Abstract: An improved air quality monitoring device provides accurate and reliable predictions regarding likelihood for microbial growth on building walls. The present invention comprises a housing adapted to affix the device to a building wall, a first sensor array placed in close proximity to the wall, a second sensor array and a processing means operatively connected to the first sensor array and the second sensor array. The first sensor array provides inputs such as relative humidity at the surface of the wall, the wall temperature and wall pressure. The second sensor array provides inputs such as relative humidity, temperature pressure and quality of ambient air. Using inputs from the first sensor array and the second sensor array, the processing means generates an output representative of the likelihood of microbial growth and the likelihood that the wall moisture is caused by condensation. A system of networked monitoring devices is also described.

Abstract: A gas sensing device has a power source, data processing means and a memory for storing sampling configuration data and sensed data. Sensing means samples ambient gas adjacent the device according to first sampling configuration data and outputs sensed gas concentration data and sensed gas flow data. A telemetry module communicates the sensed data to a remote terminal and receives second sampling configuration data from the remote terminal for updating the first sampling configuration data. A gas monitoring system comprises the terminal and at least one gas sensing device remote from the terminal. The sampling configuration data comprises data representative of a frequency and duration of gas flow measurement, data representative of a frequency and duration of gas concentration measurement, and data representative of an offset time corresponding to a time interval between a gas flow measurement and a gas concentration measurement.

Abstract: A gas sensing device and a gas monitoring system for sensing ground gas is disclosed. The device comprises a power source, data processing means and memory means operably interfaced with the data processing means, which store sampling configuration data and sensed data. The device further comprises sensing means operably interfaced with the power source and the data processing means. The sensing means samples ambient gas adjacent the device according to first sampling configuration data and outputs sensed gas concentration data and sensed gas flow data. The device further comprises a telemetry module operably interfaced with the power source and the data processing means. The telemetry module communicates the sensed data to a remote terminal and receives second sampling configuration data from the remote terminal for updating the first sampling configuration data. The system comprises the terminal and at least one gas sensing device remote from the terminal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a system and method for detecting controlled substances, including without limitation, explosives, chemical agents, drugs, narcotics, and their precursors or byproducts before such substances are used on the general population. Specifically, the present invention is a system and method of analyzing municipal solid waste, or refuse, for the presence of controlled substances.

Abstract: A method to protect stored data is provided, comprising performing one or more times, by a processor, the following actions: receiving from a device verification information generated using common information known to the device and to the processor, verifying the validity of the verification information using the common information, determining an authorization status of the device based on (1) the validity of the verification information and (2) the time the verification information is received by the processor, and receiving a request from the device to access the stored data. The device is allowed to access the stored data based on the authorization status at the time the request is received.