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ODO WATCH SYSTEM
A famous protuberance
Everyone knows Cyrano de Bergerac and his famous nose.
"Tis a rock, a crag, a cape. A cape? Say rather, a peninsula!"
he himself exclaimed. But this new electronic nose
would leave even Cyrano speechless.
Odo Watch system
The nose knows: wastewater treatment plants, sanitary
landfills, some animal farms and chemical plants often
give off sickening smells. Now "olfactory polluters"
can equip themselves with the Odowatch system, a network
of electronic noses that monitor odours around the clock
and warn of the impact on the public.
A match for any bloodhound
The electronic nose consists of a set of sensors
that have learned how to perceive odours like a human
nose, using artificial intelligence principles.
1) At regular intervals, each electronic nose takes
a deep breath of air and analyzes the "odour-print".
2) Each nose transmits its analysis to the central
control station.
3) At the control station, a software program combines
these odour-prints with weather data, and deduces
the direction the odour is moving and how much it will
inconvenience neighbours. The result is an "odour plume",
a veritable olfactory forecast map for a region.
The sweet smell of success
Marketed by Odotech, a young company spun off from the
École Polytechnique, Odowatch allows industries to plan
their operations so as to bother local residents as
little as possible. It makes for a better atmosphere all
around!
Curious? The noses are being used, and demonstrated, at
the City of Montréal Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Thanks!
The Odo Watch system
system is on loan from Odotech inc.
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