System, method and use for monitoring an environmental condition in a storm drain

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system ( 100 ) for monitoring an environmental condition in a storm drain ( 102, 104 ), the system comprising: A storm drain ( 102, 104 ), containing a filter device ( 134 ) comprising a filter unit ( 130 ) and a floating carrier ( 132 ) for carrying the filter unit ( 130 ). At least one sensor ( 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 ) arranged in the storm drain ( 102, 104 ), for determining an environmental condition in the storm drain ( 102, 104 ). Wherein the at least one sensor ( 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 ) being arranged in communication with a sub node ( 116, 118 ) for transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the storm drain ( 102, 104 ) to the sub node ( 116, 118 ). Wherein the sub node ( 116, 118 ) being arranged in communication with a main node ( 120 ) for transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the storm drain ( 102, 104 ) to the main node ( 120 ). Wherein the main node ( 120 ) being arranged to process the data received in order to monitor the environmental condition in the storm drain ( 102, 104 ). The invention also relates to a method ( 200 ) for monitoring an environmental condition in a storm drain ( 102, 104 ), and a use of the system ( 100 ).

1 . System for monitoring an environmental condition in a storm drain, the system comprising:
 a storm drain, containing a filter device comprising a filter unit and a floating carrier for carrying the filter unit,   at least one sensor arranged in the storm drain, for determining an environmental condition in the storm drain,   the at least one sensor being arranged in communication with a sub node for transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the storm drain to the sub node,   the sub node being arranged in communication with a main node for transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the storm drain to the main node, and   the main node being arranged to process the data received in order to monitor the environmental condition in the storm drain.   
     
     
         2 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is arranged in communication with the sub node by means of a radio frequency connection. 
     
     
         3 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the filter unit of the filter device, on the floating carrier of the filter device, or in the storm drain in a position separate from the filter device. 
     
     
         4 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is chosen from the group consisting of: a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a gas sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an acceleration sensor, a hydro carbon sensor, an electrical field distribution sensor, and an electrical field penetration sensor. 
     
     
         5 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the sub node is arranged in communication with the main node by means of a radio frequency connection. 
     
     
         6 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the main node is arranged in communication with at least one external sensor arranged outside the storm drain for determining an environmental condition outside the storm drain, the communication being direct from the at least one external sensor outside the storm drain to the main node or indirect to the main node by means of a sub node. 
     
     
         7 . System according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one external sensor arranged outside the storm drain is chosen from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a moisture sensor, a light sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a combustion gas sensor. 
     
     
         8 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the main node is arranged in communication with at least one remote resource. 
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 8 , wherein the main node is arranged in communication with the at least one remote resource by means of a radio frequency connection. 
     
     
         10 . Method for monitoring an environmental condition in a storm drain, the method comprising:
 providing a storm drain containing a filter device comprising a filter unit and a floating carrier for carrying the filter unit,   arranging at least one sensor in the storm drain, determining an environmental condition in the storm drain using the at least one sensor, arranging the at least one sensor in communication with a sub node,   transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the storm drain from the at least one sensor to the sub node,   arranging the sub node in communication with a main node,   transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the storm drain from the sub node to the main node, and   arranging the main node to process the data received in order to monitor the environmental condition in the storm drain.   
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 arranging at least one external sensor outside the storm drain,   determining an environmental condition outside the storm drain, and   arranging the at least one external sensor arranged outside the storm drain in communication with the main node, the communication being direct from the at least one external sensor outside the storm drain to the main node or indirect to the main node by means of a sub node.   
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 arranging the main node in communication with at least one remote resource.   
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing at least one additional storm drain containing a filter device comprising a filter unit and a floating carrier for carrying the filter unit,   arranging at least one additional sensor in the at least one additional storm drain,   determining an environmental condition in the at least one additional storm drain using the at least one additional sensor,   arranging the at least one additional sensor in communication with an additional sub node,   transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the at least one additional storm drain from the at least one additional sensor to the additional sub node,   arranging the additional sub node in communication with the main node,   transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition in the at least one additional storm drain from the additional sub node to the main node,   transmitting data regarding the determined environmental condition outside the storm drain from the at least one external sensor arranged outside the storm drain to the main node,   determining by means of the main node, based on the determined environmental condition outside the storm drain, an expected range for the determined environmental condition in the storm drain and an expected range for the determined environmental condition in the at least one additional storm drain,   comparing by means of the main node the determined environmental condition in the storm drain and the determined environmental condition in the at least one additional storm drain with the expected ranges respectively,   generating a signal by means of the main node if the determined environmental condition in the storm drain or the determined environmental condition in the at least one additional storm drain is determined not to be included in the expected ranges respectively, wherein the signal at least being indicative of which storm drain has a determined environmental condition not included in its expected range.   
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 13 , the further comprising,
 storing the signal in the main node or transmitting the signal from the main node to at least one remote resource.   
     
     
         15 . Use of the system according to  claim 1  for monitoring an environmental condition in a storm drain. 
     
     
         16 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the filter unit of the filter device, on the floating carrier of the filter device, or in the storm drain in a position separate from the filter device. 
     
     
         17 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is chosen from the group consisting of: a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a gas sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an acceleration sensor, a hydro carbon sensor, an electrical field distribution sensor, and an electrical field penetration sensor. 
     
     
         18 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the sub node is arranged in communication with the main node by means of a radio frequency connection. 
     
     
         19 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the main node is arranged in communication with at least one external sensor arranged outside the storm drain for determining an environmental condition outside the storm drain, the communication being direct from the at least one external sensor outside the storm drain to the main node or indirect to the main node by means of a sub node. 
     
     
         20 . System according to  claim 2 , wherein the main node is arranged in communication with at least one remote resource.