Patent Description:
A waste incineration plant includes a pit for temporarily storing waste brought in by a garbage truck. The waste inside the pit is stirred with use of a crane and is then transferred to an incinerator for incineration. The stirring is carried out to homogenize waste to be transferred to the incinerator, and is an important process for stable waste combustion.

Improving a method for stirring waste desirably involves first accurately determining the state of how the waste inside a pit has been stirred. Patent Literature <NUM> below, for example, discloses a waste stirring evaluating device. The waste stirring evaluating device, on the basis of movement of a garbage truck or crane, computes the shape of deposition of waste or shape of a dented portion of waste, and also calculates the number of times of stirring for each layer of the waste deposited inside the pit. The waste stirring evaluating device then determines an evaluation value on the basis of the number of times of stirring calculated for each place inside the pit, and computes a crane controlling instruction.

<CIT> relates to a control device of an automatic crane for a garbage disposal plant including two cameras arranged with the predetermined interval in a crane girder of the crane at positions possible to take a picture of the garbage pit, a garbage height measuring means for measuring height of the garbage piled inside the garbage pit by utilizing stereo disparity of the two cameras, and a garbage height memory means for storing information about garbage height measured by the garbage height measuring means as a garbage height map. <CIT> relates to a garbage disposal crane control device for loading and unloading garbage including earth and sand into and from an actual pit while controlling the garbage disposal crane based on the garbage mountain level data stored in the garbage mountain level storage device of the internal level management device. <CIT> relates to a control device of an automatic crane for a refuse disposal works including two cameras arranged in a girder of the crane with the predetermined interval to take photographs of a refuse pit, a refuse height measuring means for measuring height of the refuse piled inside the refuse pit by using a visual difference by stereo-view of the two cameras, and a refuse height memory means for storing refuse height information as a refuse height map.

Conventional art such as the above unfortunately fails to allow movement of waste to be determined accurately. Specifically, conventional art involves determining the state inside the pit (for example, the height of waste or state of how the waste has been stirred) on the basis of movement of a crane or the like (for example, grabbing, dropping, and the length of a crane rope during a grabbing operation). This means that the state can be determined only of an area in which the crane has moved. An area in which the crane does not move frequently thus gives rise to a very large error. Conventional art, as a result, involves an issue of failing to determine the state inside a pit accurately.

An aspect of the present invention has an object to provide, for example, an information processing device capable of accurately determining the state inside a pit.

In order to attain the above object, an information processing device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

In order to attain the above object, an information processing method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>. Further advantageous embodiments are defined in dependent claims.

An aspect of the present invention advantageously allows the state inside a pit to be determined accurately.

The following description will discuss an embodiment of the present invention in detail. The present invention relates to, for example, an information processing device for monitoring the state of a pit at a waste incineration plant. The description below thus first deals with a waste incineration plant and a pit provided therein with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional diagram schematically illustrating the structure of a waste incineration plant including a pit. The waste incineration plant <NUM> in accordance with Embodiment <NUM> of the present invention, as illustrated in <FIG>, includes a waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM>, a waste acceptance facility <NUM>, and waste incinerators <NUM>. The waste incineration plant <NUM> also includes a control room <NUM> in which an operator, for example, monitors the above facilities or operates a crane <NUM> manually.

The waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM> is configured to (i) carries out measurement before the waste is brought to the waste acceptance facility <NUM> and thereby (ii) generate various pieces of data on the waste. The waste acceptance facility <NUM> is configured to temporarily store waste brought in by a plurality of garbage trucks Q. The waste incinerators <NUM> are present next to the waste acceptance facility <NUM>, and are configured to incinerate waste. The waste incinerators <NUM> are a pair of facilities arranged next to each other in the X direction (that is, the direction orthogonal to the surface of <FIG>). The control room <NUM> contains a control system laid therein for (i) communicating with the individual facilities and thereby (ii) centrally controlling the waste incineration plant <NUM>. The control room <NUM> is provided for a user to, for example, monitor the individual facilities of the waste incineration plant <NUM> (in particular, the state of the inside of the pit <NUM>) or operate the crane <NUM> manually.

The waste incineration plant <NUM> in accordance with Embodiment <NUM> may be newly built to serve as such or may be an existing waste incineration plant. The control system includes individual devices that are communicable with each other over a network and with other devices present remotely from the control room <NUM> over the network.

The waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM> is present upstream of the waste acceptance facility <NUM>, that is, near the entrance of the waste incineration plant <NUM>. The waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM> includes a weighing device <NUM> and a waste type registering device <NUM>.

The weighing device <NUM> is, for instance, buried in a road surface, and is configured to weigh a garbage truck Q that has stopped thereon. The weighing device <NUM> subtracts the weight of the garbage truck Q from the measured weight to calculate the weight of the waste loaded on the garbage truck Q. The weighing device <NUM> transmits, to a pit monitoring device <NUM> (information processing device), waste weight data indicative of the calculated weight of waste.

The waste type registering device <NUM> is configured to register the type (hereinafter referred to as "waste type") of waste loaded on a garbage truck Q. The waste type registering device <NUM> of the present embodiment is, for instance, configured to transmit, to the pit monitoring device <NUM>, waste type data indicative of whether the waste loaded is a combustible waste or incombustible waste.

The waste type may be registered with the waste type registering device <NUM> by, for example, a staffer who manages the waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM>. In a case where each garbage truck Q always loads waste of a particular type, the waste type registering device <NUM> may determine the waste type on the basis of, for example, the model or vehicle number of the garbage truck Q. In a case where the type of waste collected is fixed according to the day of the week and the area, the waste type registering device <NUM> may determine the waste type on the basis of (i) the day of the week on which the waste was brought in and (ii) the area in which the garbage truck Q collected the waste. The parameters such as the car model, vehicle number, day of the week on which waste is brought (date and time), and collection area may be entered into the waste type registering device <NUM> by, for example, a staffer, or may be obtained automatically by the waste type registering device <NUM>.

The waste acceptance facility <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, includes a pit <NUM>, hoppers <NUM>, and a building <NUM>. The building <NUM> stands over the pit <NUM> and the hoppers <NUM>. The pit <NUM> serves to store waste brought in by a garbage truck Q. The hoppers <NUM> are adjacent to the pit <NUM>, and serve to supply waste inside the pit <NUM> into the waste incinerators <NUM>. The hoppers <NUM> are, similarly to the waste incinerators <NUM>, a pair of hoppers arranged next to each other in the X direction, and correspond respectively to the pair of waste incinerators <NUM>. The pit <NUM> is equipped with one or more bring-in doors <NUM> on the side of the entrance of the building <NUM>, that is, on the side of the Y1 direction.

The building <NUM> is equipped with a crane <NUM> at a portion above the pit <NUM> and the hoppers <NUM> (that is, in the Z1 direction), for example, near the ceiling of the building <NUM>. The crane <NUM> includes (i) a girder <NUM> movable in the X direction and (ii) a transverse carriage <NUM> present above the girder <NUM> and movable in the Y direction. The crane <NUM> also includes a bucket <NUM> for grabbing waste inside the pit <NUM>, a wire <NUM> connecting the bucket <NUM> and the transverse carriage <NUM> with each other, and a winder <NUM> for winding and unwinding the wire <NUM> to lift and lower the bucket <NUM> in the height direction (that is, in the Z direction). The winder <NUM> is provided on the transverse carriage <NUM>, for instance.

The crane <NUM> is configured to carry out a stirring operation of stirring waste and a taking-out operation of taking out waste into a waste incinerator <NUM>. The stirring operation refers to an operating of stirring waste inside the pit <NUM> by grabbing waste inside the pit <NUM> (grabbing) and then dropping the grabbed waste back into the pit <NUM> (dropping) as illustrated in <FIG>. The stirring operation allows waste inside the pit <NUM> to be homogeneous (that is, uniform in terms of composition of the respective proportions of different waste types). The taking-out operation refers to an operation of taking out waste from the pit <NUM> into a waste incinerator <NUM> by grabbing waste and then putting the waste into a hopper <NUM> and then into a waste incinerator <NUM> (putting-in). This allows the waste put in to be incinerated.

The waste incinerators <NUM> each include a combustion chamber <NUM>, a waste guiding path <NUM>, an ash outlet <NUM>, a flue <NUM>, and a steam turbine <NUM>. The combustion chamber <NUM><NUM> is, for example, a stoker-type combustion chamber. The waste guiding path <NUM> is present on the side of the front end (that is, on the Y1 side) of the combustion chamber <NUM>, and is connected with the corresponding hopper <NUM>. The waste put in from the hopper <NUM> is guided through the corresponding waste guiding path <NUM> into the corresponding combustion chamber <NUM>. The ash outlet <NUM> is present on the side of the back end (that is, on the Y2 side) of the combustion chamber <NUM>. Incinerated ash resulting from incineration of waste inside the combustion chamber <NUM> is discharged from the combustion chamber <NUM> through the ash outlet <NUM>.

The flue <NUM> is present on the upper back side (that is, on the Z1-Y2 side) of the combustion chamber <NUM>. The flue <NUM> is equipped with a steam turbine <NUM> configured to (i) heat and evaporate supplied water with use of heat of exhaust gas flowing through the flue <NUM> and thereby (ii) recover thermal energy from the exhaust gas. In order for the steam turbine <NUM> to recover thermal energy from exhaust gas efficiently, stable combustion should desirably be carried out continuously.

The waste incinerators <NUM> may each be equipped with various sensors such as a camera (not shown) for monitoring the inside of the waste incinerator <NUM>. Data obtained by such sensors (for example, an image captured by the camera or data on the amount of steam at the steam turbine <NUM>) is transmitted to an incinerator monitoring device <NUM> at the control room <NUM>.

The control system laid in the control room <NUM> includes (i) a pit monitoring device <NUM> that functions as an information processing device in accordance with the present invention and (ii) a height measuring device <NUM> (three-dimensional measuring device). The control system may further include, for example, a crane PLC (programmable logic controller) <NUM> and an incinerator monitoring device <NUM>.

The pit monitoring device <NUM> is configured to (i) monitor occurrence of different events inside the pit <NUM> and (ii) determine the state of the pit <NUM> on the basis of the monitoring result. Specifically, the pit monitoring device <NUM> is configured to, for instance, (i) obtain data related to "bringing-in" from the waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM>, (ii) obtain data related to the height of waste inside the pit <NUM> from the height measuring device <NUM>, and/or (iii) obtain data related to the crane <NUM> from the crane PLC <NUM>. The pit monitoring device <NUM> then (i) analyzes the obtained data to detect occurrence of an event in the pit <NUM> and (ii) identifies the event detected.

The height measuring device <NUM> is configured to measure the respective heights of waste at different positions inside the pit <NUM>. The height measuring device <NUM> of the present embodiment is, as an example, a three-dimensional scanner including a laser sensor mounted therein. The height measuring device <NUM> is placed at a position inside the waste acceptance facility <NUM> which position allows the height measuring device <NUM> to overlook the entire pit <NUM>.

The crane PLC <NUM> functions to control, in response to an instruction from the pit monitoring device <NUM> or incinerator monitoring device <NUM>, how the crane <NUM> is to be driven. The crane PLC <NUM>, for instance, causes the crane <NUM> to carry out a stirring operation (that is, grabbing and dropping) or taking-out operation (that is, grabbing and putting-in). Specifically, the crane PLC <NUM> controls (i) the movement of the girder <NUM> and transverse carriage <NUM>, (ii) the winding and unwinding by the winder <NUM>, and (iii) opening and closing of the bucket <NUM>.

For the above control of the movement, the crane PLC <NUM> moves the girder <NUM> and transverse carriage <NUM> so that the bucket <NUM> is placed at a position specified with coordinates on an X-Y plane of the pit <NUM> as instructed by the pit monitoring device <NUM>.

The crane PLC <NUM> may be configured to record the path of movement of the crane <NUM>. The crane PLC <NUM> may further include a waste weight detecting section (not shown) for detecting the weight of waste grabbed by the bucket <NUM> of the crane <NUM>. The crane PLC <NUM> may be configured to regularly transmit, to the pit monitoring device <NUM>, information on the recorded movement path and the detected waste weight as crane information.

The incinerator monitoring device <NUM> determines, on the basis of various pieces of data obtained by various sensors present at each waste incinerator <NUM>, whether to put waste into the waste incinerator <NUM>. In a case where the incinerator monitoring device <NUM> has determined that waste needs to be put in, the incinerator monitoring device <NUM> causes the pit monitoring device <NUM> to instruct the crane <NUM> to take out waste. The incinerator monitoring device <NUM> may be configured to, in correspondence with the type of waste put in the waste incinerator <NUM>, control combustion of the waste put in the waste incinerator <NUM>.

The following description will discuss the pit <NUM> in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> is a drawing of the pit <NUM> and the hoppers <NUM> as viewed from above. As illustrated in <FIG>, the pit <NUM> is in the shape of a cuboid box having a bottom on an X-Y plane. The pit <NUM> is virtually segmented by the pit monitoring device <NUM> into a plurality of areas P on an X-Y plane. The pit <NUM> illustrated in the drawing as an example is virtually segmented into <NUM> (= <NUM> × <NUM>) areas P(i, j) (where i is a to e, and j is <NUM> to <NUM>). The pit <NUM> illustrated in the drawing as an example is segmented in a landscape orientation as viewed from, for example, the control room <NUM> in such a manner that the i rows are arranged next to each other in the Y direction and that the j columns are arranged next to each other in the X direction.

The pit <NUM> is illustrated as being segmented with a pitch that causes the pit <NUM> to be segmented into approximately <NUM> × <NUM> cells for simple illustration. The pit <NUM> of the present embodiment is, however, segmented into areas P in such a manner that the areas P each have a pitch used when the height measuring device <NUM> measures the respective heights of waste at different positions on an X-Y plane of the pit <NUM> (that is, the areas P are each in the shape of a square with sides measuring several centimeters). The pit <NUM> may be segmented into approximately <NUM> × <NUM> cells, for example.

The pit <NUM> is equipped with one or more bring-in doors <NUM> on the side of the Y1 direction. The example illustrated in <FIG> includes six bring-in doors <NUM>. The bring-in doors <NUM> each allow a garbage truck Q (see <FIG>) to bring waste loaded thereon into the pit <NUM>. The pair of hoppers <NUM> are present on the far side of the pit <NUM> as viewed from the entrance of the building <NUM>, that is, on the side of the Y2 direction, in correspondence with the respective waste incinerators <NUM>.

The description of the present embodiment uses, as an example, (i) the term "acceptance area" (that is, an area for accepting waste brought in) to refer to the area of the d row and e row (which are close to the bring-in doors <NUM>) and (ii) the term "stirring area" to refer to the a row and b row (which are close to the hoppers <NUM>).

In a case where waste on a garbage truck Q has been brought into the pit <NUM>, the pit monitoring device <NUM> recognizes the bringing-in of the waste. The pit monitoring device <NUM> may alternatively be configured to recognize bringing-in of waste on the basis of receipt of waste weight data transmitted from the weighing device <NUM> or waste type data transmitted from the waste type registering device <NUM>. The pit monitoring device <NUM> may alternatively be configured to recognize bringing-in of waste on the basis of data on opening and closing of a bring-in door <NUM> which data has been transmitted from the waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM>. The pit monitoring device <NUM> may alternatively be configured to recognize bringing-in of waste on the basis of a change in the height of a waste heap in the pit <NUM>. The pit monitoring device <NUM> may alternatively be configured to determine, on the basis of a combination of the above, whether waste has been brought in.

As described above, the height of a waste heap in the pit <NUM> can be changed as a result of any of the following events:.

Example events that cause the height of a waste heap to change include a "heap slide" in addition to the above. A "heap slide" refers to a mass of waste at a high position in a waste heap falling down without artificial intervention of a crane or the like. A heap slide is in most cases in no causal relationship with occurrence of any of the above three events. A heap slide, of which a person is unable to control occurrence or prevention, differs in nature from the above three events, each of which a person is able to cause intentionally.

The pit monitoring device <NUM> of the present embodiment is capable of (i) recognizing occurrence of either of a controllable event (which a person is able to cause intentionally) or an uncontrollable event (which can occur naturally) and (ii) identifying the event having occurred.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a main part of the pit monitoring device <NUM>. The pit monitoring device <NUM> may be present inside the above-described control room <NUM> or elsewhere. As illustrated, the pit monitoring device <NUM> includes a control section <NUM>, a storage section <NUM>, a display section <NUM>, and an operation section <NUM>. The control section <NUM> centrally controls individual sections of the pit monitoring device <NUM>. The storage section <NUM> stores various pieces of data for use by the pit monitoring device <NUM>. The display section <NUM> presents various pieces of data stored in the storage section <NUM> to the user in such a manner that the user is able to see the data. The operation section <NUM> accepts an operation by the user on the pit monitoring device <NUM>. The display section <NUM> may be integrated with or external to the pit monitoring device <NUM>.

The pit monitoring device <NUM> further includes a communication section (not shown) for communicating with other devices (in the example illustrated in <FIG>, the weighing device <NUM>, the waste type registering device <NUM>, the height measuring device <NUM>, the crane PLC <NUM>, and the incinerator monitoring device <NUM>).

The control section <NUM> includes a data obtaining section <NUM>, an event determining section <NUM>, a deposition information generating section <NUM>, an instructing section <NUM>, and a display control section <NUM> each as a functional block. Each functional block of the control section <NUM> described above is achieved by, for instance, a central processing unit (CPU) loading onto a random access memory (RAM; not shown) a program stored in a storage device (storage section <NUM>) that is in the form of, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) or a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The storage section <NUM> stores bringing-in data <NUM>, measurement data <NUM>, crane data <NUM>, event information <NUM>, and deposition information <NUM>.

The data obtaining section <NUM> obtains various pieces of data from other devices through the communication section (not shown), processes the data as necessary, and stores the data in the storage section <NUM>. For instance, the data obtaining section <NUM> obtains various pieces of data from the devices included in the waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM>, imparts necessary association to the data to generate bringing-in data, and stores the bringing-in data in the storage section <NUM>. More specifically, the data obtaining section <NUM> obtains waste weight data from the weighing device <NUM> and waste type data from the waste type registering device <NUM>, and associates the waste weight data and the waste type data with each other to generate bringing-in data <NUM>.

The data obtaining section <NUM> obtains from the height measuring device <NUM> measurement data produced as a result of measuring the respective heights of waste at different positions in the pit <NUM>, and stores the obtained data in the storage section <NUM> as measurement data <NUM>. The measurement data is information on the respective heights of waste at different coordinates on an X-Y plane in the pit <NUM>.

The height measuring device <NUM> of the present embodiment carries out measurement preferably at intervals shorter than the intervals at which any of the following events occurs: bringing-in by a garbage truck Q and stirring and taking-out by the crane <NUM>. For instance, in a case where any of the bringing-in, stirring and taking-out events occurs at three-minute intervals on average, the height measuring device <NUM> scans the upper surface of (waste in) the pit <NUM> at one-minute intervals to measure the respective heights of waste at different positions. The data obtaining section <NUM> thus obtains measurement data every minute, associates the measurement data with a measurement (obtaining) date and time expressed at least in minutes, and stores the measurement data in the storage section <NUM> as measurement data <NUM>.

The above arrangement allows the pit monitoring device <NUM> to monitor almost in real time the state of the pit <NUM>, in particular, the respective heights of waste at different positions inside the entire pit <NUM>. This in turn allows the pit monitoring device <NUM> to, every time an event has occurred inside the pit <NUM>, accurately determine what the event is.

The data obtaining section <NUM> obtains from the crane PLC <NUM> data on, for example, the path of movement of the crane <NUM> and the weight of waste grabbing by the bucket <NUM>, and stores the data in the storage section <NUM> as crane data <NUM>.

The event determining section <NUM> determines, on the basis of various pieces of data obtained by the data obtaining section <NUM> (namely, bringing-in data <NUM>, measurement data <NUM>, and crane data <NUM>), what event has occurred inside the pit <NUM>. The event determination is based on an algorithm described later in detail. The event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> including the determination result, and stores the event information <NUM> in the storage section <NUM>.

The deposition information generating section <NUM> generates deposition information <NUM> indicative of the latest state of the inside of the pit <NUM> on the basis of bringing-in data <NUM>, measurement data <NUM>, and event information <NUM>, and stores the deposition information <NUM> in the storage section <NUM>. Deposition information <NUM> indicates the state of how a waste heap inside the pit <NUM> has been stirred. For instance, deposition information <NUM> associates each space defined by X-Y-Z three-dimensional coordinates inside the pit <NUM> with information on attributes of a waste block present in that space. Examples of the attributes include the types of waste in the waste block, the composition of the respective proportions of the waste types, and the degree or number of times of stirring of the waste. The user is able to learn, on the basis of the attribute information, the state of how the waste in the waste block has been stirred.

The attributes of a waste block may further include the degree of combustion of waste. The combustion degree is determined on the basis of, for example, the waste type or the composition of the respective proportions of the waste types. The combustion degree is, as an example, expressed as one of the following three stages: high, middle, and low. A waste block with a "high" combustion degree produces a large amount of heat (for example, a heat amount larger than expected) when combusted. A "middle" combustion degree indicates that a normal amount of heat is produced (for example, a minimally required heat amount). A "low" combustion degree indicates that a small amount of heat is produced (for example, a heat amount smaller than expected).

The deposition information generating section <NUM> may further be configured to, on the basis of at least the combustion degree among the combustion degree, the composition of the respective proportions of the waste types, the degree of stirring of the waste, and the like each set for each waste block, calculate the amount of heat (calories) predicted to be produced through incineration. The deposition information generating section <NUM> may then provide each waste block with information on the calculated calories. This arrangement allows the user to check deposition information <NUM> to control the pit monitoring device <NUM> and the crane PLC <NUM> in such a manner as to cause a waste block provided with information on high calories to be put into a hopper <NUM>.

The three-dimensional coordinates may have any pitch. For instance, deposition information <NUM> may include the above-described types of information for each of the blocks into which the space inside the pit <NUM> is segmented and each of which has a size equivalent to the bucket (that is, in the shape of a square with sides measuring <NUM> to <NUM>). Deposition information <NUM> may alternatively include the above-described types of information for each of the blocks into which the space inside the pit <NUM> is segmented and each of which is in the shape of a square with sides measuring several centimeters (smaller blocks).

The instructing section <NUM> instructs the crane PLC <NUM>, while specifying detailed operations to be carried out by the crane <NUM>, to control how the crane <NUM> is to be driven. Specifically, the instructing section <NUM> transmits, to the crane PLC <NUM>, information on (i) a position at which the crane <NUM> is to carry out a grabbing operation (that is, coordinates on an X-Y plane) and (ii) a position at which the crane <NUM> is to carry out a dropping operation or putting-in operation (that is, coordinates on an X-Y plane) for stirring or taking-out instruction.

The instructing section <NUM> may transmit a stirring or taking-out instruction in response to an instruction entered by the user into the pit monitoring device <NUM> through the operation section <NUM> to drive the crane. The instructing section <NUM> may alternatively transmit the above instruction in response to a putting-in instruction from the incinerator monitoring device <NUM> or in a case where the instructing section <NUM> has determined on the basis of updated deposition information <NUM> that the instructing section <NUM> needs to transmit the above instruction. The instructing section <NUM> may further transmit, to the crane PLC <NUM> on the basis of the current height of a waste heap, information on a position (that is, a Z coordinate) to which the bucket <NUM> is to be lifted or lowered.

The display control section <NUM> generates an image that visualizes various pieces of data and information stored in the storage section <NUM>, and causes the display section <NUM> to display the image. Specifically, the display control section <NUM> is capable of causing the display section <NUM> to display at least one of bringing-in data <NUM>, measurement data <NUM>, crane data <NUM>, event information <NUM>, and deposition information <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the data structure of bringing-in data <NUM>. Bringing-in data <NUM> is structured to have, for example, the following items: bringing-in date and time, bringing-in entrance, bringing-in amount, and waste type. The data obtaining section <NUM> generates bringing-in data <NUM> each time a garbage truck Q brings in waste.

The item "bringing-in date and time" indicates information on the date and time when waste collected by a garbage truck Q was brought into the pit <NUM>. The data obtaining section <NUM> may obtain, as bringing-in date and time, information on the date and time when a staffer entered data into an information processing device (for example, the waste type registering device <NUM>) placed in the waste pre-acceptance measurement facility <NUM>. The data obtaining section <NUM> may alternatively obtain, as bringing-in date and time, information on (i) the date and time when the weighing device <NUM> obtained, generated, or transmitted waste weight data or (ii) the date and time when the waste type registering device <NUM> obtained, generated, or transmitted waste type data. The data obtaining section <NUM> may alternatively receive, as bringing-in date and time from an information processing device (not shown) configured to control the opening and closing of each bring-in door <NUM>, information on the date and time when a bring-in door <NUM> was opened and closed.

The item "bringing-in entrance" indicates information on which of the bring-in doors <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> was used to bring in waste. For instance, the above information processing device configured to control the opening and closing of each bring-in door <NUM> may transmit, to the pit monitoring device <NUM>, information on the ID of the bring-in door <NUM> that was opened and closed (each bring-in door <NUM> has been assigned an ID). The data obtaining section <NUM> receives the information on the ID of the bring-in door <NUM> as information indicative of the bringing-in entrance. Information on the bringing-in entrance (that is, the ID of a bring-in door <NUM>) is used by the pit monitoring device <NUM> to estimate which area of the pit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> waste was newly added in.

The item "bringing-in amount" indicates information on the amount of waste brought into the pit <NUM>. For instance, the data obtaining section <NUM> receives waste weight data from the weighing device <NUM> as information on the bringing-in amount. The item "bringing-in amount" may alternatively indicate information on the volume of waste.

The item "waste type" indicates information on the type of waste brought into the pit <NUM>. The data obtaining section <NUM> receives waste type data from the waste type registering device <NUM> as information on the waste type. For instance, the data obtaining section <NUM> stores, under "waste type", information indicative of a combustible waste or an incombustible waste.

(a) and (b) of <FIG> are each a diagram illustrating a specific example of the data structure of measurement data <NUM>. Measurement data <NUM> is structured to associate each point defined by XY coordinates on an X-Y plane of the pit <NUM> with height information on the height of waste.

(a) of <FIG> illustrates an example of measurement data <NUM> provided by the height measuring device <NUM>. The three-dimensional graph illustrated in the drawing is produced by (i) determining, on the basis of a distance measured by the height measuring device <NUM> through laser irradiation, the height of waste at each position defined by XY coordinates and (ii) plotting the value of the height as a Z coordinate.

In another embodiment, measurement data <NUM> may be converted, on the basis of the above-described three-dimensional graph, into a two-dimensional table illustrated in (b) of <FIG> of <FIG> illustrates an example case in which the pit <NUM> is segmented into <NUM> × <NUM> (= <NUM>) cells on an X-Y plane. Each cell is associated with a value (cm) indicative of the height of the waste in the area corresponding to the cell. Measurement data <NUM>, which is formatted with a matrix of <NUM> × <NUM> (= <NUM>) cells in the drawing as an example, may be formatted with a matrix of <NUM> × <NUM> cells or even more cells, depending on the scanning capacity (resolution) of the height measuring device <NUM>.

Measurement data <NUM> may be presented on the display section <NUM> under control of the display control section <NUM>. Measurement data <NUM> may be presented in the form of a three-dimensional graph as illustrated in (a) of <FIG> or in the form of a two-dimensional table as illustrated in (b) of <FIG>.

The height measuring device <NUM> of the present embodiment scans the upper surface of (waste in) the pit <NUM> at one-minute intervals. Measurement data <NUM> is thus transmitted to the pit monitoring device <NUM> every minute. The data obtaining section <NUM>, each time it receives measurement data <NUM>, associates the measurement data <NUM> with information on the measurement date and time, and stores the measurement data <NUM> in the storage section <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the data structure of crane data <NUM>. Crane data <NUM> is structured to have, for example, the following items: driving date and time, X coordinate, Y coordinate, and bucket weight. The data obtaining section <NUM> receives data on the above items from the crane PLC <NUM>, and stores the data as crane data <NUM>.

The item "driving date and time" indicates information on the date and time when the crane PLC <NUM> determined the corresponding X coordinate, Y coordinate, and bucket weight.

The item "X coordinate" indicates information on the position of the bucket <NUM> in the X direction of the waste acceptance facility <NUM>, that is, the position of the girder <NUM>.

The item "Y coordinate" indicates information on the position of the bucket <NUM> in the Y direction of the waste acceptance facility <NUM>, that is, the position of the transverse carriage <NUM>.

The item "bucket weight" indicates information on the weight of waste grabbed by the bucket <NUM>.

With crane data <NUM> stored, plotting the position of the bucket <NUM> as XY coordinates for each driving date and time allows the path of movement of the crane <NUM> (bucket <NUM>) to be drawn. Further, a change in the weight of waste inside the bucket <NUM> can indicate when and where the crane <NUM> grabbed waste and how much the crane <NUM> grabbed (or released).

The crane PLC <NUM> measures and monitors the position (that is, the XY coordinates) of the bucket <NUM> and the bucket weight every several seconds or several minutes. The crane PLC <NUM> may transmit, to the pit monitoring device <NUM>, a piece of crane data <NUM> each time the crane PLC <NUM> has carried out measurement (that is, every several seconds or several minutes) or a plurality of pieces of crane data <NUM> together every several tens of minutes or several hours.

(a) and (b) of <FIG> are each a diagram illustrating a specific example of the data structure of event information <NUM>. Event information <NUM> is structured to have, for example, the following items: occurrence date and time, determination result, increase area, increase amount, decrease area, and decrease amount as illustrated in (a) of <FIG>. The event determining section <NUM>, each time new measurement data <NUM> is stored in the storage section <NUM>, compares the new measurement data <NUM> with the immediately previously stored measurement data <NUM> for an event determining process. In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has determined as a result of the event determining process that some event (or part of the event) has occurred, the event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> about the event the occurrence of which the event determining section <NUM> has determined.

Events are classified into (i) short-term events (which occur over a short period of time such as approximately one minute), (ii) mid-term events (which occur over a period of time of several minutes), and (iii) long-term events (which occur gradually over several tens of minutes to several hours or longer). For instance, "bringing-in" and "heap slide" are short-term events. The event determining section <NUM> is usually capable of determining such events through a single event determining process based on a single comparison. "Stirring" and "taking-out" are mid-term events. The event determining section <NUM> is capable of determining such events through a plurality of event determining processes based on a plurality of (for example, two) comparisons. For instance, in a case where the event determining section <NUM> determined "grabbing" as a crane operation at a time point and determined "dropping" several minutes later, the event determining section <NUM> can determine on the basis of the two determinations that "stirring" has occurred. The event determining section <NUM> may determine "grabbing" as a crane operation at a time point and determine "grabbing" again several minutes later without determining "dropping" subsequent to the first "grabbing" operation. In this case, the event determining section <NUM> determines that the previous "grabbing" operation is part of "taking-out" and that "taking-out" has occurred. The event determining section <NUM> may also refer to crane data <NUM> to determine, even before determining the second "grabbing" operation, that "taking-out" has occurred. Long-term events will be described later in detail. The event determining section <NUM> is capable of (i) tracking, on the basis of a large number of pieces of measurement data <NUM>, how the height of waste changes over time and thereby (ii) determining an event (for example, "sinking" due to the self weight of the waste).

The event determining section <NUM> generates a piece of event information <NUM> for each event (or crane operation) determined through a single event determining process based on a single comparison. Thus, in a case where a "heap slide" and a "grabbing" crane operation have occurred substantially simultaneously, the event determining section <NUM> generates a total of two pieces of event information <NUM>: one for the "heap slide" and the other for the "grabbing" operation.

The item "occurrence date and time" indicates information on the date and time when an event determined by the event determining section <NUM> occurred. The event determining section <NUM> may use, as the occurrence date and time, the measurement date and time for the immediately previous measurement data <NUM> (first measurement date and time). The event determining section <NUM> may alternatively use, as the occurrence date and time, (i) the measurement date and time for the latest measurement data <NUM> (second measurement date and time), (ii) an intermediate time point between the first measurement date and time and the second measurement date and time, or (iii) the period from the first measurement date and time to the second measurement date and time.

The item "determination result" indicates information on the result of an event determining process carried out by the event determining section <NUM>. This item has the sub-items "event" and "crane operation" as an example. "Event" indicates information on an event determined, and indicates an event such as "heap slide", "bringing-in", "stirring", or "taking-out". "Crane operation" indicates information on an operation by the crane <NUM> which operation is defined through a single event determining process, and indicates a crane operation such as "grabbing" or "dropping". "Putting-in" is an operation of putting waste into a hopper <NUM>, and does not change the height of waste in the pit <NUM>. The event determining section <NUM> thus does not determine "putting-in" on the basis of only a comparison between different pieces of measurement data <NUM>.

The item "increase area" indicates information on an area in the pit <NUM> in which area the height of waste has increased. The event determining section <NUM> compares the latest measurement data <NUM> with the immediately previous measurement data <NUM> to determine an increase area. The event determining section <NUM> may determine a plurality of increase areas inside the pit <NUM> on the basis of a single comparison. An increase area is indicated by any format of data on a group of XY coordinates.

The item "increase amount" indicates information on the weight of waste having increased in an increase area described above. The event determining section <NUM> may determine an increase amount on the basis of (i) "bringing-in amount" described above, (ii) "bucket weight" described above, or (iii) deposition information <NUM> for a portion of a waste heap at which portion a heap slide occurred, the deposition information <NUM> being stored before the heap slide.

In a case where a crane operation that the event determining section <NUM> has determined is "grabbing", the event determining section <NUM> may leave the items "increase area" and "increase amount" blank (null) for event information <NUM> about the "grabbing" operation.

The item "decrease area" indicates information on an area in the pit <NUM> in which area the height of waste has decreased. The event determining section <NUM> compares the latest measurement data <NUM> with the immediately previous measurement data <NUM> to determine one or more decrease areas. A decrease area is indicated by any format of data on a group of XY coordinates.

The item "decrease amount" indicates information on the weight of waste having decreased in a decrease area described above. The event determining section <NUM> may determine a decrease amount on the basis of (i) "bucket weight" described above or (ii) deposition information <NUM> for a portion of a waste heap at which portion a heap slide occurred, the deposition information <NUM> being stored before the heap slide.

The description below deals with a specific example with reference to (b) of <FIG>. In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has defined an event through a single determination as described above, the event determining section <NUM> categorizes the thus-determined short-term event as an "event" (sub-item). For instance, the event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> indicating that "bringing-in" occurred at "<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM><NUM>:<NUM>". The event determining section <NUM> also inputs respective values under "increase area" and "increase amount" (not detailed) in the event information <NUM> about the "bringing-in" event. A "bringing-in" event does not involve a crane operation. The event determining section <NUM> may thus leave the item "crane operation" blank (null) for the event information <NUM> about the "bringing-in" event.

In a case where the event determining section <NUM> defines a mid-term event through two determinations, the event determining section <NUM> first categorizes a crane operation defined through a first determination as a "crane operation" (sub-item) for a first piece of event information <NUM>. For instance, the event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> indicating that "grabbing" occurred at "<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM><NUM>:<NUM>". The event determining section <NUM> also inputs respective values under "decrease area" and "decrease amount" in the event information <NUM> for the "grabbing" event.

Next, the event determining section <NUM> categorizes a crane operation defined through a second determination as a "crane operation" (sub-item) for a second piece of event information <NUM>. For instance, the event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> indicating that "dropping" occurred at "<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM><NUM>:<NUM>". The event determining section <NUM> also inputs respective values under "increase area" and "increase amount" in the event information <NUM> about the "dropping" event.

In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has determined that "dropping" has occurred after "grabbing", the event determining section <NUM> pairs the two pieces of information with each other to determine that a single "stirring" event has occurred. Specifically, the event determining section <NUM> pairs the event information <NUM> for "grabbing" with the event information <NUM> for subsequent "dropping" and categorizes, as an "event" (sub-item) and in association with the pair of pieces of event information <NUM>, the determination result indicating that "stirring" has occurred.

As another example, the event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> indicating that "grabbing" occurred at "<NUM>/<NUM>/ <NUM><NUM>:<NUM>" about a crane operation defined through a first determination. The event determining section <NUM> then generates event information <NUM> indicating that "grabbing" occurred at "<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM><NUM>:<NUM>" about a crane operation defined through a second determination subsequent to the first determination.

In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has determined that "grabbing" has occurred after the immediately previous "grabbing" operation without occurrence of "dropping", the event determining section <NUM> determines on the basis of the immediately previous "grabbing" operation that occurred at "<NUM>:<NUM>" that a single "taking-out" event has occurred. Specifically, the event determining section <NUM> categorizes, as an "event" (sub-item) and in association with the event information <NUM> for the immediately previous "grabbing" operation, the determination result indicating that "taking-out" has occurred.

It is indeterminable at this time point whether the newly determined "grabbing" operation that occurred at " <NUM>:<NUM>" is part of a "stirring" event or "taking-out" event. The event determining section <NUM> thus leaves the sub-item "event" blank in the event information <NUM> about the new "grabbing" operation at the time when the "grabbing" operation was determined. The event determining section <NUM> will determine the current event on the basis of a crane operation to be determined next or later.

The event determining section <NUM> is capable of determining, before determining "grabbing" that occurred at "<NUM>:<NUM>," that "grabbing" that occurred at "<NUM>:<NUM>" is part of "taking-out". For instance, the event determining section <NUM> refers to crane data <NUM> for the period of <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>. In a case where during the period, (i) the bucket <NUM> is placed at such a position (that is, XY coordinates) as to coincide with a hopper <NUM> and (ii) the bucket weight is decreased by a value equivalent to the waste grabbed, the event determining section <NUM> is capable of determining, on the basis of "grabbing" that occurred at "<NUM>:<NUM>" that a single "taking-out" event has occurred.

<FIG> and <FIG> are each a diagram illustrating a specific example of the data structure of deposition information <NUM>. Deposition information <NUM> is structured such that each position (that is, XYZ coordinates) in a three-dimensional space of the pit <NUM> is associated with information on attributes of a waste block present at that position.

For instance, deposition information <NUM> is structured such that each position defined by XY coordinates on an X-Y plane of the pit <NUM> is associated with a single bar extending in the Z direction as illustrated in <FIG>. Each bar has (i) a lower end in the Z direction which lower end corresponds to the bottom surface of the pit <NUM> and (ii) an upper end in the Z direction which upper end corresponds to the highest point of the waste at the position. In other words, each bar has a dimension in the Z direction which dimension corresponds to the height of waste at the position.

Each bar has Z coordinates each associated with information on an attribute (specifically, the degree of stirring) of the waste block present at that position (height). The degree of stirring is information on how much the waste has been stirred by the crane <NUM>. A higher degree of stirring indicates a higher homogeneity of waste (that is, a higher uniformity in terms of composition of the respective proportions of different waste types).

The degree of stirring is expressed in percentage, with <NUM>% indicating that the number of times of stirring is <NUM> and <NUM>% indicating an ideal number of times of stirring which ideal number is based on, for example, knowledge acquired from an experience. A larger percentage value indicates that the waste has been stirred to a higher degree. The deposition information generating section <NUM> is capable of determining the degree of stirring of a waste block on the basis of the number of times of stirring which number has been counted by the event determining section <NUM> on the basis of event information <NUM>. As another example, the degree of stirring may be expressed in levels, with level <NUM> indicating that the number of times of stirring is <NUM> and level <NUM> indicating an ideal number of times of stirring. A higher level indicates that the waste has been stirred to a higher degree.

Each bar has a portion(s) along the height of the waste block which portion(s) is provided with a value indicative of the degree of stirring of the waste block. Different portions are preferably displayed differently in a visual sense according to the degree of stirring. For instance, different portions preferably have respective colors different from each other according to the degree of stirring.

<FIG> shows a bar <NUM> at a position defined by an X coordinate on the fourth column (X4 column) and a Y coordinate on the first row (Ya row). The bar <NUM> indicates that at this position, the waste block present in a space extending from the lower end to a height of one third has a stirring degree of level <NUM> and the remaining waste block (two thirds) has a stirring degree of level <NUM>.

The deposition information generating section <NUM> may (i) determine a degree of stirring of waste between two bars adjacent to each other in the X or Y direction or in an oblique direction and (ii) associate the waste with the degree of stirring. The deposition information generating section <NUM> determines that the degree of stirring of the upper end (that is, the waste block present at the top at the position) of that one of two adjacent bars which bar has smaller XY coordinate values is the degree of stirring associated with the pair of bars. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the deposition information generating section <NUM> determines, on the basis of the fact that the degree of stirring of the upper end of the bar <NUM> (which has smaller coordinate values) is level <NUM>, that waste between the bar <NUM> and a bar <NUM> adjacent to the bar <NUM> in the X direction and having a larger X-coordinate value has a degree of stirring of level <NUM>. The pit monitoring device <NUM> then preferably connects the respective upper ends of the adjacent bars with a line and displays the line in a color corresponding to the degree of stirring associated with the bar pair. This arrangement allows the user to intuitively understand the degree of stirring of the surface of the entire waste heap inside the pit <NUM>.

The deposition information generating section <NUM> may (i) determine a degree of stirring of a set of three bars adjacent to each other in the X or Y direction or in an oblique direction and (ii) associate the set with the degree of stirring. For instance, the deposition information generating section <NUM> may determine a degree of stirring of a bar set on the basis of the degree of stirring of the upper end of one of the three bars. The pit monitoring device <NUM> then preferably draws a right triangle with the vertexes at the respective upper ends of the three bars, paints the right triangle in a color corresponding to the degree of stirring associated with the bar set, and displays the right triangle. This arrangement allows the user to more intuitively understand the degree of stirring of the surface of the entire waste heap inside the pit <NUM>.

Deposition information <NUM> may be displayed on the display section <NUM> in a two-dimensional form. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating deposition information <NUM> about a plane on the first row as a Y coordinate (Ya row). For instance, when the three-dimensional deposition information <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is displayed on the display section <NUM>, the user selects the Ya row and enters, into the pit monitoring device <NUM> with use of the operation section <NUM>, an instruction to display two-dimensional deposition information <NUM>. The deposition information generating section <NUM>, in response, reads out only deposition information <NUM> on the Ya row and causes the display section <NUM> to display the two-dimensional deposition information <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. This arrangement allows the user to see a cross section of the waste heap inside the pit <NUM> and thereby easily understand the degree of stirring of not only the surface but also a lower layer of the waste block. The example illustrated in the drawing will allow the user to understand at a glance that an upper-layer portion of the waste heap has been stirred relatively well, whereas a lower-layer portion thereof has been hardly stirred.

<FIG> and <FIG> each illustrate deposition information <NUM> with a large coordinate pitch for a three-dimensional space for the purpose of easy view and simplified description. The coordinate pitch of deposition information <NUM> may, however, be smaller unlike in the example illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. Such a smaller coordinate pitch, which may increase the processing load on the deposition information generating section <NUM>, allows the user to accurately understand the state of a waste heap inside the pit <NUM> in greater detail.

The deposition information generating section <NUM>, each time the event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM>, updates deposition information <NUM> in accordance with the newly generated event information <NUM>. Specifically, the deposition information generating section <NUM> updates deposition information <NUM> by, for example, changing the height of a bar for an area in which the height of waste has been changed and/or recalculating the degree of stirring associated with a bar, a bar pair, or a bar set.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating the flow of an event determining process that the event determining section <NUM> carries out. In a case where the data obtaining section <NUM> has obtained new measurement data <NUM> and stored the measurement data <NUM> into the storage section <NUM> (YES in S101), the event determining section <NUM> starts an event determining process.

The event determining section <NUM> reads out the newly stored, latest measurement data <NUM> and immediately previously stored measurement data <NUM> from the storage section <NUM> (S102). The event determining section <NUM> compares the two pieces of measurement data <NUM>. In a case where there is one or more height change areas in each of which the height of waste has increased or decreased by not less than a predetermined value (YES in S103), the event determining section <NUM> will determine in detail what event has occurred in each height change area.

For instance, first, in a case where there is one or more decrease areas in each of which the height of waste has decreased by not less than a predetermined value (YES in S104), the event determining section <NUM> proceeds with one such decrease area as a target (S105). For instance, in a case where the measurement data <NUM> illustrated in (a) of <FIG> is the immediately previous measurement data <NUM>, and the measurement data <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is the current measurement data <NUM>, a comparison between the two pieces of measurement data <NUM> shows that the area indicated with a broken line in <FIG> is a decrease area in which the height of waste has decreased by not less than a predetermined value. The event determining section <NUM> will determine what event has caused the height of waste to decrease in the target decrease area indicated with the broken line.

The event determining section <NUM> reads out crane data <NUM> from the storage section <NUM>. The event determining section <NUM> then determines whether the crane data <NUM> has a history of operation of the crane <NUM> in the target decrease area and a place near the decrease area within the time frame extending from a first measurement date and time for the immediately previous measurement data <NUM> to a second measurement date and time for the current measurement data <NUM> (S106). In a case where the crane data <NUM> has a history of operation of the crane <NUM> in the target decrease area and a place near the decrease area within the above time frame (YES in S106), the event determining section <NUM> determines that the decrease in the height of waste in the decrease area was caused by a "grabbing" operation by the crane <NUM> (S107).

Subsequently, the event determining section <NUM> determines whether the storage section <NUM> stores a record of a past "grabbing" operation entered before the entry of the result of determination of the current "grabbing" crane operation which past "grabbing" operation has not been paired with a "dropping" crane operation, that is, has not been determined as to whether the past "grabbing" operation is part of "stirring" or "taking-out" (S108). In a case where the storage section <NUM> stores a record of a past "grabbing" operation that has not been determined as to whether the past "grabbing" operation is part of "stirring" or "taking-out" (YES in S108), the event determining section <NUM> determines on the basis of the result of determination of the past "grabbing" operation that "taking-out" has been carried out (S109). The event determining section <NUM> has thus determined that the crane <NUM> carried out two consecutive "grabbing" operations (with no determination of "dropping" therebetween). This is based on the following assumption: The crane <NUM> released the grabbed waste at such a place as not to change the height of the waste heap, that is, put the waste into a hopper <NUM>, between the above two "grabbing" operations.

In a case where the storage section <NUM> stores no record of a past "grabbing" operation that has not been determined as to whether the past "grabbing" operation is part of "stirring" or "taking-out" (NO in S108), the event determining section <NUM> may at this stage postpone determining whether the current "grabbing" operation is part of "stirring" or "taking-out" (S110). When the event determining section <NUM> can refer to a history of operation of the crane <NUM> within a time frame subsequent to the time frame within which the current "grabbing" operation occurred, the event determining section <NUM> will determine, on the basis of the operation history, that the current "grabbing" operation is an operation carried out by the crane <NUM> as part of "taking-out". Specifically, the event determining section <NUM> refers to crane data <NUM> (see <FIG>) for a time frame subsequent to the time frame within which the current "grabbing" operation occurred. In a case where the XY coordinates indicative of the position of the crane <NUM> are identical to those indicative of the position (X, Y) of a hopper <NUM> or are within a predetermined distance from the position (X, Y) of a hopper <NUM>, the event determining section <NUM> determines that the waste was put into the hopper <NUM> after the current "grabbing" operation. The event determining section <NUM>, as a result, determines on the basis of the current "grabbing" operation and "putting-in" that "taking-out" has been carried out.

In a case where there is no decrease area in S104, S105 to S108 are not carried out.

In a case where the crane data <NUM> has no history of operation of the crane <NUM> in the target decrease area and a place near the decrease area within the above time frame (NO in S106), the event determining section <NUM> proceeds further with, as a target, one or more increase areas determined in S <NUM>, and will check an increase area (S <NUM>). A decrease in the height of the waste heap which decrease has been caused in no relation to operation of the crane <NUM> is probably due to a heap slide. The event determining section <NUM> will carry out the checking operation below to definitively determine that a "heap slide" has occurred.

The event determining section <NUM> determines whether the target increase area is present around the decrease area targeted in S105 (S112). In a case where the increase area is present in such a pattern as to surround the decrease area (YES in S112), the event determining section <NUM> determines that the decrease in the height of waste in the decrease area and the increase in the height of waste in the increase area are due to the same "heap slide" (S113).

In a case where the increase area as a target does not meet the condition of S112 about the positional relationship with the decrease area, or there is no decrease area in S104 (NO in S112), the event determining section <NUM> determines that the waste increase in the increase area is not due to a heap slide, and proceeds with another checking operation. A waste increase is, if it is not due to a heap slide, probably due to "bringing-in" or "dropping". The event determining section <NUM> proceeds with the checking operation below to determine whether the waste increase is due to "bringing-in" or "dropping".

The event determining section <NUM> reads out bringing-in data <NUM> from the storage section <NUM>. The event determining section <NUM> then determines whether (i) the increase area as a target belongs to the acceptance area of the pit <NUM> and (ii) the bringing-in data <NUM> has a history of waste having been brought in from a bring-in door <NUM> closest to the increase area within the time frame extending from the first measurement date and time to the second measurement date and time (S114). In a case of YES in S114, the event determining section <NUM> determines that the increase in the height of waste in the increase area is due to "bringing-in" (S115). In a case of NO in S114, the event determining section <NUM> determines that the increase is due to "dropping" (S116). The storage section <NUM> stores a record of the result of determination of "grabbing" which record was entered before the entry of the result of determination of the current "dropping" operation. This record of the result of determination is of a "grabbing" operation that has not been determined as to whether the "grabbing" operation is part of "stirring" or "taking-out". The event determining section <NUM> thus pairs the result of determination of the immediately previous "grabbing" operation with the result of determination of the current "dropping" operation, and determines on the basis of these determination results that "stirring" has been carried out (S117).

The event determining section <NUM> generates event information <NUM> associated with the determination result obtained in S107, S113, S115, or S116 about the target decrease area or increase area as a target, and stores the event information <NUM> in the storage section <NUM> (S118). The event determining section <NUM>, on the basis of the determination result obtained in S109, also updates the event information <NUM> already stored in the storage section <NUM>.

In a case where there are a plurality of decrease areas or increase areas in S103, the event determining section <NUM> returns from S118 to S104, and repeats S104 to S118 about another decrease area or increase area as a target. This arrangement allows the pit monitoring device <NUM> to, even in a case where a plurality of events have occurred substantially simultaneously, determine each of the events and record each determination result as event information <NUM>.

In a case where a change in the height of waste by not less than a predetermined value is not found anywhere inside the pit <NUM> (NO in S103), the event determining section <NUM> determines that no event has occurred (S119), and may end the process without generating event information <NUM>. The event determining section <NUM> then transitions into a state where the event determining section <NUM> waits for subsequent measurement data <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a deposition information generating process that the deposition information generating section <NUM> carries out. In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has generated new event information <NUM> and stored the event information <NUM> into the storage section <NUM> (YES in S201), the deposition information generating section <NUM> starts a deposition information generating process.

In deposition information <NUM> of the present embodiment, a waste block is expressed as a corresponding bar. In the description below of the flowchart, an expression of the deposition information generating section <NUM> processing a waste block (for example, moving, removing, or adding a waste block) specifically means the deposition information generating section <NUM> processing a portion of the bar corresponding to the waste block.

In a case where the event information <NUM> indicates a "heap slide" as a "determination result" (YES in S202), the deposition information generating section <NUM> updates the deposition information <NUM>. Specifically, the deposition information generating section <NUM> moves a waste block at an upper portion in a decrease area to an upper portion in an increase area (S203). The deposition information generating section <NUM> is capable of determining a decrease area and increase area on the basis of the coordinates indicated by the event information <NUM>. The deposition information generating section <NUM> reads out measurement data <NUM> indicating a measurement date and time identical (or close) to the occurrence date and time indicated by the event information <NUM>, and thereby determines the height of waste in each area after the movement. The deposition information generating section <NUM> is also capable of determining, on the basis of information on the increase amount and decrease amount which information is included in the event information <NUM>, the number of waste blocks to be moved. The deposition information generating section <NUM> also updates, on the basis of (i) the attribute information of the waste block having been moved which attribute information was information before the movement and (ii) the attribute information of a waste block in the area to which the above waste block was moved, the attribute information of a waste block resulting from the movement. For instance, the deposition information generating section <NUM> updates information on the waste types and/or composition of the respective proportions of the waste types (S204). A "heap slide" may contribute to homogenizing waste by moving waste similarly to "stirring" by the crane <NUM>. The deposition information generating section <NUM> may update information on the number of times of stirring, degree of stirring, degree of combustion, and calories of a waste block moved on the basis of a "heap slide". This arrangement allows (i) a heap slide (that is, a mass of waste in a waste heap falling down from a high position to a lower area) to be determined and (ii) deposition information <NUM> to accurately represent the current state of the waste.

In a case where the event information <NUM> indicates "bringing-in" as a "determination result" (YES in S205), the deposition information generating section <NUM> adds a new waste block at an upper portion in the increase area (S206). The deposition information generating section <NUM> determines the number of waste blocks for the addition on the basis of (i) the increase amount indicated by the event information <NUM> or (ii) bringing-in data <NUM> indicating a bringing-in date and time near the occurrence date and time indicated by the event information <NUM>. The deposition information generating section <NUM> determines the attribute information of the waste block for the addition (that is, the waste types, composition of the respective proportions of the waste types, degree of combustion, and calories) on the basis of bringing-in data <NUM>. The deposition information generating section <NUM> naturally sets each of the degree of stirring and number of times of stirring to an initial value (for example, <NUM>% or <NUM> times) because the waste has just been brought in. This arrangement allows (i) an event of waste having been brought into the pit <NUM> from a bring-in door <NUM> to be determined and (ii) deposition information <NUM> to accurately represent the current state of the waste.

In a case where the event information <NUM> indicates "grabbing" as a "determination result" (YES in S207), the deposition information generating section <NUM> determines whether the event determining section <NUM> has determined that "grabbing" as a "determination result" indicated by event information <NUM> generated before the current event information <NUM> is part of "taking-out" (S208). In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has not determined as such (NO in S208), the deposition information generating section <NUM> proceeds to S209 because the deposition information generating section <NUM> does not need to update the deposition information <NUM> on the basis of previous event information <NUM>. Specifically, the deposition information generating section <NUM> removes a waste block at an upper portion in the decrease area that is based on the current event information <NUM>, and saves the removed waste block and the attribute information thereof in a cache (S209). This is because it is indeterminable at this time point whether the current "grabbing" operation is part of "stirring" or "taking-out" and thus where the removed waste block is to be moved to.

In a case where the event determining section <NUM> has determined as above (YES in S208), the deposition information generating section <NUM> does not return, into the pit <NUM>, the waste block saved on the basis of the previous "grabbing" operation, and deletes the waste block from the cache (S210). This arrangement allows (i) an event of grabbed waste having been put into a hopper <NUM> to be determined and (ii) deposition information <NUM> to accurately represent the current state of the waste.

In a case where the event information <NUM> indicates "dropping" as a "determination result" (YES in S211), the deposition information generating section <NUM> moves, to the increase area, a waste block that the deposition information generating section <NUM> saved in a cache on the basis of previous event information <NUM> indicating "grabbing" as a "determination result" (S212).

A "dropping" operating by the crane <NUM> may last longer than a time interval (for example, one minute) at which the height measuring device <NUM> scans the upper surface of (waste in) the pit <NUM> to measure the height of waste. In other words, after a single "grabbing" operation is determined (S107 in <FIG>), a plurality of "dropping" operations may be determined consecutively (<NUM> in <FIG>). In view of that, the deposition information generating section <NUM>, even after the deposition information generating section <NUM> moves the waste block to the increase area in S212, preferably keeps the waste block saved in the cache. The deposition information generating section <NUM> may delete the above-kept waste block from the cache when the event determining section <NUM> determines a subsequent "grabbing" operation. This is because a subsequent "grabbing" operation should indicate that the above "dropping" operation has already been finished.

The deposition information generating section <NUM> also updates, on the basis of (i) the attribute information of the waste block having been moved which attribute information was information before the movement and (ii) the attribute information of a waste block in the area to which the above waste block was moved, the attribute information of a waste block resulting from the movement (S213). For instance, the deposition information generating section <NUM> updates information on the waste types and/or composition of the respective proportions of the waste types. The current determination result of "dropping" means a single "stirring" event has been carried out. The deposition information generating section <NUM> thus updates information on the degree of stirring and/or number of times of stirring of the waste block resulting from the movement. This arrangement allows (i) an event of grabbed waste having been dropped onto a different place inside the pit <NUM> to be determined and (ii) deposition information <NUM> to accurately represent the current state of the waste.

The event determining section <NUM> may determine, as a long-term event, "sinking" of waste due to its self weight. The event determining section <NUM> may carry out not only a comparison and event determining process each time measurement data <NUM> is generated, but also an event determining process for determination of a long-term event when measurement data <NUM> for a long term (for example, one hour) has been stored into the storage section <NUM> a plurality of times.

For instance, even in a case where a comparison between different pieces of measurement data <NUM> every minute does not indicate a decrease in the height of waste by not less than a predetermined value, a comparison between a piece of measurement data <NUM> and another piece of measurement data <NUM> generated one hour later may indicate a decrease in the height of waste by not less than a predetermined value. In such a case, if no short-term or mid-term event did not occur during the one-hour period, the event determining section <NUM> is capable of determining that "sinking" occurred during the one-hour period.

The deposition information generating section <NUM> updates deposition information <NUM> about the area in which sinking occurred as the event determining section <NUM> has determined. Specifically, the deposition information generating section <NUM> compresses the entire bar for the area so that the height of the bar is reduced on the basis of the height of waste indicated by the measurement data <NUM>. This arrangement allows deposition information <NUM> to accurately represent an event of sinking of waste due to its self weight.

The waste acceptance facility <NUM> of the waste incineration plant <NUM> may include a plurality of cranes <NUM>. In this case, the event determining section <NUM> may determine a "grabbing" operation, a "dropping" operation for "stirring", and a "putting-in" operation for "taking-out" for each crane <NUM>. The deposition information generating section <NUM> may cache, for each crane <NUM>, information on a waste block and attribute information thereof for generating deposition information <NUM>. This arrangement makes it possible to analyze, for example, the rate of operation of each crane <NUM>, and allows the analysis result to be used to control the operation of each crane <NUM> efficiently.

The deposition information generating section <NUM> is configured to, on the basis of the result of determination of "taking-out", delete information on the waste block taken out of the pit <NUM>, that is, the waste block put into a hopper <NUM>, and attribute information of the waste block from the cache (S210 in <FIG>). The present embodiment is, however, not limited to such an arrangement. The deposition information generating section <NUM> may be configured to delete information on the waste block put into a hopper <NUM> and attribute information of the waste block from the cache and store the information on the waste block and attribute information into the storage section <NUM> in a nonvolatile manner as taking-out data. Taking-out data is structured to have, for example, the following items: putting-in date and time, putting-in destination, putting-in amount, and attribute information. "Putting-in date and time" indicates information on the date and time when a waste block was put into a hopper <NUM>. "Putting-in destination" indicates information on which hopper <NUM> the waste block was put into. "Putting-in amount" indicates information on the amount (that is, weight or volume) of the waste block put in. "Attribute information" is information set for the waste block. Example attributes indicated by attribute information include, as described above, the types of waste in the waste block, the composition of the respective proportions of the waste types, the degree of stirring of the waste block, the number of times of stirring of the waste block, the degree of combustion of the waste block, and the calories of the waste block.

The above arrangement allows the storage section <NUM> to store data on waste put into a hopper <NUM>, and thereby makes it possible to learn how combustion at the waste incinerators <NUM> and waste put in correlate to each other. Analyzing the correlation makes it possible to determine what types of waste a waste block to be put in should contain (or what proportion composition the waste block should have) and when the waste block should be put in. This in turn makes it possible to control the waste incineration plant <NUM> on the basis of taking-out data for stable combustion.

The height measuring device <NUM> may be, other than a three-dimensional scanner including a laser sensor mounted therein, (i) a device for measuring the height on the basis of parallax of a plurality of cameras or (ii) a device for measuring the height with use of a stereo camera.

Control blocks of the pit monitoring device <NUM> (particularly, the data obtaining section <NUM>, the event determining section <NUM>, the deposition information generating section <NUM>, the instructing section <NUM>, and the display control section <NUM>) can be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) provided in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like or can be alternatively realized by software as executed by a central processing unit (CPU).

In the latter case, the pit monitoring device <NUM> includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software realizing the foregoing functions; a read-only memory (ROM) or a storage device (each referred to as "storage medium") in which the program and various kinds of data are stored so as to be readable by a computer (or a CPU); and a random access memory (RAM) that develops the program in executable form. An object of the present invention can be achieved by a computer (or a CPU) reading and executing the program stored in the storage medium. Examples of the storage medium encompass "a non-transitory tangible medium" such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, and a programmable logic circuit. The program can be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) which allows the program to be transmitted. Note that an aspect of the present invention can also be achieved in the form of a computer data signal in which the program is embodied via electronic transmission and which is embedded in a carrier wave.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be altered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims. The present invention also encompasses, in its technical scope, any embodiment derived by combining technical means disclosed in differing embodiments.

Claim 1:
An information processing device (<NUM>) for monitoring waste deposited inside a pit (<NUM>), the information processing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a data obtaining section (<NUM>) configured to obtain a plurality of pieces of measurement data (<NUM>) that is generated by a height measuring device (<NUM>) each time the height measuring device (<NUM>) carries out measurement and that indicates a height of the waste,
wherein the height measuring device (<NUM>) is a three-dimensional measurement device for measuring a surface shape of the waste deposited inside the pit (<NUM>),
the information processing device (<NUM>) further comprises:
an event determining section (<NUM>) configured to
compare (i) first measurement data generated as a result of previous measurement with (ii) second measurement data generated as a result of later measurement, both the first measurement data and the second measurement data being in a form of three-dimensional measurement data indicative of a shape of the waste,
determine one or more sets of XY-coordinate values as one or more respective height change areas in the pit (<NUM>) at each of which one or more sets the height of the waste which height is indicated with a Z-coordinate value has been changed by not less than a predetermined value,
determine an event related to movement of the waste that occurred in each of the one or more determined height change areas; and
a deposition information generating section (<NUM>) configured to, on a basis of the event determined, generate deposition information (<NUM>) indicative of a state of how the waste deposited inside the pit (<NUM>) has been stirred.