Network-Based System for Predicting Landslides and Providing Early Warnings
First Claim
1. A wireless node for monitoring landslide conditions comprising:
- at least one tubular probe body deployed in a borehole in a landslide prone area and anchored to rock below soil;
multiple sensors carried by and deployed within and or outside of the tubular probe body for measuring geologic motion and hydrologic saturation and pressure at three or more distinct levels of soil above the rock;
a power source;
a data acquisition board in communication with the sensors carried by and or deployed within or outside of the probe body; and
a wireless transceiver in communication with the data acquisition board and accessible to a local area wireless network (LAWN), which is in turn accessible to a wide area wireless network (WAWN);
wherein geologic and hydrologic data of at least three separate layers of soil above the anchor rock is collected in real time from the sensors deployed on or near the probe body, the data qualified against threshold readings in three or more stages to provide graduating levels of alerts culminating in a warning of an impending landslide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless node for monitoring landslide conditions has at least one tubular probe body deployed in a borehole in a landslide prone area and anchored to rock below soil, multiple sensors carried by and deployed within and or outside of the tubular probe body for measuring geologic motion and hydrologic saturation and pressure at three or more distinct levels of soil above the rock, a power source, a data acquisition board in communication with the sensors carried by and or deployed within or outside of the probe body, and a wireless transceiver in communication with the data acquisition board and accessible to a local area wireless network (LAWN), which is in turn accessible to a wide area wireless network (WAWN). Geologic and hydrologic data of at least three separate layers of soil above the anchor rock is collected in real time from the sensors deployed on or near the probe body, the data qualified against threshold readings in three or more stages to provide graduating levels of alerts culminating in a warning of an impending landslide.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless node for monitoring landslide conditions comprising:
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at least one tubular probe body deployed in a borehole in a landslide prone area and anchored to rock below soil; multiple sensors carried by and deployed within and or outside of the tubular probe body for measuring geologic motion and hydrologic saturation and pressure at three or more distinct levels of soil above the rock; a power source; a data acquisition board in communication with the sensors carried by and or deployed within or outside of the probe body; and a wireless transceiver in communication with the data acquisition board and accessible to a local area wireless network (LAWN), which is in turn accessible to a wide area wireless network (WAWN); wherein geologic and hydrologic data of at least three separate layers of soil above the anchor rock is collected in real time from the sensors deployed on or near the probe body, the data qualified against threshold readings in three or more stages to provide graduating levels of alerts culminating in a warning of an impending landslide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring conditions for a landslide, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring moisture readings during heavy rainfall until a saturation threshold is reached; (b) issuing a level one alert to a web server connected to the network, the alert data propagated from the server to a research group monitoring the rainfall event; (c) monitoring pore water pressure values until a saturation threshold is reached; (d) issuing a level two alert to the web server, the alert data combined with other information and distributed to the affected community and government officials as a landslide watch; (e) monitoring for movement of soil during the high pore pressure event until soil movement is detected; and (f) issuing a level three alert to the web server, the alert data combined with other information and distributed to the affected community and government officials as a landslide in progress. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification