DESIGN SUPPORT DEVICE, DESIGN SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND DESIGN SUPPORT METHOD

Abstract

To provide a technology which more properly supports the designing of installation positions in which toilets are installed.SOLUTION: A designing support device includes a toilet room information obtaining unit which obtains information regarding a toilet room in which multiple toilets are installed, an equipment quantity calculation unit which calculates the quantity of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room according to the information obtained by the toilet room information obtaining unit, a layout candidate generation unit which generates candidate layouts in which the quantity, which has been calculated by the equipment quantity calculation unit, of toilets is arranged in the toilet room, and a presentation unit which presents the candidate layouts generated by the layout candidate generation unit. The layout candidate generation unit arranges the quantity, which has been calculated by the equipment quantity calculation unit, of toilets in the toilet room using a graphic embedding algorithm, and generates candidate layouts using an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using evaluation criteria for evaluating the quality of a layout of toilets is used as fitness.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a design support device, a design support program, and a design support method for supporting the design of an installation location where a toilet will be installed. [Background technology]

[0002] Toilets equipped with not only toilet bowls but also various devices, equipment, devices, and other fixtures for users who require special consideration, such as handrails, diaper changing tables, ostomate-friendly toilets, etc., are becoming more common. In particular, in facilities where a large number of specific or unspecified users are expected, consideration must be given to users with various attributes, so multi-function toilets equipped with many fixtures are often provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] When a client considers the layout of the toilet and fixtures in a multi-function restroom, layout plans published in catalogs for toilets and fixtures, as well as layout candidates designed according to the characteristics of each facility, are presented as reference. In addition, full-scale or reduced-scale mockups are created as necessary, and their operation in the installation location is verified. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-71207 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the number of layout candidates published in the catalog and individually designed layout candidates is limited. Furthermore, the number of layout candidates for which a mockup can be created and their operation verified is even more limited. In order to further improve the convenience of toilet users and installers, a technology is required that generates layouts of toilets and installations that take into consideration the necessary details.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such problems, and has as its purpose to provide a technology that more appropriately supports the design of the installation location where a toilet will be installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a design support device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a toilet information acquisition unit that acquires information about a toilet room in which a plurality of toilets are to be installed, a fixture number calculation unit that calculates the number of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room based on the information acquired by the toilet information acquisition unit, a layout candidate generation unit that generates layout candidates in the toilet room for the number of toilets calculated by the fixture number calculation unit, and a presentation unit that presents the layout candidates generated by the layout candidate generation unit. The layout candidate generation unit arranges the number of toilets calculated by the fixture number calculation unit in the toilet room using a graphic embedding algorithm, and generates layout candidates using an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the toilet layout is used as fitness.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a design support method, which causes a computer to execute the steps of acquiring information about a toilet room in which a plurality of toilets are to be installed, calculating the number of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room based on the acquired information, generating candidates for arrangement of the calculated number of toilets in the toilet room, and presenting the generated candidates for arrangement, wherein the step of generating candidates for arrangement includes the steps of arranging the calculated number of toilets in the toilet room by a graphic embedding algorithm, and generating the candidates for arrangement by an evolutionary algorithm with an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the toilet arrangement as a fitness.

[0009] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc. are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1(a) and (b) are diagrams showing an example of an installation location of a toilet designed by a design support device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a design support method according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a graph for calculating the appropriate number of toilets. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a graph for calculating the appropriate number of toilets. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. [Figure 8] 11 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the design support device arranges a group of toilets and installed objects in a toilet room. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a design support apparatus according to an embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] As an embodiment of the present disclosure, a technology for automatically generating optimal candidates for the layout of a toilet and installed objects at a toilet installation location will be described. A design support device according to the embodiment generates candidates for layout that meet the circumstances of the installation location, the installer's requests, and considerations required by expected users, etc., from among options for the layout of the toilet and installed objects at the installation location. Since there can be a huge number of options for the layout of the toilet and installed objects at the installation location, the design support device of this embodiment finds an approximate solution of the layout candidates based on an evaluation weighted by considerations for the toilet user, etc. One of the algorithms suitable for searching for such an approximate solution is an evolutionary algorithm. The design support device of this embodiment generates candidates for layout using an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the goodness or badness of the layout of the toilet and installed objects is set as fitness. The evaluation criterion includes a criterion that represents the convenience when an expected user uses the toilet or installed object. This allows the layout to evolve while preferentially saving candidates for layout that are highly convenient for users, thereby efficiently searching for an approximate solution of the optimal layout candidate.

[0012] 1(a) and 1(b) show examples of toilet installation locations designed by the design support device according to the embodiment. FIG. 1(a) shows an example of a multi-function toilet. In addition to a toilet 12, the multi-function toilet 10 is equipped with installation items such as a handrail 13, a washbasin 14, a toilet paper holder 15, a baby keep 16, a universal seat 17, and an ostomate-friendly toilet 18. The toilet 12 is preferably installed along a wall away from the door 11 to improve the maneuverability of a wheelchair user when turning the wheelchair. The baby keep for seating an infant is preferably installed in front of the toilet 12 so that a user who is using the toilet in the toilet 12 can keep an eye on the infant. In the multi-function toilet 10, a space equal to or larger than the turning circle 19 of a general wheelchair is preferably secured so that a wheelchair user can easily turn the wheelchair while remaining in the wheelchair. Thus, when arranging the toilet and installed items in the multi-function toilet 10, various considerations must be given to the attributes of the expected users.

[0013] Fig. 1(b) shows an example of a toilet room including a multi-function toilet. In addition to a normal private room equipped with only a toilet bowl and handrails, the toilet room 30 is provided with a private room equipped with a baby seat, a private room equipped with a diaper changing station, etc. In addition to the considerations generally required for the toilet room 30, such as making it difficult for passersby to see inside the toilet room 30 and making it easy for people going from the entrance to the back of the toilet room 30 and people going from the back to the entrance to move back and forth within the toilet room 30, consideration is also required to make the toilet room easy to use for people in wheelchairs, people with infants, people bringing accessories such as strollers, ostomates, etc.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a design support method according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, a method for supporting the design of a toilet room including the multi-function toilet shown in Fig. 1(b) will be mainly described.

[0015] In S10, the design support device acquires information related to the toilet room 30. In S12, the design support device acquires the installer's request regarding the service level of the toilet room 30.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. On the display screen shown in FIG. 3, the design support device acquires the shape of the toilet room 30, the width size, the depth size, the relative positions of the men's and women's toilets, the type of entrance door, the expected number of users, and the service level desired by the installer. The service level is a three-stage classification of the user's awareness and evaluation of waiting time. Level 1 corresponds to a case where a generous number of toilets are installed to make the toilet as short as possible, Level 2 corresponds to a case where a standard number of toilets are installed to make the toilet moderate, and corresponds to a case where the minimum number of toilets are installed to make the toilet as spacious as possible.

[0017] In S14, the design support device calculates the number of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room based on the acquired information. The design support device calculates the appropriate number of toilets for each installation location of the toilet room based on the number of assumed users for that location according to the fixture number calculation logic proposed by the Air Conditioning and Sanitary Engineering Society. When the installation location of the toilet room is a building with a limited occupancy such as a dormitory or a hospital ward, the design support device uses the maximum occupancy of the building as the number of assumed users. When the installation location of the toilet room is a building used by unspecified people such as an office, a department store, or a supermarket, the design support device predicts the number of assumed users with reference to the occupancy density per floor area, etc. For example, in the case of an office, the number of assumed users is predicted to be the occupancy density [persons / m 2 × working area × male-female ratio. In the case of a department store, the number of assumed users is predicted to be the occupancy density [persons / m 2 × working area × male-female ratio.

[0018] Figures 4 and 5 show graphs for calculating the appropriate number of toilets. Figure 4 shows a graph when a toilet room is installed in an office, and Figure 5 shows a graph when a toilet room is installed in a department store or a supermarket. The design support device calculates the appropriate number of toilets from the graph based on the number of assumed users and the service level. Note that the display such as "P(>a)<p" for the service level indicates that "the probability that the waiting time is more than a seconds is less than p".

[0019] In S16, the design support device acquires information on the fixtures installed in the toilet room 30. In S18, the design support device acquires information on considerations.

[0020] Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show examples of display screens presented by the design support device. Fig. 6 shows a display screen for acquiring the installation items and considerations for the men's restroom, and Fig. 7 shows a display screen for acquiring the installation items and considerations for the women's restroom. In the display screen shown in Fig. 6, the design support device acquires the toilet bowl, lining, handrail, presence or absence, number, and type of toilet paper holder to be installed in the men's restroom private room, the urinal, lining, handrail, partition, presence or absence, number, and type of toilet paper holder to be installed in the urinal corner, the washbasin, lining, mirror, presence or absence, number, and type of partition, the presence or absence, number, and type of hand dryer / paper holder, small item locker, and cleaning tool storage, as well as the considerations. In the display screen shown in Figure 7, the design support device acquires the following information to be installed in the private rooms of the women's restroom: toilet bowl, lining, handrail, presence or absence, number and type of toilet paper holder, presence or absence, number and type of washbasin, lining, mirror, presence or absence, number and type of partition to be installed in the washbasin corner, presence or absence, number and type of mirror to be installed in the powder corner / styling corner, presence or absence, number and type of hand dryer / paper holder, small item locker, cleaning tool storage, and items to be considered.

[0021] In S20, the design support device groups toilets and fixtures of the same type to be installed in the toilet room 30, and places each group of toilets and fixtures in the toilet room 30 using a graphic embedding algorithm, thereby generating an initial population for the evolutionary algorithm.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the design support device arranges a group of toilets and installed objects in a toilet room. The design support device arranges the group of toilets and installed objects in the toilet room in the order of toilet, urinal, and installed object by using a modified BL (Bottom Left) method. The first row shows an example of toilet arrangement. The toilet is preferentially arranged on the back side as viewed from the entrance. The second row shows an example of urinal arrangement. The urinal is preferentially arranged on the back side as viewed from the entrance on the opposite side of the toilet. The third row shows an example of washbasin arrangement. The washbasin is preferentially arranged on the front side as viewed from the entrance. The design support device may set constraints so that inappropriate arrangement candidates are not generated based on arrangement rules according to the types of toilets and installed objects, or may eliminate inappropriate arrangement candidates.

[0023] In S22, the design support device generates layout candidates using an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using evaluation criteria for evaluating the suitability of the toilet layout is used as fitness. The evaluation criteria include criteria that represent the convenience of the toilet or installed object when an expected user uses it. The design support device prioritizes individuals with high evaluation values ​​for a prioritized criterion among multiple criteria and preserves them in the next generation. Details of the evolutionary algorithm will be described later.

[0024] In S24, the design support device generates an evaluation result for the generated placement candidates. The design support device generates an evaluation score calculated from the evaluation value of the evolutionary algorithm and an explanatory text for the placement candidate as the evaluation result. The explanatory text may be automatically generated according to the type of placement object included in the placement candidate. For example, the sentence "Assistance is available" may be automatically generated for a candidate having a universal seat 17 installed, "Consideration is given to ostomates" for a candidate having an ostomate-compatible toilet 18 installed, and "Consideration is given to wheelchair users" for a candidate having a hook installed and a turning circle radius equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and the explanatory text may be generated by combining these sentences.

[0025] In S26, the computer-aided design system presents the generated placement candidates and the evaluation results.

[0026] Fig. 9 shows an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. The display screen shown in Fig. 9 displays a plurality of generated placement candidates and the evaluation results of each candidate.

[0027] In S28, the computer-aided design system displays a three-dimensional simulation of the generated layout candidate. The computer-aided design system generates and displays an image of the toilet room 30 by rendering three-dimensional shape data of the generated layout candidate.

[0028] FIG. 10 shows an example of a display screen presented by the design support device. On the display screen shown in FIG. 10, an image of a candidate arrangement is displayed. On this display screen, the design support device changes the viewpoint position within the installation location in response to an instruction or automatically and displays an image. The design support device displays an image in which a movable installation such as a universal seat is moved in response to an instruction. The design support device displays a moving image as seen from the expected user from the time the user enters the toilet room until the time the user uses the toilet or the installation and leaves the room, or an image showing the user's movement line. The design support device displays an image showing the presence or absence or the degree of interference between the expected user or associated object and the toilet or the installation.

[0029] 11 shows a configuration of a design support device 50 according to an embodiment. The design support device 50 includes a communication device 51, a display device 52, an input device 53, a storage device 80, and a control device 60. The design support device 50 may be a server device, a device such as a personal computer, or a portable terminal such as a mobile phone terminal, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

[0030] The communication device 51 controls communication with other devices. The communication device 51 may perform communication by any wired or wireless communication method. The display device 52 displays a screen generated by the control device 60. The display device 52 may be a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, or the like. The input device 53 transmits instructions input by a user of the design support device 50 to the control device 60. The input device 53 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch pad, or the like. The display device 52 and the input device 53 may be implemented as a touch panel.

[0031] The storage device 80 stores programs, data, etc. used by the control device 60. The storage device 80 may be a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, etc. The storage device 80 stores an installation object information database 81, an arrangement rule storage unit 82, and a three-dimensional shape data storage unit 83.

[0032] The installation object information database 81 stores information on installation objects that can be installed in the toilet room. The installation object information database 81 stores information on the type, name, model number, color, dimensions, weight, price, construction conditions, placement constraints, necessity of installation according to the attributes of the expected user, and items to be considered. The installation conditions include conditions such as the space required to construct the installation object. The placement constraints include constraints such as the clearance required in front, behind, above, below, left, and right of the installation object, and the positional relationship with other installation objects. The items to be considered include the considerations required when the expected user uses the toilet room.

[0033] The arrangement rule storage unit 82 stores a plurality of arrangement rules for arranging toilets and objects in a toilet room according to the shape and size of the toilet room and the type and number of objects to be installed in the toilet room. The arrangement rules include construction conditions for the objects, arrangement constraints, considerations, etc. The arrangement rules may include rules that must be satisfied and rules that do not have to be satisfied but are given priority. Priorities may be assigned to the plurality of rules, and arrangement candidates that satisfy rules with higher priorities may be generated preferentially.

[0034] The three-dimensional shape data storage unit 83 stores three-dimensional shape data of the space inside the toilet room and three-dimensional shape data of each of the installations that can be installed in the toilet room. If the installations can be opened, closed, extended, rotated, etc., the three-dimensional shape data storage unit 83 further stores three-dimensional shape data when the movable installations are operated. The three-dimensional shape data of the installations is used to simulate the user's movements and the movements of the movable installations in the generated placement candidates. The three-dimensional shape data storage unit 83 may store two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape data of a rectangular parallelepiped (bounding box) that envelops the installations for calculations when generating placement candidates for the installations. This can reduce the calculation load.

[0035] The control device 60 comprises an installation location information acquisition unit 61, an installation object information acquisition unit 62, an appliance number calculation unit 63, a placement candidate generation unit 64, a placement candidate presentation unit 65, an image generation unit 66, an image display unit 67, a placement editing unit 68, and a data output unit 69. These components are realized in hardware by the CPU, memory, and other LSIs of any computer, and in software by programs loaded into memory, but here the functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these are depicted. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms, such as hardware only or a combination of hardware and software.

[0036] The installation location information acquisition unit 61 acquires information about the installation location where the toilet will be installed. The installation location information acquisition unit 61 acquires information such as the shape and dimensions of the installation location, the position, shape and dimensions of the door, and the installer's requests regarding the service level of the toilet room 30. The installation location information acquisition unit 61 may acquire design data such as 2D CAD data or 3D CAD data of the installation location.

[0037] The installation information acquisition unit 62 acquires information about the installations that are installed together with the toilet at the installation location. The installation information acquisition unit 62 acquires information about the type, number, shape, size, weight, etc. of the installations that are installed at the installation location.

[0038] The fixture number calculation unit 63 calculates the number of toilets that are recommended to be installed in the toilet room, based on the information acquired by the installation location information acquisition unit 61.

[0039] The placement candidate generating unit 64 generates placement candidates for the number of toilets and installed objects calculated by the fixture number calculating unit 63, based on the information acquired by the installation location information acquiring unit 61 and the information acquired by the installed object information acquiring unit 62. The placement candidate generating unit 64 generates placement candidates by an evolutionary algorithm in which the fitness is determined by an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the placement of the toilets and installed objects.

[0040] As the evolutionary algorithm, any known algorithm such as a genetic algorithm, genetic programming, evolutionary programming, or evolution strategy may be used. An example of generating placement candidates using a genetic algorithm will be described below. Details of known techniques related to genetic algorithms will be omitted as appropriate.

[0041] The placement candidate generating unit 64 first groups toilets and objects of the same type that are to be installed in the toilet room 30, and places each group of toilets and objects in the toilet room 30 using a graphic embedding algorithm, thereby generating an initial population for the evolutionary algorithm. The chromosome of each individual includes the type, shape, and position of the group, as well as the type, shape, and placement position of the toilets and objects in the group. The chromosome may include the center coordinate of the rotation circle of the wheelchair. Each gene of each individual is expressed by an integer from 0 to n. That is, the coordinate of the placement position is an integer multiple of the unit movement amount, and the center coordinate of the rotation circle is an integer multiple of the unit vector. This reduces the calculation load, and therefore makes it possible to accurately search for optimal placement candidates in a short time.

[0042] The placement candidate generating unit 64 generates a placement pattern for a group included in each individual based on the placement rule stored in the placement rule storing unit 82. The placement candidate generating unit 64 generates a placement pattern for placing each of the installations according to the type of the installations acquired by the installation object information acquiring unit 62, and generates a placement pattern for placing all the installations by combining the generated placement patterns. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may generate the placement pattern randomly, or may generate a placement pattern that matches the information on the installation location acquired by the installation location information acquiring unit 61 and the information on the installations acquired by the installation object information acquiring unit 62 with priority based on them. The placement candidate generating unit 64 sets the amount of movement of the placement position of each individual, the center coordinates of the rotation circle, and the positions of the wall on which the toilet bowl, the washbasin, the ostomate-friendly toilet, and the hand dryer are installed according to predetermined conditions or randomly.

[0043] The arrangement candidate generating unit 64 calculates an evaluation value as the degree of suitability of each individual, calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the arrangement of the toilet and the installed object. The evaluation criterion includes a consideration evaluation criterion that indicates the convenience of a user who requires special consideration when using the toilet or the installed object. A plurality of consideration evaluation criterion may be set according to the attributes of the user. For example, the consideration evaluation criterion that indicates the convenience of a user who uses a wheelchair may include criteria such as whether there is enough space to move from the door to the vicinity of the toilet while in the wheelchair, whether there is enough space to turn the wheelchair, whether there is enough space to move between the wheelchair and the toilet, whether there are handrails within reach when moving between the wheelchair and the toilet, and whether there is a washbasin that allows hands to be washed while in the wheelchair. In addition, the criteria that indicate the convenience of a user who has an infant may include criteria such as whether there is a baby keep for sitting an infant, whether the baby keep is within reach of the toilet, whether there is a diaper changing station, and whether there is enough space around the diaper changing station. In addition, the criteria representing the convenience for users with a stoma may include criteria such as whether there is an ostomate-friendly toilet and whether the ostomate-friendly toilet has a shower for washing. In addition, the criteria representing the convenience for users who bring in accessories such as a stroller or a carrier bag may include criteria such as whether there is enough space to place the accessories and whether a traffic line for bringing in the accessories is secured. The evaluation criteria may further include the presence or absence or the degree of interference between the toilet and the installed object, and the work efficiency when constructing, maintaining, or cleaning the toilet and the installed object. The placement candidate generating unit 64 calculates an evaluation value by weighting each of the multiple evaluation criteria, and sets it as the fitness of each individual. The weight of each of the multiple evaluation criteria may be set according to the service level. For example, when the service level is 1, a large number of toilets may be prioritized over the availability of free space. In addition, when the service level is 3, a large number of toilets may be prioritized over the availability of free space.

[0044] The placement candidate generating unit 64 mutates the individuals of the current generation with a predetermined probability and changes the placement pattern or placement position. The genes to be changed and the amount of change may be determined according to a predetermined rule or may be determined randomly. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may change the shape, size, position, etc. of the group, or may change the type, shape, number, placement position, etc. of the toilets and installation objects included in the group. When the information on the installation location is determined, the placement candidate generating unit 64 may change the type and number of the installation objects without changing the shape and size, etc. of the installation location. When the type and number of the installation objects are determined, the placement candidate generating unit 64 may change the shape and size, etc. of the installation location without changing the type and number, etc. of the installation objects. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may randomly select M pairs (parents) from the individuals of the current generation and generate 2M children with a set crossover probability.

[0045] The placement candidate generating unit 64 selects individuals with low fitness from the individuals of the current generation, and stores the remaining individuals in the next generation. The placement candidate generating unit 64 preferentially stores individuals of the current generation with high fitness in the next generation. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may store a predetermined number of individuals in descending order of fitness in the next generation. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may preferentially store individuals of the current generation with high evaluation values ​​for the consideration item evaluation criteria in the next generation. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may store a predetermined number of individuals in descending order of evaluation values ​​for each of a plurality of consideration item evaluation criteria in the next generation. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may select individuals to be stored in the next generation by any known method, such as roulette selection.

[0046] The placement candidate generating unit 64 repeats the above procedure until the evolution converges. For example, the placement candidate generating unit 64 may determine that the evolution converges when the number of generations exceeds a predetermined number, when the maximum fitness in the population becomes greater than a threshold, when the average fitness of the entire population becomes greater than a threshold, when a generation in which the increase rate of the fitness of the population is equal to or less than a threshold continues for a predetermined period of time, etc.

[0047] The placement candidate generating unit 64 sets a predetermined number of individuals of the final generation in descending order of evaluation value as placement candidates. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may set individuals with high evaluation values ​​for the consideration item evaluation criteria as placement candidates. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may set a predetermined number of individuals in descending order of evaluation value for each of a plurality of consideration item evaluation criteria as placement candidates.

[0048] The placement candidate generating unit 64 may receive a designation of a criterion to be prioritized among a plurality of consideration evaluation criteria. In this case, the placement candidate generating unit 64 may calculate an evaluation value by weighting the designated consideration evaluation criteria higher. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may prioritize individuals with high evaluation values ​​of the designated consideration evaluation criteria and store them in the next generation. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may set individuals with high evaluation values ​​of the designated consideration evaluation criteria among the individuals in the final generation as candidates for placement. The placement candidate generating unit 64 may automatically determine the consideration evaluation criteria to be prioritized according to the attributes of the expected users. For example, in the case of a toilet installed in a facility for the elderly, the consideration evaluation criteria for users in wheelchairs may be prioritized. In addition, in the case of a toilet installed near a toy store for infants in a commercial facility, the consideration evaluation criteria for users who bring accessories such as strollers or users accompanied by infants may be prioritized.

[0049] The arrangement candidate presentation unit 65 displays the arrangement candidates generated by the arrangement candidate generation unit 64 on the display device 52.

[0050] The image generation unit 66 generates three-dimensional shape data of the installation location where the toilet and installed objects are arranged in accordance with the arrangement candidates generated by the arrangement candidate generation unit 64, and generates an image of the installation location by rendering the generated three-dimensional shape data. The image generation unit 66 reads out three-dimensional shape data of the interior space of the installation location and three-dimensional shape data of the installed objects from the three-dimensional shape data storage unit 83, and generates three-dimensional shape data of the arrangement candidates. The image display unit 67 displays the image generated by the image generation unit 66 on the display device 52.

[0051] The image generating unit 66 can change the viewpoint position and the line of sight direction in the rendered image of the installation location. The image generating unit 66 sets the viewpoint position at the eye height of the expected user and generates an image of the installation location as seen by the user. The image generating unit 66 sets the viewpoint position at the typical eye height of, for example, an adult male, an adult female, a child, a person in a wheelchair, etc. The image generating unit 66 changes the viewpoint position within the installation location and generates an image, either automatically or in response to an instruction input to the input device 53. This makes it possible to verify the suitability of the arrangement by simulating the movement of a user when actually using the toilet room.

[0052] The image generating unit 66 generates a moving image or an image showing the movement line of the user as seen from the user from when the expected user enters the installation location to when the user uses the toilet or the installed object and leaves the location. The image generating unit 66 generates a movement line of the expected user moving from the door to the toilet or the installed object, a movement line from the toilet or the installed object to another installed object, and a movement line moving to the door to leave the location, and generates a moving image while moving the viewpoint position along the generated movement lines.

[0053] The image generating unit 66 generates an image showing the presence or absence, or the degree of interference between an expected user or ancillary object and a toilet or an installed object. The image generating unit 66 calculates the presence or absence, or the degree of interference, using the three-dimensional shape data of the toilet and the installed object stored in the three-dimensional shape data storage unit 83 and the three-dimensional shape data of the expected user or ancillary object. The image generating unit 66 may calculate the interference using the three-dimensional shape data of a boundary box, or may calculate the interference using detailed three-dimensional shape data. The image generating unit 66 moves the three-dimensional shape data of the user and the associated object along the movement line when the user uses the toilet room, and calculates the presence or absence, or the degree of interference with the toilet or an installed object.

[0054] The layout editing unit 68 edits the installation position of the toilet or the installed object on the image generated by the image generation unit 66. The layout editing unit 68 receives editing instructions for the installation position, type, size, etc. of the toilet or the installed object from the input device 53, and changes the installation position, type, size, etc. of the toilet or the installed object as instructed. This makes it possible to easily edit a more thoughtful layout based on the layout candidates generated by the layout candidate generation unit 64.

[0055] The data output unit 69 outputs data on the installation location where the toilet and installed items are installed. Based on the coordinates and three-dimensional shape data of the installed toilet and installed items, the data output unit 69 generates and outputs drawings such as floor plans and elevations of the installation location, two-dimensional CAD data, three-dimensional CAD data, BIM (Building Information Modeling) data, and parts lists. This allows the data on the toilet room where the toilet and installed items are automatically arranged to be used in the design, thereby improving the efficiency of toilet room design.

[0056] When the design support device 50 is provided as a server device accessible from a terminal device used by the designer, the placement candidate presentation unit 65 and the image display unit 67 may provide display images in a format that can be displayed by an application for viewing two-dimensional CAD data or three-dimensional CAD data, or may provide display images in a format that can be displayed by a web browser.

[0057] Although the present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments, the embodiments merely illustrate the principles and applications of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments can be modified in many ways and with different arrangements without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0058] The design support device of the embodiment can be applied not only to toilet rooms in facilities where a large number of specific or unspecified users are expected, but also to the design of toilets in ordinary homes, public toilets installed in parks, on the streets, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10 multi-function toilet, 11 door, 12 toilet bowl, 14 washbasin, 15 paper roll holder, 16 baby keep, 17 universal seat, 18 ostomate-friendly toilet, 19 turning circle, 30 toilet room, 50 design support device, 51 communication device, 52 display device, 53 input device, 60 control device, 61 installation location information acquisition unit, 62 installation object information acquisition unit, 63 fixture number calculation unit, 64 placement candidate generation unit, 65 placement candidate presentation unit, 66 image generation unit, 67 image display unit, 68 placement editing unit, 69 data output unit, 80 storage device, 81 installation object information database, 82 placement rule storage unit, 83 three-dimensional shape data storage unit.

Claims

1. a toilet room information acquisition unit that acquires information about a toilet room in which a plurality of toilets are installed; a fixture number calculation unit that calculates the number of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room based on the information acquired by the toilet room information acquisition unit; an arrangement candidate generation unit that generates arrangement candidates for the number of toilets calculated by the fixture number calculation unit in the toilet room; a presentation unit that presents the layout candidates generated by the layout candidate generation unit; Equipped with The arrangement candidate generation unit arranges the number of toilets calculated by the fixture number calculation unit in the toilet room using a graphic embedding algorithm, and generates arrangement candidates using an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the arrangement of the toilets is used as fitness. Design support equipment.

2. The toilet information acquisition unit further acquires information regarding an installation installed in the toilet, The arrangement candidate generating unit generates arrangement candidates for the toilet bowl and the installation object in the toilet room. The design support device according to claim 1 .

3. The placement candidate generating unit groups toilets or objects of the same type and places each group of toilets or objects in the toilet room, thereby generating an initial population for the evolutionary algorithm. The design support device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The arrangement candidate generating unit is capable of changing the number, shape, size, or positional relationship of toilets or installed objects within a group, or the shape, size, or position of the group, in an evolutionary algorithm. The design support device according to claim 3.

5. The evaluation criteria include criteria that indicate the convenience of the assumed user when using the toilet or the installed object.

5. The design support device according to claim 1.

6. The placement candidate generating unit prioritizes preserving in the next generation individuals having high evaluation values ​​of a prioritized criterion among a plurality of criteria. The design support device according to claim 5.

7. The presentation unit presents an explanation regarding the candidate arrangement to be presented.

7. The design support device according to claim 1.

8. Computer, a toilet room information acquisition unit that acquires information about a toilet room in which a plurality of toilets are installed; a fixture number calculation unit that calculates the number of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room based on the information acquired by the toilet room information acquisition unit; an arrangement candidate generation unit that generates arrangement candidates for the number of toilets calculated by the fixture number calculation unit in the toilet room; a presentation unit that presents the layout candidates generated by the layout candidate generation unit; Function as a The arrangement candidate generation unit arranges the number of toilets calculated by the fixture number calculation unit in the toilet room using a graphic embedding algorithm, and generates arrangement candidates using an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the arrangement of the toilets is used as fitness. Design support program.

9. On the computer, obtaining information regarding a toilet room in which a plurality of toilet bowls are to be installed; calculating a number of toilets recommended to be installed in the toilet room based on the acquired information; generating candidates for placement of the calculated number of toilets in the toilet room; presenting the generated placement candidates; Run the command, The step of generating candidate placements includes: placing the calculated number of toilets in the toilet room using a graphics embedding algorithm; generating layout candidates by an evolutionary algorithm in which an evaluation value calculated using an evaluation criterion for evaluating the suitability of the layout of the toilet bowl is used as fitness; A design support method including:

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