Dynamic Fill Boundary Interaction for Accurate Document Area Takeoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software tools for material take-off analysis in construction require precise user intervention to define borders and perimeters in design documents, often leading to incorrect computerized determinations and user frustration, especially in complex architectural plans.
Innovation Solution
A method of visually interacting with electronically stored documents, such as PDFs, that dynamically displays a fill area by expanding vertices from a region of interest, bounded by an open area boundary, allowing users to iteratively adjust and calculate quantities, with features like a fill perimeter and work image generation to assist in accurately defining areas and boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users manually define borders and perimeters in design documents, then measurement precision can be improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the time-consuming and complex user intervention required
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies boundaries and perimeters in design documents using image processing and analysis algorithms, eliminating the need for manual user definition. The computerized system serves itself by autonomously detecting walls, rooms, and spatial boundaries, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision through algorithmic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction (users manually drawing borders and perimeters) with automated optical and computational processes. Image processing algorithms analyze the design document visually, substituting the mechanical act of manual boundary definition with automated digital detection, thus reducing user effort while preserving measurement accuracy.
2Productivity
If computerized determination of perimeter is used, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to incorrect automated boundary identification
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the computerized perimeter determination is continuously refined based on analysis of the design document's visual features. The algorithm receives feedback from image processing results, adjusts its boundary detection parameters, and iteratively improves accuracy, thereby maintaining both high productivity and measurement precision in material take-off analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary image processing and preprocessing actions to the design document before performing perimeter determination. By pre-analyzing the document structure, enhancing contrast, and pre-identifying potential boundary features, the system prepares the data in advance, ensuring that the subsequent automated determination achieves both speed and accuracy without requiring manual intervention.
3Measurement precision
If detailed annotation and analysis of large architectural plans is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to the complexity of analyzing large documents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides large architectural plans into smaller manageable segments or zones for analysis. The system processes the document in sections, identifying boundaries and calculating materials for each segment independently, then aggregates the results. This segmentation approach maintains measurement precision for each area while significantly reducing the total time required to analyze large complex documents compared to processing the entire document at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by focusing computational resources on specific regions of interest within the architectural plan rather than uniformly processing the entire document. By identifying and prioritizing areas requiring detailed material take-off analysis, the system achieves accurate measurements for critical zones while reducing overall processing time through selective rather than exhaustive analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of visually interacting with an electronically stored document having a plurality of visual objects. The method includes accessing the document that includes a closed region characterized by an open area boundary surrounding an open area. The method further includes displaying the document on a display. The method further includes receiving a user input of a region of interest within the document and in the open area. The method further includes iteratively, in a time interval of multiple segments, dynamically displaying a fill area in each of the multiple time segments. The fill area is defined by outwardly expanding vertices from the region of interest and bounded by an expanding fill perimeter limited by the open area boundary. The fill area is coextensive with the open area upon the fill perimeter coinciding with the open area boundary.