Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Low cost hyperspectral measurement system to identify harmful materialsin construction and demolition (C&D) materials
EPA Contract Number: 68HERD19C0026Title: Low cost hyperspectral measurement system to identify harmful materialsin construction and demolition (C&D) materials
Investigators: Harsh, Kevin
Small Business: Sporian Microsystems Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019
Project Amount: $99,995
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR): Phase 1 (2019) , SBIR – Sustainable Materials Management
Description:
Because C&D materials constitute a significant waste stream, increasing the diversion of C&D materials through recycling and reuse is identified as an area of need in EPA’s Sustainable materials management (SMM) Program Strategic Plan. Due to a lack of technologies to quickly identify constituents, C&D-materials recyclers often dispose of potentially usable materials as a matter of precaution. There is a need for inexpensive technologies that can quickly identify potentially harmful constituents prior to deconstruction or in C&D recycling facilities to increase C&D materials recycling. Hyperspectral imaging is emerging as a non-destructive, real-time detection tool for industrial sensing and inspection processes. The long term goal of the proposed work is to realize a hyperspectral measurement system for C&D materials inspection applications by utilizing a novel optical system designed using a set of low cost components to achieve cost, size, and performance goals. The novel optical design originates from (and heavily leverages) Sporian’s prior development efforts on hyperspectral measurement systems for airborne and environmental/agricultural field monitoring applications. The Phase I effort was an in-depth study of how the technology can and should be adapted for use within C&D materials inspection applications. It included detailed design development and experimental testing/demonstration of modified measurement hardware, electronics, and firmware with relevant C&D materials targets.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Efforts to define the technical and market application space through contacts with C&D waste material recovery industry stakeholders resulted in a clear definition of: multiple application use cases and needs within the C&D supply chain; the technical challenges associated with those applications; technical requirements for hyperspectral materials classification systems; and high value/high impact commercial points of entry. Technical requirements and use case details were then used to evaluate and define application-specific HSI hardware designs, including preliminary detailed designs for the: overall system architecture, all key mechanical/optical subcomponents, complete optical system, complete electrical/software systems, and overall system packaging/integration hardware. This also included initial hardware cost estimates, which were found to be within cost targets defined by stakeholders. Using information from the design efforts, a first-generation optical bench-top scale version of a Phase I system design was assembled and used for demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed technology. The prototype hardware’s optical performance was first characterized at the system level, showing that it could meet future design targets. The prototype hardware was then used successfully to demonstrate classification of sample C&D material sorting scenarios, including: treated versus untreated wood, wood types, wood versus other common C&D materials (concrete, asphalt, etc.), and lead paint identification and quantification.
Conclusions:
All Phase I proposed objectives and milestones were successfully completed. Sporian identified two key challenges for bringing the technology to market: 1) translating the existing system designs into a format (technical and cost) suitable for use in demolition or in C&D recycling applications/environments; and 2) realizing a measurement system with sufficient measurement and data processing speeds to enable/foster high materials inspection throughput. Both challenges were addressed in Phase I and the technical progress made and designs developed should overcome these challenges in the long term. This materials classification testing using prototype hardware clearly demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed technology. As a result of the Phase I efforts, Sporian is well positioned for the Phase II efforts focused on full system prototyping and field testing/demonstration.
The target commercial application for the innovation is the construction and demolition industry as well as organizations that specialize in waste collection and materials recovery. Through C&D industry stakeholder interviews and market research, Sporian identified technology gaps that are hindering C&D materials collection and reuse. Customers for an automated materials classification system for C&D materials consist of construction and demolition companies, waste collection companies, materials recovery facilities, and waste management facilities, as well as the service providers and regulatory agencies serving each of these. Regarding market openness, different stakeholders have different ideas of where the sensor could best be used in the waste stream, with technology gaps and viable use cases existing throughout the C&D waste and recovery supply chain. Because of the broad utility of the technology, other commercial applications include mining, agriculture, food quality, defense, nuclear nonproliferation, forestry, oil & gas, and disaster site surveying. From environmental protection and resource sustainability to safety and quality assurance, the potential benefits and commercial applications for the technology are numerous and substantial.
SBIR Phase II:
Low Cost Hyperspectral Measurement System to Identify Harmful Materials in Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.