Satellite Imagery Analysis for Accessible Route Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems fail to adequately consider the special needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals with disabilities when determining the best route, as they do not account for local features such as sidewalk width, ramps, obstacles, terrain, and traffic flow.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses satellite imagery analysis to identify local features and generate scores for candidate routes based on user-specific needs, selecting the best route for pedestrians, cyclists, or wheelchair users by prioritizing variables like sidewalk width, ramps, terrain, and traffic flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional navigation systems use standard routing algorithms based on shortest time or distance, then the route calculation is simple and fast, but the system fails to account for special needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing problem by creating separate evaluation modules for different user needs (pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users). Each module evaluates specific local features relevant to that user type, allowing the system to handle diverse requirements without becoming monolithically complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of local features (sidewalk width, ramps, obstacles, terrain) before route selection. By pre-processing and storing this information in a database, the system prepares evaluation data in advance, enabling quick adaptation to different user needs during actual route calculation.
2Reliability
If the system analyzes multiple local features from satellite imagery to determine suitable routes, then the route suitability for special needs is improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of local features from satellite imagery and stores the processed information in a database. This pre-processing step extracts and catalogs features like sidewalk width, ramps, obstacles, and terrain characteristics before they are needed for route calculation, reducing real-time processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital representation (copy) of physical local features through satellite imagery analysis. This digital model is stored and reused for multiple route calculations, avoiding repeated analysis of the same geographic area and reducing processing time for subsequent queries.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems only consider start and end addresses for routing, then the navigation is simple to use, but the system cannot provide optimized routes for specific transportation modes and user conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal routing system that handles multiple user types (pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users) and transportation modes through a single interface. The system automatically selects and applies appropriate evaluation criteria based on the user's needs, maintaining ease of use while providing specialized route optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines the appropriate evaluation criteria and local features to consider based on the user's transportation mode and special needs. Users simply input their start and end points along with their user type, and the system self-adjusts its routing algorithm without requiring users to manually configure complex parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for creating a route are disclosed. In embodiments, the method comprises identifying a start location and a destination for a user; identifying defined needs of the user; obtaining satellite imagery of a specified area between the start location and the destination. The satellite imagery is analyzed to identify defined local features affecting the defined needs of the user in the specified area; and a route is selected for the user, from the start location to the destination, based on the defined local features in the specified area. In embodiments, selecting the route includes identifying a plurality of candidate routes from the start location to the destination; generating a score for each of the candidate routes using the defined local features, and selecting one of the candidate routes based on the generated scores for the candidate routes.