Evacuation simulation system, and information processing device

Abstract

To provide an evacuation simulation system capable of realizing realistic evacuation drills in virtual space.SOLUTION: The evacuation simulation system is an evacuation simulation system that includes a server unit, and a communication apparatus that communicates with the server unit. The server unit includes: a modeling unit that builds a virtual space by spatial modeling using spatial data; an evacuation simulation unit that simulates the behavior of evacuees during evacuation based on evacuee data and synthesizes the images and voices of the evacuees in the virtual space created by the modeling unit; and a transmission unit that transmits virtual space image information and audio information created by synthesizing images and audio of evacuees by the evacuation simulation unit to the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes: a receiving unit for receiving the virtual space image information and the audio information sent from the server unit; and an output unit that outputs the image information and the audio information received by the receiving unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an evacuation simulation system and an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, various services have been provided that use virtual spaces (also called "metaverses") constructed on networks. For example, a situation in which a disaster has occurred in a building or facility is reproduced in the metaverse, and a simulated evacuation drill is carried out by a user remotely controlling his or her own alter ego called an avatar. In such an evacuation drill system, it is being considered to allow multiple users to simultaneously operate avatars so that the users can hear each other's voices.

[0003] However, in conventional evacuation drill systems, there is a problem that it is difficult to carry out a realistic evacuation drill when there are few participating users. Specifically, for example, when a commercial facility or the like is actually evacuated, it is assumed that many evacuees will evacuate, but in evacuation drills using the metaverse, there is a limit to the number of users who can participate at the same time, making it difficult to carry out drills in situations with a crowd. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-79199 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an evacuation simulation system and an information processing device that can realize a realistic evacuation drill in a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an evacuation simulation system is an evacuation simulation system having a server device and a communication device that communicates with the server device, wherein the server device has a modeling unit that constructs a virtual space by spatial modeling using spatial data, an evacuation simulation unit that simulates the behavior of evacuates evacuating based on evacuee data and synthesizes images and sounds of the evacuates into the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit, and a transmission unit that transmits image information and audio information of the virtual space in which the images and sounds of the evacuates have been synthesized by the evacuation simulation unit to the communication device, and the communication device has a receiving unit that receives image information and audio information of the virtual space transmitted from the server device, and an output unit that outputs the image information and audio information received by the receiving unit.

[0007] With this configuration, it is possible to create a situation in the virtual space where there are many evacuees who are different from the avatar operated by the user, thereby enabling a realistic evacuation drill to be realized in the virtual space.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, the server device further has a disaster simulation unit that simulates a disaster based on disaster data and synthesizes images and sounds of the disaster in the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit.

[0009] According to this configuration, a situation in which a disaster is occurring can be created in a virtual space, making it possible to realize evacuation drills that are close to reality.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the server device further includes a guidance instruction control unit that controls display and non-display of guidance instructions placed in the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit.

[0011] According to this configuration, the effectiveness of evacuation guidance instructions can be confirmed through evacuation drills in a virtual space.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the server device further includes an avatar control unit that controls an avatar that moves within the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit in response to an operation by a user.

[0013] According to this configuration, an avatar can be placed in a virtual space, making it possible to carry out evacuation drills from a third-person perspective.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, the avatar control unit sets attributes of an avatar corresponding to a user in accordance with a selection made by the user, and sets the avatar so as to restrict actions of the avatar in accordance with the attributes.

[0015] According to this configuration, it is possible to simulate the experience of actions to be taken in the event of a disaster from the perspective of, for example, those having difficulty evacuating or rescuers.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the server device further includes a control unit that outputs a log of the avatar's movements within the virtual space.

[0017] According to this configuration, evacuation behavior during evacuation drills can be evaluated, which can contribute to improving problems in real evacuations.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, the information processing device has a modeling unit that constructs a virtual space by spatial modeling using spatial data, an evacuation simulation unit that simulates the behavior of evacuates evacuating based on evacuee data and synthesizes images and voices of the evacuates into the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit, and a transmission unit that transmits image information and voice information of the virtual space in which the images and voices of the evacuates have been synthesized by the evacuation simulation unit.

[0019] With this configuration, it is possible to create a situation in the virtual space where there are many evacuees who are different from the avatar operated by the user, thereby enabling a realistic evacuation drill to be realized in the virtual space. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, a realistic evacuation drill can be realized in a virtual space. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an evacuation simulation system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an evacuation drill method according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing yet another example of the display screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing yet another example of the display screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing yet another example of the display screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing yet another example of the display screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing yet another example of the display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example, and should not be construed as being limited by this description.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an evacuation simulation system according to an embodiment. The evacuation simulation system shown in Fig. 1 includes a server device 100 and a communication terminal device 200 communicably connected to the server device 100 via a network. This evacuation simulation system enables a user operating the communication terminal device 200 to experience an evacuation drill in a virtual space constructed by the server device 100.

[0024] The server device 100 is an information processing device that executes spatial modeling based on various data to construct a virtual space and executes simulations of disasters and evacuation in the virtual space. The server device 100 receives information input by a user from the communication terminal device 200, sets conditions for disasters and evacuation according to the input information, and moves an avatar, which is an alter ego of the user, in the virtual space according to the input information. The server device 100 also generates evacuees different from the user's avatar in the virtual space and controls the behavior of the evacuees based on data regarding the behavior of the evacuees. The configuration and operation of the server device 100 will be described in detail later.

[0025] The communication terminal device 200 is a communication device that is communicatively connected to the server device 100, transmits information input by a user to the server device 100, and displays a screen corresponding to a simulation executed by the server device 100. The communication terminal device 200 may be a computer or a smartphone that is connected to a network wirelessly or via a wire, and may include a display or a head-mounted display (HMD) for displaying the screen.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of server device 100 and communication terminal device 200. Server device 100 shown in Fig. 2 has a data storage unit 110, an operation control unit 120, a space modeling unit 130, an avatar control unit 140, a guidance instruction control unit 150, a disaster simulation unit 160, an evacuation simulation unit 170, and a communication unit 180.

[0027] The data storage unit 110 stores various data used for evacuation drills in virtual space. Specifically, the data storage unit 110 stores spatial data such as three-dimensional city data and building data used for spatial modeling, evacuee data that defines the appearance of evacuees and their behavior during evacuation, and disaster data that defines the form of a disaster and the behavior of facilities or buildings when a disaster occurs.

[0028] The operation control unit 120 acquires user input information from the communication terminal device 200 and controls the operation of each processing unit of the server device 100 according to the input information. The operation control unit 120 records the user input information, and when an evacuation drill is completed, for example, outputs a movement log during the evacuation drill based on the user input information. The operation control unit 120 also transmits image information and audio information generated by the operation of each processing unit of the server device 100 to the communication terminal device 200 via the communication unit 180.

[0029] The spatial modeling unit 130 reads spatial data such as three-dimensional city data or building data from the data storage unit 110, and performs spatial modeling of the location where the evacuation drill will be carried out. That is, the spatial modeling unit 130 constructs a virtual space where the evacuation drill will be carried out based on the spatial data.

[0030] The avatar control unit 140 generates an avatar that is an alter ego of the user in the virtual space according to the selection of the user who experiences the evacuation drill, and controls the movement of the avatar in the virtual space. Specifically, the avatar control unit 140 moves the avatar according to the user's operation and makes the avatar perform a guiding action for other evacuees.

[0031] The guidance instruction control unit 150 places guidance instructions that display evacuation routes and the like in the virtual space, and controls the display and non-display of the guidance instructions when an evacuation drill starts. That is, the guidance instruction control unit 150 displays, for example, the direction of an emergency exit and the distance to the emergency exit on a monitor or the like in the virtual space.

[0032] The disaster simulation unit 160 reads out disaster data from the data storage unit 110 and simulates a disaster in a virtual space. Specifically, the disaster simulation unit 160 executes a simulation of a disaster selected by a user from, for example, a fire, an earthquake, a tsunami, and the like, and synthesizes graphics and sounds of the disaster in the virtual space.

[0033] The evacuation simulator 170 reads out the evacuee data from the data storage unit 110, and simulates evacuation by the evacuee in a virtual space. Specifically, the evacuation simulator 170 executes a simulation of evacuation by the number of evacuees designated by the user, and synthesizes graphics and sounds of the evacuee in the virtual space.

[0034] The communication unit 180 has an interface capable of wired or wireless communication with the communication terminal device 200, and transmits and receives various information. Specifically, the communication unit 180 acquires image information and audio information constituting the virtual space from the operation control unit 120, and transmits it to the communication terminal device 200. In addition, the communication unit 180 receives input information by a user of the communication terminal device 200 from the communication terminal device 200, and outputs it to the operation control unit 120.

[0035] The communication terminal device 200 shown in FIG. 2 includes a user input section 210, an output section 220, a control section 230, and a communication section 240.

[0036] The user input unit 210 includes an input interface such as a keyboard, a touch panel, or a microphone, and receives input from a user experiencing an evacuation drill. The user input unit 210 receives, for example, a user's input for setting evacuees and guidance instructions, and a user's input for operating an avatar, and outputs the received input information to the control unit 230.

[0037] The output unit 220 includes an output interface such as a display, a head-mounted display, or a speaker, and outputs image information and audio information to a user experiencing an evacuation drill. The output unit 220 outputs, for example, image information of the virtual space as seen by an avatar operated by the user, and audio information of the virtual space as heard by the avatar.

[0038] The control unit 230 controls each processing unit of the communication terminal device 200. That is, the control unit 230 transmits input information accepted from the user by the user input unit 210 to the server device 100 via the communication unit 240, and outputs image information and audio information received by the communication unit 240 from the output unit 220.

[0039] The communication unit 240 has an interface capable of wired or wireless communication with the server device 100, and transmits and receives various information. Specifically, the communication unit 240 receives image information and audio information constituting the virtual space from the server device 100, and outputs the information to the control unit 230. The communication unit 240 also acquires information input by the user from the control unit 230, and transmits the information to the server device 100.

[0040] Next, a method of evacuation training using the evacuation simulation system configured as above will be described by giving a specific example with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

[0041] When the evacuation simulation system is started and the user operating the communication terminal device 200 starts an evacuation drill, the spatial modeling unit 130 executes spatial modeling in response to an instruction from the operation control unit 120 of the server device 100 (step S101). Specifically, the spatial modeling unit 130 reads spatial data of the location where the evacuation drill will be carried out from the data storage unit 110, and constructs a virtual space by spatial modeling. The location where the evacuation drill will be carried out may be a location selected by the user, and in this case, the location selected by the user is input to the user input unit 210 of the communication terminal device 200.

[0042] When spatial modeling is executed, user input unit 210 of communication terminal device 200 accepts input of the number of users who will experience the evacuation drill (step S102), and operation control unit 120 of server device 100 sets the number of users (step S103). Then, user input unit 210 of communication terminal device 200 accepts selection of an avatar by each user (step S104), and avatar control unit 140 of server device 100 sets an avatar for each user (step S105).

[0043] When the number of users who will experience the training and the selection of the avatars are accepted, the output unit 220 of the communication terminal device 200 displays, for example, a screen shown in FIG. 4. According to the screen shown in FIG. 4, the user inputs the number of users who will experience the evacuation drill in the virtual space and selects the avatar of each user. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the user can select the attributes of the avatar, and can select the avatar of a healthy person, an avatar of a person with difficulty in evacuating, or an avatar of a rescuer. In addition, it is also possible to select to create a new avatar other than these avatars. The avatar of the healthy person is set to be able to move freely in the virtual space, and the avatar of the person with difficulty in evacuating is set to be able to move under restrictions in the virtual space, such as not being able to go over stairs or steps. In addition, the avatar of the rescuer is set to be able to guide the avatars of other users and evacuees in the virtual space.

[0044] Once the setting of the number of users and their avatars has been completed, the user input unit 210 of the communication terminal device 200 accepts input of settings regarding evacuees other than the user (step S106), and the evacuation simulation unit 170 of the server device 100 sets the number and actions of evacuees other than the avatar operated by the user (step S107).

[0045] When the settings related to evacuees are accepted, the output unit 220 of the communication terminal device 200 displays, for example, a screen as shown in Fig. 5. According to the screen shown in Fig. 5, the user inputs the number of evacuees, their attributes, and their movement speed. In the example shown in Fig. 5, there are four types of evacuee attributes: adult, elderly, child, and wheelchair, and it is possible to set the proportion of the number of evacuees and the movement speed for each attribute. It is also possible to select to create new evacuees with attributes other than these four types.

[0046] Once the settings related to the evacuees are completed, the user input unit 210 of the communication terminal device 200 accepts input of settings related to the guidance instructions to be set in the virtual space (step S108), and the guidance instruction control unit 150 of the server device 100 sets the location where the guidance instructions will be set, the display content, etc. (step S109).

[0047] When the settings related to the guidance instructions are accepted, the output unit 220 of the communication terminal device 200 displays, for example, a screen as shown in Fig. 6. According to the screen shown in Fig. 6, the user inputs the position at which the guidance instructions are to be placed in the virtual space, the timing at which the guidance instructions are to be displayed, the shape of the monitor that displays the guidance instructions, and the display contents to be displayed as the guidance instructions. In the example shown in Fig. 6, it is possible to specify the installation positions of the ceiling monitor and wall monitor that display the guidance instructions on the floor plan of the virtual space.

[0048] Once the settings regarding the guidance instructions are completed, the user input unit 210 of the communication terminal device 200 accepts input of the type of disaster that will occur in the virtual space (step S110), and the disaster simulation unit 160 of the server device 100 sets the disaster to be generated in the virtual space (step S111).

[0049] When the setting of the disaster type is accepted, the output unit 220 of the communication terminal device 200 displays, for example, a screen shown in Fig. 7. According to the screen shown in Fig. 7, the user selects the type of disaster to be generated in the virtual space. In the example shown in Fig. 7, it is possible to select earthquake, tsunami, or fire as the disaster type. It is also possible to select a new disaster other than these types.

[0050] When the setting for the evacuation drill in the virtual space is completed in the above manner, the evacuation drill is started. That is, the disaster simulation unit 160 starts a simulation of the set type of disaster (step S112), and graphics and sounds of the disaster are synthesized in the virtual space. Similarly, the evacuation simulation unit 170 starts a simulation of the set evacuees (step S113), and graphics and sounds of the evacuees are synthesized in the virtual space. Furthermore, the guidance instruction control unit 150 controls the display of guidance instructions set in the virtual space (step S114).

[0051] The image information and audio information generated by these simulations and controls are transmitted from the operation control unit 120 to the communication terminal device 200 via the communication unit 180 (step S115). Then, the image information and audio information are output by the output unit 220 of the communication terminal device 200, and the user experiences a virtual space in which a disaster has occurred and evacuees are taking shelter.

[0052] The user controls his / her own avatar by inputting an operation to the user input unit 210, and moves within the virtual space and guides other evacuees. That is, the input information accepted by the user input unit 210 is transmitted from the control unit 230 to the server device 100 via the communication unit 240 (step S115), and the operation control unit 120 and the avatar control unit 140 of the server device 100 operate the avatar within the virtual space according to the user's input information. Surrounding image information and audio information that change according to the operation of the avatar are transmitted in real time from the communication unit 180 to the communication terminal device 200 (step S115), and output by the output unit 220.

[0053] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of image information displayed by the output unit 220. As shown in Fig. 8, other evacuees 301 different from the avatar operated by the user exist in the virtual space. These evacuees 301 behave according to a simulation by the evacuation simulator 170, and the user can experience a realistic evacuation drill in a situation where a large number of evacuees 301 are evacuating.

[0054] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing another example of image information displayed by the output unit 220. As shown in Fig. 9, guiding instructions 302 according to settings made by the user are displayed in the virtual space. The user can check through evacuation drills whether the guiding instructions 302 that he or she has set are appropriate for evacuation.

[0055] The evacuation drill in the virtual space ends, for example, when all users reach the emergency exit. When the evacuation drill ends, the operation control unit 120 of the server device 100 outputs log data indicating the movement trajectory of each user during the evacuation drill (step S116), and the log data is displayed by the output unit 220 of the communication terminal device 200 operated by each user. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the log data displayed by the output unit 220. As shown in FIG. 10, the log data indicates the movement trajectory of the user during the evacuation drill, as well as the time required for evacuation and the movement speed during evacuation. The user can evaluate the evacuation behavior by referring to the log data.

[0056] As described above, according to this embodiment, images and sounds obtained by executing a simulation of a disaster and evacuees are synthesized into a virtual space constructed from spatial data, and the synthesized image information and sound information are output to the user. This allows the user to experience an evacuation drill in a situation where there are many other evacuees. In other words, a realistic evacuation drill can be realized in the virtual space. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100 Server device 110 Data storage unit 120 Motion control section 130 Spatial Modeling Department 140 Avatar Control Unit 150 Guidance instruction control unit 160 Disaster Simulation Department 170 Evacuation Simulation Section 180, 240 Communications Department 200 Communication terminal equipment 210 User input section 220 Output section 230 Control Unit

Claims

1. An evacuation simulation system having a server device and a communication device that communicates with the server device, The server device includes: a modeling unit that constructs a virtual space by spatial modeling using spatial data; an evacuation simulation unit that simulates the behavior of evacuees evacuating based on the evacuee data and synthesizes images and sounds of the evacuees in the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit; a transmission unit that transmits image information and audio information of the virtual space in which the image and audio of the evacuees are synthesized by the evacuation simulation unit to the communication device, The communication device includes: a receiving unit for receiving image information and audio information of the virtual space transmitted from the server device; an output unit that outputs the image information and the audio information received by the receiving unit; Evacuation simulation system.

2. The server device includes: The system further includes a disaster simulation unit that simulates a disaster based on disaster data and synthesizes images and sounds of the disaster in the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit. The evacuation simulation system according to claim 1 .

3. The server device includes: The virtual space created by the modeling unit is provided with a guidance instruction control unit that controls whether guidance instructions are displayed or not. The evacuation simulation system according to claim 1 .

4. The server device includes: The virtual space created by the modeling unit is controlled by an avatar control unit that controls an avatar that moves in response to an operation by a user. The evacuation simulation system according to claim 1 .

5. The avatar control unit is The attributes of an avatar corresponding to the user are set according to the selection made by the user, and the behavior of the avatar is restricted according to the attributes. The evacuation simulation system according to claim 4.

6. The server device includes: The control unit further includes a control unit that outputs a movement log of the avatar in the virtual space. The evacuation simulation system according to claim 4.

7. a modeling unit that constructs a virtual space by spatial modeling using spatial data; an evacuation simulation unit that simulates the behavior of evacuees evacuating based on the evacuee data and synthesizes images and sounds of the evacuees in the virtual space constructed by the modeling unit; a transmission unit that transmits image information and audio information of the virtual space in which the image and audio of the evacuees are synthesized by the evacuation simulation unit; An information processing device having the above configuration.

Images