Smart data subsurface data repository system, method and computer program product

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product for source area contamination data acquisition, analysis and processing. The present invention leverages and expands direct sensing technology, knowledge and experience to provide detailed, real-time images of subsurface conditions. The latest technologies in sensors, digital processing, computation and 3D visualization are used to enable clients to work with a single contractor who can perform data acquisition, processing and analysis necessary to produce quantifiable, user-friendly 3D maps on a daily basis which can be delivered via the Internet and/or to mobile devices. This allows the owner and site project manager to make timely decisions as they guide investigation, remediation and monitoring efforts.

1 . A method of providing sensor data analysis comprising:
 a) receiving environmental subsurface data at a first computer from a first entity, wherein said environmental subsurface data is acquired at a location via moveable direct reading sensors, wherein said environmental subsurface comprises an area beneath at least one of a surface of earth, or a surface of a body of water, and wherein said moveable direct reading sensors are placed in said environmental subsurface and said moveable direct reading sensors are in direct contact with at least one of soil, water, or vapor;   b) analyzing said environmental subsurface data via a data analysis system to obtain information about said subsurface data, wherein said data analysis system comprises at least one of said first or a second computer; and   c) providing said information to a second entity via said first or second computers or a third computer, wherein the second entity is the same or different than the first entity.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said receiving step a) or said providing step c) comprises:
 receiving or transmitting said data or information via a communications link to a Web site.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step b) comprises at least one of:
 a two dimensional (2D) visualization or a three dimensional (3D) visualization of geo-referenced direct reading sensor data.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step b) comprises:
 aggregating said data into a comparative database, and obtaining a relative analysis of various sites based on at least one of geological or contaminant conditions.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step b) further comprises a data warehousing service comprising:
 posting or delivering to a web site at least one of an interactive two-dimensional visualization, an interactive three-dimensional visualization, or engineering design data.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said providing step c) further comprises:
 delivery of at least one of software or paper deliverables related to said data to at least one of a licensed operator, a licensed client, or an other client with licensed access.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said moveable direct reading sensors of step (a) comprise at least one of:
 direct sensing technologies;   optical sensors;   chemical sensors;   electromechanical sensors;   membrane interface probe (MIP) sensors;   advanced MIP sensors;   laser induced fluorescence (LIF) sensors;   ultraviolet induced fluorescence (UVF) sensors;   polymer sensors; or   haloprobe sensors.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data comprises:
 one or more data parameters.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said environmental subsurface data relates to at least one of chemical or geological attributes of the subsurface. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) geo-referencing said environmental subsurface data; and   e) using said information to select a next location for acquiring a next environmental subsurface data from said moveable direct reading sensors.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said geo-referencing of said step d) comprises at least one of:
 geo-referencing in at least two dimensions; or   geo-referencing said data to a specific point on the earth's surface.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said at least two dimensions comprise at least one of:
 latitude, longitude, altitude, or time.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said geo-referencing of said step d) comprises:
 geo-referencing in at least three dimensions.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least three dimensions comprise at least one of: latitude, longitude, altitude, or time. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said providing comprises at least one of:
 transmitting via the Internet;   transmitting via a communications link;   transmitting via a wired communications link; or   transmitting via a wireless communications link.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said providing of step c) comprises providing via an application server, wherein the application server comprises at least one of:
 an application service provider (ASP); or   a software as a service.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step b) comprises at least one of:
 storing said environmental subsurface data in a database;   mining said environmental subsurface data;   calculating said information from said environmental subsurface data using an algorithm;   performing visualization processing of said environmental subsurface in at least two dimensions;   displaying a graphical visualization of said data;   mapping said environmental subsurface data; or   displaying said environmental subsurface data in at least one of: two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) formats.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step b) comprises at least one of:
 refining raw environmental subsurface data into processed environmental subsurface data;   normalizing said environmental subsurface data for variations in acquisition of said data;   normalizing for a condition of a membrane of a membrane interface probe (MIP);   normalizing for variation of actual subsurface conditions including at least one of chemical concentration or soil water matrix;   determining relative quality efficacy data including determining at least one of: pressure, flow rate, condition of detectors, drift, calibration, depth of probe, hydrostatic, or baseline noise of analytical/electrical system;   storing said environmental subsurface data;   aggregating said environmental subsurface data into aggregate environmental subsurface data;   determining predictive modeling using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   assessing measure of risk using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   evaluating risk using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   calculating total mass of chemical compounds;   calculating volume of affected soil and groundwater;   calculating compound identification;   calculating removal costs;   performing sensitivity analysis; or   comparing data of multiple sites.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said step of performing a sensitivity analysis comprises at least one of:
 displaying using a “dashboard” type display; or   providing results to at least one of an office device or a field device.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) posting said information on a web site for access by authorized users.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said web site comprises:
 a secure Internet Web site.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 d) transmitting said information over a network to a mobile device, or transmitting said information over a network to an office device.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said network comprises:
 a wireless network.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 d) aggregating said environmental subsurface data into an aggregate database;   e) mining said aggregate database;   f) determining predictive modeling using said aggregate database;   g) assessing measure of risk using said aggregate database;   h) evaluating risk using said aggregate database;   i) providing the user with relative analysis of various sites based on at least one of: geological information or contaminant conditions;   j) grooming said environmental subsurface data;   k) comparing said environmental subsurface data to at least one of: historical environmental subsurface data or environmental subsurface data from other sites;   l) performing datamining; or   m) ranking sites.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) transmitting said information comprising:
 i. transmitting said information including completed data analytics via the Internet back to source location for decision-making and process changes; and 
 ii. transmitting said information wirelessly to a mobile device to facilitate access via Internet protocols to said information analyzed from said sensor outputs. 
   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 d) normalizing said environmental subsurface data for variations in at least one of: acquisition of said environmental subsurface data, condition of membrane of a membrane interface probe (MIP), subsurface conditions including at least one of chemical concentration or soil water matrix; or   e) determining relative quality efficacy data including determining at least one of: pressure, flow rate, condition of detectors, drift, calibration, depth of probe, hydrostatic, or baseline noise of analytical/electrical system.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps a)-c) are performed by a licensor and wherein the first entity is a licensed operator and the second entity is a licensed client. 
   
   
       28 . A method of providing data for analysis comprising:
 a) gathering environmental subsurface data at a first computer, wherein said environmental subsurface data is gathered at a location via moveable direct reading sensors, wherein said environmental subsurface comprises an area beneath at least one of a surface of earth, or a surface of a body of water, and wherein said moveable direct reading sensors are placed in said environmental subsurface and said moveable direct reading sensors are in direct contact with at least one of soil, water, or vapor;   b) providing said environmental subsurface data to a first entity for analysis of said environmental subsurface data via a data analysis system to obtain information about said subsurface data, wherein said data analysis system comprises at least one of said first or a second computer; and   c) receiving instructions from a second entity based on said information via said first or second computers or a third computer.   
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said providing step b) or said receiving step c) comprises:
 receiving or transmitting said data or information via a communications link to a Web site.   
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said analysis of said providing step b) comprises:
 analyzing via at least one of: a two dimensional (2D) visualization or a three dimensional (3D) visualization of geo-referenced direct reading sensor data.   
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said analysis of said providing step b) comprises:
 aggregating said data into a comparative database, and obtaining a relative analysis of various sites based on at least one of geological or contaminant conditions.   
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said analysis of said providing step b) further comprises a data warehousing service comprising:
 posting or delivering to a web site at least one of: an interactive two-dimensional visualization; an interactive three-dimensional visualization; or engineering design data.   
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said receiving step c) further comprises:
 delivery of at least one of software or paper deliverables related to said data from at least one of: a licensed client; a licensor; or an other client with licensed access.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said moveable direct reading sensors of step (a) comprise at least one of:
 direct sensing technologies;   optical sensors;   chemical sensors;   electromechanical sensors;   membrane interface probe (MIP) sensors;   advanced MIP sensors;   laser induced fluorescence (LIF) sensors;   ultraviolet induced fluorescence (UVF) sensors;   polymer sensors; or   haloprobe sensors.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said data comprises:
 one or more data parameters.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said environmental subsurface data relates to at least one of chemical or geological attributes of the subsurface. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 d) geo-referencing said environmental subsurface data; and   e) using said information to select a next location for acquiring a next environmental subsurface data from said moveable direct reading sensors.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said geo-referencing of said step (d) comprises at least one of:
 geo-referencing in at least two dimensions; or   geo-referencing said data to a specific point on the earth's surface.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said at least two dimensions comprise at least one of:
 latitude, longitude, altitude, or time.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said geo-referencing of said step (d) comprises:
 geo-referencing in at least three dimensions.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said at least three dimensions comprise at least one of:
 latitude, longitude, altitude, or time.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said providing of step b) comprises at least one of:
 transmitting via the Internet;   transmitting via a communications link;   transmitting via a wired communications link; or   transmitting via a wireless communications link.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said providing of step b) comprises providing via an application server, wherein the application server comprises at least one of:
 an application service provider (ASP); or   a software as a service.   
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said analysis of said providing step b) comprises at least one of:
 storing said environmental subsurface data in a database;   mining said environmental subsurface data;   calculating said information from said environmental subsurface data using an algorithm;   performing visualization processing of said environmental subsurface in at least two dimensions;   displaying a graphical visualization of said data;   mapping said environmental subsurface data; or   displaying said environmental subsurface data in at least one of: two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) formats.   
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said analysis of said providing step b) comprises at least one of:
 refining raw environmental subsurface data into processed environmental subsurface data;   normalizing said environmental subsurface data for variations in acquisition of said data;   normalizing for a condition of a membrane of a membrane interface probe (MIP);   normalizing for variation of actual subsurface conditions including at least one of chemical concentration or soil water matrix;   determining relative quality efficacy data including determining at least one of: pressure, flow rate, condition of detectors, drift, calibration, depth of probe, hydrostatic, or baseline noise of analytical/electrical system;   storing said environmental subsurface data;   aggregating said environmental subsurface data into aggregate environmental subsurface data;   determining predictive modeling using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   assessing measure of risk using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   evaluating risk using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   calculating total mass of chemical compounds;   calculating volume of affected soil and groundwater;   calculating compound identification;   calculating removal costs;   performing sensitivity analysis; or   comparing data of multiple sites.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said step of performing a sensitivity analysis comprises at least one of:
 displaying using a “dashboard” type display; or   providing results to at least one of an office device or a field device.   
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 d) posting said information on a web site for access by authorized users.   
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said web site comprises:
 a secure Internet Web site.   
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one of:
 d) transmitting said information over a network to a mobile device, or transmitting said information over a network to an office device.   
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said network comprises:
 a wireless network.   
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one of:
 d) aggregating said environmental subsurface data into an aggregate database;   e) mining said aggregate database;   f) determining predictive modeling using said aggregate database;   g) assessing measure of risk using said aggregate database;   h) evaluating risk using said aggregate database;   i) providing the user with relative analysis of various sites based on at least one of: geological information or contaminant conditions;   j) grooming said environmental subsurface data;   k) comparing said environmental subsurface data to at least one of: historical environmental subsurface data or environmental subsurface data from other sites;   l) performing datamining; or   m) ranking sites.   
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 d) transmitting said information comprising:   transmitting said information including completed data analytics via the Internet back to source location for decision-making and process changes; and   transmitting said information wirelessly to a mobile device to facilitate access via Internet protocols to said information analyzed from said sensor outputs.   
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one of:
 d) normalizing said environmental subsurface data for variations in at least one of: acquisition of said environmental subsurface data, condition of membrane of a membrane interface probe (MIP), subsurface conditions including at least one of chemical concentration or soil water matrix; or   e) determining relative quality efficacy data including determining at least one of: pressure, flow rate, condition of detectors, drift, calibration, depth of probe, hydrostatic, or baseline noise of analytical/electrical system.   
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein steps a)-c) are performed by a licensed operator and wherein the first entity is a licensor and the second entity is a licensed client. 
   
   
       55 . A method of managing the acquisition of data comprising:
 a) receiving information, from a first entity, regarding gathered and analyzed environmental subsurface data at a first computer by a second entity,   wherein said environmental subsurface comprises an area beneath at least one of a surface of earth, or a surface of a body of water,   wherein said moveable direct reading sensors are placed in said environmental subsurface and said moveable direct reading sensors are in direct contact with at least one of soil, water, or vapor,   wherein said environmental subsurface data is gathered at a location by a second entity via moveable direct reading sensors, and   wherein the environmental subsurface data is transmitted by the second entity, via a second computer, to the first entity for analysis of said environmental subsurface data via a data analysis system to obtain information about said subsurface data.   
   
   
       56 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein said analysis comprises:
 at least one of: a two dimensional (2D) visualization or a three dimensional (3D) visualization of geo-referenced direct reading sensor data.   
   
   
       57 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein said analysis comprises:
 aggregating said data into a comparative database, and obtaining a relative analysis of various sites based on at least one of geological or contaminant conditions.   
   
   
       58 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein said analysis further comprises a data warehousing service comprising:
 posting or delivering to a web site at least one of: an interactive two-dimensional visualization; an interactive three-dimensional visualization; or engineering design data.   
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said data comprises:
 one or more data parameters.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said environmental subsurface data relates to at least one of chemical or geological attributes of the subsurface. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said moveable direct reading sensors of step (a) comprise at least one of:
 direct sensing technologies;   optical sensors;   chemical sensors;   electromechanical sensors;   membrane interface probe (MIP) sensors;   advanced MIP sensors;   laser induced fluorescence (LIF) sensors;   ultraviolet induced fluorescence (UVF) sensors;   polymer sensors; or   haloprobe sensors.   
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said receiving of step a) comprises receiving via an application server, wherein the application server comprises at least one of:
 an application service provider (ASP); or   a software as a service.   
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said analysis comprises at least one of:
 storing said environmental subsurface data in a database;
 mining said environmental subsurface data; 
 calculating said information from said environmental subsurface data using an algorithm; 
 performing visualization processing of said environmental subsurface in at least two dimensions; displaying a graphical visualization of said data; 
 mapping said environmental subsurface data; or 
 displaying said environmental subsurface data in at least one of: two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) formats. 
   
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said analysis comprises at least one of:
 refining raw environmental subsurface data into processed environmental subsurface data;   normalizing said environmental subsurface data for variations in acquisition of said data;   normalizing for a condition of a membrane of a membrane interface probe (MIP);   normalizing for variation of actual subsurface conditions including at least one of chemical concentration or soil water matrix;   determining relative quality efficacy data including determining at least one of: pressure, flow rate, condition of detectors, drift, calibration, depth of probe, hydrostatic, or baseline noise of analytical/electrical system;   storing said environmental subsurface data;   aggregating said environmental subsurface data into aggregate environmental subsurface data;   determining predictive modeling using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   assessing measure of risk using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   evaluating risk using said aggregate environmental subsurface data;   calculating total mass of chemical compounds;   calculating volume of affected soil and groundwater;   calculating compound identification;   calculating removal costs;   performing sensitivity analysis; or   comparing data of multiple sites.   
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said step of performing a sensitivity analysis comprises at least one of:
 displaying using a “dashboard” type display; or   providing results to at least one of an office device or a field device.   
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said web site comprises:
 a secure Internet Web site.   
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein step a) is performed by a licensed client and wherein the first entity is a licensor and the second entity is a licensed operator. 
   
   
       68 . The method according to  claim 55 , further comprising:
 b) providing said second entity with instructions based on said information.   
   
   
       69 . The method according to  claim 68 , wherein at least one of said receiving step a) or said providing step b) comprises:
 receiving or transmitting said data or information via a communications link to a Web site.   
   
   
       70 . The method according to  claim 68 , wherein said providing step b) further comprises:
 delivery of at least one of software or paper deliverables related to said data to at least one of: a licensor, a licensed operator; or an other client with licensed access.   
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising:
 c) geo-referencing said environmental subsurface data; and   d) using said information to select a next location for acquiring a next environmental subsurface data from said moveable direct reading sensors.   
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein said geo-referencing of said step (c) comprises at least one of:
 geo-referencing in at least two dimensions; or   geo-referencing said data to a specific point on the earth's surface.   
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein said at least two dimensions comprise at least one of:
 latitude, longitude, altitude, or time.   
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said geo-referencing of said step (c) comprises:
 geo-referencing in at least three dimensions.   
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said at least three dimensions comprise at least one of: latitude, longitude, altitude, or time. 
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said receiving, transmitting, and providing comprise at least one of:
 transmitting via the Internet;   transmitting via a communications link;   transmitting via a wired communications link; or   transmitting via a wireless communications link.   
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising:
 c) posting said information on a web site for access by authorized users.   
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising at least one of:
 c) transmitting said information over a network to a mobile device, or transmitting said information over a network to an office device.   
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein said network comprises:
 a wireless network.   
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising at least one of:
 c) aggregating said environmental subsurface data into an aggregate database;   d) mining said aggregate database;   e) determining predictive modeling using said aggregate database;   f) assessing measure of risk using said aggregate database;   g) evaluating risk using said aggregate database;   h) providing the user with relative analysis of various sites based on at least one of: geological information or contaminant conditions;   i) grooming said environmental subsurface data   j) comparing said environmental subsurface data to at least one of: historical environmental subsurface data or environmental subsurface data from other sites;   k) performing datamining; or   l) ranking sites.   
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising:
 c) transmitting said information comprising:
 transmitting said information including completed data analytics via the Internet back to source location for decision-making and process changes; and 
 transmitting said information wirelessly to a mobile device to facilitate access via Internet protocols to said information analyzed from said sensor outputs. 
   
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising at least one of:
 c) normalizing said environmental subsurface data for variations in at least one of: acquisition of said environmental subsurface data, condition of membrane of a membrane interface probe (MIP), subsurface conditions including at least one of chemical concentration or soil water matrix; or   d) determining relative quality efficacy data including determining at least one of: pressure, flow rate, condition of detectors, drift, calibration, depth of probe, hydrostatic, or baseline noise of analytical/electrical system.