3D Building Model Generation Using Parameterized Templates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle navigation systems face limitations in generating three-dimensional graphical representations of buildings due to high costs, manual effort, memory requirements, and inconsistency in representation, mainly restricting 3D models to prominent landmarks in urban areas.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to generate 3D graphical representations of buildings using parameterized architectural features and prefabricated building blocks, reducing manual effort and memory requirements by using template data for building blocks, which can be combined to create standardized and harmonized representations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If 3D models are generated using basic geometrical shapes and Boolean operations (CSG models), then the graphical representation can be created, but the manual effort and time required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of 3D model generationVSAvoidtime for individual model creation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-generates and stores building block templates with various architectural features (windows, doors, roofs, facades) before actual 3D model creation is needed. These templates are saved in a database and can be rapidly assembled later using appearance control data, eliminating the need for individual designers to create each model from basic geometrical shapes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides buildings into standardized building blocks (facade, roof, window, door, etc.) that can be independently generated and stored as templates. These segmented building blocks are then assembled using appearance control data to create complete 3D models, replacing the traditional approach of creating entire models individually from basic geometrical shapes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If detailed 3D models with many polygons are stored, then the graphical representation accuracy improves, but the memory requirements become difficult to meet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of building representationVSAvoidmemory storage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates simplified template copies of building blocks with key architectural features instead of storing complete detailed 3D models. These templates contain essential appearance information (window patterns, roof types, facade styles) that can be instantiated multiple times using appearance control data, reducing memory requirements while maintaining representation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses appearance control data with parameters (such as window density, roof pitch, facade material) to generate varied 3D models from standardized templates. By changing these parameters rather than storing multiple complete models, the system achieves diverse accurate representations with minimal memory usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If a large number of basic geometrical shapes are simultaneously depicted, then the detail level of models increases, but the computational resources are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetail level of 3D modelsVSAvoidcomputational power required

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments buildings into standardized building blocks that are pre-calculated and stored as templates. During runtime, only appearance control data needs to be processed to assemble these blocks, dramatically reducing the computational power required compared to calculating detailed 3D models from basic geometrical shapes in real-time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If individual 3D models are created by designers for each building, then the representation accuracy improves, but the cost and time for verification and assembly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of building representationVSAvoidverification and assembly efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables automatic generation of 3D models from appearance control data and building block templates without requiring individual designer intervention for each model. The system self-assembles models by retrieving appropriate templates and applying appearance parameters, eliminating costly and time-consuming manual verification and assembly processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9224244B2Parameterized graphical representation of buildings

Publication Date: 2015.12.29 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to generating a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of a building. The method comprises establishing appearance control data comprising information on parameterized architectural features of the building and on building blocks which are fragments indicative of the building, and retrieving template data from a database based on references in the appearance control data, wherein the template data relates to a prefabricated graphical representation of the building blocks. The method further comprises, for each building block, calculating a 3D graphical representation of the building block based on the respective template data and the appearance control data, and combining the 3D graphical representations of the building blocks based on the appearance control data to generate the 3D graphical representation of the building.