AI for Spotting Dam Problems in Inspection Reports
This patent describes an AI method using a "dual attention mechanism" to automatically find and organize information about dam emergencies from inspection reports, improving accuracy and reducing manual effort.
Original patent title: “Method for extracting dam emergency event based on dual attention mechanism”
This patent describes an AI method using a "dual attention mechanism" to automatically find and organize information about dam emergencies from inspection reports, improving accuracy and reducing manual effort. Granted to Hohai University HHU in 2023 with 21 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This method extracts dam emergency events from inspection reports using a sophisticated AI approach. First, it preprocesses the dam emergency reports by labeling and encoding sentences (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Next, it builds a "dependency graph" that maps out how words relate to each other in sentences, considering both grammar and meaning, to identify dam emergency parameters (Claim 2). Then, it constructs a "dual attention network" which combines a Graph Transformer Attention Network (GTAN) to understand long-range word relationships and a standard attention network to capture key meanings, fusing their features to extract sentence-level event arguments (Claim 3). Finally, it fills in any missing details for an event at the document level by finding key sentences and looking for similar information in surrounding sentences using a "twin neural network" (Claim 4). For example, if a report mentions "seepage in the foundation" in one sentence and "increased water levels" in another, the system can link these to a single emergency event.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover event extraction for non-dam-related documents or general text analysis.
- Does not cover methods that do not use a dual attention mechanism combining a graph transformer network and an attention network.
- Does not cover predicting dam failures, only extracting reported events from existing text.
- Does not cover manual review processes for dam emergency events, as its purpose is automation.
- Does not cover event extraction without building a dependency graph based on sentence and semantic structure.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The core innovation is the "dual attention mechanism" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 3). It cleverly combines a Graph Transformer Attention Network (GTAN) to understand how words relate over long distances in a sentence with a standard attention network to pinpoint key meanings. This fusion helps the system accurately identify complex event details in technical reports, overcoming challenges like scattered information and long-range dependencies.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Automated dam safety monitoring systems for civil engineering.
Data analysis tools for government agencies overseeing infrastructure.
AI-powered report analysis in critical infrastructure management.
Software for engineering firms managing large dam portfolios.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Dam safety is critical for preventing disasters and protecting communities. This patent aims to automate the often tedious and error-prone process of manually reviewing extensive dam inspection reports. By using AI to quickly and accurately identify potential issues, it could help engineers and authorities respond faster, improve maintenance planning, and enhance overall public safety and infrastructure resilience.
Filed
October 14, 2022
Granted
December 12, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Hohai University, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a research institution actively involved in water resources and civil engineering, likely continuing to develop and refine this technology. Specialized companies in infrastructure monitoring, civil engineering software, and AI-driven data analytics for critical assets, such as Bentley Systems or Autodesk, could be developing similar or complementary solutions.
Market impact
This technology could significantly change how dam safety is managed by automating the analysis of vast amounts of inspection data. It could lead to earlier detection of potential issues, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing the risk of catastrophic failures. This automation could create a new niche in the infrastructure monitoring software market, focusing on AI-driven textual analysis for critical asset management.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This method extracts dam emergency events from inspection reports using a sophisticated AI approach. First, it preprocesses the dam emergency reports by labeling and encoding sentences (Claim 1). Next, it builds a "dependency graph" that maps out how words relate to each other in sentences, considering both grammar and meaning, to identify dam emergency parameters (Claim 2). Then, it constructs a "dual attention network" which combines a Graph Transformer Attention Network (GTAN) to understand long-range word relationships and a standard attention network to capture key meanings, fusing their features to extract sentence-level event arguments (Claim 3). Finally, it fills in any missing details for an event at the document level by finding key sentences and looking for similar information in surrounding sentences using a "twin neural network" (Claim 4). For example, if a report mentions "seepage in the foundation" in one sentence and "increased water levels" in another, the system can link these to a single emergency event.
The clever bit
The core innovation is the "dual attention mechanism" (Claim 1, 3). It cleverly combines a Graph Transformer Attention Network (GTAN) to understand how words relate over long distances in a sentence with a standard attention network to pinpoint key meanings. This fusion helps the system accurately identify complex event details in technical reports, overcoming challenges like scattered information and long-range dependencies.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover event extraction for non-dam-related documents or general text analysis.
- Does not cover methods that do not use a dual attention mechanism combining a graph transformer network and an attention network.
- Does not cover predicting dam failures, only extracting reported events from existing text.
- Does not cover manual review processes for dam emergency events, as its purpose is automation.
- Does not cover event extraction without building a dependency graph based on sentence and semantic structure.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$75K – $240K
Midpoint $150K · 16.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nie, B., Zhang, C., ZHAO, F., MAO, Y., Chen, H., Xie, W., Chi, F., ZHAN, W., YANG, C., Xiao, H., Sun, W., Fang, H., Chen, Z., Zhou, X., & Tan, B. (2023). AI for Spotting Dam Problems in Inspection Reports (U.S. Patent No. 11,842,324). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11842324/method-for-extracting-dam-emergency-event-based-on-dual-attention-mechanism
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US11842324"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in AI & Machine Learning
US 10452978 · 2019 · Google LLC
How AI Models Understand Language Using 'Attention'
US 6523026 · 2003 · Huntsman International LLC
How Computers Find Hidden Connections Between Different Fields of Knowledge
US 11615208 · 2023 · Capital One Services LLC
How Cloud Systems Automatically Create and Train AI Data Models
US 10402750 · 2019 · Facebook Inc
How Facebook Uses Deep Learning to Predict What You Might Like
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AI for Spotting Dam Problems in Inspection Reports cover?
This patent describes an AI method using a "dual attention mechanism" to automatically find and organize information about dam emergencies from inspection reports, improving accuracy and reducing manual effort.
Who owns patent US 11842324?
Hohai University HHU owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 14, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11842324 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Dam safety is critical for preventing disasters and protecting communities. This patent aims to automate the often tedious and error-prone process of manually reviewing extensive dam inspection reports. By using AI to quickly and accurately identify potential issues, it could help engineers and authorities respond faster, improve maintenance planning, and enhance overall public safety and infrastructure resilience.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover event extraction for non-dam-related documents or general text analysis.
Patent monitoring