Semantic Interior Mapology for Accessible Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Travelers, especially those with visual or cognitive impairments, face challenges navigating complex interior or exterior spaces due to the lack of user-friendly systems providing meaningful annotations.
Innovation Solution
The Semantic Interior Mapology (SIM) toolbox converts floor plans and room contents into vectorized form using the Map Conversion toolkit and populates them with accurately positioned objects from 3D scans, enabling easy navigation through annotated 2D or 3D displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional floor plans are used for navigation, then the layout information is available, but the system is not user-friendly for travelers with visual or cognitive impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using color-coded annotations on the floor plan to indicate different types of information such as obstacles, pathways, and room functions. This visual coding system makes navigation information more accessible and easier to interpret for users with visual or cognitive impairments, transforming the traditional black-and-white floor plan into an annotated, user-friendly navigation aid.
2Loss of information
If manual annotation of floor plans is performed, then meaningful navigation information can be added, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated annotation generation where the system automatically processes floor plan images, detects walls, rooms, and spatial relationships, and generates navigation annotations without requiring extensive manual input. This automated self-service approach maintains information completeness while significantly reducing the time required compared to manual annotation methods.
3Measurement precision
If 3D scan data is integrated with floor plans, then accurate object positioning is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a standardized data format and processing pipeline that bridges 3D scan data and 2D floor plans. The system uses intermediate representation layers and automated registration algorithms to align 3D object data with 2D floor plan coordinates, achieving accurate positioning while managing system complexity through modular architecture and standardized interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method or system including a map conversion toolkit and a map Population toolkit. The map conversion toolkit allows one to quickly trace the layout of a floor plan, generating a file (e.g., GeoJSON file) that can be rendered in two dimensions (2D) or three dimensions (3D) using web tools such as Mapbox. The map population toolkit takes the scan (e.g., 3D scan) of a room in the building (taken from an RGB-D camera), and, through a semi- automatic process, generates individual objects, which are correctly dimensioned and positioned in the (e.g., GeoJSON) representation of the building. In another example, a computer implemented method for diagraming a space comprises obtaining a layout of the space; and annotating or decorating the layout with meaningful labels that are translatable to glanceable visual signals or audio signals.