JP7770516B2 - Dust generation monitoring system and dust generation monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dust monitoring system and a dust monitoring device.

Dust emissions from chimneys at factories and other facilities need to be reduced from an environmental perspective, and immediate action is required when dust is generated. To achieve this, constant monitoring is required for the presence or absence of dust. Traditionally, the presence or absence of dust was identified by having several workers take turns checking recorded video, but because this is not real-time monitoring, there is a delay in identifying dust generation, and there is also the possibility that dust may be overlooked during the video check. Furthermore, due to personnel constraints, it is impossible to monitor all chimneys on a large site in real time.

Patent Document 1 discloses technology for detecting dust generation or dust generation using image processing. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses technology for restricting factory production when the measured value of soot and smoke emitted from a factory exceeds a control value.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-10737 JP 2009-199237 A

When monitoring dust generation by humans, issues include overlooking dust generation due to the inability to monitor in real time, personalization of evaluation due to differences in how each person perceives dust generation, and delays in taking action against dust generation due to delayed notifications. Furthermore, even with the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is difficult to perform automatic, real-time dust generation monitoring.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device that can automatically monitor dust generation in factories and other facilities in real time.

To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the dust monitoring system of the present invention is equipped with a dust monitoring device that monitors the dust situation based on images from a camera that captures an area including a dust source within its shooting range. The dust monitoring device applies a dust determination program to the image to identify the dust-producing area and determines whether the dust is one that requires notification based on the concentration and area of the identified dust-producing area. If it determines that the dust is one that requires notification, it issues a specified notification. If the dust monitoring device detects multiple instances of dust from different dust sources within multiple temporally consecutive images, it determines that the dust with the longer dust generation period is the dust that requires notification.

To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the dust monitoring system of the present invention is equipped with a dust monitoring device that monitors the dust situation based on images captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source within its imaging range. The dust monitoring device applies a dust determination program to the image to identify a dust region and determines whether the dust is one that requires notification based on the density and area of the identified dust region. If it determines that the dust is one that requires notification, it issues a specified notification. If the dust monitoring device detects multiple dust emissions from different dust sources in multiple temporally consecutive images, it determines that the dust emitted from the dust source at the lower position is one that requires notification.

Furthermore, in the dust monitoring system according to the present invention, when the dust generation areas of the different dust sources at least partially overlap and the dust monitoring device detects dust generation from a second dust source within a predetermined time after detecting dust generation from a first dust source, the dust monitoring device stores a first dust generation period from when dust generation from the first dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and a second dust generation period from when dust generation from the second dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and determines that the longer of the first dust generation period and the second dust generation period is dust generation that requires notification.

To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the dust monitoring device of the present invention monitors the dust situation based on images captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source within its shooting range. It applies a dust determination program to the image to identify the dust-producing area and determines whether the dust is one that requires notification based on the density and area of the identified dust-producing area. If it is determined that the dust is one that requires notification, it outputs data indicating that the dust is one that requires a specific notification by the notification device. If multiple dust emissions from different dust sources are detected in multiple temporally consecutive images, the dust with the longer dust emission period is determined to be the dust that requires notification.

To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, the dust monitoring device of the present invention monitors the dust situation based on images captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source within its shooting range. It applies a dust determination program to the image to identify the dust-producing area and determines whether the dust is one that requires notification based on the density and area of the identified dust-producing area. If it is determined that the dust is one that requires notification, it outputs data indicating that the dust is one that requires a specific notification by the notification device. If multiple dust emissions from different dust sources are detected in multiple temporally consecutive images, the dust generated from the dust source at the lower position is determined to be the dust that requires notification.

Furthermore, in the dust monitoring device according to the present invention, in the above invention, when the dust generation areas of the different dust sources at least partially overlap, and dust generation from a second dust source is detected within a predetermined time after dust generation from a first dust source is detected, the dust monitoring device stores a first dust generation period from when dust generation from the first dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and a second dust generation period from when dust generation from the second dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and determines that the longer of the first dust generation period and the second dust generation period is dust generation that requires notification.

The dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device of the present invention enable automatic, real-time monitoring of dust in factories and other facilities.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a dust generation monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a dust monitoring range in the dust monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a dust monitoring range in the dust monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional dust detection method. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining three-stage authentication by the dust generation monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a case where no feedback correction is performed when dust is detected across a plurality of temporally consecutive images. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case where feedback correction is performed when dust particles are detected across a plurality of temporally consecutive images. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of a dust generation monitoring method executed by the dust generation monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a graph showing an example of a dust generation monitoring system and a dust generation monitoring device according to the present invention, and an example of a dust generation detection rate and a false detection rate according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a dust monitoring system and a dust monitoring device according to the present invention, and is a graph showing an example of the working hours of workers before and after the introduction of the present invention.

A dust monitoring system and a dust monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

(Dust monitoring system)
The dust monitoring system according to the embodiment is a system for monitoring the state of dust generation inside and outside a factory such as a steel mill. The dust monitored by the dust monitoring system includes smoke, soot, water vapor, etc., generated from chimneys and the like in the factory.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dust monitoring system 1 includes multiple cameras 10, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) server 20, a data server 30, and a mail server 40. The cameras 10, AI server 20, data server 30, and mail server 40 all have communication capabilities and are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network N. This network N is composed of, for example, an internet network, a mobile phone network, Wi-Fi (registered trademark, Wireless Fidelity), or BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy)). Furthermore, the dust monitoring device according to the embodiment is composed of the AI server 20, or the AI server 20 and mail server 40, which are components of the dust monitoring system 1.

Camera 10 is installed inside or outside a factory, such as a steelworks, and captures images of an area containing one or more dust sources. This camera 10 is implemented, for example, as an imaging device equipped with a typical CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor.

When monitoring dust emissions using cameras 10, cameras 10 are installed facing multiple directions within the factory premises, as shown in Figure 2, and images are captured continuously. In Figure 3, (a) shows the capture range of camera 10 facing north in Figure 2, (b) shows the capture range of camera 10 facing the center in Figure 2, and (a) shows the capture range of camera 10 facing south in Figure 2. Of the capture ranges shown in Figure 3, the range that includes dust sources such as chimneys is the dust monitoring range. In Figures 2 and 3, labels such as "**CO (extrusion)," "**chimney," and "**CDQ" indicate facilities that may be dust sources. "CDQ" refers to coke dry quenching equipment.

Since the installation position of the camera 10 is always fixed, the coordinates of the location of dust sources such as chimneys are known in advance on the system side (AI server 20 side). Furthermore, images captured by the camera 10 are sequentially transmitted to the AI server 20 via the network N.

The AI server 20 monitors the dust generation status based on images captured by the camera 10. This AI server 20 is implemented by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or personal computer, or a server device located on the cloud. The AI server 20 may also be installed within a factory. The AI server 20 also includes a dust generation determination unit 21.

The dust generation determination unit 21 determines whether or not the dust generation is a cause for notification based on the density and area of the dust region identified by applying a dust generation determination program to the image captured by the camera 10. If the dust generation determination unit 21 determines that the dust generation is a cause for notification, it outputs data to the mail server 40, which functions as a notification device, indicating that the dust generation is a cause for a specified notification by the mail server 40. The dust generation determination program is an AI model that learns about dust generation through deep learning using, for example, several thousand dust generation images (images containing dust) as training data.

In the AI model, for example, several thousand dust images are classified into large, medium and small dust levels (hereinafter referred to as "dust ranks") based on the area and concentration of the dust-producing regions, and each dust image is learned as training data along with the dust rank (e.g., large, medium and small). The dust determination unit 21 then applies the dust determination program described above to images newly captured by the camera 10 to determine whether the dust contained in the image is dust that requires notification, and whether the dust level is large, medium or small. An example of "dust that requires notification" is dust with a dust level of "medium" or higher.

Also, the AI model may classify, for example, several thousand dust images into density categories (e.g., dark, normal, light), and use these density category information and each dust image as training data to learn from them. In this case, the dust determination unit 21 applies the dust determination program described above to an image newly captured by the camera 10, thereby determining whether the dust contained in the image is dust that requires notification, and which of the above-mentioned densities it has.

The area of a dust-producing area can be recognized by using a segmentation AI model to label the pixels in the dust-producing part of the image and quantifying the number of pixels, or by using an object detection technique to extract the dust-producing area from the image and quantifying the number of pixels. It is also possible to determine whether the dust level falls into large, medium, or small based on the dust concentration and the area of the dust-producing area. Note that the classification of dust levels into "large, medium, and small" is just one example, and it is also possible to classify into two or fewer, or four or more, categories as needed.

Here, consider a case where multiple dust sources (e.g., chimneys) are included in a single image, as shown in Figure 4. In this figure, the dust extends over multiple dust sources, so if an attempt is made to identify both the dust source and the dust rank from a single image like this, it may not be possible to accurately identify the dust source. Therefore, it is preferable for the dust determination unit 21 to identify the dust source, dust rank, etc. based on multiple images.

In this case, when dust is detected across multiple temporally consecutive images using the dust determination program, the dust determination unit 21 identifies the dust source based on the first image in which dust is first detected, and identifies the dust rank indicating the scale of the dust based on the second image in which dust is last detected. The dust determination unit 21 then determines the continuity of dust based on one or more images that exist between the first and second images.

The dust generation determination unit 21 recognizes dust generation by dividing it into early, middle, and late stages, as shown in FIG. 5, for example. That is, the dust generation determination unit 21 identifies the dust source based on an image of the early stage of dust generation. The dust generation determination unit 21 also identifies the dust generation rank (e.g., large, medium, or small) based on an image of the later stage of dust generation. The dust generation rank can be identified based on the area and density of the dust generation region. The dust generation determination unit 21 also determines the continuity of dust generation based on an image of the middle stage of dust generation. In this manner, the process of identifying the dust source, continuity of dust generation, and dust generation rank based on images of the early, middle, and late stages of dust generation is defined as "three-stage authentication" in this embodiment.

Note that for ease of explanation, Figure 5 only shows an image corresponding to the latter part of the dust generation period (the second image described above), but for example, an "image of the early stage of dust generation" used to identify the dust source does not include dust generation in the middle or later stages. Similarly, an "image of the middle stage of dust generation" used to determine the continuity of dust generation does not include dust generation in the later stages.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, for example, when multiple dust sources (e.g., chimneys) are included in a single image, the actual dust source is "6CO extrusion," but since the dust-emitting area also overlaps with "56CDQ," "56CDQ" may be identified as the dust source. In the same figure, for example, after dust is detected in both "6CO extrusion" and "56CDQ," "56CDQ" may be identified as the dust source.

It is therefore preferable that the dust generation determination unit 21 retains logic and performs feedback correction when multiple dust occurrences are detected using the above-mentioned dust generation determination program. Note that "retaining logic" means that when multiple dust occurrences are detected within a single image, for example, the detection results for each of the multiple dust occurrences are retained. In this case, when multiple dust occurrences from different dust sources are detected within multiple temporally consecutive images, the dust generation determination unit 21 determines that the dust occurrence with the longer dust occurrence period is the dust occurrence that should be reported.

For example, as shown in Figure 7, when multiple dust particles are detected in an image, if the interval between the two (two dust particles) is within a predetermined time (for example, one minute), the dust determination unit 21 retains logic that indicates that dust particles have been detected on both sides (see (1) in the figure). Then, after the dust generation period for "56CDQ" has ended, the dust determination unit 21 determines that the dust generated by "6CO extrusion," which has a longer dust generation period (dust generation during dust generation period X), is dust that should be reported (see (2) in the figure).

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when multiple dust emissions from different dust sources ("6CO extrusion", "56CDQ") are detected in multiple temporally consecutive images, the dust generation determination unit 21 determines that the dust generated from the dust source located lower ("6CO extrusion") (dust emission during dust generation period X) is the dust to be reported. In this manner, when multiple dust emissions from different dust sources are detected, the process of identifying the actual dust source is defined as "feedback correction" in this embodiment.

The data server 30 is realized by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or PC, or a server device located on the cloud. The data server 30 may also be installed in a factory. Although FIG. 1 shows the data server 30 and the AI server 20 as separate components, the data server 30 may also be provided within the AI server 20. The data server 30 also includes a classification storage unit 31 and a memory unit 32.

The classification storage unit 31 classifies and stores the dust generation determination results from the dust generation determination unit 21. This "dust generation determination result" is data indicating that the dust generation is the target for a specified notification by the mail server 40, which functions as an alarm device. The dust generation determination results from the dust generation determination unit 21 include, for example, an image containing dust (dust generation image), the dust generation source, the dust generation level (e.g., large, medium, small), the dust generation area, and the dust generation concentration classification (e.g., dark, normal, light). The classification storage unit 31 classifies the above dust generation determination results and stores them in the memory unit 32.

The memory unit 32 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and removable media. Examples of removable media include USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and disc recording media such as CDs (Compact Discs), DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), and BDs (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Discs). The memory unit 32 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like. The memory unit 32 stores, for example, the dust generation determination results from the dust generation determination unit 21.

The mail server 40 is implemented by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or personal computer, or a server device located on the cloud. The mail server 40 may also be installed in a factory. The mail server 40 also includes a notification unit 41.

When the dust determination unit 21 determines that dust contained in an image is dust that requires notification (for example, dust with a dust level of "medium" or higher), the notification unit 41 acquires the dust determination result from the dust determination unit 21. The notification unit 41 then issues a predetermined notification based on the acquired dust determination result. Examples of "predetermined notification" include sending an email to relevant parties or issuing an alarm to relevant parties. The notification unit 41 may also issue a predetermined notification when the number of images containing dust that requires notification reaches a predetermined threshold.

In the dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device according to the embodiment having the above configuration, consider the case where a single dust source is monitored using a single camera 10. In this case, a single camera 10 is installed so that a single dust source whose position coordinates are known is included in its imaging range, and then images are captured in the AI server 20 at a rate of, for example, one image per second. Next, the dust determination unit 21 of the AI server 20 uses a dust determination program to detect dust in the image. When dust is detected, the dust concentration and scale are calculated, for example, and identified as a dust rank.

Then, the determination results, including the images in which dust was detected and the dust rank, are stored in the data server 30, and when, for example, the number of images containing dust to be notified reaches a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 41 of the email server 40 sends an email to the relevant parties requesting corrective action. By performing this type of processing, dust generation can be suppressed, and the environmental burden can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device according to the embodiment having the above-described configuration, consider a case where two or more dust sources are monitored using a single camera 10. In this case, one camera 10 is installed so that two or more dust sources whose position coordinates are known are included in the imaging range, and then the AI server 20 captures images at a rate of, for example, one image per second. Next, the dust determination unit 21 of the AI server 20 uses a dust determination program to detect dust in the images. When dust is detected, the dust images are tracked, for example, until the dust disappears, and the images are classified into early, middle, and late stages of dust generation.

The dust generation determination unit 21 then determines the dust generation source from the images of the dust generation, the continuity of dust generation from images of the middle stage of dust generation, and the dust generation rank from images of the later stage of dust generation (three-step authentication). Because the installation position of the camera 10 is fixed, the position coordinates of multiple dust generation sources within the images are known in advance. Furthermore, the continuity of dust generation between multiple images can be determined, for example, by whether or not the dust generation areas between the images overlap. Furthermore, the dust generation rank can be determined based on the range of dust generation from when dust generation begins to be detected until the dust generation disappears.

Furthermore, when dust generation is detected in two or more locations for a preset dust source, the dust generation determination unit 21 performs the above-mentioned three-stage authentication for each dust generation, and, for example, adopts the dust generation source with the longest time since dust generation as the dust generation source for this time (feedback correction). In other words, when dust generation is detected, the dust generation determination unit 21 performs three-stage authentication and feedback correction for a group of images (tracked image group) from the start of dust generation detection to the end of dust generation.

Then, the dust images and the assessment results, including the dust rank, are stored in the data server 30, and when, for example, the number of images containing dust to be notified reaches a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 41 of the email server 40 sends an email to the relevant parties requesting corrective action. By performing this type of processing, dust generation can be suppressed, and the environmental burden can be reduced.

In this way, the dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device according to the embodiment detect dust using a pre-trained dust determination program, and perform predetermined post-processing (three-step authentication, feedback correction) as needed. This allows for automatic, real-time dust monitoring in factories and other facilities.

(Dust generation monitoring method)
The flow of the dust generation monitoring system and the dust generation monitoring method executed by the dust generation monitoring device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the dust generation determination unit 21 reads the image captured by the camera 10 (step S11). Next, the dust generation determination unit 21 uses a dust generation determination program to detect dust generation in the image (step S12).

The dust generation determination unit 21 then identifies the dust generation source based on the image of the early stage of dust generation (step S13). The dust generation determination unit 21 then determines the continuity of dust generation based on the image of the middle stage of dust generation (step S14). The dust generation determination unit 21 then identifies the dust generation rank based on the image of the later stage of dust generation (step S15). Note that the order of steps S13 to S15 is not particularly limited, and steps may be performed in an order different from that shown in Figure 8.

Next, in step S12, if dust generation is detected in two or more locations for a preset dust source, the dust generation determination unit 21 performs feedback correction of the dust source (step S16). Next, the classification storage unit 31 classifies the dust generation determination results from steps S12 to S16 and stores them in the memory unit 32 (step S17). Next, the notification unit 41 sends an email to relevant parties, informing them of, for example, the time of dust generation, the dust source, and the dust generation rank (step S18), and this process is completed.

(Example)
An embodiment of a dust generation monitoring system and a dust generation monitoring device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Figure 9 shows an example of the dust detection rate and false detection rate before and after the introduction of the present invention. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the detection rate (%) and false detection rate (%), and the horizontal axis represents the dust source.

The three bar graphs in Figure 9(a) show, from left to right, the dust detection rate for Invention 1 (before the introduction of three-step authentication and feedback correction), Invention 2 (after the introduction of three-step authentication), and Invention 3 (after the introduction of three-step authentication and feedback correction). The "detection rate" was calculated by (number of dust detections by the system) / (number of dust detections by humans) x 100. As indicated by the bold line in the figure, the target detection rate is 100%, indicating that the closer the detection rate is to 100%, the higher the performance (the more accurately dust can be detected). As shown in the rightmost column of the figure (the "average" column), the methods of Inventions 2 and 3 have detection rates closer to the target value than Invention 1, demonstrating higher performance. Note that Invention 1 may have a detection rate far from the target value (many false positives) depending on the dust source, but false positives are on the safe side, and dust detection is better than no detection at all.

The three bar graphs in Figure 9(b) show, from left to right, the false detection rate of dust for Invention 1 (before the introduction of three-step authentication and feedback correction), Invention 2 (after the introduction of three-step authentication), and Invention 3 (after the introduction of three-step authentication and feedback correction). The "false detection rate" was calculated by (number of false detections of dust by the system) / (number of dust detections by humans + number of dust detections by the system) x 100. As shown by the bold line in the figure, the target false detection rate is 20%, and a false detection rate below 20% indicates higher performance (less likely to result in false detection of dust). As shown in the rightmost column of the figure (the "average" column), the methods of Inventions 2 and 3 have false detection rates lower than the target value. It can also be seen that the methods of Inventions 2 and 3 eliminate bias in the false detection rate for each dust source compared to Invention 1. In addition, with Invention 1, depending on the dust source, the false detection rate may be far from the target value (there may be many false detections), but false detection itself is on the safe side, and performing dust detection is better than not performing it at all.

Figure 10 shows an example of a dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device according to the present invention, and shows an example of worker working hours before and after the introduction of the present invention. Worker working hours consist, for example, of the total time required to "check for large and medium-rank dust," "contact relevant departments," and "check for small-rank dust." As shown in the figure, by introducing the present invention, dust monitoring can be automated, resulting in a reduction of working hours of 2.0 hours per day.

The dust monitoring system and dust monitoring device according to the present invention have been specifically described above using a description of the preferred embodiment and examples, but the spirit of the present invention is not limited to these descriptions and must be interpreted broadly based on the claims. It goes without saying that various changes and modifications based on these descriptions are also included within the spirit of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Dust generation monitoring system 10 Camera 20 AI server 21 Dust generation determination unit 30 Data server 31 Classification storage unit 32 Storage unit 40 Mail server 41 Notification unit

Claims (6)

A dust generation monitoring system including a dust generation monitoring device that monitors the state of dust generation based on an image captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source as its imaging range,
The dust generation monitoring device determines whether or not the dust generation is a dust that should be notified based on the density and area of the dust generation region that is identified by applying a dust generation determination program to the image, and issues a predetermined notification when it is determined that the dust generation is a dust that should be notified,
When a plurality of dust occurrences from different dust sources are detected in a plurality of temporally consecutive images, the dust occurrence monitoring device determines that the dust occurrence with the longer dust occurrence period is the dust occurrence to be notified.
Dust monitoring system. A dust generation monitoring system including a dust generation monitoring device that monitors the state of dust generation based on an image captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source as its imaging range,
The dust generation monitoring device determines whether or not the dust generation is a dust that should be notified based on the density and area of the dust generation region that is identified by applying a dust generation determination program to the image, and issues a predetermined notification when it is determined that the dust generation is a dust that should be notified,
When a plurality of dust emissions from different dust sources are detected in a plurality of temporally consecutive images, the dust monitoring device determines that the dust generated from the dust source at a lower position is the dust to be notified.
Dust monitoring system. When the dust generation areas of the different dust sources at least partially overlap, and dust generation from a second dust source is detected within a predetermined time after dust generation from a first dust source is detected among the different dust sources, the dust generation monitoring device stores a first dust generation period from when dust generation from the first dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and a second dust generation period from when dust generation from the second dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and determines that the dust generation during the longer of the first dust generation period and the second dust generation period is dust generation that should be notified.
The dust monitoring system according to claim 1 . A dust generation monitoring device that monitors the state of dust generation based on an image captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source as its imaging range,
A dust generation determination program is applied to the image to determine whether or not the dust generation is a dust generation that should be notified, based on the density and area of the dust generation region identified, and if it is determined that the dust generation is a dust generation that should be notified, data indicating that the dust generation is a dust generation that should be notified by a predetermined notification device is output,
When multiple dust occurrences from different dust sources are detected in multiple temporally consecutive images, the dust occurrence with the longer dust occurrence period is determined to be the dust occurrence to be notified.
Dust monitoring device. A dust generation monitoring device that monitors the state of dust generation based on an image captured by a camera that captures an area including a dust source as its imaging range,
A dust generation determination program is applied to the image to determine whether or not the dust generation is a dust generation that should be notified, based on the density and area of the dust generation region identified, and if it is determined that the dust generation is a dust generation that should be notified, data indicating that the dust generation is a dust generation that should be notified by a predetermined notification device is output,
When multiple dust emissions from different dust sources are detected in multiple temporally consecutive images, the dust emitted from the dust source at the lower position is determined to be the dust to be notified.
Dust monitoring device. The dust monitoring device of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the dust generation areas of the different dust sources overlap, and when dust generation from a second dust source is detected within a predetermined time after dust generation from a first dust source is detected, a first dust generation period from when dust generation from the first dust source begins to when dust generation ends, and a second dust generation period from when dust generation from the second dust source begins to when dust generation ends are stored, and the dust generation during the longer of the first dust generation period and the second dust generation period is determined to be dust generation that requires notification.