Method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building

Abstract

A method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan of a building, characterized in that it comprises: - a receiving step (110) of a first image file (40a), called the raw plan (40a) and illustrating an evacuation plan of the building, - a detection step (120, 122, 124) on the raw plan (40a), - a creation step (130) of a second image file (40b), called the modeled plan (40b), in which the detected features are illustrated as walls and the detected pictograms are illustrated as signage. Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building. In particular, such a method is in the context of fire safety. The invention also relates to a computer program capable of implementing the method for generating the digital plan, as well as to a recording medium and a communication terminal integrating the computer program.

[0002] A technology known as "SLAM" (for "Simultaneous Localization And Mapping") is already known from the state of the art, which makes it possible to map an environment in real time. Such a program can be integrated into a mobile robot or a vehicle comprising sensors and geolocation means to simultaneously construct or improve the mapping of an environment and locate itself there. However, such an application requires a mobile means integrating special sensors and the process of producing the mapping can be time-consuming. This computer program can also include problems of inaccuracy regarding the estimation of the location of the robot in relation to its environment and an erroneous plan can be generated, which would not be promptly usable by the emergency services, in particular in the context of an emergency response.

[0003] Furthermore, it is also possible to photograph an evacuation plan available in a building and make it available for emergency response. However, evacuation plans generally include information that must be processed by a human eye, in particular because the standards (such as the NF X08-070 AFNOR standard) governing these plans do not necessarily regulate the format of certain information. For example, pictograms may have different shapes from one plan to another, different colors and different sizes, among other things. In addition, texts that are useless in an emergency may be present on these plans, which creates noise and creates inaccuracies in the interpretation of such an evacuation plan in an emergency. Finally, the photo may be of poor quality.

[0004] There is therefore a need to have an evacuation plan quickly and to process this plan efficiently to extract useful information from it, particularly in the context of a fire brigade intervention for fire safety.

[0005] The proposed invention aims in particular to propose a more responsive method for processing a building evacuation plan.

[0006] To this end, the invention aims at a method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building, comprising:

[0007] - a step of receiving a first image file, called raw plan and illustrating a building evacuation plan,

[0008] - a detection step, on the raw plane,

[0009] * of lines presenting a format previously associated with wall-type information, And

[0010] * of pictograms presenting a format previously associated with information of signage type,

[0011] - a step of creating a second image file, called a modeled plan, in in which the detected features are illustrated as walls and the detected pictograms are illustrated as signage.

[0012] Thus, it is proposed to carry out processing on the “raw plan” image in order to extract information from it so as to be able to present it differently on the “modeled plan” to facilitate the intervention of the firefighters. For example, it is possible to highlight certain useful or crucial information for the firefighters, or to delete others. We therefore propose a more reactive method for processing a building evacuation plan as well as making available important information for the smooth running of an emergency intervention during a fire.

[0013] Thus, from the lines detected on the raw plan, the presence of walls can be deduced to model a general plan of the building with the number of rooms, the separation in the rooms and / or the emergency exits. Furthermore, by selecting the pictograms associated with signage-type information, it is possible to identify important points in the building, linked to fire safety, for example a defibrillator, a fire extinguisher, an electrical room, an assembly point, an emergency exit, a fire door or even a fire hydrant. The modeled plan with the points linked to fire safety thus makes it possible to provide the emergency services with key information to facilitate their intervention.

[0014] The method may further comprise one or more of the following optional features, taken alone or in combination.

[0015] - The first image file is a photograph.

[0016] - "Image file" means a computer image file. Preferably, the first image file is in a format following one of the following standards: * JPEG (for Joint Photography Experts Group, for example with the extension .jpg or .jpeg), * PNG (for Portable Network Graphics, usually with the extension .png), * BMP (for Bitmap, usually with the extension .bmp), *HEIF (for High Efficiency Image Format, for example with the extension .heif or .heic), or * WebP (usually with the extension .webp).

[0017] - The step of detecting features having a format previously associated with an in wall-type training includes the detection, on the raw plane, of features having at least one of the following elements: * a predefined shape, * a predefined thickness, * a predefined color, * a predefined positioning on the raw image and / or in relation to other features of the raw plan.

[0018] - The step of detecting pictograms having a format previously associated with information of the signage type includes the detection, on the raw plan, of pictograms representing at least one of the following elements: * a defibrillator, * a fire extinguisher, * an electrical room, * a gathering point, * an emergency exit, * a fire door, or even * a fire hydrant.

[0019] - The method further comprises a step of filtering certain information contained in the first image file, before the step of creating the second image file. "Information filtering" means the deletion and / or correction of information contained in the first image file. Thus, thanks to the filtering step, the raw evacuation plan can be lightened or clarified to provide information that makes it easier for emergency services to read.

[0020] Preferably, the filtering step takes place before the detection step. This makes it possible, for example, to remove heterogeneities from the first image file to improve the accuracy of the detection step. Indeed, since standards (such as the French standard NF X08-070 AFNOR) are not regulated regarding the format of the information, the evacuation plans may include information that is useless for emergency services, which could hinder optimal detection of walls. In particular, texts or certain texts are likely to be recognized as lines and be wrongly represented as walls. This could generate a false modeled plan that would not be usable by emergency services.

[0021] Alternatively, or even in combination, it is possible to imagine a filtering step after the detection step in order to delete and / or correct the image before generating the modeled plan, for example by removing “visual noise”.

[0022] - The information filtered during the filtering step can be chosen among : * text, * colors, * contrast, * sharpness, * lines which have a format different from the format previously associated with wall-type information, and / or - pictograms which present a format different from the format previously associated with signage-type information.

[0023] Thus, by deleting or correcting such information, the raw evacuation plan is lightened or clarified to make it easier for emergency services to read. It is understood that the more filtering is carried out on several elements of the list above, the more it can facilitate emergency services intervention. According to one example, the colors of an element can be corrected to use a color directly recognizable by emergency services. Furthermore, a pictogram considered not useful in certain cases, such as the "you are here" pictogram, can be corrected or deleted.

[0024] - The method comprises a step of making the modeled plan available in the form interactive, allowing you to choose what appears on the modeled plan and the format in which it appears. Thus, the process allows you to display or not some of the elements among the lines illustrated as walls and the pictograms illustrated as signage on the modeled plan. As a result, depending on the necessary evacuation or the danger, the user can decide, for example, not to display unnecessary pictograms to improve visibility. For example, thanks to this interactivity, it is possible to display only emergency exits and fire doors to allow rapid evacuation of the building. Or, in the case of a fire intervention, the emergency services can choose to display only fire doors and fire hydrants that can be associated with hoses.

[0025] Furthermore, the modeled plan can advantageously be displayed in a 3D format from an initial 2D rough plan, for a better understanding of the space and the environment of the building. Preferably, the 3D format can be represented in isometric perspective.

[0026] - Several first image files of the same building are received and the method includes a step of concatenating the second image files generated from these first image files in order to create a modeled plan of the building.

[0027] For example, each first image file corresponds to the evacuation plan of a floor in the building. This way, emergency services can possibly know in advance the number of floors planned in the building. Thanks to interactivity, a particular floor can be isolated for better study. According to a very advantageous embodiment, the link between two consecutive floors of the building can be illustrated, and it can facilitate emergency response reasoning before their intervention or even simulate an evacuation of the entire building.

[0028] - The method further comprises a step of validating the modeled plan by an in human intervention. Validation can be implemented directly by the emergency services, or by a software developer prior to the need for evacuation. This validation step allows for human verification of the generated modeled plan.

[0029] - The step of detecting lines and pictograms uses a digital model which is previously trained by deliberately perturbed plans. We thus propose to avoid over-training of the numerical model, which in this case would be able to easily model plans that are simple to interpret and not enough complex plans. To obtain good quality of the numerical model on complex plans, we generate random plans in which the proportion of perturbations of the plan is higher than reality, for example by providing a large proportion of information to be filtered.

[0030] - The modeled plan obtained is stored in an online server, which can be consulted remotely. Because it can be used online, and in the event that the above process has been implemented prior to a fire, in the event of a fire, emergency services are able to retrieve the modeled plan of the burning building in order to understand the building's environment and better organize their intervention.

[0031] Advantageously, the modeled plan is generated by an online application, which can be consulted subject to a secure connection, for example by creating a connection account to the application.

[0032] The invention also relates to a computer program, for example a computer application, comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of a method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building as presented above.

[0033] The computer program may further comprise one or more of the following optional features, taken alone or in combination.

[0034] - The computer program further comprises instructions for the first received image file either obtained from a camera or downloaded from an image gallery stored in a communications terminal.

[0035] - The computer program is configured to be operable on a browser web or be used as a computer application for a communication terminal communication.

[0036] - The communication terminal is a mobile phone or a laptop, and the camera can correspond to a camera integrated into the mobile phone.

[0037] - The computer program comprises a character recognition module, for example OCR type (for Optical Character Recognition), to enable the detection of texts and the deletion of these texts.

[0038] The invention also relates to a computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the steps of the method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building as described above.

[0039] For example, the recording medium may be in the form of a USB key (for “Universal Serial Bus”).

[0040] The invention also relates to a communication terminal comprising means for implementing the steps of the method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building as described above.

[0041] For example, the communication terminal comprises a computer application, configured to interact with a camera of the communication terminal or an image gallery stored in the communication terminal. Brief description of the figures

[0042] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0043] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of a communication system for implementing a method for generating a digital evacuation plan for a building according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0044] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating a method of generating a digital plan evacuation of a building according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0045] [Fig.3] is a set of views [Fig. 3a and 3b] respectively representing a example of a rough evacuation plan and a modeled plan obtained using the process in [Fig.2],

[0046] [Fig.4] is a set of views [Fig. 4a and 4b] respectively representing another example of a rough evacuation plan and a modeled plan obtained using the process in [Fig.2], Detailed description

[0047] [Fig.l] shows schematically a communication system comprising a communication terminal 10, for example a mobile telephone 12 or a portable computer 14, capable of receiving a first image file 40a, called a plan raw, illustrating an evacuation plan of a building 20, and capable of generating a second image file 40b, called a modeled plan. In this example, the second image file 40b is stored in an online server 30.

[0048] To do this, the communication terminal 10 comprises a computer program AP which is configured to implement a method 100 for generating a digital evacuation plan for the building 20. The method 100 is in the context of fire safety, and it is adapted to be implemented by the computer program AP, in order to generate the modeled plan 40b which facilitates emergency intervention in the event of a fire. The method 100 is described in more detail in the following paragraphs.

[0049] The computer program AP is configured to be operable on a web browser or to be used as a computer application stored in the communication terminal 10. The computer program AP may be configured to interact with a camera of the communication terminal 10, for example a camera integrated in the mobile telephone 12, or with an image gallery stored in the communication terminal 10, for example an image gallery of the mobile telephone 12 or the laptop 14. In particular, the computer program AP comprises instructions for the first image file 40a to be obtained from the camera or to be downloaded from the image gallery stored in the communication terminal 10. This first image file 40a may be in JPEG, PNG, BMP, HEIF or WebP format.

[0050] The computer program AP is executed by a processor integrated in the communication terminal 10, to implement the method 100 for generating a digital evacuation plan described later. Alternatively or in combination, the computer program AP is executed by a processor 32 of the online server 30 for the execution of the instructions.

[0051] The generated modeled plan 40b is advantageously stored in the online server 30, which can be consulted remotely, in particular by means of the communication terminal 10 or a computer network such as the Internet. Because it is accessible online, in the event of a fire, emergency services are able to retrieve the modeled plan 40b of the building 20 in order to become aware of the environment of the building 20 in order to best organize their intervention. Advantageously, the modeled plan 40b can be consulted subject to a secure connection, for example by creating a connection account to the application.

[0052] Furthermore, the computer program AP may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, for example a USB (Universal Serial Bus) key. The storage medium comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer such as the server 30, cause the latter to implement implements the steps of the process 100 for generating a digital evacuation plan.

[0053] With reference to [Fig.2], the method 100 for generating a digital evacuation plan for the building 20 will now be described.

[0054] The method 100 firstly comprises a step 110 of receiving the first image file 40a, called raw plan 40a and illustrating the evacuation plan of the building 20. This receiving step 110 is for example implemented by a prior activation of the camera of the communication terminal 10 and the taking of a photograph stored by the computer program AP in the form of a first image file 40a. This first image file 40a is generally in a compression format such as JPEG, PNG, BMP, HEIF or WebP format. The first image file 40a can also be received from an image gallery of the communication terminal 10.

[0055] After the reception step 110, the method 100 for generating a digital evacuation plan preferably comprises a step 112 of filtering certain information contained in the first image file 40a. Such a step 112 makes it possible to delete and / or correct the information contained in the first image file 40a. Thus, thanks to this filtering step 112, the raw plan 40a is lightened and clarified to then have useful and essential information available to facilitate reading for the emergency services.

[0056] After this filtering step 112, the method 100 comprises a step 120 of detecting elements on the raw plane 40a, comprising more precisely the following steps:

[0057] * a step 122 of detecting features having a format previously associated with wall-type information, and

[0058] * a step 124 of detecting pictograms having a previously format associated with signage-type information.

[0059] The two steps 122, 124 can be carried out simultaneously, in the same detection step 120, in parallel as illustrated in [Fig.2], or even sequentially, one after the other, possibly with other steps of processing the image file 40a between the two.

[0060] Concerning the step 122 of detecting lines of the method 100, the computer program AP comprises instructions for analyzing the first image file and detecting lines having a particular format. More precisely, the computer program AP is configured so as to have in memory predefined format values ​​to be associated with information of the wall type. These predefined format values ​​correspond for example to values ​​of shape, thickness, color, positioning on a plane and / or positioning relative to other elements on a plane; and are usually recognized as walls by a user. Thus during the step 122 of detecting lines, the computer program AP identifies different elements on the plan, or all the elements of the plan, and analyzes them to deduce their format, for example their shape, their thickness, their color, their position on the plan and / or in relation to other elements of the plan. Then, the AP computer program compares this format to the predefined values ​​in order to determine if the identified element has a format that is one of the formats to be associated with information of the wall type.

[0061] Concerning step 124 of detecting pictograms, the computer program AP operates in a similar manner to step 122 concerning the lines. In other words, the computer program AP comprises instructions for analyzing the first image file and detecting pictograms having a particular format. More precisely, the computer program AP is configured so as to have in memory predefined format values ​​to be associated with information of the signage type. These predefined format values ​​correspond for example to values ​​of shape, thickness, color, positioning on a plan and / or positioning relative to other elements on a plan; and are usually recognized as signage by a user.Here, signage is understood to mean a pictogram illustrating at least one of the following elements related to fire safety: a defibrillator, a fire extinguisher, an electrical room, an assembly point, an emergency exit, a fire door and / or a fire hydrant. Thus, during the pictogram detection step 124, the computer program AP identifies different elements on the plan, or all the elements of the plan, and analyzes them to deduce their format, for example their shape, their thickness, their color, their positioning on the plan and / or in relation to other elements of the plan. Then, the computer program AP compares this format to the predefined values ​​in order to determine whether the identified element has a format that is part of the formats to be associated with information of the signage type.

[0062] In particular in the embodiment here, the step 120 of detecting the lines 122 and the pictograms 124 uses a digital model which is previously trained by deliberately perturbed planes. The voluntary perturbation makes it possible to avoid over-training the digital model in order to obtain good quality of the digital model on complex planes. In order to obtain good quality of the digital model on complex planes, random planes are generated in which the proportion of perturbations of the plane is greater than reality.

[0063] After the detection step 120, the method 100 comprises a step 130 of creating the second image file 40b, called modeled plan 40b, in which the detected features are illustrated as walls and the detected pictograms are illustrated as signage.

[0064] In the example of [Fig.2], the method 100 further comprises a step of updating layout 140 of the modeled plan 40b in interactive form, allowing you to choose what appears on the modeled plan 40b and the format in which it appears.

[0065] The modeled plan 40b obtained is then, in this example, stored in the online server 30, which can be consulted remotely. The modeled plan 40b can also remain stored in the communication terminal 10 or even be made available online by the communication terminal 10.

[0066] It will be noted that, in the method 100 illustrated in [Fig.2], the filtering step 112 takes place before the detection step 120, which makes it possible to remove the heterogeneities on the first image file 40a to improve the precision of the detection step 120. Indeed, the standards (NF X08-070 AFNOR) not being regularized concerning the format of the information, the evacuation plans may include information that is useless for emergency services, which could hinder the optimal detection of walls or even of signage. In particular, the texts are likely to be recognized as lines and be wrongly represented as walls. This could generate a false modeled plan that would not be usable by emergency services.

[0067] In particular in the example here, the information filtered during the filtering step 112 can be chosen from: - text, - colors, - contrast, - sharpness, - lines which have a format different from the format previously associated with wall-type information, and / or - pictograms which present a format different from the format previously associated with signage-type information.

[0068] Thus, by deleting or correcting such information, the raw evacuation plan is lightened or clarified to make it easier for the emergency services to read. It is understood that the more filtering 112 is carried out on several elements of the list above, the more the emergency services can be facilitated.

[0069] In the examples shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b, Figures 3a and 4a represent raw plans 40a each obtained by photography and Figures 3b and 4b correspond respectively to the modeled plans 40b of these raw plans 40a. In particular, in these modeled plans 40b, the pictograms and the unnecessary texts have been deleted. The pictograms linked to signage information have been retained, but these pictograms have been resized and / or replaced by suitable signage pictograms to facilitate the understanding of the emergency services in order to improve their intervention in the event of a fire.

[0070] As explained above, the computer program AP implementing the method 100 comprises an interface making it possible to present the modeled plan 40b in an interactive form, in which it is possible to decide to present certain information only. Furthermore, the modeled plan 40b can possibly be presented in a 3D format, for example in isometric perspective, from an initial raw plan 40a in 2D, the interactivity of the computer program AP making it possible to choose the format in which the modeled plan is displayed and with which pictograms.

[0071] For example, in the event of an emergency evacuation, a user can choose, on the interactive interface, to display only emergency exits and fire doors to allow rapid evacuation of the building. Similarly, in the event of a fire, emergency services can display only fire doors and fire hydrants.

[0072] Advantageously, several first image files 40a of the same building can be received during the reception step 110, and the method comprises a step of concatenating the second image files 40b generated from these first image files 40a so as to create a modeled plan 40b of the entire building 10. Each first image file 40a then corresponds to a floor in the building 10. Thus, thanks to the interactivity of the computer program AP, a particular floor can be isolated to be studied as best as possible. According to a very advantageous embodiment, the link between two consecutive floors of the building can be illustrated, and it is possible to facilitate the reasoning of rescue before their intervention, or even to simulate an evacuation.

[0073] Furthermore, the method 100 may also comprise, at the end of the step 130 of creating the second image file 40b, a step 160 of validating the modeled plan 40b, by human intervention. The validation may be implemented directly by the emergency services, or by a computer developer.

[0074] The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will become clear to those skilled in the art. In particular, the method for generating the digital evacuation plan for the building 20 can be implemented before an emergency operation, for example in the context of the configuration of a fire safety installation for the building 20, or the method 100 can be implemented in an emergency, as the first action upon arrival of the emergency services. List of references

[0075] AP: computer program

[0076] 10: communication terminal

[0077] 12: cell phone

[0078] 14: laptop

[0079] 20: building

[0080]

[0081]

[0082]

[0083]

[0084]

[0085]

[0086]

[0087]

[0088]

[0089]

[0090]

[0091] 30: online server 32: computer program processor AP 40a: first image file, called raw plan 40b: second image file, called modeled plan 100: method for generating a digital evacuation plan of a building 110: step of receiving a first image file 40a, called raw plan 112: filtering step 120: detection step 122: step of detecting lines 124: step of detecting pictograms 130: step of creating a second image file 40b, called modeled plan 140: step of making the modeled plan available in interactive form

Claims

Claims

1. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan of a building (20) characterized in that it comprises: - a step of receiving (110) a first image file (40a), called raw plan (40a) and illustrating an evacuation plan of the building, - a step of detecting (120, 122, 124), on the raw plan (40a), * lines having a format previously associated with information of the wall type, and * pictograms having a format previously associated with information of the signage type, - a step of creating (130) a second image file (40b), called modeled plan (40b), in which the detected lines are illustrated as walls and the detected pictograms are illustrated as signage.

2. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to the preceding claim, further comprising a step of filtering (112) certain information contained in the first image file (40a), before the step of creating (130) the second image file (40b).

3. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to the preceding claim, in which the information filtered during the filtering step can be chosen from: - text, - colors, - contrast, - sharpness, - lines which have a format different from the format previously associated with wall-type information, and / or - pictograms which have a format different from the format previously associated with signage-type information.

4. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of making available (140) the modeled plan (40b) in interactive form, making it possible to choose what is made to appear on the modeled plan (40b) and the format in which it is made to appear.

5. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to any one of the preceding claims, in which several first image files (40a) of the same building (20) are received and the method (100) comprises a step of concatenating (150) the second image files (40b) generated from these first image files (40a) so as to create a modeled plan (40b) of the building (20).

6. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of validation (160) of the modeled plan by human intervention.

7. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to one of the preceding claims, during which the step of detecting (120, 122, 124) the lines and pictograms uses a digital model which is previously trained by deliberately disturbed plans.

8. Method (100) for generating a digital evacuation plan according to one of the preceding claims, during which the modeled plan (40b) obtained is stored in an online server (30), which can be consulted remotely.

9. A computer program (AP) comprising instructions which, when the program (AP) is executed by a computer (32), cause the latter to implement a method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Computer program (AP) according to the preceding claim, comprising instructions for the first image file (40a) received to be obtained from a camera or downloaded from an image gallery stored in a communication terminal (10).

11. A computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer (32), cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. Communication terminal (10) comprising means for implementing a method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.