Video Crowd Analysis for Exit Planning and Evacuation Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to optimally plan entry and exit points and safety protocols in crowded geographical areas, such as airports and stadiums, leading to potential crowding and inefficiencies in user movement and emergency evacuations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing cameras and processors to capture and analyze images for real-time determination of user parameters, including count, mobility, and relationships, to inform architectural design and safety protocol adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional manual observation methods are used to plan entry and exit points, then design flexibility is maintained, but measurement precision and data accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual observation and mechanical measurement methods with automated video analysis systems. Cameras capture user movement data, and image processing algorithms automatically analyze the footage to extract precise metrics on user flow, density, and movement patterns, eliminating human error and subjectivity in measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies of user movement through video recording and image processing. By capturing and analyzing multiple frames of user movement, the system generates accurate data representations of crowd behavior without physically interfering with or disrupting the actual user flow.
2Productivity
If video analysis systems are deployed to capture real-time user data, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and processing requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video analysis process into distinct segments: camera capture, frame extraction, image processing, and data analysis. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables parallel processing of multiple video streams, improving overall productivity while distributing computational energy consumption across multiple processing units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes video data at periodic intervals rather than continuously analyzing every frame. By selecting key frames based on motion detection or time intervals, the system maintains high data processing efficiency while significantly reducing the energy consumption associated with constant full-frame analysis.
3Reliability
If comprehensive user parameters are analyzed including relationships and mobility, then reliability of safety protocols improves, but difficulty of detecting and measuring worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of user parameters such as movement patterns, grouping behavior, and mobility characteristics before emergency situations occur. By pre-processing and storing this data during normal operations, the system establishes baseline information that improves the reliability of safety protocols while reducing the computational difficulty during actual emergency response scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate processing layers that analyze user relationships and mobility patterns. Image processing algorithms serve as intermediaries that automatically detect grouping patterns, identify users with mobility challenges, and determine relationship dynamics without requiring direct human observation, thereby reducing the difficulty of measuring these complex parameters.
4Loss of time
If real-time image processing is performed to determine user parameters, then speed of data availability improves, but use of energy by moving object worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic processing where cameras capture video frames at set intervals and processors analyze selected key frames rather than every frame continuously. This approach provides real-time data availability at critical moments while reducing overall energy consumption by allowing brief processing intervals separated by lower-power capture and storage phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates motion detection and event-triggered processing that allows the camera and processor to enter low-power states during periods of minimal activity. When significant user movement or emergency conditions are detected, the system automatically activates full processing capability, thereby minimizing energy consumption while maintaining rapid response capability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a camera and a processor is disclosed. The camera is configured to capture a plurality of images of an area of interest in a geographical area. The processor is configured to execute an image processing algorithm on the images, and determine a plurality of parameters in real-time associated with the area of interest based on the images. The plurality of parameters may include a distance of each user, of a plurality of users, from adjacent users in the area of interest. The processor may further determine that the distance associated with at least one user, of the plurality of users, is less than a predefined threshold. The processor may additionally estimate, based on the images, a characteristic of relatability between the user and an adjacent user, and transmit the plurality of parameters and an information associated with the characteristic to an external device.