Crowd Flow Prediction Using Movement Graphs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to accurately predict and manage movement flows of people at large events or amusement parks, making it difficult to estimate waiting times and control crowds effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the spatial definition of locations, creation of movement graphs, assignment of usage probabilities and travel times, and dynamic determination of these factors using monitoring technologies like video, lidar, and near-field queries to forecast future crowd numbers and adjust accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If movement flows of people are to be predicted accurately, then monitoring technologies and data collection must be enhanced, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multi-functional monitoring technologies that can detect multiple types of data (location, queue length, waiting time) using the same hardware infrastructure. Mobile devices serve both as communication tools and as tracking instruments, while monitoring systems simultaneously capture spatial position and queue status, reducing the need for separate specialized devices for each measurement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes data that users already generate through their own devices and behaviors. Mobile devices automatically provide location data through GPS and network triangulation without requiring additional sensors. Queue monitoring leverages the natural presence of users in the monitored area, converting passive user behavior into active data collection for prediction accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of movement flows is implemented, then crowd management effectiveness improves, but computational resources and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrowd management effectivenessVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates prediction models and movement patterns based on historical data and current conditions, preparing forecast information before it is actually needed for decision-making. By continuously updating prediction models in advance, the system reduces the computational burden during real-time crowd management events, as the heavy lifting of pattern recognition and forecast generation has already been performed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple monitoring technologies are deployed to track user movement, then data accuracy improves, but user privacy concerns and data security requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement tracking accuracyVSAvoidprivacy concerns
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential information needed for crowd management from the data collected by monitoring technologies. Instead of tracking and storing complete user profiles or detailed movement histories, the system extracts aggregate location data, queue lengths, and waiting times that are sufficient for prediction purposes while minimizing personally identifiable information retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3789943A1Method and computer program product for identifying flows of individuals
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 INNOGY SE
  • EP3789943A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3789943A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3789943A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods for determining the movement of persons comprising defining at least three spatially separated locations for the persons, determining movement graphs of the persons' movements between any two of the locations, recording the number of persons at each location, and predicting the number of persons at each location after a certain time using the movement graphs.