STATION FOR THE INTEGRATED MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENT AND TRAFFIC

Abstract

A station for the integrated monitoring of environment and traffic comprises a local unit (2) adapted to be positioned at an area to be monitored and comprising first means (10) for collecting first data (D1) relative to the concentration of pollutants in the air, second means (11) for monitoring the traffic flow in the monitored area and for collecting corresponding second data (D2), a data processing unit (13) adapted to receive the first data (D1) and the second data (D2) for the correlation thereof and for generating information relative to the traffic and to the air quality in the monitored area in a predetermined time period, third means (12) for collecting third data (D3) relative to the weather condition in the monitored area adapted to be transmitted to the data processing unit (13).

Claims

1. A station for the integrated monitoring of environment and traffic, comprising a local unit (2) adapted to be positioned at an area to be monitored, said local unit (2) comprising: a first unit (10) for collecting first data (D1) relative to the concentration of pollutants in the air; a second unit (11) for monitoring the traffic flow in the monitored area and for collecting corresponding second data (D2); a data processing unit (13) adapted to receive said first data (D1) and said second data (D2) for the correlation thereof and for generating information relative to the traffic and to the air quality in the monitored area in a predetermined time period; wherein said local unit (2) comprises a third unit (12) for collecting third data (D3) relative to the weather condition in the monitored area adapted to be transmitted to said data processing unit. (13), said data processing unit (13) being adapted to correlate said first data (D1) to said third data (D3) for validating said first data (D1) when one or more of said third data (D3) are inside a predetermined range of values.

2. Station as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said third data (D3) relates at least to one between amount of rain, wind intensity, atmospheric pressure and are measured in the monitored area.

3. Station as claimed in claim 2, wherein said data processing unit (13) is adapted to correlate said second data (D2) to said third data (D3) for validating said second data (D2) when one or more of said third data (D3) are inside a predetermined range of values.

4. Station as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first data collection unit (10) comprise a base module (14) for detecting gaseous substances, which base module (14) has one or more sensors (16,17, 18, 19) selected into the group comprising CO, O3, C6H6, NOx sensors.

5. Station as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first data collection unit (10) comprise a secondary module (15) connected to said base module (14) for detecting polluting dusts and having one or more sensors (20, 21) selected in the group comprising PM10, PM2,5, PM1 sensors.

6. Station as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second data collection unit (11) comprise a traffic module (22) adapted to collect information relative to the presence of vehicles circulating through the monitored area and to generate second data (D2) relative to the traffic flow, to the types of the vehicles and to the average speed thereof.

7. Station as claimed in claim 6, wherein said traffic module (22) comprises one or more HD radar sensors (23).

8. Station as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second data collection unit (11) comprise one or more video devices (24) adapted to detect and record in real time imagines of the traffic passing through in the monitored area.

9. Station as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second data collection unit (11) comprise a phonometric module (25) at least of class 1 provided with an adjustable microphone adapted to execute sound pressure analysis.

10. Station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third data collection unit (12) comprise a weather module (26) associated with said local unit (2) and provided with one or more sensors for detecting in real time weather parameters in the monitored area, which parameters being selected into the group comprising temperature, wind, moisture, barometric pressure, rain intensity and/or amount.

11. Station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said local unit (2) comprises autonomous electric power means (27) for powering said first unit (10), said second unit (11) and said third unit (12).

12. Station as claimed in claim 11, wherein said autonomous electric power means (27) comprise one or more photovoltaic panels (28) and/or further power devices from renewable power sources.

13. Station as claimed in claim 12, wherein said local unit (2) has a total weight lower than 750 Kg and comprises a transportable cart (7) with a containment shell (3) adapted to contain at least said processing unit (13).

14. Station as claimed in claim 13, wherein said base module (14), said secondary module (15) and said weather module (26) are firmly associated with said shell (2).

15. Station as claimed in claims 13, wherein said electric power means (27) comprise one or more photovoltaic panels (28) defining or associated with the roof and/or with at least one side wall of said shell (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a station for integrated monitoring of environment and traffic, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a station according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of a station according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a block-diagram schematically showing the structure of a station according the invention;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a graph relating to a measurement performed by a station according to the invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0045] With reference to the accompanying figures, it is shown a station for integrated monitoring of environment and traffic intended to be arranged close to urban or extra-urban roads, including motorways, and in any case in correspondence of areas affected by vehicular traffic, in order to monitor in real time traffic flows and to measure the environmental pollution and possibly acoustic pollution product instantly from said flow.

[0046] The monitoring station may advantageously be integrated within a network constituted by a plurality of identical stations or the like connected to a central remote management that will be used to receive the data and to interpret the subsequent management of traffic and information to related thereto, according to known methods.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a particular configuration of the station according to the invention, generally indicated by 1, having a particularly compact conformation to be easily transported and placed even in relatively restricted spaces.

[0048] The monitoring station 1 will be configured to comply with the guidelines laid down in the Italian Legislative Decree no. 155/2010 and thus also implement the provisions of Community law No. 50/2008.

[0049] In particular, the station 1 comprise a local unit 2 designed to be positioned in correspondence of the area to be monitored.

[0050] In its preferred embodiment, not limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, the local unit 2 as a whole will have relatively low weight and preferably not more than 750 Kg with maximum dimensions falling within the limits for light trailers, so as to be transported by a motor vehicle.

[0051] The local unit 2 will comprise a box-like containment shell 3 placed on a lower frame 4 having an axle 5 for a pair of wheels 6, and optionally provided with a tow hook 7.

[0052] The containment shell 3 will also be equipped with a tailgate 8 to access an inner compartment, wherein the electrical and electronic components necessary for the measurements will be housed, and with ventilation grids 9, visible in FIG. 2.

[0053] In FIG. 3 is instead shown in a schematic way the configuration of the electrical and electronic components associated to the local unit 2.

[0054] In particular, the local unit 2 comprise first means 10 for collecting first data D1 related to the concentration of pollutants in the air, second means 11 for monitoring the flow of vehicles in the monitored area and the collection of corresponding second data D2 and third means 12 for collecting of third data D3 relating to the meteorological conditions in the monitored area.

[0055] The first, second and third data D1, D2, D3 will be designed to be sent to a data processing unit 13 located into the internal compartment of the local unit 2 and which in turn will be connected to the remote unit, not shown.

[0056] The data processing unit 13 will preferably be provided with an its own data logger for recording data, and is adapted to correlate the first and second data. D1, D2 for the production of information concerning the traffic and the air quality for the monitored area over a predetermined time period.

[0057] At the same time, the data processing unit 13 will be adapted to correlate the first and second data D1, D2 with the third data D3 for the validation of the first data D1 and/or the second data D2.

[0058] In particular, the first data D1 and/or the second data D2 may be considered reliable, and therefore validated in the moment in which one or more of the third data D3, preferably all, have a value falling within a predetermined range of values.

[0059] The first data collecting means 10 will comprise a base module 14 for the detection of gaseous pollutants and a secondary module 15 wired to the base module 14.

[0060] The base module 14 will comprise a plurality of sensors 16, 17, 18, 19 for the detection of pollutants such as CO, O3, C6H6, NOx. Table 1 below shows a non-limiting example of the operational features of the sensors 16÷19 of the base module 14.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sensor Value Range Precision Resolution Accuracy CO 0-100 mg/m3 <2% 0.1 mg/m3 ±0.5 mg/m3 0-80 ppm O3 20-500 μg/m3 <10%  1.0 μg/m3  ±10 μg/m3 10-200 ppb C6H6 0-100 μg/m3 <2% 0.1 μg/m3 ±1.0 mg/m3 0-30 ppb Nox 0-800 μg/m3 <2% 0.1 μg/m3  ±10 μg/m3 0-500 ppb

[0061] The secondary module 15 will comprise sensors 20, 21 for detecting fine particles such as PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 sensors.

[0062] Table 2 shows a non-limiting example of the technical specifications for the sensors 20, 21 of the secondary module 15.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Sensor Value Range Precision Resolution Accuracy PM10 0.001-100 mg/m3 <2% 0.001 mg/m3 ±5% oppure 0.1% PM2.5 0.001-100 mg/m3 <2% 0.001 mg/m3 ±5% oppure 0.1% PM1 0.001-100 mg/m3 <2% 0.001 mg/m3 ±5% oppure 0.1%

[0063] In a exemplificative configuration, preferred but not exclusive for the invention, the secondary module 15 will be adapted to detect fine particles with a Nephelometric method and the related data will be available continuously with a minimum interval of two seconds to be stored and transmitted by modem.

[0064] The second data collecting means 11 will comprise a traffic module 22 adapted to acquire information relative to the presence of vehicles passing in the monitored area and to generate second data D2 relating to the volume of traffic, to the type of vehicles and to the average speed thereof.

[0065] For example, the traffic module 22 will include a plurality of HD radar sensors 23 that in an example of embodiment will be of the double channel type for precision monitoring of the behavior of the vehicles and to guarantee functionality even with adverse weather conditions. The radar 22 will not necessarily be inserted inside the local unit 2 but may be located at certain points of the area to be monitored according to the needs.

[0066] The radar 22 may have various features, and for example may be adapted to simultaneously manage a relatively large number of lanes and vehicle classes, for example 12 lanes, or even more, and 8 classes of vehicles, to count the vehicles, to measure the average speed, to calculate the relative distances and to discriminate the direction of travel.

[0067] Conveniently, the radar 22 will be configured to collect data with extremely high accuracy, being able to discriminate the volume of traffic with a maximum precision up to 98% and by 90% for each lane, with a maximum precision up to 90% in the classification of the vehicles and with maximum error of 5% with regard to the measures of the average speed.

[0068] The collected data will be sent in real time via the web to the remote management unit.

[0069] The second data collecting means 11 may also comprise one or more video devices 24 adapted to detect and record images in real time of the traffic flowing through in the monitored area.

[0070] In this way, in the case of second data D2 with anomalous detection values it will be possible to immediately verify if particular events have occurred that could have caused this anomaly. By way of example, in case of an abnormal increase of the data relating to fine dust or other products of fuel combustion, it is possible to check the possible presence of motor vehicles running close to the local unit 2.

[0071] In particular, the local unit 2 may be provided with a HD video camera fir acquisition and possible recording of video images.

[0072] By way of example, the camera may be equipped with video sensor of 3 megapixels, night video sensors, local storage recording, streaming and real-time video management, alarms with function of motion detection, infrared sensor.

[0073] The second data collecting means 11 may optionally be also provided with a phonometric module 25 at least of class 1 with orientable microphone adapted to perform analysis of the sound pressure, also by means of frequency analysis.

[0074] The third data collecting means 12 will comprise a weather module 26 also located directly on the local unit 2 and provided with one or more sensors for real-time detection of meteorological parameters of the monitored area, such as temperature, wind, humidity, pressure barometric, rain and the like.

[0075] The local unit will also be provided with means 27 for autonomous power supply of the various electrical and electronic components, including the first, second and third means, even in the absence of connection to the electricity network.

[0076] In particular, the electrical power supply means 27 will comprise one or more photovoltaic panels 28, for example six panels, positioned directly on the shell 3, for example on the roof or on one or more outer side walls.

[0077] According to a not shown configuration, in addition or as an alterative to the panels 28, the local unit 2 may be provided with additional power supply devices from renewable sources, such as microwind blades.

[0078] The electric power supply means 27 may also comprise a buffer battery, not shown, to be used in all those cases in which no other power source is available.

[0079] Preferably, the battery may be used continuously for the power supply of the entire station and will be connected to the panels 28 and/or other power device from renewable sources that have the task to recharge it and ensure sufficient charge during night.

[0080] FIG. 4 shows a exemplificative graph of a monitoring in a time span of 24 hours and in which the detected first data D1 are related to the average concentrations in a subperiod p of an hour of the detected values of ozone O3, nitrogen dioxide NO2 and PM10 particulate. These data D1 are correlated to second data D2 relating to the traffic average Tm, measured as a function of the average speed v of the vehicle according to the formula

Tm=n*v/100

[0081] In addition, both the first data D1 and the second data D2 are correlated to third data D3 relating to weather conditions, and that in the case of the example are represented by the average temperature T detected in each subperiod p.

[0082] The graph of FIG. 4 was obtained using the data shown in Table 3 below.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 PM10 O3 (ug/m3) NO2 (ug/m3) (ug/m3) Tm (n v/100) Temp (° C.) average average average average average P hourly hourly hourly hourly hourly 1 69.3 23.2 27.9 0.4 −1.62 2 73.4 17.6 27.5 0.6 −1.4 3 70.1 1.64E+01 28.2 0.4 −1.60E+00 4 6.97E+01 17.5 28.2 0.98 −1.7 5 65.4 19.9 28.7 1.3 −1.84E+00 6 60.3 2.28E+01 29.7 4.2 −1.74E+00 7 49.3 34.7 31.8 7.8 −2.02E+00 8 47.7 43 35.2 8.1 −1.98 9 4.16E+01 53.6 35.8 7.7 −1.86 10 3.80E+01 6.33E+01 36.4 6.3 −1.62 11 42.8 63.7 32.5 5.5 −0.64 12 58.6 50.4 26.3 7.3 0.28 13 65.1 37.5 24.4 6.8 1.22 14 72 28 22.9 4.3 1.62 15 71.9 21 24.4 4.1 1.52 16 71.5 19.1 26.2 3.1 1.32 17 68.6 19.1 28.1 4.7 0.94 18 6.14E+01 28.5 33.1 7.9 −0.4 19 60.2 39 32.5 9 −1.98E+00 20 63.3 38.7 33.5 8.2 −2.78 21 65.2 33.5 34.3 4.7 −3.96 22 59.6 37.1 36.5 3.3 −4.98 23 65.1 34.4 37 2.6 −5.66 24 63.6 31.1 37.4 1.2 −6.58

[0083] From the graph it is first possible to observe that for the entire monitoring period the average temperature T stays on substantially constant and relatively low values, so that it is possible to consider valid the measurements relating to the first data D1.

[0084] In addition, it is also possible to observe the opposite trend curves related to O3 and NO2, with the increase of the latter during the hottest hours in correspondence of the decrease of O3, in a manner consistent with the trend of ozone O3 to turn into NO2 as the irradiation increases.

[0085] The comparison between the two curves thus allows to obtain a further validation of collected data.

[0086] Similarly the substantially symmetrical trend between the curve of the average traffic Tm and that of the PM10 also represents an index relating to the correctness of the monitoring and the absence of anomalies.

[0087] From above it appears evident that the station according to the invention reaches the intended objects.

[0088] The station according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the inventive concept expressed in the accompanying claims. All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may he different according to requirements, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0089] Even if the station has been described with particular reference to the attached figures, reference numbers used in the description and in the claims are used to improve the intelligence of the invention and do not constitute any limitation the claimed scope.