Graph Template System for Property Inspection Sketch Digitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inspectors face inefficiencies and risks in recreating sketched floor plans during property inspections, as they must manually redraw plans on-site and later digitize them, leading to time consumption and potential loss or damage of notes, especially when using mobile devices that are prone to breakage.
Innovation Solution
A system generates customizable graph templates with an information region for notes and a grid region for sketching, allowing inspectors to annotate and photograph the templates, which are then analyzed to extract property characteristics and transform sketches into digital floor plans, reducing the need for manual redrawing and improving data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inspectors use paper-based notes for property inspection, then portability and ease of use are improved, but the risk of loss or damage to notes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses photocopying technology to create multiple copies of inspection forms and floor plans. The system allows inspectors to photograph paper forms with a mobile device, automatically converts them to digital format, and stores them securely. This copying approach maintains the ease of paper-based inspection while eliminating the risk of loss or damage through digital backup and automatic upload to servers.
2Loss of information
If inspectors manually recreate sketched floor plans in computer software, then digital floor plans are produced, but significant time is consumed in the recreation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of recreating floor plans in software with an automated optical recognition system. The system uses mobile device cameras to capture sketched floor plans on paper, applies image processing and pattern recognition algorithms to automatically convert the sketches into digital floor plan data, and directly imports them into the insurance software. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual recreation process while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary automatic conversion system between the paper sketch and the digital floor plan. This intermediary system includes mobile device software that photographs the sketch, server-side image processing that recognizes walls, rooms, and dimensions, and automated data transfer that imports the extracted information into insurance software. This intermediary eliminates the need for manual recreation by bridging the paper and digital domains automatically.
3Productivity
If inspectors use mobile computing devices for onsite sketching, then digital floor plans can be created directly, but the risk of device breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the mobile device as a copying tool rather than a direct drawing tool. Inspectors continue to use paper forms and sketches, which are then photographed and converted to digital format. This approach maintains productivity by enabling digital workflow while eliminating the risk to expensive computing devices, as only lightweight mobile devices with cameras are needed instead of fragile tablets or laptops.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods presented herein can allow an inspector or other user to sketch a floor plan on a customized graph template. The graph template can be customized by a system based on the property the user is visiting. The user can take a picture of the customized graph template with a mobile computing device. An application executing on the mobile computing device or a server can transform the sketch in the picture into a floor plan.