BIM-Based Navigation Graph Generation for Interior Spaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The creation of navigation graphs for interior spaces using optical scanners is time-consuming and expensive.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that generate navigation graphs from Building Information Models (BIM) by selecting BIM elements with uniform spatial distribution and predefined variance, extracting absolute position information, assigning them to graph nodes, and generating an undirected navigation graph, eliminating the need for costly scans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical scanners are used to capture points within an interior space to generate a navigation graph, then the navigation graph can be created with accurate spatial information, but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial information accuracyVSAvoidgraph creation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using BIM models that are created during the building design and construction phase. These models already contain accurate spatial information, geometric data, and semantic properties of building elements. By leveraging this pre-existing data, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site scanning while maintaining high measurement precision for navigation graph generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the BIM model as a digital copy or representation of the physical interior space. Instead of scanning the actual space, the system extracts navigation-relevant information from the BIM model copy, which already contains precise spatial relationships, element positions, and architectural features. This copying approach significantly reduces time and cost while preserving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If optical scanners are used to capture points within an interior space to generate a navigation graph, then the navigation graph can be created with accurate spatial information, but the process becomes expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial information accuracyVSAvoidcreation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using BIM models that are created during the building design and construction phase. These models already contain accurate spatial information, geometric data, and semantic properties of building elements. By leveraging this pre-existing data, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site scanning while maintaining high measurement precision for navigation graph generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the BIM model as a digital copy or representation of the physical interior space. Instead of scanning the actual space, the system extracts navigation-relevant information from the BIM model copy, which already contains precise spatial relationships, element positions, and architectural features. This copying approach significantly reduces time and cost while preserving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If BIM elements are selected with uniform spatial distribution and optimization procedures, then the navigation graph quality is improved, but the selection process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation graph qualityVSAvoidselection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by implementing automated optimization procedures that autonomously select BIM elements based on predefined criteria such as uniform spatial distribution, element type variance, and navigation relevance. The system automatically evaluates and ranks BIM elements, selecting those that maximize navigation graph quality without requiring manual intervention or complex configuration, thus balancing quality improvement with process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4641138A1Generation of a navigation graph for navigation in an interior
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP4641138A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4641138A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4641138A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a device and a computer-implemented method for generating a navigation graph for navigation in an interior space. The device comprises: • a first interface configured to read in a BIM model of the interior space, • a selection module configured to select BIM elements from the BIM model, wherein the selected BIM elements have a sufficiently uniform spatial distribution and/or at least a predefined variance in element types, • an extraction module configured to extract absolute position information for the selected BIM elements from the BIM model, • an assignment module configured to assign each selected BIM element to a graph node, • a generator configured to generate an undirected navigation graph from the graph nodes.wherein a relative position between two graph nodes is derived from the respective absolute position information of the selected BIM elements, and • an output module configured to provide the navigation graph for interior navigation.