Method and apparatus for bridge collision alert monitoring and impact analysis

• US 7,786,850 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aydin Arpa, Gianni Arcaini, Israel Umbehant, Krishna Mohan Chinni, Larry Strach, Robert Umbehant
• Original Assignee: Aydin Arpa, Gianni Arcaini, Israel Umbehant, Krishna Mohan Chinni, Larry Strach, Robert Umbehant
• Inventors: Umbehant, Robert, Mohan Chinni, Krishna, Umbehant, Israel, Arcaini, Gianni, Arpa, Aydin, Strach, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/139,532
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/439, 340/438, 340/443, 340446-449, 340/506, 340/510, 340/539.1, 340/563, 340/571
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

This is a method and apparatus for bridge collision alert and monitoring impact analysis, which allows users of the method and apparatus to continuously monitor the integrity of a bridge as well as to detect insult or impact to the bridge structure or both as well as viewing purposes as for forensic purposes. The system is comprised of a series of monitors that gather different pieces of date and integrate that data into a system for view by the operator.

Claims

1. A method and apparatus for bridge collision alert monitoring and impact analysis, which is comprised of:

a. hardware;

wherein hardware to operate the system is provided;

wherein the hardware is comprised of a plurality of sensors;

wherein the hardware is comprised of a means of data acquisition;

said hardware is of a predetermined type;

b. sensors;

wherein a plurality of sensors gather information related to a collision with a bridge;

c. software;

wherein software is integrated with the hardware;

wherein said information is collected by the hardware and transmitted to the software;

wherein the software is comprised of a plurality of modules;

said software has certain features;

d. a plurality of modules;

wherein the modules gather data related to a collision alert monitoring impact analysis system;

said modules are interfaced within the software;

e. multi-sensory data acquisition module;

wherein the multisensory data acquisition module receives information from the data acquisition hardware;

wherein this module interfaces with the hardware and controls the interfaces with the hardware to control the interaction of events and extracts data;

f. sensory data logging module;

wherein a sensory data logging module is provided;

wherein the data is logged in a plurality of ways;

wherein the data is viewed in a plurality of ways;

g. sensory data analysis module;

wherein the sensory data analysis module is provided;

wherein the sensory data analysis module detects anomalies in the system;

h. a training module;

wherein a training module is provided;

wherein certain preset information is provided in the training module;

i. a classification module;

wherein a classification module is provided;

said classification module is equipped with a training classifier;

wherein the training classifier is used online;

j. an alarm management module;

wherein the alarm management module manages the alarms produced by different events;

k. a video acquisition module;

wherein a video acquisition module is provided;

wherein the video acquisition module permits video capability of events;

l. a data viewer;

wherein a data viewer synchronizes the video data,

sensory data, and alarm events;

wherein the events are displayed on the data viewer;

wherein a browsing capability for the data viewer is provided;

wherein a feature extraction capability is provided.

2. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the information from the database.

3. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the information from the sensor data logging module is stored in an XML format.

4. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the information from the sensor data logging module is stored in a file format.

5. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the data is viewed in a Web interface.

6. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the data is viewed in a Rich Client interface.

7. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the feature extraction capability is accomplished through domain analysis.

8. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the feature extraction analysis.

9. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the information from the training classifier is used with Support Vector Machines.

10. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the information from the training classifier is used with Neural Networks.

11. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the sensors are comprised of a plurality of cameras.

12. The method and apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the sensors are comprised of a plurality of accelerometers.