Automated Floorplan Generation Using Smartphone Mesh Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for generating floorplans of buildings are labor-intensive, costly, and time-consuming, involving significant manual effort and requiring professionals such as surveyors and draftsmen.
Innovation Solution
A method using a smartphone to capture images and generate a three-dimensional polygonal mesh representation of a building, which identifies and authenticates structural elements like walls and corners, allowing for their inclusion or exclusion in a rendering, thereby automating the floorplan generation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional manual surveying and drafting methods are used to generate floorplans, then measurement precision and reliability can be achieved, but the process requires significant manual labor, time, and professional expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical surveying processes with an automated optical system. A camera captures images of the building space, and computer vision algorithms automatically process these images to generate floorplans, eliminating the need for manual measuring and drafting while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the physical building space through image capture and processing. The floorplan is generated as a digital representation from captured images, allowing rapid reproduction and distribution without manual copying efforts
2Measurement precision
If professional surveyors and draftsmen are employed to create floorplans, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but costs increase due to professional fees
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to generate their own floorplans without requiring professional surveyors or draftsmen. The automated image processing and floorplan generation capabilities allow individuals to perform tasks previously requiring expert professionals, significantly reducing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive camera equipment instead of expensive professional surveying instruments. The system processes images temporarily to generate the floorplan, without requiring costly specialized equipment or professional expertise
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed manual surveying and drafting procedures are followed, then manufacturing precision of the floorplan can be ensured, but the complexity of the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential information needed for floorplan creation directly from captured images through automated processing. The system isolates and processes only the relevant structural elements (walls, doors, windows) from the images, simplifying the overall process while maintaining detail accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the floorplan generation process from manual measurement and drafting parameters to digital image processing parameters. By changing the fundamental parameters from physical measurements to pixel-based image analysis, the system maintains precision while reducing process complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure generally pertains to generating floorplans. An example method to do so involves generating a three-dimensional polygonal mesh representation of at least a portion of a building (one floor of the building, for example). The three-dimensional polygonal mesh representation is generated from images captured by a smartphone, for example. The processor evaluates the three-dimensional polygonal mesh representation for identifying a room, and for determining an authenticity of an element included in the three-dimensional polygonal mesh representation (a corner or an edge of a wall, for example). The authenticity may be determined in various ways such as by executing a corner likelihood procedure, an edge likelihood procedure, or a simulation procedure. Based on the authenticity of the element, a structure that is associated with the element (a wall, for example) is included in a rendering of the room (a floorplan, for example).