OPTIMIZATION OF THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENT MEANS

• US 20200132650A1
• Filed: 04/17/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eLichens Co.
• Original Assignee: eLichens Co.
• Inventors: Zanini, Paolo
• Granted Patent: US 11,408,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation

Abstract

A system, for measuring a physical quantity representative of air quality in an observation zone, comprises a mapping with a set (V) of modeled values representative of the physical quantity; means for measuring the physical quantity and possessing N positions or N trajectories in the observation zone to exhibit a spatial distribution (S_opt); and means for calculating S_opt. The calculating means are configured to construct a mesh comprising G points in the observation zone; calculate, for a given spatial distribution, an estimator ({circumflex over (V)}) of the set V for each of the G points in the mesh; calculate a cost function representative of the difference or of the likelihood between {circumflex over (V)} and the V values extracted at the G points; and extract the S_opt to minimize or maximize the cost function.

Claims

1. A system for measuring at least one physical quantity representative of air quality in an observation zone, the system comprising:

a mapping of the observation zone, comprising a set, denoted V, of modeled values representative of the at least one physical quantity;

means for measuring the at least one physical quantity, possessing a number N of positions or a number N of trajectories in the observation zone, the N positions or the N trajectories exhibiting a spatial distribution, denoted S_opt, in the observation zone; and

means for calculating the spatial distribution S_opt, configured to;

construct a mesh of the observation zone, the mesh comprising a number G of points;

calculate, for a given spatial distribution, denoted S, of the N positions or of the N trajectories, an estimator of the set V, denoted {circumflex over (V)}, for each of the G points of the mesh;

calculate a cost function, denoted φ

(S), representative of a difference or of a likelihood between {circumflex over (V)} and the modeled values, denoted V, of the set V extracted at the G points of the mesh; and

extract the spatial distribution S_opt to minimize or maximize the cost function in dependence on whether the cost function is representative of the difference or of the likelihood between {circumflex over (V)} and V.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for calculating the spatial distribution S_opt are configured to calculate the estimator of the set V according to the formula:

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for calculating the spatial distribution S_opt are configured to calculate the estimator of the set V according to the formula:

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cost function is representative of the difference between {circumflex over (V)} and V, and the cost function is a norm of the difference between {circumflex over (V)} and V.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cost function is representative of the difference between {circumflex over (V)} and V, and the means for calculating the spatial distribution S_opt are configured to calculate the cost function according to the formula:

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the cost function is representative of the difference between {circumflex over (V)} and V;

the means for calculating the spatial distribution S_opt are configured to perform a random modification of the given spatial distribution S according to a probability, denoted p_ji, satisfying;

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cost function is representative of the likelihood between {circumflex over (V)} and V, and the cost function comprises a scalar product of {circumflex over (V)} and V, preferably normalized.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the cost function is representative of the likelihood between {circumflex over (V)} and V;

the means for calculating the spatial distribution S_opt are configured to perform a random modification of the given spatial distribution S according to a probability, denoted p_ji, satisfying;

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity are arranged in the observation zone (1) in such a way as to possess the N positions or the N trajectories exhibiting the spatial distribution S_opt.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising activation means configured to activate the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity possessing the N positions or the N trajectories exhibiting the spatial distribution that is closest to S_opt.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the observation zone comprises a number M of permitted positions or a number M of permitted trajectories, satisfying M>

N, wherein the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity are respectively permitted to possess positions or trajectories.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity comprise at least N measurement devices each fitted to a vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity comprise at least N measurement devices each fitted to an item of urban furniture.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity comprise spectroscopic sensors.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the scalar product of {circumflex over (V)} and V is normalized.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a road vehicle or an aerial vehicle.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the item of urban furniture is selected from a group comprising traffic lights and bus shelters.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the spectroscopic sensors comprises non-dispersive infrared sensors.

15. A method for measuring at least one physical quantity representative of air quality in an observation zone, the method comprising the steps:

a) providing a mapping of the observation zone, the mapping comprising a set, denoted V, of modeled values representative of the at least one physical quantity;

b) providing means for measuring the at least one physical quantity, possessing a number N of positions or a number N of trajectories in the observation zone, the N positions or the N trajectories exhibiting a spatial distribution, denoted S_opt;

c) constructing a mesh of the observation zone, the mesh comprising a number G of points;

d) calculating, for a given spatial distribution, denoted S, of the N positions or of the N trajectories, an estimator of the set V, denoted {circumflex over (V)}, for each of the G points of the mesh;

e) calculating a cost function, denoted φ

(S), representative of a difference or of a likelihood between {circumflex over (V)} and the modeled values, denoted V, of the set V extracted at the G points of the mesh;

f) extracting the spatial distribution S_opt to minimize or maximize the cost function in dependence on whether the cost function is representative of the difference or of the likelihood between V and V; and

g) arranging, in the observation zone, the means for measuring the at least one physical quantity so that the N positions or the N trajectories exhibit the spatial distribution S_opt.