Building Movement Risk Management System
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Solution Overview
Problem
During epidemics, individuals face challenges in moving within buildings without risking exposure to infectious diseases, particularly when using elevators or escalators that can bring them into close proximity with others, posing a risk of infection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine an individual's risk contribution based on characteristics, such as contact tracing data, to recommend routes within a building that minimize exposure risk, prioritizing elevator use over escalators or stairs if the individual is likely infected, and automatically scheduling elevator calls or sanitizing routes to reduce infection risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individuals use elevators or escalators to move between levels in a building, then travel convenience is improved, but the risk of exposure to infectious diseases increases due to close proximity with others
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts route recommendations based on real-time risk assessments of different transportation options. Elevators, escalators, and stairs are evaluated continuously, and the recommended route changes dynamically as risk conditions change, allowing individuals to maintain convenient travel while adapting to varying infection risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary risk assessment layer between the individual and the physical transportation options. This intermediary evaluates the infection risk of each route and mediates the selection process, recommending the optimal balance between convenience and safety without requiring direct individual assessment of all factors.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If individuals avoid using elevators and escalators during epidemics, then infection risk is reduced, but travel time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic route optimization that adjusts in real-time based on risk conditions. When elevators or escalators are safe, the system recommends them to minimize travel time. When they become high-risk, the system dynamically switches to alternative routes, automatically balancing infection risk reduction with travel efficiency without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops that continuously monitor risk conditions and adjust route recommendations accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that individuals receive up-to-date guidance on the safest routes, allowing them to minimize both infection risk and travel time by following dynamically optimized recommendations rather than static avoidance strategies.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system recommends routes based on individual risk contribution, then infection spread is minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality assessment by evaluating risk contributions at specific locations and routes rather than treating the entire building uniformly. Each route segment is assessed based on local conditions such as occupancy, ventilation, and proximity to infected individuals, allowing for targeted route recommendations that minimize infection spread without requiring complex global optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as risk thresholds, route priorities, and safety criteria based on individual risk contributions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically according to the individual's assessed risk level and the current building conditions, the system achieves effective infection control through parameter optimization rather than complex structural changes.
4Reliability
If the system automatically schedules elevator calls and sanitization, then safety is improved, but automation requirements and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-scheduling elevator calls and sanitization tasks before individuals need to use the routes. When a route is identified as safe, the system proactively schedules elevator availability and arranges sanitization in advance, ensuring that safety measures are already in place before the individual arrives, thereby reducing the need for complex real-time automation during actual use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where automated scheduling and coordination occur without requiring manual intervention for each individual. The system autonomously manages elevator dispatch, route sanitization scheduling, and risk assessment updates, allowing the infrastructure to serve itself and reducing the operational burden on human staff while maintaining high safety standards.
Data Source
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AI summary
An illustrative example embodiment of a method of managing risk associated with at least one individual (42) moving within a building (22) includes: determining a beginning location and a destination of an individual, wherein the beginning location and the destination are on different levels of the building; determining a risk contribution of the individual based on an indication of at least one characteristic of the individual; determining a plurality of routes between the beginning location and the destination; determining a risk factor of each of the plurality of routes based on the risk contribution of the individual and other risk information regarding the respective routes; and determining a recommended route from among the plurality of routes for the individual to arrive at the destination, wherein the risk factor of the recommended route is lower than the risk factor of at least one other one of the plurality of routes.