Method for monitoring regional air quality

• US 5,831,876 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: City of Scottsdale
• Original Assignee: City of Scottsdale
• Inventors: Miller, Raymond M.P., Orr, Wilson W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US08/900,655
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 364/578, 364/564, 364/512, 364/413.3, 324/323, 395/928, 395/930, 422/900, 434/130, 434/299, 356/338, 55/2, 250/338.5, 454/75
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/93 Environment

Abstract

A method for monitoring air pollution within a significant atmospheric volume and for providing real time and projected results and effects based upon varying the inputted data as a function of pollution abatement procedures that might be implemented. Data collected from a plurality of sources are converted into an electronic database which may be automatically and/or periodically updated. A series of software modules utilize the data for a series of specific representations. The output provided by modeling and simulation modules may be in the form of two- or three-dimensional visual presentations in a specially equipped multiple, computer-driven, projector screen room. The output may also be in the form of printed media for binding and distribution with screen images combined with text.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring regional air quality by collecting real time and historic data within an altitude of interest above the ground and presenting a multi-dimensional image of the pollutants present, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring factual natural and man-made air quality information on a real time basis;

(b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information;

(c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information;

(d) retrieving pre-existing factual air quality information of selected subject matter from a source;

(e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information;

(f) compiling the correlated information;

(g) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the presence of pollutants due to either actual or anticipated variations of the factual information; and

(h) selectively presenting the compiled or analyzed information for review and study.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of deleting any retrieved information commensurate with any ingested information to render most current the correlated information.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of simulating the pollutants present in at least one future time period based upon the ingested and the retrieved information.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving includes the step of using the retrieved air quality information and the ingested information to develop simulated air quality information in a predetermined time period.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of imaging a selected one of the compiled information and the simulation scenarios in a visually perceivable format.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the compiled information in more than one format.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of creating different combinations of the ingested information and the retrieved information and wherein said step of compiling produces a plurality of compilations of information.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of presenting includes presentation of the plurality of compilations.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the projections resulting from said step of analyzing.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of displaying includes the step of displaying the projections in more than one format.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of simulating the effect upon the compiled information as a result of varying the factual information.

12. A method for collecting natural and man-made information relating to air quality within an altitude of interest and presenting a multi-dimensional image of the pollutants present, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring factual natural and man-made air quality information on a real time basis;

(b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information;

(c) retrieving pre-existing factual air quality information of selected subject matter from a source;

(d) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information;

(e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the pollutants present due to either actual or anticipated future variations of factual information; and

(f) selectively presenting the correlated and analyzed information.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of replacing the retrieved information with corresponding acquired information to present up-to-date factual information.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of compiling the correlated information in more than one time period.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of compiling the correlated information in more than one time period.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of imaging a selected one of the correlated information and the simulation scenarios in a visually perceivable format.

17. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the correlated information.

18. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the projections resulting from said step of analyzing.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of displaying includes the step of displaying the projections in more than one format.

20. The method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of simulating the effect upon the correlated information as a result of varying the factual information.

21. A method for projecting the effect on air quality resulting from varying collected natural and man-made air quality information, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring factual natural and man-made air quality information on a real time basis;

(b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information;

(c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information;

(d) retrieving pre-existing factual air quality information of selected subject matter from a source;

(e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information;

(f) varying selected parameters of the ingested factual information;

(g) compiling the correlated information and the varied information;

(h) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon air pollution resulting from the selected variations of the factual information; and

(i) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios for review and study.

22. A method for projecting the effect on air quality resulting from varying collected natural and man-made air quality information, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring factual natural and man-made air quality information on a real time basis;

(b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information;

(c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information;

(d) retrieving pre-existing factual air quality information of selected subject matter from a source;

(e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information;

(f) varying selected parameters of the acquired factual information;

(g) compiling the correlated information and the varied information;

(h) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon air pollution resulting from the selected variations of the factual information; and

(i) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios for review and study.

23. A method for projecting the effect on air quality resulting from varying collected natural and man-made air quality information, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring factual natural and man-made air quality information on a real time basis;

(b) retrieving pre-existing factual air quality information of selected subject matter from a source;

(c) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information;

(d) varying selected parameters of the retrieved factual information;

(e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon air pollution resulting from the selected variations of factual information; and

(f) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios.

24. A method for projecting the effect on air quality resulting from varying collected natural and man-made air quality information, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring factual natural and man-made air quality information on a real time basis;

(b) retrieving pre-existing factual air quality information of selected subject matter from a source;

(c) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information;

(d) varying selected parameters of the acquired factual information;

(e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the pollutants present resulting from the selected variations of factual information; and

(f) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios.