Methods and systems for analysis, reporting and display of environmental data

• US 7,874,198 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emilcott Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emilcott Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Groves, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frank; Rodney T
• Application Number:
  US12/334,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 73/310.1
• US Class Current: 73/31.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0227 using imaging; using holography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals

Abstract

An environmental monitoring system and methods of a site are disclosed. The system includes one or more environmental measurement instruments, of which at least one instrument is capable to measure a concentration of particles in a certain size range. The system may also include an instrument that is capable of measuring a first concentration of particles in a first size range and a second concentration of particles in a second size range. The system may also include an instrument that is capable to measure a wind speed and a wind direction. The system may also include one device capable of recording an image of a location related to the site. The system includes a controller in communication with the one or more environmental measurement instruments, and a display device capable of displaying data generated by the one or more environmental measurement instruments. The system contains a network. Alerts can be provided based on conditions of the environment.

Claims

1. An environmental monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of environmental measuring instruments, including;

a first measurement instrument being positioned in a first location related to a site to be monitored and the first measurement instrument being able to measure a wind direction and a wind magnitude; and

a second measurement instrument being positioned in a second location related to the site to be monitored and the second measurement instrument being able to measure a concentration of particles in a first range of particle sizes;

a controller in communication with the plurality of environmental measurement instruments; and

a display device capable of displaying data generated by the first and the second measurement instrument.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a database storing data collected from the plurality of environmental measurement instruments, the data being provided with a time stamp and geometric coordinates of a location of an environmental measurement instrument.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the system is capable of calculating a wind direction and a wind magnitude for a first location from data of wind direction and wind magnitude of at least a second and a third location.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

one or more environmental measurement instruments capable of measuring a concentration of particles of a material in at least the first and a second range of size of particles.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is capable of associating a concentration of particles at a location with a wind direction and a wind magnitude at the location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device can display data generated by the one or more environmental measurement instruments graphically.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device can display a map of the site that identifies selectively a location of the one or more environmental measurement instruments, a wind direction and a wind magnitude related to the location and to data provided by an environmental measurement instrument related to the location.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a map that selectively displays in a wind map environmental data related to at least two locations on a wind pathline.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising providing an estimated location of a source of material.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising generating an estimate if a material carried by wind leaving the site originates from the site.

11. A method for environmental monitoring of a site, comprising:

providing a plurality of environmental measuring instruments, including;

a first measurement instrument being positioned in a first location related to a site to be monitored and the first measurement instrument being able to measure a wind direction and a wind magnitude; and

a second measurement instrument being positioned in a second location related to the site to be monitored and the second measurement instrument being able to measure a concentration of a particle in a first range of particle sizes;

communicating data between the plurality of environmental measurement instruments and a controller;

associating the concentration of the particle in the first range of particle size with the wind direction and the wind magnitude; and

creating a wind map of the site, the wind map representing at least two locations for which wind direction, wind magnitude have been measured and representing at least two locations for which a concentration of a material has been measured.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising displaying the wind map on a display device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

storing in a database data collected from the plurality of environmental measurement instruments, the data being provided with a time stamp and geometric coordinates of a location of an environmental measurement instrument.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising calculating a wind direction and a wind magnitude for a first location from data of wind direction and wind magnitude of at least a second and a third location.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

measuring a concentration of particles of a material in at least the first and a second range of size of particles.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising associating a concentration of particles at a location with a wind direction and a wind magnitude at the location.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display device can display a map of the site that identifies selectively a location of the site and that provides a wind direction and a wind magnitude related to the location and a concentration of the particle of the material.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising displaying in a wind map environmental data including a concentration of particles related to a location on a wind pathline.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising providing an estimated location of a source of material.

20. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising generating an estimate if a material carried by wind leaving the site originates from the site.