensor101-2detects a pressure0.8X, then server400can deduce that there is a leak in pipeline501between sensors101-1and101-2, as the pressure should have been approximately the same between those two locations. Optionally, this deduction can be made if the difference between the two detected pressures is greater than a predetermined threshold.

FIG. 6depicts electricity network sensor sub-system600. Electricity network sensor sub-system600is an example of sub-system113and114inFIG. 1.

Exemplary power line tower604is depicted. Power lines usually contain a high voltage such as 27.6 KV and are separated from the tower by insulators. When an insulator gets corroded or damaged, current can leak downwards in the pole to the ground. This can cause injuries to animals through electrocution or can cause vegetation to catch fire.

To detect such incidents, induction based leakage detector700is installed either between each inductor and the tower, or near the bottom of the tower. Induction based leakage detector700communicates with sensor hub106over wireless link603. Here, faulty insulator601is present and causes ground leakage current602to run from the power line to ground through the tower (which typically is constructed of metal). Some or all of this current traverses through induction based leakage detector700.

FIG. 7shows additional detail regarding induction based leakage detector700, which comprises inductor701, amplifier702, current sensor703, processor704, and wireless transceiver705. Inductor701is a metal coil that surrounds conductor706that is part of tower604or is connected between tower604and ground. Some or all of ground leakage current602will then travel through conductor706to ground, which will generate current in the coil due to inductive forces. That current will be sensed by amplifier702, which will amplify it. Current sensor703then measures the amplified current output by amplifier702and provides a measurement in digital form to processor704, which then communicates with server400over wireless transceiver, where processor704informs server400of the amount of amplified current sensed. If the amount of amplified current sensed is greater than 0 A, then server400will know there is leakage in tower604, which will point to a faulty insulator such as faulty insulator601inFIG. 6.

Induction based leakage detector700can be used in power line towers, streetlights, traffic lights, or any utility structure that carries electricity. Optionally, a maintenance crew member can carry client300-1with him or her, and when he or she approaches the structure containing ground leakage current602, client300-1(based on communications from server400) will issue an alert to inform the maintenance crew member that he or she is approaching the dangerous condition.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8Cdepict another aspect of the embodiments that integrates the sensor data described previously with geolocation data typically used in GIS environments.

FIG. 8Adepicts GIS map view801, which is an image generates by GIS111as GIS output112that shows the map of a particular intersection with superimposed markings depicting traffic lights, loops, wiring, and control boxes.

FIG. 8Bdepicts GIS blueprint view802, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112that shows the original blueprint for the particular intersection with the original plans for the traffic lights, loops, wiring, and control boxes.

FIG. 8Cdepicts GIS photograph view803, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112that shows a map (taken by a drone, satellite, or other means) with superimposed markings depicting traffic lights, loops, wiring, and control boxes.

FIG. 9depicts GIS map view901, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112, which shows a map of a particular neighborhood with superimposed markings showing streetlights.

Thus,FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 9provide a powerful mechanism by which a municipal official can view a utility layout, in this example, traffic lights, street lights, and related infrastructure superimposed over a GIS geolocation image. The same can be performed for other utilities, such as gas pipelines, water pipelines, electric conduits, telephone lines, cable TV lines, sewer, etc.

FIGS. 10-14depict another aspect of the embodiments.

FIG. 10depicts GIS photograph alert view1001, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112and shows a photograph of a warehouse area with superimposed markings showing an alert. For example, if a sensor detects a gas leak, water leak, or electric short in this area, an alert can be generated and displayed for a municipal administrator. This also can provide an additional safety measure when an installation, such as installing a new gas appliance or hooking up a building's gas pipes to the main line, is performed. For example, if a leak occurs, server400will immediately learn of the leak and can issue alerts to the crew performing the installation.

FIG. 11depicts GIS map alert view1101, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112that shows a map of a neighborhood with superimposed markings showing an alert. For example, if a sensor detects a gas leak, water leak, or electric short in this area, an alert can be generated and displayed for a municipal administrator.

FIG. 12depicts GIS photograph alert view1201, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112that shows a photograph of a parking lot with a superimposed alert. For example, if a sensor detects a gas leak, water leak, or electric short in this area, an alert can be generated and displayed for a municipal administrator.

In the alternative, GIS photograph alert1201can be generated in an augmented reality application running on a client device, such as client device300-1, where image capture unit206captures the photo and displays it on display208(as would be the case in viewing the area through a mobile phone's camera), and client application302superimposes the alert over the live-captured photo. This would be useful, for instance, for a city worker to be able to quickly find the leak that is causing the alert to be generated.

FIG. 13depicts GIS photograph alert view1301, which is generated by GIS111as GIS output112and that shows a photograph of the same parking lot fromFIG. 12with a superimposed alert as well as markings depicting gas lines, water lines, or electric lines. This would be useful, for instance, for a city worker to be able to quickly find the leak that is generating the alert and to understand where the underlying pipes are located.

FIG. 15depicts exemplary login page1400, which web server403within server400can generate to allow users to log on to server400from a client300.FIG. 16depicts an exemplary home screen for a particular user upon login, which here is GIS map view1600, which shows a map of the area of interest along with the location of all monitored systems and structures.

Optionally, reporting module405collects information gathered and generated by server400and shares that information with stake holders on subscription basis. Reports generated by reporting module405can be accessed as follows: (1) on-demand from a portal operated by server300; (2) through cyclic displays for a passive audience; and (3) on subscription through email. Subscriptions can be send on a periodic basis, such as yearly, monthly, or daily.

FIG. 16depicts an exemplary cost report generated by reporting module405.

FIG. 17depicts an exemplary data analytics report generated by reporting module405.

FIG. 18depicts an exemplary data analytics report generated by reporting module405.

FIG. 19depicts an exemplary data analytics report generated by reporting module405.

Server400optionally can perform additional functions. For example, server400can maintain servicing and maintenance records for particular structures (e.g., fire hydrants, insulators, etc.). As another example, server400can automatically generates work orders for dispatching repair crews or emergency responders whenever an alert is generated.

It should be noted that, as used herein, the terms “over” and “on” both inclusively include “directly on” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed therebetween) and “indirectly on” (intermediate materials, elements or space disposed therebetween). Likewise, the term “adjacent” includes “directly adjacent” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed therebetween) and “indirectly adjacent” (intermediate materials, elements or space disposed there between), “mounted to” includes “directly mounted to” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed there between) and “indirectly mounted to” (intermediate materials, elements or spaced disposed there between), and “electrically coupled” includes “directly electrically coupled to” (no intermediate materials or elements there between that electrically connect the elements together) and “indirectly electrically coupled to” (intermediate materials or elements there between that electrically connect the elements together). For example, forming an element “over a substrate” can include forming the element directly on the substrate with no intermediate materials/elements therebetween, as well as forming the element indirectly on the substrate with one or more intermediate materials/elements there between.