US 12,228,697 B2
In situ measurement station for monitoring wind and water properties in extreme hydrodynamic conditions
Forrest J. Masters, Gainesville, FL (US); Pedro L. Fernandez-Caban, Potsdam, NY (US); Brian M. Phillips, Gainesville, FL (US); Christopher C. Ferraro, Gainesville, FL (US); Britt Raubenheimer, Woods Hole, MA (US); and Wei-Ting Lu, Gainesville, FL (US)
Assigned to University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US); Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY (US); and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (US)
Filed by University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US); Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY (US); and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,232.
Application 18/153,232 is a continuation of application No. 17/327,129, filed on May 21, 2021, granted, now 11,579,335.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/113,478, filed on Nov. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0161070 A1, May 25, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01W 1/04 (2006.01); E02D 5/56 (2006.01); E02D 27/16 (2006.01); E04H 12/18 (2006.01); G01W 1/00 (2006.01); G01W 1/10 (2006.01); G06N 5/04 (2023.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01); H04Q 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01W 1/04 (2013.01) [E04H 12/18 (2013.01); G01W 1/10 (2013.01); G06N 5/04 (2013.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); H04L 67/12 (2013.01); E02D 5/56 (2013.01); E02D 27/16 (2013.01); G01W 2001/006 (2013.01); H04N 7/183 (2013.01); H04Q 9/00 (2013.01); H04Q 2209/40 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for large-scale processing of weather-related data comprising:
a database of weather-related data providing from at least one weather monitoring station anchored to an open shoreline within a littoral zone of a coastal area;
at least one processor for coordinating a data processing job for processing a set of input weather-related data at the coastal area from the database;
wherein the input weather-related data comprises sensor data from the at least one weather monitoring station positioned on the open shoreline during a hydrodynamic event comprising storm surge and wave forces at the coastal area, weather model data for the hydrodynamic event, and at least one of air-craft reconnaissance data or satellite reconnaissance data regarding the hydrodynamic event;
wherein the at least one processor is configured to assimilate the input data and generate, using machine learning, an improved weather prediction model for the hydrodynamic event comprising the storm surge and wave forces at the coastal area; and
wherein an individual weather monitoring station comprises:
an upper mast section having at least one elongated post equipped with an upper instrumentation package, wherein the upper instrumentation package at the upper mast section includes an orientation sensor to detect an orientation of the upper mast section relative to the earth surface's coordinate system, communications circuitry that is configured to establish a communications network with a network base station; at least a wind velocity sensor, and a control unit that is configured to at least receive sensor data and transmit communication data via the communications circuitry;
at least one lower mast section including at least one elongated post equipped with a lower instrumentation package that is coupled to the upper mast section, wherein the lower instrumentation package includes at least a water depth sensor and a wave direction sensor; and
a helical anchoring system that is coupled to the lower mast section, wherein the helical anchoring system includes at least one helical subsurface anchor for inserting into a ground surface within the littoral zone of the coastal area.