Building Floor Plan Generation Using Visual Data and GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to effectively capture, represent, and utilize building interior information, including generating accurate and scalable floor plans that can be visualized and used in navigation.
Innovation Solution
The system automatically generates building floor plans by analyzing visual data from images captured at multiple locations within a building, and determines absolute locations for these plans using separate location data, allowing for the extension of location data to surrounding structural elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional floor plan construction methods are used, then some layout information can be obtained, but the process is difficult and time-consuming with poor accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses images captured by cameras to create visual copies of building interiors, which are then processed to generate floor plans. This copying approach replaces traditional manual measurement and drafting methods, enabling automatic generation of accurate floor plans from visual data without requiring physical access or time-consuming surveys
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems (tape measures, laser distance meters, manual drafting tools) with computational image processing systems. By using computer vision algorithms to analyze captured images and automatically extract spatial information, the system eliminates the need for physical measurement devices and manual construction processes
2Measurement precision
If floor plans are constructed using traditional methods, then basic layout information is available, but scaling and population with interior information is inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces images as an intermediary medium between the physical building and the digital floor plan representation. These images serve as a bridge that contains spatial information which can be automatically extracted and used to scale and populate floor plans accurately, eliminating the need for complex manual measurement and data entry processes
3Loss of information
If visual information is captured in building interiors, then interior layout information can be obtained, but it is difficult to display and use at remote locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates digital copies of building interiors through image capture and processing, which can be transmitted and displayed at remote locations without requiring physical presence. These visual copies preserve complete interior layout information while enabling easy remote access and interaction through digital displays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms three-dimensional physical space into two-dimensional visual representations that can be easily transmitted and displayed digitally. By converting spatial information into image data, the system enables remote viewing and analysis of building interiors through standard display devices, making the information accessible across different locations
4Loss of information
If floor plans are created without absolute location data, then basic layout is available, but navigation and relation to surroundings cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges image data with GPS location data to create integrated floor plans that contain both interior layout information and absolute spatial context. By combining these different data types, the system enables determination of the building's location relative to its surroundings while maintaining complete interior spatial information
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for using data capture devices at a building to automatically generate a building floor plan and to determine associated absolute location data for the generated floor plan, such as by associating separately captured GPS data or other absolute location data with the floor plan. In some situations, a building floor plan is automatically generated by analyzing visual data of images captured at multiple image acquisition locations by a camera device to determine room shapes of surrounding rooms, and GPS absolute location data is associated with the generated floor plan using additional data captured at other data capture locations at the building by a separate mobile device that moves independently from the camera device, such as by extending the absolute location data from the mobile device to the camera device's image acquisition location and its surrounding room shape.